Quench'd: All Bodies on Bikes!

August 2nd, 2024 | by Marley Blonsky

This week on Quench'd we welcome Marley Blonsky! Whether it's in her hometown of Bentonville, the bustling streets of NYC, the scenic champagne gravel of Steamboat, or the wide-open spaces of Montana, Marley has always greeted us with open arms and a smile. Her warm jokes and friendly presence light up every event. Marley is the driving force behindAll Bodies on Bikes, an organization dedicated to making cycling more inclusive for everyone. Welcome, Marley! - Carina

Four years ago I was 30 miles deep into a 60 mile bikepacking trip, filming the short film “All Bodies on Bikes” that upon its release, would upend my life as I knew it. There is one line in the film where I say “Where do we go from here with this conversation?,” which in retrospect is the beginning of All Bodies on Bikes as we know it today.

As the film spread rapidly through the cycling world in 2021 and 2022, it quickly became evident that we had tapped into something big. People in bigger bodies felt seen in a way that hadn’t happened before and they wanted more. I started fielding email requests to lead rides all over the country, to appear on podcasts, to give size inclusion trainings to brands and nonprofits. Suddenly this passion project that I’d worked on for years had legs and a lot of attention, and thus, All Bodies on Bikes the organization was born.

Four years ago I was 30 miles deep into a 60 mile bikepacking trip, filming the short film “All Bodies on Bikes” that upon its release, would upend my life as I knew it. There is one line in the film where I say “Where do we go from here with this conversation?,” which in retrospect is the beginning of All Bodies on Bikes as we know it today.

As the film spread rapidly through the cycling world in 2021 and 2022, it quickly became evident that we had tapped into something big. People in bigger bodies felt seen in a way that hadn’t happened before and they wanted more. I started fielding email requests to lead rides all over the country, to appear on podcasts, to give size inclusion trainings to brands and nonprofits. Suddenly this passion project that I’d worked on for years had legs and a lot of attention, and thus, All Bodies on Bikes the organization was born.

In the beginning, we didn’t have any official business or nonprofit structure. I basically ran it as an extension of my personal brand, inviting people to ride with me via social media and throwing the All Bodies on Bikes name on as well. Throughout 2021 and 2022 my personal brand was growing rapidly, allowing me to travel frequently for film screenings, bike events, and influencer work. As I traveled, I’d lead rides wherever I went, spreading the word on All Bodies on Bikes.

As word grew, demand for local rides quickly exceeded my capacity as the primary organizer (at this time.) My Co-Founder, Kailey Kornhauser, was finishing her Ph.D., so while she provided much needed strategic direction (including reigning in my often wild ideas), I was the boots on the ground. In discussion with Kailey, we made two very important decisions: to launch chapters and to explore incorporation as a nonprofit.

In the beginning, we didn’t have any official business or nonprofit structure. I basically ran it as an extension of my personal brand, inviting people to ride with me via social media and throwing the All Bodies on Bikes name on as well. Throughout 2021 and 2022 my personal brand was growing rapidly, allowing me to travel frequently for film screenings, bike events, and influencer work. As I traveled, I’d lead rides wherever I went, spreading the word on All Bodies on Bikes.

As word grew, demand for local rides quickly exceeded my capacity as the primary organizer (at this time.) My Co-Founder, Kailey Kornhauser, was finishing her Ph.D., so while she provided much needed strategic direction (including reigning in my often wild ideas), I was the boots on the ground. In discussion with Kailey, we made two very important decisions: to launch chapters and to explore incorporation as a nonprofit.

The chapter idea was simple - train up local volunteers on how to lead an inclusive ride who would then lead All Bodies on Bikes rides in their area. The nonprofit idea - well, that would take some figuring out.

Fast forward two years and we’ve done both. We officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in April of 2023 and have just received our first sizable grant, allowing us to pay me as the Executive Director. We also currently have 13 chapters, with plans to add at least four more this year. We also have a podcast, are entering our fourth year of taking a cohort of athletes to a gravel race, and have size inclusive merchandise (up to a 6x.)

The chapter idea was simple - train up local volunteers on how to lead an inclusive ride who would then lead All Bodies on Bikes rides in their area. The nonprofit idea - well, that would take some figuring out.

Fast forward two years and we’ve done both. We officially incorporated as a 501c3 nonprofit in April of 2023 and have just received our first sizable grant, allowing us to pay me as the Executive Director. We also currently have 13 chapters, with plans to add at least four more this year. We also have a podcast, are entering our fourth year of taking a cohort of athletes to a gravel race, and have size inclusive merchandise (up to a 6x.)

It’s been an absolutely wild ride!

I have to remind myself regularly that this is real and is making a huge difference in the lives of many people, and I’m the lucky one who gets to do this for a living.

Credit for all images: Marley Blonsky

More about Marley: Marley is a self-identifying fat adventure cyclist, co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes, co-host of the All Bodies on Bikes podcast, curve model, advocate and consultant. She is fiercely passionate about size inclusion, believing that everyone deserves full access to life-including at work, in sport and at home.

Marley loves all kinds of bike riding, especially overnight adventures, long gravel rides and riding her cargo bike with her dogs in the front box. Marley might not be the fastest cyclist out there, but she rides with determination, grit and perseverance, leading her to multiple last-place finishes!

Credit for all images: Marley Blonsky

More about Marley: Marley is a self-identifying fat adventure cyclist, co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes, co-host of the All Bodies on Bikes podcast, curve model, advocate and consultant. She is fiercely passionate about size inclusion, believing that everyone deserves full access to life-including at work, in sport and at home.

Marley loves all kinds of bike riding, especially overnight adventures, long gravel rides and riding her cargo bike with her dogs in the front box. Marley might not be the fastest cyclist out there, but she rides with determination, grit and perseverance, leading her to multiple last-place finishes!