All Bodies on Bikes
Creating a more welcoming and diverse bicycling community by bringing people together to support one another
“Nobody was talking about size inclusion or what it’s like to be a fat person who rides bikes,” Marley explains. “We realized we could contribute to this and we could make a difference. We want people to feel empowered that they can ride a bike wherever they want to go.”
Filmed in the summer of 2020 using COVID-19 safety precautions, All Bodies on Bikes dives headfirst into hard conversations about society’s obsession with weight, growing up fat, and issues of disordered eating. It also explores how the bicycle community can bring people together to support one another.
“People associate negative feelings with the word fat,” Kailey says. “People think that fat means lazy or ugly or undesirable. But really, fat is just a descriptor of our bodies. So, I try and use that word to describe myself. And to take the world back and what it means about my body but leave those negative associations behind.”
Kailey and Marley write, consult, and present workshops on body size inclusion in the cycling community, and have created an “All Bodies on Bikes Resource and Discussion Guide” to accompany the film. Both acknowledge that discussions around weight and size can be emotional and that this subject can be challenging for many people to discuss. The “All Bodies on Bikes Resource and Discussion Guide” includes suggested reflection questions and links for additional information and further reading.
This project is about the joy of riding a bike, and Kailey and Marley want to make sure that everyone has the chance to share that joy. So, hop on a bike and climb that big hill in town, hit up the local bakery for a tasty treat, or organize a group ride!
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Mountain Bike Action is a monthly magazine devoted to all things mountain biking (yes, that’s 12 times a year because we never take a month off of mountain biking). It has been around since 1986 and we’re still having fun.
