Barn Door Cycling
This blog is going to be a chronicle of my cycling life, staying focused on the experiences of an overweight cyclist. I’ll be writing about my weight loss, my riding and the characters I’ve met and reviewing equipment I use. There could be a little humor mixed in there here and there.
I’m 31 this year and have been fat my whole life and riding for most of it. I think you can be a totally successful cyclist even if you are fat. You can ride centuries, keep up on a group ride and have a good time, but in no way could you be as fast as if you were lighter. If that doesn’t matter to you, then I congratulate you, you’ve reached a level of zen that I’ll probably never reach, because right now I want to get fast… and I want to be more comfortable and have a better time too.
Besides my cycling and blogging careers I teach 8th grade art, have a wonderful, supportive wife, own a home and look forward to one day having some kids.
If you’re wondering about the name, Barn Door Cycling, that has to do with the phrase, “like riding behind a barn door.” I’ve heard it several times from riders behind me enjoying what they claim to be the best draft short of a tractor trailer.
9/29/15 Update
Just read my About Me page, not much has changed. I’m 36 now. Can’t believe I’ve kept up this blog for 5 years. I’m about 50 pounds lighter then when I started the blog, but most of that came off in the first year.
Probably the biggest change is that I’m no longer an art teacher, I’m a mailman now. Still married, still no kids.
Barn Door Cycling 
I have never thought much about the draft riding behind Matt, but I have always enjoyed the company and thought provoking conversation riding WITH him.
I like drafting off Matt. It’s like having a rope tied to his bike. …and he has a sweet ass!
I was awarded the honor of the Liebster Award. I’m passing it on to you. Thank you.
Matt – glad to see you’re keeping up the blog. Interesting stuff. Maybe I’ll get a bike to ride one of these days. Hope all is well..
Danny
hey nice to hear from you, I’d recomend getting a bike, they’re great.
Matt, I think you should write a book about your Blog and cycling experiences. You epitomize the common man trying to address health issues, competition, struggle and day to day challenges. It might not be the right time to do it, but in your writing you express a true understanding for the value of cycling – friendship, the beauty of this God’s Planet Earth and good health. NYC Bike Snob did this based on being a prick. Let’s hear from a good guy.
Thanks, but I’m not sure if I’m ready for the big times yet LOL
Hi! I’m Sue, and I’m from SlimKicker, a fitness/diet app and online website. I found your blog yesterday and it captured my interest!
I’m contacting you b/c we’re about to release a fitness tracker (similar to FitBit) early next year, and are looking for bloggers who would be interested in receiving 1 for free to review when it is out (negative or positive).
Would you be interested in doing this? You can email me at: sue (at) slimkicker (com) with ‘Review’ in the email heading if you are.
In case you don’t know, our online website SlimKicker basically turns your fitness/diet goals into a level-up RPG game. The tracker will work with the website, and allow people to track calories burned and number of steps they walk automatically. The more they exercise, the more points they rack up! That’s basically how it will work.
Anyway, hope to hear back either way…
– Sue
P.S. You can choose not to approve this comment as this is more of a private comment 🙂
Hi Matt,
Great blog! I was wondering if you accept guest posts. I’m a freelance writer, as well as a fellow cycling enthusiast, and I was just wondering if you’d be interested in an article on how to store your bike properly in order to keep it in good condition. If this sounds like something your readers would benefit from, or if you’d like to see any of my published posts, please get back to me and we can work something out.
Thanks!
James
Sure, you can email me at mattgholson at gmail.com
Matt – Your blog is looking great! Hope all is going well. Miss your political and especially sports incites. Of course the others have picked up the slack. Buying a bike this weekend, but not of your caliber.
Danny
Matt-
Just found your blog. Clearly you have put a lot of time into it. Glad to be back in the area and hopefully we can ride soon. Just don’t leave me too far behind.
Karl
Matt,
Just came across your blog. Really enjoy the spirit you have for cycling… and life. I write a blog (also about cycling) and I know how important it is for each blog to have it’s own ‘voice’ and ‘soul’. Yours does. Congrats. I’m an RSS follower now.
Steve
THANKS!
Be inspired!
Matt, just discovered your neat site today. I too love cycling in southern IL but live a good 3 hours north of you. At some point I would love to pick your brain as I do love bicycle touring down in southern IL. and you seem to be a wealth of information.
Take care and keep up the nice work.
Rob
Great blog Mr. G! Merry Christmas