To ride a bicycle despite being an elephant?

[annabanana84]

I've just got a new bicycle and have learnt to ride it and absolutely love it! As well as giving me a lot of joy, it's a great workout, yet doesn't feel like I'm doing much exercise because it's so fun!

All good, right? Well, not quite. As I'm over 20 stone, a few people I know have said to me that I must look ridiculous at my hefty size on a bicycle. I feel self concious while riding because of their comments, but I've cycled past teenagers, adults and kids and had no double aghast looks from any of them!

Only if you wear a fez. An elephant on a bike needs a fez.

Elephant on a bike here I bloody love it, was over 14 stone when I started cycling again last year. Keep going, get a computer thingy and you will be surprised at how many miles you will do. I managed 30 miles on Sunday although took me most of the day get padded shorts too and a female saddle. Cyclists are a friendly lot generally, most wave and smile. Good luck.

Just keep the tyre pressure up, OP :). You'll go faster too.

Cycling is great exercise especially if you are larger as it doesn't put a strain on your lower joints in the way eg running does. It's also really easy to build into your daily life - most people can easily cycle 5 miles even if you've never ridden before, so you can fit it in with popping to the shops, getting to work/school/nursery etc. Also excellent for exercise with the whole family.

And the heavier you are the more calories you are burning! Bonus calories burnt by hauling a baby/toddler/preschooler.

We don't own a car, cycling everywhere keeps me fit and sane, it's my 'meditation'. And it's been easy to keep up throughout pregnancy, unlike Manu other forms of exercise.

*many not Manu - wtf is Manu?!

YANBU, my DH is similar, very fit and wins races because the other competitors write him off

Enjoy the wind on your face and leave the people who said that far behind! I'm not particilarly large but I ride a kick scooter and over on another thread I was dismayed by the negative reactions to adults on scooters...
But really it saves money, it gets me fit, its funny, it makes me feel in control of my life and most of all - I love it! So happy to join you in saying "fuck 'em"! Please keep on cycling.