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I am thinking about getting my first bike in 15 years I am a 44 year old male 250lbs..... I am thinking about getting '12 Trek Marlin (Gary Fisher Collection) Gloss Platinum, 23-inch. I would love to hear reviews and comments on this bike.

also any tips on how to get back into riding would help, I am very out of shape ok ok I am in shape... ROUND is a shape... please help

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Please focus your question on one point that you need answered. There are a number of fitness related questions, and questions on how to get started cycling for you to read through. Consider asking something like "What bike fits my needs as a cyclist getting back into the sport, and overweight?". Ask multiple questions if necessary. – zenbike♦ May 3 '12 at 14:24
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250 pounds is not a lot of weight for a bike, so long as it's not a skinny-tire racing style bike. Pick a bike you are comfortable with and feel you will enjoy riding. The only thing special you may need is a slightly wider seat, but seats are easily switched. – Daniel R Hicks May 5 '12 at 12:48
This question badly needs to be focused; as it is, it belongs on a forum, not here. Perhaps you can break this up into several questions? – Neil Fein May 13 '12 at 6:15
As an aside: If what you really need is encouragement from other 200lb+ riders (ahem), I highly recommend the Clyde subforum on bikeforums.net. – Neil Fein May 13 '12 at 6:16

closed as not a real question by Neil Fein, zenbike♦ May 13 '12 at 10:25

It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, see the FAQ.

3 Answers

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I am approximately same as you only slightly lighter in weight 95kg (circa 220 lbs?), relatively healthy. What I did - after checking with doc my problems are not medical but lifestyle ones, I asked advice from professional physical education person. She suggested I start not too hard and choose safe ones: water running, nordic walking, about few hours for week altogether. She suggested I avoid common running for sake of bone joints after 40+ not perfect and there is risk of other traumatic things. She also said I can mix in bike into exercise cocktail but keep in mind bike raises about 5 times distance you can run on same energy consumed, raises risks of trauma (and it materialized in few months) and make top part of your body less comparing with those water running and nordic walking.

To sum it up - bike is good for weight control exercise but not perfect and should be used as secondary mean, to keep good variety and less boredom. Not much bike-answer but it puts bike into your context.

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odd thing I'm 44 and 250 pounds, 6 foot 3. I bought a trek marlin last week. It has the 21 inch frame. I test rode the 23, it was honestly too big. The 17 was too small. The 21 felt great. I went on a few rides, 12 miles the longest so far, and this bike is absolutely great. My last bike was a trek, easily a 1992 model or so. The marlin has great shifting, the front shock is great for me, it looks awesome, and I say no worries, except for get the green one!

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You can read a series of reviews from users here. There is one man that says he didn't ride a bike in 12 years, so that might interest you also.

About your weight and age I won't worry too much. My father is in the same situation and has no problem riding on a cheap, not reliable at all looking bike.

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