Can a Fat Lady Ride

[Bikingmomof3]

I'm relatively new here and just want to say thanks for all the support in this thread.

I'm 5'4 and 230 pounds. I've been afraid to post thinking everyone is tall and thin riding miles and miles each week. Today is the first day I got on my bike (Trek 800) after many years of it sitting in the garage. I rode a little over a mile, but it's one more mile than yesterday and I'll just keep going. It's going to take time to get my body used to riding, but I'll get there and I'll have fun doing it...now I just need the temps to get a big cooler since it's been 99 degrees for the last 4 days.

Carol, near Chicago

Carol,
You and Steve have the same Trek! Apparently I do not pay close attention when we talk.
I am so proud of you for getting out on your bike. You will do great! Next we will get you clipless. It is so blasted hot, I have not been able to go out until almost sunset, at which time i am covered with bugs. YUCK. As soon as the cool air arrives you will not want to come in from a ride. Next spring or fall (summer is too hot) we need to get together for a bike trip.

[Thistle]

Yes fat girls can ride and it's great. I started almost a year ago and i'm 240 lbs and 5'5". It's hard work up the hills, but I love riding my bike. I started slow and small. Riding into the city (12km) was a major major achievement. I was so stoked I could do it. This week I rode to work (25km round trip) three days in a row... a first for me. I'm pretty damned proud of myself. And i'll be riding again tomorrow... so that's 4 times this week .

I ride with 3 friends who do it for fun, they dont care how fast we go as long as we have fun. I know it's hard to find people like that, but they are out there! And if they are not around, hell I just go out by myself! I get excited when I overtake people (cos people usually whizz by me) and i've overtaken 3 in a year (and am looking for my fourth ). I felt so good one day when I whizzed past a woman (who wasnt overweight) and she said "does it ever get easier?"... so i slowed up and we rode home together while we chatted. It was her third ride and she was feeling down. I felt great knowing I'd made some progress, and we had the best chat and ride home together. So say hi to people when you pass, you just never know... they might want to ride with you!

So, fellow fat lady, please dont take any notice of those who make fun of you. People laugh at me when i rock up in my TE plus size biking clothes (god I love that someone makes plus size bike clothing - impossible to get here in Oz), but I could care less. I love my bike, I love riding my bike, and I figure every km I do on it is a bit more exercise I'm doing to take care of my body. And one day we might even be one of the thin girls!

[esther231]

Wow. Just found this thread today and so grateful I did.

I only started riding again alittle over a week ago after years of not riding. Right now, my longest ride is 4 miles and I was feeling very embarrassed about it. I thought I must be the worse cyclist going. The truth.

I thought maybe I was just too old (54) to start biking again and be able to do any distance. I thought a ton of stuff that I realize isn't true after reading this thread.

So, now, I'm feeling completely okay about my 4 miles (instead of embarrassed). I'm gonna keep riding (even if I am slow and HATE hills) till I get to 5 miles, then 6 and then, maybe, in a bit, I'll be able to go on the longer rides I want. I don't have to be the perfect shape or the perfect age to get there. I just need to keep riding to get there. Might take me longer than some of you took to get there cause I'm starting late. But I can get there.

Got a smile on my face and it's from these posts and this great thread. Much thanks.

[Bikingmomof3]

Welcome Ester and congrats on your riding for 4 miles!! You should feel proud, you earned it. The first time I got on a bike was just over 3 weeks ago. I am brand spanking new to the biking world. We all go different distances and speeds, but in the end, we are all biking.

[Geonz]

Note: every month or so... BUMP THIS ONE UP...

And if you rode a little and got away from it... so just get back on! Nobody's giving you a grade...

... and it should be cooler now. I can see that stufrf on the radar to the west of us... any hour now (guess I better go do that online course before the lightning gets here...leaving NOW...)

[Summer23]

I just stumbled onto this post - it's a small thing, but it's very encouraging.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Heck, a couple months ago I was damned proud of my ONE mile riding!!
And remember, it's better to not be "perfect" because then you just make everyone else look bad!
Another thing to consider is that if you are out of shape and only riding tiny distances, seeing you biking can be a huge inspiration to other women who are out of shape as well- they will see you pedalling along and hopefully realize biking is something they actually CAN do. Be an inspiration to others!!!

[Bad JuJu]

I love this image from Lowell Herrero. It captures the audaciousness and unabashed joy that a woman--of any size--can feel on her bike.
See it better here: Mary's New Bike