Firstly, this is not an attempt to cause arguments. Some ppl will hopefully twig the username and know that. I genuinely am curious about what ppl think, because I'm assuming you're all thinking one thing and getting miserable about it, and it might be you're not.
What do you think when you ride past a 'morbidly obese' person out on the trails? Yay, good on you, go for it, or **** off back to your sofa you fat knacker? Honesty welcomed. This post brought to you by a rather horrible experience at Dalby.
Option 1.
I'd probably be more intersted in the bike you were riding than how heavy you were
definitely in the 'good for you' camp
Doesn't bother me but I'm overweight!
If I had the choice then good on you.
To insult them and call them a fatso to boost my self esteem is bid childish.
Good on them for getting out and doing some exercise, whilst wondering what form their post ride snack will take! 😉
1. They may well be pushing themselves more than I am.
Neither. I would just say hiya.
Usually initially 'Jeez!'
Followed by 'Fair play'.
Fat people are more fun and generous than slim people. Falstaff on a mountain bike? Makes more sense than a serious-minded 0% fat drone on one, far more in the spirit of the sport. Ride on big man, ride on.
Good on them, coz you know it's going to be killing them.
Would people really make fun? I mean some scrotes might but normal people? I remember I'd often see an overweight guy running when I was on the way to work and was impressed he stuck at it - hope he got the results he wanted. The only time I've been a bit miffed was when an overweight chap turned up for a ride without telling me he couldn't ride up hill - did cause a few problems with the group
I carry a bit of timber myself so I'm in the 'good on you' camp.
If they're [i]really[/i] mahoosive I do feel some sympathy for the bike.
I do find the sight of obese people doing exercise a bit difficult, largely because it often looks quite painful.
That said, I'm over that initial feeling pretty quickly and am generally pleased to see someone getting out and getting stuck in.
I take it the morbidly obese person is riding or exercising?
In which case, yay, you've got to start somewhere and stomping up the climbs when you are really really that big is probably quite risky.
But yes i assume ther morbidly obese person who is exercising is doing so with the idea of becoming less obese as well as enjoying him/herself.
hmm..prey tell - you weren't subjected to a big brown crack flash were you?This post brought to you by a rather horrible experience at Dalby.
It tends to be the gluttony that irritates me about the fat, so when I see one trying to be active I think 'good on ya!', I think it's good to see anyone trying to improve their situation.
how might one pose a [b]dis[/b]honest question ?
ernie_lynch - Member
Neither. I would just say hiya.
Would you f Ernie; you'd just insult them and call them a c.
You're not prejudiced though, I'll give you that...
Personally, being completely honest; I think 'good on yer for making the effort to get healthier'.
My opinion may differ if I saw the same person sitting in a car throwing crisp packets etc out of the window.
Fat people are more fun and generous than slim people
unless you try to touch their food 🙁
Opt 1 everytime.
honest answer: I'd think "Gosh what a fatty, I wonder if their bike will break ?"
There's always some arse on the trails, you can't run your life from that. Personally I don't care who you are or what size you are, if you're out riding and not being an arse (dropping litter/intimidating people) I'll be glad to see you. People can be cruel, don't let it stop you doing what you enjoy.
People can be cruel
but what one might [b]think[/b] doesn't constitute cruelty...
Option 1, without question.
However, I am more interested in the horrible experience at Dalby 🙂
Think "good on yer" for skinny whippets to the morbidly obese, as they are the clever arses who will have the multi-tool or pump I have forgotten to take out with me when I break down. However, if they are in my way on a trail, I will think of less charitable things (fat or thin again) 😕
All we need now is for someone to post a thread asking what to do if you see a obese gypo on a bike, then we have the trifecta.
I know how hard it is to get a larger frame up a hill in comparison with a smaller frame, that probably colours my judgement. The scrawny amongst us have little experience to back up their negativity generally, though I do believe they're right to prefer slimness (on health grounds) the way they go about it needs modification.
Absolutely honest, I get a bit of a squirm at the sight of morbidly obese people, I find the sight both guiltily funny and a bit gross. My "being nice to people" instinct then kicks in and I mentally note that it's good to see people making what must be one hell of an effort to get out and about.
