All Bodies on Bikes

In this episode, Marley and Ellen share a spicy take coming out of Unbound (complaining about mud = peak privilege), celebrate three Argentinians who biked 10,000 miles to Kansas City for the world soccer championship, recap the All Bodies on Bikes Midwest tour, and share their summer plans before signing off until fall. Don't forget to share & subscribe! Submit your Unbound Untold Stories to...

Sometimes you just need a snack, and sometimes you need to stop the ride and get off. How do you know which is the right decision for you? Marley recently rode her longest ride EVER (!): 230 miles of the Oregon Outback route (https://bikepacking.com/routes/oregon-outback/ Marley modified this to be shorter mileage per day). BUT... she had intended to ride the entire 364-mile route. Today she walks...

In this conversation from September 2024, you'll see Marley and Ellen's very first episode together, with guest Iresha Picot, founder of Black Girl Joy Bike Ride in Philadelphia. It's awesome to see how full of light and joy Iresha is. Iresha is currently a featured athlete for Bicycling Magazine. While the content of the full campaign is telling stories of cycling for weight loss, Iresha barely f...

May is Bike Month! Marley & Ellen catch up and share what some of our chapters are doing to celebrate bike month. Plus catch up on our latest goings-on, and grab a spot at our Midwest Film Tour! 01:41 Bike sizing and price gaps Marley has seen at her new job 03:37 Yay Bike Month! 10:05 Chapter Events Roundup 11:47 Midwest Film Tour Dates 16:29 Bike Month ideas 17:32 Bike to School Day 20:12 Ou...

Even the littlest among us deserve to be on bikes! Today we're talking with Sam Balto, better known as @CoachBalto or @BikeBusWorld on social media. By posting videos of a joyous river of school kids riding bikes through the Portland neighborhoods, he has garnered national attention—as well as hosted some of the biggest entertainers for a morning ride. The bike bus movement is more than viral vide...

April 21, 2026 is a day of national action for bike infrastructure. The League of American Cyclists in the Washington Area Bike Association are organizing in response to threats that the federal government is going to remove a bike lane from 15th Street in Washington, DC. (Marley actually talked a little bit about this when she was at Bike Summit; she led a protest ride along the 15th Street bike...

How young can kids start riding in bike seats? Are training wheels or balance bikes better for teaching kids to ride bikes? What about cargo bikes, are they good for families? Ellen (founder of KC Family Bike Ride) and Marley go through some frequently asked questions we hear about cycling with young people. We may not have seen it all, but we've seen a lot. 02:50 Stride bike versus training wheel...

Today we're recapping Marley’s trip to the National Bike Summit in Washington, DC, hosted by the League of American Bicyclists, including... a surprisingly meaningful Lobby Day meeting with Oregon representatives and staff how the summit’s diversity felt refreshing, why face-to-face advocacy can move policy Marley receiving the Susie Stephens Award for Joyful Enthusiasm and having an opportunity t...

"I saved him, and I changed my life. What a weekend." —Donna Smith, Mid South DFL 2026 (50mi) Donna Smith didn't intend to be more than a Mid South 50-mile finisher when she set out to train for it as part of the All Bodies on Bikes 2026 team. Luckily for one rider, her training—and her strong body—helped save a life by administering CPR at mile 6. And she met Millie the friendly cow at the Salsa...

By now you know our tagline — all bodies are good bodies, all bike are good bikes, all rides are celebrated. Kristen Owenreay's story from her 2026 Mid South 100-mile ride is all of these things and more. Celebrating DFL at Mid South is about more than a party; it's about gifting the finish line experience to every rider. Kristen faced mechanical issues, health issues, logistics issues, and more,...

Are you ready for ten minutes of joy?? Our new film by Shimano is live TODAY on YouTube. Watch it now: https://youtu.be/nCFaOAMtzNo What are you waiting for?? We Are Cyclists: The All Bodies on Bikes Story picks up exactly where the first film left off in 2021 before All Bodies on Bikes was even a thing. Back then, it was just a radical idea that we all deserve joy and to ride bikes. In the five y...

The new short film WE ARE CYCLISTS: The All Bodies on Bikes Story picks up where the original film left off. We see what self-described fat cyclists Marley Blonsky and Kailey Kornhauser have created in the six years since the original film was released, following them from coast to coast and meeting members from the community that they have created. In this panel, you'll hear from Marley and Kaile...

