Ha! This just confirms what I was thinking about my weekend experience.

My DH and I rode all weekend in the mountains of NC with 5 other couples. I was afraid that I wasn't fit enough and this fear was compounded when I met all the other couples (all of them are thin and fit looking - I'm not). I didn't sleep the night before the big ride worring about holding up everyone.

Turns out, I was the strongest female rider by quite a margin.

When we left, every single man (including the innkeeper) and 2 of the women complimented me on my riding and strength when we said good-bye. No one said anything to my husband who rode better than I did. My theory is that they said this because I look like I should be slower/weaker/etc because of my extra weight. I think I shocked a few of them with my climbing abilities.