Unbound Stories: All Bodies on Bikes

Words James Ion - Photography provided by Marley Blonsky

“This will be my fifth Unbound,” says Marley Blonsky with a casual kind of excitement that only comes from someone who’s found both purpose and joy in gravel riding. “This is the first year I’ve actually trained; every other year it’s just kind of been riding on vibes.”

Blonsky, the co-founder of All Bodies on Bikes, can be best described as a force of nature. From a simple conversation to a nationwide non-profit she and her co-founder Kailey Kornhauser have created something that will impact way more than just getting people on bikes. Their All Bodies on Bikes movement is about giving people the freedom to ride, the confidence to attain goals they thought were out of reach, to be more active, to be out there getting it done without fear of prejudice or ridicule and to experience the thrill of cycling.

We sat down with Marley to chat about the organisation, how it has evolved, where it is heading and how it is helping people take on the epic monster that is Unbound Gravel powered by Shimano!

"I just want to feel good at the end of the day and feel like I tried my hardest," says Marley from her home in Arkansas. For her, gravel is less about speed and more about belonging, and helping others find that, too.

Building a Movement From the Mud Up

All Bodies on Bikes began with a short film and a big idea: cycling should be for everyone. Since then, it’s grown into a full-fledged non-profit with 14 chapters across the U.S. “We’re trying to build an inclusive cycling culture,” Marley explains. “Gravel is the most approachable and inclusive for all body sizes and types. Events like Unbound have something for everybody.”

From hosting truly no-drop shakeout rides to manning booths at expos, the group shows up with intention. "We go 10 miles at less than 10 miles an hour, just to make sure your bike's together and you get to see some friendly faces before race day."

But where did it all begin? It started in 2018 with a summit in Montana and an overlooked conversation. "We were talking about diversity and equity, but nobody was talking about size," Marley recalls. She and co-founder Kaylee opened that discussion, and soon their advocacy became a movement.

The turning point? Shimano heard about their work and helped produce a film. "At that point, we were just asking for clothing, weight limits on bikes, and group rides that didn’t leave us behind. It took off."

Criticism? Sure, trolls exist. But the response has been overwhelmingly positive. Marley notes, "We weren’t saying, 'we're fat and going to ride three miles then get ice cream.' We were doing epic rides. Kaylee rode across Alaska. We took it seriously. And the industry responded."

Their advocacy works because it combines passion with purpose. "We presented it as a business case: 70% of Americans are overweight. If you’re not making bikes for us, you’re leaving money on the table."

Two key initiatives are driving systemic change. First, transparency around bike weight limits. "There's no requirement for manufacturers to disclose them. We're pushing for that."

Second, an industry-wide certification program is launching in October. "Shops can get certified as All Bodies on Bikes-compliant. That means they’ve been trained in size-inclusive practices and can better support bigger-bodied cyclists."

Joyful Riding for All

"We want to empower joyful riding, regardless of your size," Marley says. Joy might look like finishing Unbound or riding your kid to school. Or learning to love cycling again after years away. “We let people define what that joy means for them.”

The group's chapter rides are designed to be approachable. "We wait for everybody. Doesn’t matter what you wear or what kind of bike you ride."

Marley admits, however, that the influencer side of things can be a lot. "People will pass me mid-race and be like, 'Oh my God, it's Marley, let’s take a picture!' I’m like, can we wait for the aid station?" Still, her 43,000-strong Instagram following is a tool for change. Stories like Sebastian’s prove this: a new rider inspired by the program, now leading their inclusive rides in Massachusetts. “That’s what it’s all about,” Marley says.

Inclusivity plays a big role in the day-to-day of All Bodies on Bikes, which is why Gravel features so heavily; it is by no means the only discipline promoted, but of all the biking styles, Gravel has a massive draw, and it is really open to anyone. "Gravel is like the great leveller," Marley says. “It’s welcoming. You can go fast, or just show up and ride.”

Unbound itself has made strides, removing time cut-offs for the 50 and 100-mile events and expanding beginner support. “They’ve done a good job balancing the Super Bowl-like pro side with the mass participation.”

Wheels of Welcome: Lowering the Barriers

Marley’s also the force behind Wheels of Welcome, a gravel onboarding program launched in partnership with Unbound, The Rad, and Big Sugar. "It’s basically Gravel 101," she says. "What is gravel? What to expect, what to carry, nutrition, hydration, navigation, just trying to lower those barriers."

With over 200 participants in 2024, the initiative is clearly answering a need. "So many people show up underprepared. They have the fitness but don’t know what repair tools or etiquette they need."

This year at Unbound, all those who have signed up for the 25 or the 50 were informed about the program, and this year looks like the biggest sign-up yet. “It’s just about removing those fears to make sure that on race day they are prepared”, says Marley. 

What Success Looks Like

At Unbound this year, Marley hopes to finish, stay injury-free after knee surgery, and elevate the mission. “We want visibility, we want impact. I want people to see that fat folks can do hard things.”

Long term? More staff, better funding, international chapters, and a bike database by weight class. "Someone emailed this morning: 'I weigh 425 pounds, what bike do you recommend?' I want to have answers."

With visibility comes misunderstanding. Marley shares a laugh: "There was a time when every fat woman on a bike was called Marley. My friend Kate is a foot taller than I and still gets it. We've joked about making jerseys that say, 'All Bodies on Bikes, NOT Marley.'"

But the support is real. "Now, when someone sees an All Bodies jersey, they say, 'Nice work, go get it,' instead of something passive-aggressive. That’s progress."

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All Bodies on Bikes is changing the narrative one crank revolution at a time. And Marley? She’s not just riding for herself. She’s riding for all of us. To find out more, visit their homepage: https://www.allbodiesonbikes.com/ and follow them on Instagram @allbodiesonbikes