cycling · fitness · weight loss

Times are changing when Bicycling magazine says to ditch the scale

Sam B

You need a subscription to read it online, or buy the paper magazine. (I’m a fan and I have both.) But either way prepare to be shocked at this headline, Hey Cyclists: Quit Obsessing Over Your Weight! A MOUNTAIN OF RESEARCH SAYS YOU CAN RIDE STRONG AT ANY SIZE. HERE’S HOW in the latest issue.

The article tells the story of cyclists who’ve been advised by coaches and cycling friends, if you want to get better, get faster drop some weight.

“For many cyclists, this attitude—and the belief that achieving a certain weight is the key to performance—is not only unhealthy but can also cause lifelong mental and physical damage. As more evidence shows that weight is not a reliable indicator of health and that a focus on body weight is harmful, it’s clear that we in the bike community need to change the conversation on weight, performance, and well-being.”

The issue also goes on to profile some larger bodied cyclists, such as Lulu Carter, below.

Go buy the magazine and read the whole thing. It’s worth it!

Here on the blog we’ve also profiled some larger cyclists. See Big Women on Bikes and Plus Sized Endurance Athletes: We Exist.

Lulu Carter in Bicycling Magazine

Published by Sam B

Philosopher, feminist, parent, and cyclist! Co-founder of Fit Is a Feminist Issue, co-author of Fit at Mid-Life: A Feminist Fitness Journey, published by Greystone Books.

2 thoughts on “Times are changing when Bicycling magazine says to ditch the scale”

  1. Weight isn’t the be all and end all and is blown way out of proportion. There’s a definite unhealthy obsession with being skinny as a road cyclist. You can be strong, happy and heathy at “plus size” but that said, any time the road heads uphill it’s a fight against gravity. To take somebody of Lulu Carter’s size as an example, if their goal was to increase performance on any decent climb, dropping weight no doubt help.

    1. Right. I guess the point is the one professional cyclists understand. Not everyone has to excel at climbing. I think of a rowing friend who tried to go from being a heavyweight to a lightweight rower. I think he assumed his power would stay roughly the same. It did not. He turned out to beat much better heavy weight rower than he was a lightweight rower. I know for me I could lose weight and climb better but at the a certain point I’d lose the thing I’m good at, sprinting and sustained power on the flats. It’s not one size fits all which is one of the things I love about cycling.

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