View Full Version : Maybe I'm just too self-conscious
I have a question for all of you 250lb+ cyclists. DO any of you guys were tights or jerseys? I would really like to, but my fragile ego won't let me. I wear tights under my jeans on teh way to school and work, but I know they would feel great without the jeans. I hate riding in jeans!
ANyone else have this problem?
I have a question for all of you 250lb+ cyclists. DO any of you guys were tights or jerseys? I would really like to, but my fragile ego won't let me. I wear tights under my jeans on teh way to school and work, but I know they would feel great without the jeans. I hate riding in jeans!
ANyone else have this problem?I weigh 255 now but when I started wearing tights I weighed aver 300. Then I rode with cycle tights and a loose T-shirt. The shirt covered my gut & but pretty well and my legs didn't look all THAT bad.
I eventually started wearing cycle jerseys. I still have somewhat of a gut and I like to get the jerseys large enough – which is a problem, but Performance has SOME extra large sizes.
I say wear the shorts and, if you must, cover them with a loose, long T-shirt.
BTW - My 13 YO daughter has always been very embarrassed to have me riding around in my “goofy” bike outfits. If I ever went past her and her friends I was told to do it as quietly as possible and pretend that I don’t know her.
The other day she informed me that she is now longer embarrassed ! ? Many people in the community have seen me cycling 20 - 40 miles from home and climbing big hills. She says that the boys in her crowd were very impressed and they said that what I did was “cool”.
It only took 2 years of cycling to go from a fat kook on a bike to being “cool” and impressing a lot of kids - and their parents. All in all it doesn’t really matter to me what people think, but it’s nice to have someone tell my daughter that I’m cool.
demoncyclist
12-04-03, 11:18 AM
Dress for functionality on the bike, and don't worry about how you look. The fact that you get on a bike is more important than any percieved fashion faux pas. If anybody has a problem with how you look, they are just jealous of the fact that you are doing something they wish that they were brave enough to do. Keep it up!!!
DEMON
I have a question for all of you 250lb+ cyclists. DO any of you guys were tights or jerseys? I would really like to, but my fragile ego won't let me. I wear tights under my jeans on teh way to school and work, but I know they would feel great without the jeans. I hate riding in jeans!
ANyone else have this problem?
Ease into the lycra/spandex "experience." Try mountain bike style shorts with the build in spandex liners.
When you can handle those, move on to full on, show-yer-shape "bicycle dude" shorts.
MichaelW
12-04-03, 11:44 AM
Try wearing some lightweight, windproof polycotton hiking pants. They are far more practical than jeans, and look pretty normal.
When Im riding to someplace to do something, Id rather look like a civillian than a pro racer.
wjcronin2002
12-12-03, 03:29 PM
I'm 6'7", 290, and stand out like a sore thumb when I'm grooving on the road. When I first started riding I was wondering what people thought, and How I looked, but after awhile I got so into riding that I wanted to be as comfortable as possible. My wife and kids don't want to be seen with me, but I'm decked out in my lycra, American flag dew rag under my helmet, and bright blue glasses. It's all about the ride!
Allen H
12-12-03, 04:57 PM
I'm 6'1", 215 lbs.
I DO have the perfect jersey, though: "The Old Guys Who Get Fat in Winter Racing Team" (see attachment). I got this jersey at the recent SF VeloSwap.
My 16 and 14-year-old sons call me "geek" or "dork" or "punk" whenever I ride up to them in my gear (and they act like they don't know me, so they can deny any relationship later with anyone who noticed, if necessary ;))
Other than that, I don't get much reaction ;).
megaman
12-12-03, 08:43 PM
Great Jersey! I'm about the same size as you, Allen. Any idea where I can get one?
Allen H
12-12-03, 10:32 PM
Megaman-
try:
http://www.velogear.com/newfatguyjer.html
and enjoy!
wjcronin2002
12-13-03, 05:10 AM
Allen - that is so cool! Thanks for sharing - now I know what I"m getting myself for Christmas!
Hi,
same here. You get used to it. Tights are thicker and a little easier to take....but they are also warmer. Bike jerseys and sweaters are great. Huge improvement.
Maelstrom
12-13-03, 09:02 AM
I have a question for all of you 250lb+ cyclists. DO any of you guys were tights or jerseys? I would really like to, but my fragile ego won't let me. I wear tights under my jeans on teh way to school and work, but I know they would feel great without the jeans. I hate riding in jeans!
ANyone else have this problem?
I don't have a problem with being self concious. I just wouldn't do it. Performance or not, for me personally, I hate spandex (feel or look)
bpohl,
I'm now around 230lbs and wear lycra and cycling jerseys. That is my personal choice. When I was over 260 I did the loose fitting t-shirt thing too. I just started wearing jerseys at 240lbs.
Do what feels right for you.
In my opinion, anything that keeps you off of your bike is a bad thing. Anything that makes you comfy, both physically and metally, and helps you to ride is good.
The Rob
12-13-03, 12:40 PM
I'm still above 200 lbs. (dammit! :mad: ) but my reason for eschewing lycra has more to do with my own aesthetic than worrying about those of the public at large: I hate clingy clothing! Give me a roomy pair of cargo shorts (with a nice chamois undergarment, o' course) and a loud Hawaiian shirt any day. I may not impress those obnoxious 'serious' roadies, but I also don't have to peel myself like a grape after a warm-weather jaunt.
<snip> Give me a roomy pair of cargo shorts (with a nice chamois undergarment, o' course) and a loud Hawaiian shirt any day. <snip>
Hmm, this exactly the way our 15 year old son dresses. (not just on the bike either) :D
briansvr
12-13-03, 01:04 PM
6'6" 255lb.
What amazes me are the four differenct occasions this summer when absolute strangers, male redneck types, yelled comments about my butt while I was riding. hmmmm, I must assume they were trying to propsition me!!
Really, unlike most other sports it's almost impossible NOT to look like dork in road cloths: the helmets, shoes with raised fronts due to cleats, spandex--it's a loosing battle.
The Rob
12-13-03, 01:19 PM
Hmm, this exactly the way our 15 year old son dresses. (not just on the bike either) :D
I'm young at heart. :D
I hate clingy clothing! Give me a roomy pair of cargo shorts (with a nice chamois undergarment, o' course) and a loud Hawaiian shirt any day. I may not impress those obnoxious 'serious' roadies, but I also don't have to peel myself like a grape after a warm-weather jaunt.
I'm just the opposite. I hate loose fitting clothing when riding. I like tight (but not too tight) shorts and tights.
When I'm not riding I like loose (but not too loose) clothing. Nothing clingy when I off the bike.
BTW: I was 240 pounds (109 kg, 17.1 stones) when I started riding. I wore lycra shorts after about a week of riding in cut-offs. The cut-offs were too uncomfortable so I said the heck with my ego, embarrassment, etc. I'm now down to 195 pounds (88.5 kg, 13.9 stones) and "upgraded" to bib shorts last June. Much more comfortable than regular lycra shorts.
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