GUIDE – Heavy Riders – Enjoy Riding a Bike
Let us help you have enjoyable, successful experiences when you ride. Â
 We have gathered together a range of stories and solutions to get you well prepared so you can enjoy your riding..
SMILE when you ride
Heavy Riders – lets help you feel comfortable on the bike. We know that if you can achieve comfort you will choose to ride your bike more and you will bike for longer. We can get you started on a riding journey that can lead you to wonderful things.
How you ride
How you are riding is particularly important for a Heavy Riders ability to achieve comfort. How you control the time you spend on the bike, through to your body position when you ride, can all influence your ability to feel comfortable on the bike.
- Time on the bike
You will need to be very conscious of how you spend time on the bike. You need to listen to your body and find what works for you. Some tips
- How your body responds/copes with biking will be different to everyone else… so listen to your body
- Start slow and work out how long you can ride in comfort and to start with only riding for this length of time.
- During your ride – stopping regularly to give some of your weight bearing tissues and your body a break can help you ride for longer
- If you are wanting to increase your time and frequency on the bike… only very gradual increases
- You may need rest days between rides to allow your body to recover before you put stress on your body and its tissues again. This need will reduce as your body responds to the stresses of biking.Â
2. Your Riding Position
Having a good body position when you ride and being able to maintain this position throughout your ride is vital to your comfort on your bike. A good position is what we refer to as your “A” Riding Position. Achieving this position and maintaining it throughout your ride can be challenging for all riders and particularly heavy riders. It is very common for heavy riders to collapse out of their “A” riding position which can lead to discomfort.
Read our stories – learn about the “A” Riding Position and start to work at achieving this position when you ride.
Your comfort at the contact points
To be comfortable on the bike, so you can enjoy your riding, you need to manage the points where you (your body) comes into contact with the bike. Manage your comfort on the;
- bike seat/saddle
- handlebar grips
- pedals
Let us consider how you can help support comfort at each of these points.
- Comfort on your Bike Seat
Your number one priority to feeling comfortable on the bike is finding bike seat comfort. Many riders can find it challenging to achieve comfort, but it is possible. It is likely you will have to work hard, try different things and be precise as you work your way to finding comfort on your bike seat.
You will need to provide your body with cushioning by wearing padded underwear (Bike goUnders) or padded pants. A seat that is specific to you and supports your body shape – matches you as a rider. Chamois cream to protect your tissues when you ride and can also help soothe after a ride. Use our stories & guides to learn more.
Bike goUnders
Padded Underwear, Sizes up to 22
Different levels of padding available. Heavy riders may find an endurance padding more suitable to support comfort. Padding in your underwear allows you to choose what you wear when you ride… LEARN MORE
Padded 3/4 Pants
Up to size 2XL
This casual style lycra 3/4 pant is designed for the recreation and larger sized riders. The endurance padding will help support your bike seat comfort… LEARN MORE
 Saddles for Heavy Riders
View the Range…
Heavy Riders often feel more comfortable on the bike in a saddle with some good width. So our saddle pages to find the right solution for your body and your riding… LEARN MORE
Chamois Cream
Natural Chamois CreamÂ
Lanolin based lubrication that will protect, soothe or heal any chaffing or sores that my occur from riding your bike… LEARN MORE
2. Comfort on your Handlebars
Grips are often a forgotten part of the bike but they can play an important part in your comfort. When you bike you transfer weight through the handlebars. To be comfortable in your hands, arms, neck and upper body it is important that you have a comfortable cushioned connection with the handlebars. Quality endurance grips can help support this connection. This is especially important if you are experiencing pain or discomfort when you ride, are wanting to increase your time on the bike or you are planning a multi-day ride.
How you place your hands and hold onto your handlebar grips is a really important part of bike comfort. Good core control will prevent you from putting too much weight onto your hands. Please read our story. How to grip your handlebars
Shop: Endurance Handlebar Grip
3. Comfort at your pedal
For comfort and safety you need to have quality socks, closed in shoes and a bike pedal that provides a good connection with the sole of your shoe. Smooth pedals can cause your foot to slide off the pedal. To support your riding comfort how you pedal is important. A good pedaling technique will help make your riding easier and support your hip, knee and foot comfort. Please read our story.
Riding Clothing for Larger Sizes.
Feeling comfortable in what you wear on your bike can help you enjoy your riding. It can be hard to find riding clothing that suits larger sizes. Here is a selection of our gear for larger sizes.
Grow your Riding
With comfort sorted on your bike, you can start to grow your riding. Ride more often, for longer and in different riding environments. Use our resources. Get prepared, be inspired and set yourself a goal. What can you achieve?
What is the successful Heavy Rider solution for you?  Your success is different to others… use our stories and support, get the right solutions.
Stories & support
Full range of comfort on the bike seat stories on one easy to navigate page.
Guide: Comfort on your Bike Seat
Learn how you can support your comfort on your bike seat and enjoy your riding.
Your core & riding
Understand why having a strong core and using it is important to your riding.
Guide to Riding for Longer
A fantastic goal to have is to be able to ride for longer…there are so many benefits and it opens up what you could achieve on a bike.
Bike Seat Sweet Spot
The position of your saddle can effect your comfort when you ride. Learn about saddle position.
Gear List for Bike Path Riding
Your body needs to adjust to a new saddle… do not expect to get a new saddle and immediately be able to go for long rides.
How to Break a New Saddle In
Your body needs to adjust to a new saddle… do not expect to get a new saddle and immediately be able to go for long rides.
How to Adjust your Bike Saddle
Learn how to make minor adjustments to the position of your bike saddle so you improve your comfort on your bike seat.
A Gel Cover or Not?
Learn how to use a Bike Seat Gel Cover and understand if it is a comfort solution for you?
Padded Bike Pants
Should you be wearing padded bike pants or padded bike underwear to help with comfort on your bike seat?
When to use chamois cream
The position of your saddle can effect your comfort when you ride. Learn about saddle position.
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