It was January 2023 when Ryan Grewell, tipping the scales at 487 pounds, decided he needed to make some life-altering changes.
Now, 275 fewer pounds and 11,000 bicycling miles later, Grewell is on his second Register’s Annual Bicycle Ride Across Iowa.
“I traded my food addiction for a cycling addiction,” said Grewell, 37, of New Philadelphia, Ohio.
His original plan to lose weight was to start eating healthier and taking walks. The first part of the plan went OK; the second part, not so much.
“My knees were killing me,” Grewell said of his early attempts to walk off the weight.
Instead, friends suggested he try bicycling because it would be less stressful on his joints.
“I felt like a kid again, there was so much freedom,” Grewell said of mounting a two-wheeler.
Weight-loss story draws worldwide attention
Progress, as could be expected, was slow at first.
“Going 5 miles in the beginning was a big accomplishment, but soon I was going 20 miles,” he said. “By the end of 2023, I was doing 60- to 70-mile rides regularly.”
And the weight began to melt off.
“I had a goal in the beginning of losing 60 pounds by Oct. 1 (2023),” Grewell said. “I actually lost 60 pounds by March and 100 pounds by June 1. I lost 140-150 pounds by the end of the year.”
Since then, Grewell’s story has been covered by international publications such as Newsweek and the Times of India.
He said he hopes his weight loss story will inspire others.
“I’ve had someone come up to me and say, ‘I lost 35 pounds because of you,'” he said. “That is so gratifying. Hopefully my experience clicks with someone and they can make a change.”
RAGBRAI temptations? He just burns them off
Grewell calls RAGBRAI “a state fair on wheels” with the concept of “Iowa nice” on full display.
“I’m a people person and it’s an opportunity to meet people and make friends with people from all over the world. When you think about it, our love of bikes is the icebreaker,” he said. “Because we all share that common interest, it’s easy to talk to anyone.”
Like a state fair, culinary temptations lurk everywhere on RAGBRAI, but that’s not something that bothers Grewell. He is, after all, burning calories at least as quickly as he’s taking them in.
He dined three times last year on the famous Mr. Pork Chop’s offerings and also enjoyed breakfast burritos.
But Grewell’s favorites vendors along the route are the kids.
“I love stopping where little kids are selling water or pie, maybe to raise money for a trip,” he said. “I brought $800 with me last year and spent most of it.”
Like most cycling enthusiasts, Grewell said he has invested plenty in equipment.
“But in the end, there are Ferraris and there are Chevys,” he said. “Both accomplish the same thing.”
Grewell, a photographer, said bicycling has not only been a road to better physical health, but mental health as well.
“I’m a very connected person on the phone all the time,” he said. “When I’m on my bike, I’m fully disconnected from all of that. I’m in the moment.”
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Ryan Grewell brings his ‘cycling addiction’ from Ohio to RAGBRAI after losing 275 pounds
Reporting by Kevin Baskins, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
