Why the narrative around body size and fitness in cycling needs to shift—and how we can all help make the road more inclusive for every rider.
by BikePGH Staff Contributor Nora Andrews
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Hi, all! My name is Nora; I’m a relatively new staff member at BikePGH… and this is my first blog post! A little about me: I’m twenty-seven years old, I use she/they pronouns, I’m a Chicago transplant, a dinner-party-hostess, a lover of crosswords and fantasy novels, and I’m also a fat cyclist.
Cue the gasping: “No, you’re not fat! You’re… you’re… you’re fun-sized!”
No, that’s alright, I prefer the term “fat”. I use it as a general descriptor, similarly to how some may use the term “queer”. It is a broad spectrum, and is meant to be inclusive of a range of body types and experiences. Some may prefer the terms mid-size, plus-size, big, large, chubby, etc. but in the contents below I will be using the term “fat” or “plus-size” (if you’re curious why, keep reading!)
If you yourself are sensitive to topics surrounding fatness, such as diet culture and weight loss, take this as a gentle warning. We’ll touch on those topics here, although through a strictly body-neutral, anti-diet, and pro-movement lens.
So, let’s get started, shall we?
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When I began researching for this blog, I typed in the phrase “cycling as a fat person” into Google.
And so we begin; instead of directing me towards stories of the trials, perspectives, and JOYS of plus-size cyclists, I’m given the beginnings of a weight loss regimen.
Many of the articles on the search page lead me down similar rabbit holes, with deliciously condescending titles like: “Cycling and Obesity – Don’t Let Overweight Stop You” and “How Overweight and Obese Riders Can Maximize Cycling for Healthy Weight Loss”.
A reddit thread titled “Why do I see so many ‘overweight’ road cyclists?” posed the radical question: why do I see so many fat people consistently putting in high mileage on bikes…. and how are they still fat?!
One scholar astutely replies: “Beer. French fries. Chicken wings.”
This response sums up the messaging that many fat individuals are exposed to from a young age: Your body is a failure. We are conditioned to equate worth with thinness, to pursue it at all costs, and to view fatness as a sign of a lack of “discipline.” If I rode my bike over 2,000 miles this year and the number on the scale hasn’t dropped? Oh right, I must constantly be eating french fries. I’ll take that into account in 2025. Thanks.
Movement, instead of being celebrated as a source of joy, health, or fun, is framed solely as a means to shrink ourselves into a more socially acceptable shape. This culture seeps into our relationships with ourselves and our peers, and it certainly seeps into our cycling scene (see Reddit comment above) … but what if the societal narrative around weight and movement was wrong; what if there is nothing wrong with fat cyclists, but something wrong with our culture overall?
Barriers and Stigma
Let’s start with the clothes, as fat cyclists face significant barriers when it comes to the sizing of cycling attire. While of course you can cycle in whatever clothes you want, wearing a kit is a source of empowerment for many; a well-fitting kit not only enhances physical ease during rides but also fosters a sense of belonging and confidence within the cycling community. However, cycling clothes are notoriously limited in size availability, making it challenging for fat cyclists to find gear that fits comfortably or appropriately. Even when larger sizes are available, they may cost more money than the “standard” sizing, and the stigma around how skin-tight Lycra fits on fat bodies can make folks anxious about how their bodies will be perceived by passers-by, creating a barrier to entry when compared with thinner counterparts.
On a similar note, many cyclists feel pressure to optimize their gear and setup. Consumers often spend hundreds, if not thousands, on “lightweight” and “aerodynamic” equipment, spurred by advertisements promising better personal records and enhanced bragging rights. This relentless pursuit of optimization not only creates financial barriers but also reinforces a culture that often alienates fat cyclists. The industry’s obsession with weight—both of the gear and the rider—sends harmful messages about who and what is valued in our community.
Too often, cycling shifts from a source of happiness or connection to a hyper-focused pursuit of self-improvement, where “better” is narrowly defined as being faster, stronger, and leaner. While athletic achievements can be empowering, the narrative that ties our worth to physical performance and appearance must be challenged. Everyone, regardless of size or ability, deserves to enjoy cycling for what it is—a means of freedom, community, and joy.
In cycling, effort is often measured by wattage, which reflects the power a rider generates. A common metric, watts per kilogram (W/kg), evaluates a cyclist’s power relative to their body weight—known as Power-to-Weight Ratio (PWR). Generally, thinner cyclists tend to have higher W/kg ratios than heavier cyclists, giving them a notable advantage in gravitational situations, like climbing hills, even if heavier cyclists produce more total power. This helps explain why fat cyclists may be slower on ascents but faster on descents when putting out the same W/kg as their counterparts.
