From Ella CyclingTips
by Marley Blonsky
Courtesy of Marley Blonsky
I know the word ‘fat’ makes some of you uncomfortable, but that is what I am: a fat woman who loves bikes. As such, my past four years of falling in love with two-wheeled adventures has come with its own challenges on and off the bike. And so I’ve decided to share my bits of wisdom with all of you, my fellow fatties, chubby people and plus size cyclists.
Whatever you want to call yourself, there are some specific things to keep in mind when it comes to two-wheeled adventures, including picking a bike, figuring out what clothes to wear and finding your people. And I’d like to spare you all some of the hassle and share my Four Things I Wish I had Known When I Started Riding Bikes with you.
No, this is not another weight-loss story. I don’t ride to lose weight. Full stop. I ride for fun, transportation, adventure, and exercise. So if you’re reading this looking for advice on how to lose weight by riding a bike, I can’t help you. In fact, if you ever go on a ride with me, I will likely make sure you’re well-fed and in no danger of bonking mid-ride. That means stopping for snacks, listening to our bodies, and checking in. Also eating ice cream.
1. FIND A BIKE THAT WORKS FOR YOU.
These CyclingTips pages are filled with sleek, sexy bikes. Feathery light and wicked fast. And while they’re fun to look at, they may not be the right bike for you.
I did not do that and it’s been quite a process to discover what I actually wanted. It started off with a totally cool Nishiki. I absolutely loved it, but it didn’t fit me. Then I got myself a fast little road bike because I thought I wanted to be a road biker. I learned that I didn’t love that and destroyed the crap out of that bike as I took it on gravel rides, and single track until I had gone through so many sets of tires that I finally landed on the adventure bike I have now.
I take it everywhere and it’s up to the task.
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