The problem stated,.as far as the absolute population of morbidly obese people, is pretty much unique to the USA, so the solution should probably be developed there.
That said, given a decade or so, other countries could catch up..
padbroccoligai on
I wonder if companies are hesitant to prominently list weight limits because it could increase the chance of being sued for catastrophic failure with under the limit on the bike. How much does riding style and terrain influence weight limit? (That’s a question in good faith. I’m a large rider and I agree that transparency about weight limits and bikes that can safely support larger riders are needed)
OtisburgCA on
I read this and it sounds like “I don’t like how they are saying things because it does not cater to me.” The information is not that difficult to find.
Cycling does not have a weight problem – you have the weight problem. Not everything can be built like a tank just because you are. Demanding that the industry cater to a very small percent of the population who rides bikes is simply an inefficient manufacturing process. And I say this as a guy who weighs 260lbs.
StevenNull on
I’m not trying to be rude here, but I don’t know how else to put this – the article is complaining that *unhealthy people* who have made themselves overweight are suffering from the consequences of their own actions (being unable to ride a bike).
There are obviously some exceptions to this, diabetics being the obvious one. But by and large, if you’re over 300lbs then you need to work on your weight if you want to ride, not expect the cycling industry to cater to your poor life choices.
Ambitious-Health-758 on
I admire that person for riding a bicycle and not one of those horrible electric mopeds.
Adventurous_Fact8418 on
The industry exists to make money. While a large population of US adults are indeed over 300 pounds, the percentage of those individuals who cycle is very small. Otherwise, Specialized and Giant would make heavy duty bikes. I can assure you that nobody would like for heavier people to start riding than the bike companies. There is no conspiracy and no singling out of any single group. The internet gives people the illusion that there is a large number of willing and able larger riders out there and that’s just not the case.
sundowntg on
It’s also hard to know how seriously the weight guidelines are to be taken manufacturer by manufacturer. One is a calculated engineering call with a defined margin of safety vs a speculative call.
ableskittle on
No, she has a weight problem.
Zenigata on
As a large man who frequently cycles with bikes further loaded down with children and stuff I have to agree. Specs for weight limits are often hard ti find or completely absent.
Express-Welder9003 on
Individual weight limits are useful to know as well. My fork has water bottle mounts on it and I’d love to attach cages to them so that I could secure dry bags there but Giant says those mounts are only for water bottles and gave some really low weight limit so I know not to do that. Or that if I do it then at least I’ll be aware of the chance I’ll destroy my fork.
themagicbandicoot on
300 pounds at 6 feet tall is a bmi over 40, which is diagnosed as severely obese, and represents less than 10% of the USA population. Please dont make my bike for people who weigh twice as much as I do. If there is any case for custom bikes, shouldn’t it be for the tails of the distribution?
Ok_Philosopher6538 on
I mean, any bike that is built for racing will be built with that body type in mind.
Is there a large enough market to support heavier people? absolutely. A lot of the eBikes (like RAD bikes) I see puttering around seem to be designed with this kind of audience in mind.
I would say options exists, will it be that shiny, carbon race bike that makes you feel like you’re a racer? Probably not, but I am guessing that any bike that can support these higher weights will probably not look sleek and aero either.
12 Comments
The problem stated,.as far as the absolute population of morbidly obese people, is pretty much unique to the USA, so the solution should probably be developed there.
That said, given a decade or so, other countries could catch up..
I wonder if companies are hesitant to prominently list weight limits because it could increase the chance of being sued for catastrophic failure with under the limit on the bike. How much does riding style and terrain influence weight limit? (That’s a question in good faith. I’m a large rider and I agree that transparency about weight limits and bikes that can safely support larger riders are needed)
I read this and it sounds like “I don’t like how they are saying things because it does not cater to me.” The information is not that difficult to find.
Cycling does not have a weight problem – you have the weight problem. Not everything can be built like a tank just because you are. Demanding that the industry cater to a very small percent of the population who rides bikes is simply an inefficient manufacturing process. And I say this as a guy who weighs 260lbs.
I’m not trying to be rude here, but I don’t know how else to put this – the article is complaining that *unhealthy people* who have made themselves overweight are suffering from the consequences of their own actions (being unable to ride a bike).
There are obviously some exceptions to this, diabetics being the obvious one. But by and large, if you’re over 300lbs then you need to work on your weight if you want to ride, not expect the cycling industry to cater to your poor life choices.
I admire that person for riding a bicycle and not one of those horrible electric mopeds.
The industry exists to make money. While a large population of US adults are indeed over 300 pounds, the percentage of those individuals who cycle is very small. Otherwise, Specialized and Giant would make heavy duty bikes. I can assure you that nobody would like for heavier people to start riding than the bike companies. There is no conspiracy and no singling out of any single group. The internet gives people the illusion that there is a large number of willing and able larger riders out there and that’s just not the case.
It’s also hard to know how seriously the weight guidelines are to be taken manufacturer by manufacturer. One is a calculated engineering call with a defined margin of safety vs a speculative call.
No, she has a weight problem.
As a large man who frequently cycles with bikes further loaded down with children and stuff I have to agree. Specs for weight limits are often hard ti find or completely absent.
Individual weight limits are useful to know as well. My fork has water bottle mounts on it and I’d love to attach cages to them so that I could secure dry bags there but Giant says those mounts are only for water bottles and gave some really low weight limit so I know not to do that. Or that if I do it then at least I’ll be aware of the chance I’ll destroy my fork.
300 pounds at 6 feet tall is a bmi over 40, which is diagnosed as severely obese, and represents less than 10% of the USA population. Please dont make my bike for people who weigh twice as much as I do. If there is any case for custom bikes, shouldn’t it be for the tails of the distribution?
I mean, any bike that is built for racing will be built with that body type in mind.
Is there a large enough market to support heavier people? absolutely. A lot of the eBikes (like RAD bikes) I see puttering around seem to be designed with this kind of audience in mind.
I would say options exists, will it be that shiny, carbon race bike that makes you feel like you’re a racer? Probably not, but I am guessing that any bike that can support these higher weights will probably not look sleek and aero either.