There’s so much happening! First off we discuss how All Bodies on Bikes is doing amid major funding challenges. HINT: If you’re able to support All Bodies on Bikes by becoming a member, now is the time! Visit www.allbodiesonbikes.com So what’s going on in the next few months? We’ll be at Mid South this weekend, March 3-16, including an expo booth, ABOB members riding the 50 and 100-mile routes, an...

Today Ellen and Marley welcome strength and performance coach and mountain biker Miranda Lyle, founder of Play Strong Fitness, where she specializes in mountain biking conditioning programs. We discuss why muscle mass, strength, and durability support longevity and better riding. We also talk about gym motivation, return-to-sport conditioning after injuries, butts... er, glute strength , and why y...

This is a short conversation Ellen & Marley had with Jarrod Alder before our DFL discussion last episode. Jarrod was a key organizer of Minneapolis’s Alex Pretti Memorial Ride on January 31st, 2026, held just a few days after Pretti’s murder at the hands of ICE Agents. The ride in Minneapolis saw over 5,000 participants, and there were more than 300 rides around the world. This is a story of r...

This is the third and final episode in our 3-part series on The Mid South Gravel bike ride. You cannot talk about the Mid South without talking about their now-infamous DFL (Dead-F*cking-Last) party. So we invited two of our favorites on to talk about it. Jarrod Alder tells his story of his muddy Mid South ride that sparked the first party back in 2017, and Beth McBride shares her experience as th...

In this episode, Marley Blonsky—who is somewhat notorious for NOT training before a long ride—interviews Coach Dave Schell, cycling coach for the All Bodies on Bikes Mid South Gravel team. Dave helps all athletes fit training into their lives, making it enjoyable, effective, and doable. They talk about the importance of consistency, how to manage stress about working in a ride, and tailoring worko...

Each year All Bodies on Bikes takes a team of non-traditional athletes to Mid South Gravel for the ride of their lives, focused on joyful movement and fun. They train together virtually through the winter from their homes across the country, then finally come together for a weekend full of excitement, endless miles of red dirt, and some of the best parties you’ve experienced, INCLUDING the “DFL” d...

If you’ve ever said “I could do that!” when you see cool bike influencer content, this episode is for you! In this episode we get a peek behind the curtain into Marley’s life as a professional cycling influencer and athlete, from contracts & comments to authenticity and selling out. Ellen’s perspective as a marketing professional helps you understand what brands are looking for when working wi...

Today we're chatting about Marley's recent experience of doing everything kind of... well... wrong after being hit by a driver in a car while on her bike. And honestly if a post-crash freak-out can happen to Marley, it could happen to anyone, so we want you to be prepared! We outline the correct steps to take if you're ever in a similar situation, including how to check your body and your bike, wh...

Want to ride more in 2026? Marley & Ellen are here to help you find the right cycling event for you! There are tons of rides that are inclusive and enjoyable and match your goals, whether you're interested in gravel or road cycling, long-distance rides, or social rides. What can you look for to know if a cycling event is inclusive of all riders? Check the event details for non-binary or gender...

Marley and Ellen dive into the importance of choosing the right cycling clothing, especially for individuals in larger bodies. They share personal experiences and offer practical tips for various biking needs, from casual commuting to long-distance rides. 03:18 All Bodies on Bikes began with size-inclusive advocacy 04:18 Challenges of finding cycling clothing for people in bigger bodies 05:56 How...

What. A. Year. In many ways, we are ready to wave good-bye to 2025, but there were some truly incredible things happening all over the cycling world—and we got to talk to a lot of the people doing them. In this episode Marley & Ellen revisit our favorite podcast moments from 2025, including: Emily Chappell ( Spotify | Apple ) Gaza Sunbirds ( Spotify | Apple ) — Donate today - they’re at nearly...

Ready for your first bike fit? Here’s what to expect! A bike fit is beneficial for all riders, regardless of size or riding experience. A lot can change during a bike fit, like saddle positioning, handlebar adjustments, crank length, and Q factor. Ellen & Marley also provide tips on DIY fits and budget-friendly options. We hope you leave this episode feeling confident and ready to get a bike f...

What should you consider when purchasing a new bike? It depends! In this episode Marley and Ellen go over the questions we hear most often—how do you choose a shop? How do you know what type of bike to choose? What about sizing and weight limits when you’re researching bikes? How can you show up to a test ride prepared?  All Bodies on Bikes is working with bike shops across the country to mak...