Ditto, the above.

Personally, I wouldn't ride bikes to lose weight. I ride bikes to have fun. Any other benefits are side effects.

I was up to 205 lbs 15 years ago. My optimal weight is 145. I'm at 150 now, close enough. I lost the first 30 lbs just by modifying my diet: less beer, less sugar.

From 2001-2014 I could barely get any meaningful exercise -- my neck and back were broken in a car wreck and I walked with a cane until 2014. I lost 30 lbs just by changing my diet. I ate all I wanted, but less beer and sugar.

In 2015 I resumed cycling. I dropped from 175 to 160 over the next few years. But I was drinking more beer because I was socializing more and casual cycling groups revolved around the active local brewpub scene -- which is fine.

After being hit by a car -- again -- in May 2018 and a bout with thyroid cancer, I cut out the beer almost completely for a year and cut way back on the sugar. That's what got me down to 150. Not riding alone. Diet.

I still eat all I want. Sometimes I'll eat a whole large pizza after a 20-50 mile bike ride. But I eat far less sugary stuff. Usually the only time I eat anything with sugar is during a bike ride. And I drink maybe six beers a month now.

I'm already riding about 500 miles a month, harder and faster than any time since I was in my teens and 20s decades ago. That alone isn't enough to pare down that last 5 lbs of pudge around my belly and lower back. I'd need to completely cut out all sugar (other than as fuel during rides) and all beer. I'm not worried enough about 5 lbs to sacrifice every guilty pleasure.

Keep riding but do it for fun or whatever goals you have *other than* weight loss. Otherwise it'll suck all the fun out of the activity.

Cut out as much sugar as you can. Use it only for fuel for bike rides or other physical activities. Cut back on the alcohol if you drink. Don't get hungry -- eat all the other stuff you like. That'll pare down the weight more effectively than anything else.