Inpd

When-ever I see a really big guy/gal I've always amazed at their will power. Today I saw a guy who said he was 489 pounds and you could see it was really hard for him to pedal (his legs were like Christmas hams) as he was only 5 foot.

Unfortunately, I couldn't think of anything inspirational or noteworthy to say to him apart from "keep it up". Any suggestions?

dr_lha

Just talk to him as you would a fellow cyclist. That's all I wanted when I felt fat and out of place on a bicycle with others. Giving encouragement all to easily sounds condescending to me.

Doohickie

Personally it's probably ScottStr. Unfortunately he doesn't really ride anymore. I try to guilt him into riding whenever I can but I haven't been successful.

CafeVelo

There's always a few people at event rides who are big, and some are customers of mine. I'm always internally proud they want to take charge of their health (which is usually the story) and I help them as well as I can. Probably because I sympathize on a smaller scale, since I grew up fat and was ~250 lb eight years ago. I'm candid with them about gear restrictions and the things they'll have to work through if they ask me, but I treat them like anybody else who comes in.

theres an old guy who's at least 270lb who comes in, despite his weight he rides a ton and can motor it. He's always looking for 18mm tires.

DMC707

I gotta admit - in the places i ride and who i ride with, i'm generally the biggest guy there (5'9, 325 lbs or so)

LAst time i went to Angelfire to run some downhill trails, - one of the female staff members was complimenting me , saying i looked like i was "doing great out there" and "keep it up" -- she was really a sweetheart , but i knew the deal.

The fun part is that in actuality, i have 20 years of motocross and a small amount of BMX experience under my belt , after the first hour to acclimatize myself , i was on the rivet and having a blast. (Not blacks - all the drops and big jumps are a big much for a plus sized Teddy BEar still )

Another backhanded compliment another guy gave me at the local trailhead once was when a guy approached me and told me he saw me there frequently and i was an inspiration - LOL - he was a little chubby guy himself, but not 3 bills

I would just assume not be an inspiration, and not be a guy people take notice of on the slopes because of my size -- but i'm working on it -- when someone says something to me trying to be positive i just give 'em a sincere thanks and tell them i am trying to have fun with it !

In reality, --i dont have any fun except when i piddle around on my BMx -- for me every ride is a mission, and i know my lap times on every mtb loop and lake road in a reasonable radius of my home , and if i'm not on a recovery ride, i am trying to beat my previous times because thats a sickness i have. Its not as much fun when every ride is a mission of sorts and it burned me out years ago (and burnout resulted in my now corpulent physique) -- but now i am grateful to have a fire lit inside me again -


On the flip side, i have seen a few other quite large gents on the trail that have significant beer muscles but still move along pretty sprightly --- the one who comes immediately to mind is a dude who looks like he might have been a D-1 defensive end 25 years ago, but now weighs about 270 -- legs like a darn bodybuilder though and that guy takes no prisoners on the flats -- but i dont ever say a nice thing to him as my goal is to destroy him on the bike in a few months

catgita

I read an editorial recently where the person said the encouraging remarks had the opposite effect. I could never explain it so well, but it makes sense that comments to anyone, anyone, should be normal and inclusive, and draw no attention to anything that may make them feel otherwise.

So appropriate comments (or better still, questions) would be about the weather, the road ahead, something you have in common...

chasm54

I couldn't say how big the biggest was, but I absolutely agree that the nicest thing you can say is hello and welcome - nothing else. Treat people as you would wish to be treated. I'm guessing that means not drawing attention to the fact that you're astonished they can manage to get astride a bike, however "nicely" you try to phrase it.

If people ask for encouragement or advice, give it as tactfully as you can. If not, treat them exactly as you would anyone else and avoid making remarks that are personal, however well-intentioned they may be.

TrojanHorse

I don't understand why you feel the need to inspire people.

indyfabz

+1. The premise of this thread seems to me to be condescending. I don't feel the need to inspire anyone, much less inspire someone because of a physical characteristic they possess. I even know a guy with one leg who rides (and plays hacky sack.). I don't offer words of encouragement when I see him on the road.

OP: Let's see some photos of you riding one of your many bikes. That might help others come up with some encouraging words.

IBOHUNT

Just a 'hey, how you doing" kinda thing.

Jarrett2

Maybe I'm that guy? I think its just a matter of perspective. I'm sitting around 275 and my legs are like tree trunks, but I drop most of the skinnier guys on rides. So no one is typically encouraging me to do more. Occasionally, I go ride with the racers and they drop me after a while. They tend to say nice things to me at that point. The one I hear the most is, "Man, you are really fast for a big guy." My girlfriend takes offense at that, I feel like it is a compliment.

Occasionally, I will pass someone that was my size a couple of years ago and I try to think of something encouraging to say. A couple of times I've passed guys that have 80 lbs on me as we're going up a hill and I typically say something like, "we've got this!" to suggest we're both in the same boat and we can tackle it.

jsigone

Just say hi

Velocivixen

Before I lost 100 lbs, when people would remark "You're such an inspiration", etc. I knew what they were getting at. Basically, you're a fat girl and you're out here trying hard to be active. If I was healthy weight I doubt anyone would have remarked. On one hand I appreciated the encouragement but on the other hand I knew they were saying it because I was overweight.

So....when I see anyone on a bike who is out there giving it their best, whether they're overweight, disabled or whatever, I always make a positive comment about their bike. I might say, "Hey, that's a cool vintage Peugeot you've got there." or "How does your Cannondale ride?" Something about cycling but not having to do with any implications on weight or perceived ability.

