Look, I get it. You’re scrolling through bike forums at 2am, reading weight limits on factory wheels, and thinking “well, I guess cycling isn’t for me.” The specs say 250 lbs max, you’re pushing 280, and every post you find is either from someone who weighs 160 lbs telling you to “just lose weight first” or horror stories about taco’d wheels and broken spokes.
Been there. Done that. Got the bent rim to prove it.
Here’s the thing nobody tells you when you’re a bigger rider looking to get into cycling: you absolutely can ride. You just need to be a bit smarter about your equipment than the average 170 lb cyclist who can ride whatever comes off the factory floor.
My Wake-Up Call
I’m 320 lbs. I’m also a triathlete. Yeah, you read that right. And before you think “he must have been an athlete who gained weight,” nope—I started at this weight. I just decided one day that being heavy didn’t mean I couldn’t be active, and cycling looked fun.
My first “real” bike came with the standard factory wheelset. You know the ones—28 spokes, machine-built in a factory somewhere, designed for the mythical “average rider” who apparently weighs about as much as a golden retriever.
Three months in, I broke my first spoke. Then another. Then I watched my rear wheel do this graceful taco impression after hitting a pothole that wouldn’t have fazed my buddy’s bike. The bike shop kept truing my wheels, kept replacing spokes, and eventually just shrugged and said “well, maybe try a different route?”
That’s when I got frustrated enough to actually learn something.
The Reality Check
Here’s what I learned: bike wheels aren’t magic. They’re just engineering. And the engineering on most factory wheels is optimized for lighter riders because, well, that’s most of the market.
A 28-spoke wheel at lower tension is perfectly fine for a 165 lb rider. It’s light, aerodynamic, and does everything it needs to do. For someone my size? It’s like bringing a butter knife to a sword fight.
But here’s the good news: the solution isn’t complicated, it’s just different.
What Actually Works
After breaking enough wheels to fund a bike shop’s kid’s college education, I started researching what actually holds up. Turns out, tandem bikes exist. Cargo bikes exist. Touring bikes carrying 80 lbs of gear exist. There are wheels out there that laugh at my weight.
The difference? Three things:
More spokes. Instead of 28, we’re talking 32 or 36. More spokes = more load distribution = less stress per spoke.
Stronger rims. Not necessarily heavier, just designed for actual weight. Companies like Velocity make rims that are literally rated for tandem use.
Proper tension. This is the secret sauce. A wheel built with high, even tension is exponentially stronger than one built loose. Most factory wheels are built fast, not strong.
I eventually built my own wheels (yes, really—I learned on YouTube), and I’ve been riding them hard for over a year. No broken spokes. No taco incidents. No mysterious creaking noises that make me paranoid.
What I Wish Someone Had Told Me
If you’re a heavier rider thinking about cycling, here’s what I want you to know:
Don’t let the specs scare you off. Yes, that factory wheelset says 250 lbs. No, that doesn’t mean cycling isn’t for you. It means that wheelset isn’t for you.
You’re not alone. There are thousands of Clydesdale and Athena riders out there crushing miles, doing centuries, racing, touring. We just don’t get featured in the marketing materials because apparently, cycling magazines think we all look the same.
The right wheels exist. You don’t need to custom-order from Italy or spend $3,000. Solid, reliable, heavy-duty wheels can be built for $600-800, and they’ll last you years.
Start riding now. Don’t wait until you lose weight. Don’t wait until you’re “fit enough.” The bike doesn’t care what you weigh—it only cares if you’ve got the right wheels under you.
The Real Point
I started Clydesdale Wheels because I got tired of seeing people like us get discouraged. I’m not a professional wheel builder (I work in cybersecurity, actually). I’m just a guy who got frustrated, learned a skill, and realized there are probably a lot of other riders out there dealing with the same BS I dealt with.
You want to ride? Ride. Just do it on wheels that are actually built for you.
And if you break a spoke or two along the way? Welcome to the club. We’ve all been there. The difference is, you don’t have to stay there.
Have questions about getting started as a heavier rider? Drop a comment below. I’m not an expert, but I’ve broken enough wheels to have learned a few things.