Generally - good on ya, unless they are squeezed into too small lycra. Then I think "Ewwww" first, and then good on ya.
All we need now is for someone to post a thread asking what to do if you see a obese [b]Muslim[/b] gypo on a bike, then we have the trifecta.
Fixed it for ya free of charge!
My "being nice to people" instinct then kicks in and I mentally note that it's good to see people making what must be one hell of an effort to get out and about.
Hmm. I consider that it's probably a much bigger challenge for them than it is for me, and therefore deserving of respect.
I'm a skinny runt and always trying to get my overweight friend out on his bike which is like taking blood from a stone. If I did manage to get him out and someone said a comment like that I'm not sure what I would do, I mean I'm not sure what I wouldn't do.
Like a fair few people, its not the size of the person, its the bike! "oh what bike/forks have they got" and a smile & a wave if they catch me checking the bike out.
The only time I have a little voice in my head is if the ass crack is showing, again I wouldn't say a thing, at least they are trying to do something about it.
I wouldn't say a word to anyone, fat or not. Now if they were a close friend, then I'd rip it to them as I'd know I'd get it back (banter).
I'm unable to ride anymore due to hip problems (only 36) yesterday a very fat person rode past on an expensive full susser as I was walking the dog, first thing I thought was "that poor bike", second thing was "how the **** can he be able to ride and I cant"
Definitely option 1.
Who gives a monkeys on weight and other stuff, especially when they're out exercising, possibly in an effort to shed a few pounds.
I hate to say it but the trail centre "community" is seriously getting too far up its own "elitist" backside. And that is my opinion from various experiences I've had around Dalby recently. The funniest one was in the Dalby Dare at the weekend, where we were giving some encouragement to the riders getting up the slab, and one rider told us in no uncertain terms to go f^%&* ourselves! 😆
Option 1. If they're on a bike and trying to lose weight, or just riding for the fun of it, then good on them.
loulo.................why did you not say hello when you passed me. 😉
i think good for them for not being sofa test pilots and for having a go
I never really recall peoples weight, although I usually notice peoples height for some reason??? 😕
Anyone I see on the trail, I always think "Good on 'em!!"
I feel a lot of respect to anyone out enjoying their bike 🙂
Option 1 as you can't knock someone for giving it a go. If it was one of my mates though, "banter" would be expected!
Wow. Consider me demiserabled. Which isn't a word but might be. Or something.
Right.
I'm the 'morbidly obese' rider in the question. I'm also female.
I ride a Marin hardtail. I ride blues at the moment though I'm trying my first red next week on a weeks holiday based entirely around riding my bike.
I wear lycra but only under other things. It hides ass cracks, and no one sees the sausage legs ;O)
Riding up hill hurts. But it's a good hurt because it's where fat is burnt and it's what I do to earn the absolute _glee_ of the downs.
My general experience of the biking community has been awesome.
A dishonest question would be one intending, as someone mentioned, to give people the opportunity to bash 'gypos', 'fatties' etc. I'm fat, I get to call myself fat. No trolling here.
Dalby. All it took was one mechanic laughing his ass off while pointing at me to ruin my day. I wanted to know peoples honest responses, and it's helped, because I can explain, perhaps, things which people didn't know or had assumed.
Mountain biking is the only thing, and will continue to be the only thing, which destresses me, gives me confidence, and most importantly saves my life. Dramatic, yes. But true also.
Thank you for your honesty. I'll sit a little taller on my bike next time I go out.
That's the French for you - stink of garlic, don't wash and are generally rude 🙂
Glad to hear you not going to let idiots stop you.
go for it!
Definately 1, will also look at the bike and be impressed thats its holding up, as most often when you see overweight people they are on halfords specials which are hardly designed for heavy people.
And BTW that mechanic is a tw*t for pointing and laughing
Thank you for your honesty. I'll sit a little taller on my bike next time I go out.
You go for it lady! Treat people how you'd like to be treated and let karma pick up the pieces!
Some people are cocks, plain and simple.
Stick with it.
I've always found us mountain bikers to be a friendly, chatty and outgoing bunch.
All one family 'us against the world and we have something special that the others don't know about' type of thing 🙂