I walk/run half marathons and have learned that you can't judge someone by their size. I regularly see larger folks running who can easily pass me by - because they've trained consistently.

PhotoJoe 

"It's a beautiful day for ride, isn't it", or "Man I hate the wind". My favorite is when I get to say "thank you" after they just called out "on your left" as they pass me up!

Pamestique 

I agree... I have been riding all of my life, am a strong rider but admittedly, am old and fat and while climbing a hill, whatever, get those words of "encouragement" "looking good" "keep it up!" "Almost there..." Yes, I know I am almost there; I've done the route 100s of times!!!!

Know what you do when you see a fellow cyclist? You nod or wave; smile. Nothing more is needed. If you need to say something, how about "Great day for cycling!" or "Awesome views on this climb!" You can even ride with him alittle bit and if he asks, then offer some advice. Otherwise, let him endure his ride and suffer, as we all do...

Jarrett2

lol, I actually enjoy my rides

squirtdad

I have really mixed feelings about this topic. I feel that 99.99% of people who make comments have fully good intentions.

It is kind of like the people who stick around and cheer those people who are in the last 10 finishers of a run (I know that place) especially when the people are clearly hurting and slow. Is that encouraging or condescending?

I see people in all sorts of activities and fitness/skill levels routinely giving other participants encouragement.

I have routinely done so also..... and may think about my exact comments or encouragement.

My bottom line is that I will assume all comment are well intentioned and and be secure in my knowledge of my self.

dagray

I am 6'3" and 360 pounds. While doing the Tour de Cure wearing the red jersey that identifies me as a diabetic people were yelling "Go Red Ryder". In fact we were encouraged to yell this at those like me wearing the red jerseys. I found it encouraging and helped fuel my ride as there were a couple hills that were a bit difficult and there were a couple times I went into that proverbial tunnel; I completed the route I signed up for in a very good time (2.5 hours total for 25 miles).

I don't mind being called an inspiration or someone giving the "backhanded" complement as I know where I have been and I know where I am trying to go. March 2014 I was over 400 pounds naked, and now I am 360 pounds dripping in sweat wearing wet cycling bibs.

DMC707

I think its human nature ------ sometimes its maybe because the person is seeing something they havent seen before - like a 300 pounder still trying to send it on the downhils, or in Jarret's case, a big guy hanging with the skinnies up the hills, or a big 'ol guy pulling a leadout train down the road at 24 mph because we can really move on the flats once the momentum gets going.

Sometimes blowing people's minds is a bit of fun --- but when people come up to talk to me, i have done what Velocivixen suggested before also and i deflect back to my bike --- as in, "Yes, this Fox fork can really take a beating" - or "...... this Cannondale almost makes it easy to ride briskly" etc.

Its interesting to me how many of us have had roughly the same experiences with this subject

Heathpack 

Haha, I remember the first time I did a KOM-type climbing century. I hadn't been riding very long and wasn't sure I could do it, a friend suggested I give the ride a try so I did. I'd carefully worked out all my pacing and things were going great- I was way ahead of pace & feeling strong. For a newby middle-aged lady cyclist, I was rocking it.

I was however passed by dozens of more experienced faster climbers all day and 70% of them felt the need to say something "encouraging." I remember getting increasingly irritated by all the patronizing "good job!"s and "almost there!"s. Close to the top of the final climb, I had reached my limit and told one of my encouragers that he was really doing a very good job too, I was really proud of him.

I guess he found that amusing because he slowed down a bit & rode with me to the summit and we just chatted normally for the ensuing 15 minutes or so.

Count me in as someone who sees it as a little disrespectful to try to motivate or encourage someone else on a bike. Chatty, friendly, or willing to provide assistance when asked, sure. Commenting on your physical attributes or abilities? Not me.

Pamestique 

Here is the difference... do you cheer everyone in the race the fast to the slowest or only the slowest? I have sat and cheered on races myself... I offer the same cheers to everyone. What becomes an issue is when someone feels then need to give the big/slow guy encouragement... the guy is out there isn't he? Just my opinion, I don't need encouragement - I am motivated probably MORE than the slim/fast guy... I just need to be treated like any athlete... that is how I see myself...

Zweivoss

Can't speak for other people, but personally, I just like to be treated like a person. Being "encouraged" is likely to just make me feel pathetic. It's fairly obvious when someone is pandering to me and it makes me uncomfortable. (Though...human interaction in general makes me uncomfortable. xD)

BradH

I don't remember who the biggest was. I just lift my hand off the drops and give them a nod, the same as anyone else I meet on a bike.

bbandu

Well for me the biggest person I have ever seen on a bike is myself. I am topping the scales at about 305 these days. I started this adventure around the 335 mark.

As a big guy myself I agree with alot of what has been said above, I think that most people have good intentions when they try to give encouragement to a big guy/gal out there riding. However the more this happens the more it could start to bother someone on a ride especially if it happened alot at once.

I run into quit a few cyclist on my rides and for the most part I just give a head nod or a wave and keep on trucking. From time to time when I make one of my stops to refill my water bottles I will run into other cyclist and they usually talk to me like any other cyclist.

D1andonlyDman

I'll usually say something along the lines of "keep it up - I used to be bigger than you before I got back into riding" Note: I've dropped from around 290 lbs to under 170 in a little over 2 years.