The Big Rider’S Guide To Cycling

From seeing spoke-thin Tour de France professionals to overhearing talk about power-to-weight ratios, road cycling can seem like an intimidating sport for heavier riders. But as cycling is non-weight-bearing, it’s actually the ideal pursuit for overweight riders, tall riders, heavy ex-rugby players or former cyclists who have piled on the pounds in middle age.

“Cycling is an inclusive sport,” says Bianca Broadbent (@thecyclephysio), specialist sport physio at Spire Healthcare. “There are a multitude of specialisms, from road to gravel, each with options to adopt a position that works best for your confidence, capability and shape. Cycling is also low impact, meaning that you place less strain through your soft tissue.”

Cycling physio Nic Roberts (velophysio.co.uk) concurs that cycling is a smart choice for overweight athletes. “Cycling is a great exercise compared to running as there are less forces going through the joints, particularly if you have had knee, ankle or back problems,” she explains.

Weight and body image are highly sensitive), who lost 31kg though cycling. “Cycling is just a normal sport for normal people.”