Carrie Schurman's bike symbolized freedom when she was a child. But as an adult, she found it a source of stress at times as she struggled with body image, ill-fitting cycling clothes and feeling like an outsider.
Why it matters: Schurman started a Des Moines chapter of All Bodies on Bikes, a size-inclusive cycling group that believes anyone who wants to ride a bike should be able to, without any emphasis on weight loss.
How it started: Schurman, who lives in West Des Moines, has always enjoyed cycling, ranging from her childhood banana-seat bike to her Wal-Mart steeds that got her through early adulthood.