Looked like a Cyclist

A while back, I was called up by a gym and asked to cover an RPM class where the instructor had gotten sick. I'd taught at that gym before as my friend has a regular class there, so I was more than happy to oblige.

I like to turn up early before class and talk to the members, see if there's anyone who's new to RPM who needs help with getting their bike set up, and giving them an explanation of what to expect from the class. Typically I can tell when a new member walks in, just by their body language and nervous expression. I won't point them out in front of everyone, but I'll go up to them and chat to them in person on the quiet.

I saw this woman come in, displaying some of the nervous mannerisms that new people to RPM displayed, but when she set up her bike, she set it up perfectly and seemed perfectly comfortable with the equipment. Even from the way she positioned herself on the bike, she looked confident and sure of herself. I approached her and said, "You're... new to RPM? But not new to cycling, yes?" She then told me she'd been road riding for years but no, she'd never done an indoor cycling class before. I said, "Ohhhh that explains it! See, to me you just looked like a cyclist." I gave her a brief overview of what the format of the class was so she had some idea what she was for, though didn't pay as much attention to her bike setup as she already was looking like a pro.

I didn't get to talk to her again when she left as she immediately headed out the door once the class was over, but I kept an eye on her throughout the class and given by the big smile she had on her face, she seemed to be enjoying it.

Several months later, I was called by the same gym and asked to cover the class again. I headed into the gym and the same woman was doing weights and saw me. She stopped me and said, "Heeey! I'm not doing the class tonight, I didn't know you were going to be teaching it, but I just wanted to say that the last time you were here you *really* made my day."

I hadn't quite clicked as to what she was referring to, so I replied, "Oh yeah? How so?"

Here's what she said.

Because you said I looked like a cyclist. I've been riding for years, and noone has ever told me I look like a cyclist before.

You want to know the reason why?

It's because she was obese. Similar body type to mine. She had what would be traditionally described as a flabby gut, jelly arms, large thighs, double chin, whatever.

Though I genuinely didn't see that. I saw a strong core that held her in the right riding position, good pedal stroke technique, strong legs, and good movement on the bike for both speed work in the saddle and strength work out of the saddle.

I understood what she meant. I can imagine how many people would have looked at her and automatically judged her, despite her being a clearly competent rider. They would've written her off straight away. Of course, in a race situation this can be an advantage, when you're looked at and not taken seriously.

All the same, it does wear you down and I'll honestly say it is just *nice* when your skills, not your body size/shape are noticed straight away without having to prove it to someone. I have to do it every time I get up in front of a class and teach. I love it, but it is an extra burden that I have to take on that the majority of other instructors don't even think about.

I know that I've wished that I'd be seen for what I can do rather than what I look like, yet it's a surprise to me to find that I have been viewing other people through that same looking glass.

While although a surprise, it was not an unpleasant one in the slightest.