Here’s an example:
- Rider A weighs 76 kg and averages 275 watts for a 20-minute climb, resulting in a PWR of 3.6 W/kg.
- Rider B weighs 55 kg and averages 210 watts for the same climb, yielding a PWR of 3.8 W/kg.
Even though Rider B generates significantly less power, their higher PWR allows them to ascend faster. Over 20 minutes, Rider B would likely be farther up the climb, potentially dropping Rider A.
In a cycling culture that frequently values “first to the top” as a measure of success, fat cyclists may feel deterred from participating in group rides, fearing they’ll be perceived as less capable. This pervasive mindset can lead some to give up before they begin, despite the fact that fat cyclists often exert more effort and generate greater power to accomplish the same feats as their thinner counterparts. This perception is not merely self-imposed; research shows that weight stigma can lead to outward assumptions about competence and worth, particularly in physical activities like cycling. When fat people are constantly on alert for the presence of these biases in their daily lives, even the most welcoming cycling groups can feel uninviting.
As Pittsburgh cyclist Catherine Wacha explains, “There are days that I get in my own head and will be convinced that people are looking at me and thinking I’m not going to be able to handle a ride or that I look terrible in whatever I am wearing to ride because of my size.” Whether or not such judgment is present in a given moment, the anxiety born from experiencing body stigma in daily life can create powerful internal narratives and therefore, a significant barrier to participation.
While many of my own rides go smoothly, I often face subtle remarks questioning my ability, even from well-meaning individuals: “Are you sure you can keep up? We’re going to be going pretty fast,” or “Was that ride too difficult for you?” Then, of course, there are the explicit moments of fatphobia—like the time a woman in a car yelled at me to “do better, b*tch” as I slowly climbed a steep hill, or when a driver screamed at a friend to “get off the road, fatass.” The message is clear: you and your body do not deserve to be here—on this bike, on this road, in this community. These experiences turn every ride into a battle for validation, reinforcing the stigma fat cyclists face both on and off the bike to prove that they are healthy and capable, and that they deserve to take up space.
Unfortunately, even tools designed to increase access to cycling, such as e-bikes, can become sources of judgment. Amanda, another local cyclist, shares her experience: “I have started riding an E-Bike in the last year to mitigate [my speed], especially during group rides where I am afraid of being left behind. I feel like I have felt some judgment around riding an E-bike, as if I was taking the easy way out or I am not allowed in biking communities due to being on an E-bike … I chose to ride an E-bike due to my physical limitations and it helps me get out when I otherwise wouldn’t! I also do love riding a regular bike as well, but as I said, I fear being left behind on group rides and don’t want others to feel like they need to go slow to stay with me.”
These experiences underscore the pervasive impact of weight stigma, which can shape the way fat cyclists are perceived and the way they perceive themselves. Even in inclusive environments, cultural narratives that equate body size or physical ability with worth create barriers to participation, confidence, and access to the joy of cycling. When we falsely equate thinness with health, we deny people the opportunity to live fulfilling, truly healthy lives. The experiences fat individuals have in athletic spaces push many to exercise in isolation—or avoid it altogether. Internalized fatphobia not only limits opportunities for enjoyment and wellness but also has been proven to increase stress and cortisol levels, contributing to health issues that are frequently misattributed to fatness rather than the stigma itself.
The Research
Research highlights the pervasive and damaging nature of weight discrimination. Estimates show that its prevalence has increased by 66% in the past decade, reaching levels comparable to racial discrimination in the U.S. Despite decades of evidence identifying weight stigma as a pressing social issue, it remains largely unchallenged. Societal narratives often blame fat individuals for their weight, perpetuating the misconception that stigmatization is justified or even motivational. In reality, stigma exacerbates stress and health problems while failing to inspire meaningful or sustainable behavior changes.
One groundbreaking study facilitated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture compared traditional weight-loss programs to the Health at Every Size (HAES) approach.
Study Design:
78 obese women were divided into two groups. One followed a traditional weight-loss program focused on calorie restriction, exercise, and weight tracking. The other adopted the HAES approach, which emphasized intuitive eating (eating when hungry, stopping when full), choosing nutritious foods, enjoying physical activity, and building self-esteem and body confidence.
Results After Two Years:
Both groups weighed approximately the same. The weight-loss group initially shed pounds but regained them within two years. Meanwhile, the HAES group demonstrated healthier blood pressure, lower cholesterol levels, and greater physical activity.
