Fat Phobia and Cycling

By Jason X

Last week I mentioned that there are many different kinds of cyclists and ride styles.  Some ride slow while others race everywhere.  Some ride for exercise while others ride because they can’t afford any other form of transportation (some do both!).  The cycling world is full of diversity despite the whitewashed images you see in cycling magazines and at races.
Another related thing I have been pondering is the Occupy Wall Street movement going on right now.  The “We are the 99%” battle cry is a difficult one to make.  For the most part, from what I’ve seen, it has been a movement of young, old, white, black, disabled and many other demographics. Like the cycling world I know, the Occupy world is a diverse one despite the whitewashed picture in popular media.
But then it comes down to the rhetoric that the movement is producing.  There have been many statements from the Occupy movement that have not been inclusive.  The word “occupy” alone sends a sting to indigenous communities.  In New York, a people of color group had to block part of the first official declaration because of lazy non-inclusive language.  I think there is something exciting happening where there are spaces where dominant groups of people can stop and learn from those that have been oppressed long before this economic depression.  However, those people must listen and learn or their “99%” battle cry is hallow, empty and offensive.

So what does this have to do with bicycling?  Well, I want to pick a little bit of a fight with the way some cyclists talk about cycling and cyclists.  First, lets go ahead and state the obvious that often gets ignored – Not everyone is physically able to ride a bicycle.  People that are differently abled can ride trikes with hand cranks or other modifications but there are some people that just can’t propel themselves down the street.  Abolishing all other forms of transportation and holding the bicycle up as a panacea is ableist and offensive.  One of the things about the Hub of Detroit that I wish I could change the most is the flight of stairs people must walk up to get to our Back Alley Bikes Shop.  This excludes some people from using our space or accessing it safely.  Hopefully one day we’ll have the money to make a fully inclusive space.  Until then we have to work with what we have.
I think most cyclists understand the concept I’ve mentioned above and most just want the bicycle to get more respect in our society as a great piece of transportation.  They are uncomfortable with able bodied people that drive down their driveway to pick up mail instead of walking.  Those folks that can’t even bike (or walk!) a few blocks with their family to the library when it is within their means.  I hope people would not chastise someone with a mobility impairment for doing such things though.

There is another group of cyclists that I don’t think are fully accepted though.  Fat people ride bikes.  Maybe that isn’t shocking, but let me say it again so you can think about it.  Fat. People. Ride. Bikes.  Like all the time.  Maybe you know fat people that cycle or maybe you have read the success stories online of someone losing over 300 pounds by riding a bike.  I don’t think there is anything wrong with these stories but let me go farther by saying this:
I don’t think there is anything wrong with the people that stay fat!  Their stories are equally as great because…they are riding which is what we want right? Can we all agree on that? Well then consider the following.
As cycling is more and more being called a “movement” of social change, I think the people engaged in such a “movement” should be careful with the words and images they use.  I recently saw this image online that showed a picture of a bike and it read “This one burns fat and saves you money” followed by a picture of a

car that read “This one runs on money and makes you fat.”
Let me back up again and go to the beginning of my article – everyone rides for different reasons.  Everyone on a bicycle is not exercising.  Some people may be biking to eat at a fast food restaurant right next to a bunch of motorists.  So putting this “fitness first” idea out about bicycles excludes people that aren’t into bikes for fitness.  If you want to have an inclusive bike “movement” then don’t change course and advocate for fitness.  That is just divisive. There is nothing wrong with fitness but make cycling the main issue first.
I would argue that the image above does not promote cycling. What it does is promote fat shaming. Can anyone actually argue that the word “fat” in this image is used in a positive way?  According to this image fat is something you want to get rid of.  How does that make fat cyclists feel?  Let me tell you that I know plenty of fat cyclists to whom the word fat is not a negative thing.  They are quite comfortable with their bodies and form of transportation.  Some of them ride to get somewhere or to have fun.  They aren’t riding to escape their bodies.  By putting fitness cycling first you are leaving behind all the folks that can’t keep up in your peloton.  If you are a fast fitness rider, don’t stop, keep doing what you are doing but if you go out to advocate on behalf of “cyclists” remember that they don’t all look or ride like you. Producing popular images like this as part of the “cycling movement” hurts more than helps.

“Wait!” you cry, “What is wrong with people being physically fit!?  There is totally like an obesity epidemic going on dude!”  First, don’t call me dude.  Second, fitness is just fine, but perhaps we shouldn’t be so narrow in our definition.  If you are going to be so simplistic about weight, lets talk about how muscle weighs more than fat.  So, if you are like me and are extremely skinny, than you probably gained weight when you begin to cycle because your legs grow and you have muscle for the first time in your life.  So using a simple number of pounds is not an indicator of fitness or health. I have to eat fat to have energy to ride! I’m not trying to get any skinnier.  Fat is good!  If I go a week without eating peanut butter or avocados I get sad.
Speaking of muscle as an indicator of health, cycling is an activity that can increase heart health.  If you aren’t aware, your heart is a muscle inside your chest that keeps you alive.  It isn’t a muscle that you can see.  When you loose fat around or inside your heart you don’t see it.  So what do you have to say to someone who is fat but has good heart health?  Are they not fit?  Maybe not by your definition.
Outside of “fitness” there is so much more to health.  What about being outside and getting fresh air to improve your lungs?  What about the good a bike ride can do for your mental health?  These health indicators aren’t catchy phrases spray painted on a wall, but they are positive health effects of biking.  What about the health of a community where neighbors wave to each other as they bike down the street instead of honking as they swerve their car around a child playing by the curb? What if some of those folks riding by and waving happen to be fat?
I suppose those issues are talked about, but I think it would be much easier to talk about those issues without letting fat hatred wiggle into the cycling “movement.” I would much prefer images and slogans that can represent all cyclists. I can’t speak for fat folks since I am not one, but I don’t see my fat friends raising their fist to a car and saying, “My bike is better because I’m losing weight!” That isn’t how they feel. Really, as a skinny person that isn’t how I feel either. Though, I am proud of what I can do under my own power. My legs can take me places close and far when I’ve got my bike. However, if those legs were fat – I’m sure they would still take me where I wanted to go.