Originally Posted by
StanSeven
It's an interesting question. I don't see the original question as offensive. As the OP explained, he wondered how reasonably fit riders can have a potbelly. The answer, at least to me, is diet. If nothing else thus thread maybe helped some people get a little healthier by watching their intake.
Diet is big for sure...the biggest factor...but so is 'type' of mileage. More miles isn't necessarily better for body fat content. Studies have shown that excessive endurance riding versus shorter duration intervals for example which builds muscle, release more free radicals and hence a higher BMI for the same body weight. More fat, less muscle. True of my body. I got more lean by doing few and harder miles versus doing 50-60 miles per day at a lower power level.
My $0.02