So, what about those aforementioned french fries and chicken wings? Here’s what we know: weight is largely determined by genetics, much like height or skin color. Each body has a “set-point weight”—a range maintained by the hypothalamus, which regulates hunger, satiety, and metabolism. Dieting disrupts this balance, often causing the set-point weight to reset higher as a protective mechanism against rapid weight changes. This explains why “yo-yo dieting,” or frequent weight fluctuations, is linked to long-term weight gain and poorer health outcomes. In fact, individuals with stable weights—even those considered “obese”—tend to be healthier than chronic dieters or ex-dieters.
What truly benefits health are habits like regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, stress management, and rest. However, these behaviors are not exclusive to smaller body sizes. People of all shapes and sizes deserve to enjoy the benefits of food and movement—without the focus being on shrinking their bodies or conforming to societal ideals. Prioritizing joy, wellness, and self-acceptance over weight-loss goals allows for a more inclusive and sustainable path to health.
Joy At Every Size
Experiencing joy on a bike as a fat person is a radical act—a powerful defiance of societal norms. Joyful movement is transformative, offering empowerment and wellbeing instead of punishment. While the cyclists I spoke with for this blog shared their challenges, they also celebrated the love and acceptance they’ve found biking in Pittsburgh. As Liv shared, “Through my partner’s involvement in the cycling community, I could see that being fat didn’t mean I would be shunned or judged.” For another, Tiffany, the experience of cycling and exploring Pittsburgh’s city steps has been transformative: “Biking and hiking city steps has really increased my strength and stamina, and I feel like I’m a lot more capable to do things that I didn’t used to feel like I could do.”
Today, we are lucky to have supportive groups that are working to make the cycling scene more body-inclusive, ensuring that riders of all sizes can experience biking bliss. One of the most notable is All Bodies on Bikes, a non-profit organization and movement dedicated to promoting body inclusivity in cycling. Through advocacy, education, and support, the organization challenges the stigma surrounding fat bodies in cycling, emphasizing that biking is for everyone, regardless of size, shape, or fitness level. They have a wealth of information on their website about upcoming events, resources for plus-size cyclists, and even a podcast!
Another factor that has a positive impact on fat ridership is the growing availability of e-bikes, which allow people of all sizes to rediscover cycling. For many cyclists, e-bikes reduce physical barriers, making longer rides more manageable with less exertion, which helps build confidence and increase participation.
“In July 2022, I bought my first e-bike, and it was a game changer. I had wanted to get back into cycling for years, but it always felt inaccessible due to my weight, strength, and stamina. The e-bike made biking accessible to me. I bike almost every day, both for commuting and recreation. I actually put more miles on my bike than I do on my car.” – Tiffany
E-bikes offer moderate to vigorous exercise, especially on Pittsburgh’s challenging hills, without the strain traditional cycling might impose. They also provide mental health benefits and help reduce car trips, fostering more active and sustainable lifestyles. For fat individuals, e-bikes can be a key tool in promoting inclusion and participation in cycling communities.
If you yourself are curious about E-Biking, you can check out BikePGH’s free E-Bike Guide, which aims to empower readers with the knowledge needed to make informed, safe decisions when purchasing, riding, and maintaining their e-bikes.
What Can You Do?
It’s a hard task, tackling the culture that surrounds us. In the day-to-day, I think the biggest thing one can do is to remain open to learn new things. I certainly have not always held the views I do now, but the teaching of others helped put me on a new path. I will always be grateful for that. Additionally, be careful of the words you say, and think about how they might affect others around you. You never know how much a comment about your own body may hurt the person next to you.
In terms of cycling, we luckily already have a great resource available!! Here are some tips for creating a more inclusive cycling culture—applicable to cyclists of all sizes:
Lastly, listen to the fat people and cyclists around you. Fatness is not a monoculture, and my experiences don’t reflect the experiences of everyone! Here are some other thoughts and perspectives from cyclists in our community:
“Just because I am heavier doesn’t mean I am not healthy. I get the insulting notification from my health care system at every appointment, but my PCP never brings up my weight because she knows I am active and overall eat pretty well.” —Catherine Wacha
“Consider the small comments or initial judgments you make. Examine your internalized fatphobia. Check your gatekeeping.” —Amanda
“Fat is not a synonym for lazy.”
“I’d like people to think about how they describe or talk about weight. Being fat isn’t the worst thing to happen to somebody. [For example], one time my partner’s mom and grandma were talking about how my partner’s aunt used to be fat; [t]hey were using phrasing like ‘thank GOD she lost the weight’ directly in front of me, somebody definitely heavier than she ever was.” —Liv
By fostering awareness, kindness, and inclusivity, we can ensure that cycling remains a joyful and accessible activity for all.
Thank you for reading!
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Sources:
www.apa.org/monitor/2022/03/news-weight-stigma
education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/health-every-size
www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-health-benefits-of-electric-bikes
www.bicycling.com/culture/a28943613/body-positivity-cyclists
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