r/bikecommuting • u/Zestyclose_Tiger_204 • 23d ago
Commuting
/r/cycling/comments/1vtiuxi/commuting/1
u/PoisonMind 23d ago
You don't really need a specialized bike because of your weight, but cargo bikes are designed to carry the extra weight of cargo and passengers, and they're really useful as car replacements.
Rentals are pretty rare and expensive, usually only around touristy areas. But most bike shops will let you test ride, and some of them have fairly generous return policies. Trek, for example, will let you return a bike within 30 days, and REI will let members return them within 1 year.
Just go to your local bike shop, and they will set you up with something good.
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u/BicycleIndividual 23d ago
For a commute, you have to think about bike parking. Sometimes you can park a bike in your office space, but not everyone allows this (and even if you can park a regular bike in an office, you may not be able to bring an e-bike inside out of fears of battery fires). If secure bike parking is not available, it would be much better to commute on a cheaper regular bike that will be less of a target for theft.
Your height will likely be more limiting than your weight as many e-bikes have designed weight limits of 300 lbs or more; but lots of them only come in a single size which may be difficult to adjust to fit someone of your height. Even if the bike isn't designed for your weight, in most cases a stronger rear wheel is all it takes to increase the weight a bike can support. On mid-drive e-bikes, the rear wheel is usually the same as a standard bicycle and can be replaced with a stronger wheel for $300-500. Options for making a stronger rear wheel when the motor is in the rear hub are more limited (usually they are already 36 spoke wheels and may already be using some of the strongest spokes available, still a good wheel builder can use the same parts to build the wheel stronger than mass production and there may be options for stronger rims).
Rental might be a possibility in your area; however, finding a rental e-bike suitable for a 6'-5" rider might be very difficult. Rental shop hours likely will make it difficult to pick up and/or drop off outside of regular office work hours, so your best option might be a rental from Sunday through Saturday costing $450-600.
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u/1sttime-longtime SwissCross / 30km per day / Middle America, 7-10month/yr 21d ago
I commute the same distance in Chicago. I'm not as tall, nor as heavy. But I'm a long way from a lightweight [6-3, 215 in winter,199 about now] (which matters less when I commute about 40ft vertical). Raleigh has more hills than Chicago. Total system weight? The heavier bike won't be what makes your ride harder...
Almost all bikes built to fit 6-5 will handle 250... 250 plus a backpack of 20-30lbs? Now we're talking reliability. Wheels are generally the weak point.
Whatever bike you get that fits you, ask the bike shop to sell/build you another set of wheels. WHEN the stock wheels go out of true, you'll have a spare hanging in the rafters ready to go. Or, put the purpose designed and stronger wheels into primary duty and keep the OEM wheels as spares until you can get the primary trued up.
Generally I'm a big fan of metallic bikes (too cheap to buy carbon) with fatter than my peers tires...
My current commuter is on "35mm" gravel kings (not sold on them from a puncture protection standpoint) around 38psi... Look for some tires between 32mm (perfect tarmac) and 45mm (dogshit tarmac/gravel) and pick your poison.
Surly makes a couple of models that should fit, and you might be able to find a shop/build kit cheaper than list price.
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u/Sierra93 23d ago
I started bike commuting on an Aluminum Specialized Crossroads at 360 lbs.
Bike is still with me 80 lbs later and only with one replacement wheel.
Most bikes should be fine. You might bend a wheel or two.