Clydesdale Division (200+ lbs) Pullups

[Eric Douglas]

As a bigger guy (230lbs), I'm curious to know how many pullups some of the big guys are able to do. It seems that most of the guys who are able to throw out big numbers are 175 lbs max. I think from now on, I'm going to record my pullups as +55lbs.

[Brad Davis]

Even though I'm lighter (about 180) I feel your pain. I have very disproportionately larger legs than upper body. This isn't handy at all for most CrossFit activities because they're just dead weight. I'd guess a lot of the 140-150 lb guys have upper bodies as big and strong as mine. LOL.

[Andy Shirley]

My PR is 20, from about a year ago, at 5'11" 245 or so. I laid off after that(due to rugby injuries, not CF). I'm just now getting back into it.

And my plan is to take it easy on the Pullups, as I think they over stress my shoulders and elbows(dealing with more than a few prior injuries) at full extension. I'm more comfortable on rings than a bar, but I can't kip worth anything on the rings.

[Michael Bruce Mailman]

I'm glad someone posted this thread!

I weigh over 100 kgs, (sure, some of it's fat), and my best ever is 10. Right now it's at about 8. But each 5 day cycle of crossfit, I try and add 1 more pull up to my pull up total in the CFWU.

Thanks for giving a bigger guy some relief

[Eric Douglas]

Michael - I know what you mean. I remember when I was starting CF and saw the warm up for the first time. I just laughed when I saw 45 pullups as a warmup to the WOD. I think it will take me several years to get to the point where I can post "CFWU as rx'd."

[Dan Heaney]

I'm 6'2" between 200 and 205 most days and I can do between 35-40. I did "Barbra" the other day and did all the pull-ups in straight sets (5 sets of 20). I took the "how fit are you?" test and did 31 after a ME bench Press. I need to do an all out set one day prior to training to get an exact number. Goal is 40 straight. I'm real close

[Gant Grimes]

Eric, you'll get there faster than you think. I started 10 months ago (weighing 220) and couldn't do a single pullup. Most people with big pullup numbers are below 175, but hell, most people doing CF are under 175. Some of the bigger guys are still getting it done.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k2...imes/pulls.jpg

[Keith Wittenstein]

Great thread

I weigh in (after holiday gluttony) at around 210lbs. I feel much better around 195... so I have to get back to that weight. My max reps on pullups is 23. I've gotten through the first round of Fran unbroken a few times. On the 100+ pullup workouts I try to do sets of 5reps every 30 seconds. I can maintain that pace for a while.

I've seen guys bigger than me do many more pullups and muscle ups, so it's possible. Don't despair. When I started CF I could barely do 1 pullup. They are still difficult for me but not as bad as ring dips.

[Alex McClung]

Ditto previous comments.

I'm ~240# and like Andy have a PR in the 20's.

Somebody (Coach ?) wrote once that weighing 200+ doesn't exempt you from 20+ pullups. I think Crossfit is equally rewarding and punishing for all body types. Clydesdales can rock on 500m rows, CFT, Fran, heavy singles, etc. Our body type has unique disadvantages too.

Larry said the other day that, depending on your age, you probably have somewhere between 20 and 40 years to devote to this project; don't change your expectations because you're big, old, solo, etc. Take the time to do it right.

[Michael Bruce Mailman]

I'm guessing these are all kipping too right?

I haven't been able to test kipping pull ups as I haven't been able to develop them- a small vein starts throbbing in the temple of the trainers at my gym when they see me swinging around on their expensive pull up machine/tricep pushdown machine like a monkey