Foo - I know why spandex shorts on men are considered by some to be "gay". . .

It's cuz' you aren't wearing big ol' football pads underneath them.

And sorry, you gotta wear a jock with those bike shorts (and football pads) or you're gonna "those looks!"

Look at all those football players--tight, tight spandex KNICKERS, for gawd's sake, but they are as all-out macho as any group of guys out there!

But you bicycle dudes do have a one-up on the football guys; you have MUCH nicer looking legs'n buns.

IMHO. . .

;)

My fave Anthro prof wrote extensively on just this topic:

Dundes, Alan. “Into the Endzone: A Psychoanalytical Consideration of American Football.” Interpreting Folklore. Ed. A. Dundes. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 1980.

It's cuz' you aren't wearing big ol' football pads underneath them.

And sorry, you gotta wear a jock with those bike shorts (and football pads) or you're gonna "those looks!"

Look at all those football players--tight, tight spandex KNICKERS, for gawd's sake, but they are as all-out macho as any group of guys out there!

But you bicycle dudes do have a one-up on the football guys; you have MUCH nicer looking legs'n buns.

IMHO. . .

;)

Wearing lycra bicycle shorts does not make a man gay. Being sexually attracted to other men makes a man gay. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

And if those football jocks are so macho, why are they always slapping each other on the ass and dancing like nancies in the endzone?

And if people want to give cyclists those looks, let them look! They can see what a real man looks like.

But putting a jock strap under bike shorts won't make a guy look manly. It'll just make him look dumb! He might as well tattoo "Please give me infected saddle sores" on his forehead.

Underwear Nazi
You're durn straight we have better legs and buns!

And if people want to give cyclists those looks, let them look! They can see what a real man looks like.



Here Here! with bike shorts there is no false advertising.You get what you see:D
But football why just what are they trying to hide under all those pads :eek:

and guys its about time you realize most athletes wear lycra now days when training and running. Why would you want to wear all that hot and heavy stuff when you are working out?

It's cuz' you aren't wearing big ol' football pads underneath them.


Gee, and I thought it's because (around here at least) the majority of people are redneck dickheads. Oh well, bang goes that theory then!



Look at all those football players--tight, tight spandex KNICKERS, for gawd's sake, but they are as all-out macho as any group of guys out there!

Oh that's nothing, you should see the gear the surfers around here wear everyday.


But you bicycle dudes do have a one-up on the football guys; you have MUCH nicer looking legs'n buns.

Oh well, now if I can just find a way to ride in 50 tonnes of padding and not die of heat exhaustion, I might be able to score! BTW, what are your opinions on men who wear red?

Wearing lycra bicycle shorts does not make a man gay. Being sexually attracted to other men makes a man gay. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)

Kind of reminds me of a reply I'm saving up to use next time I get one of those "poofter" taunts (i.e. next time I wear red).

"You're staring at my ass, and I'm the one who's gay?"

BTW, what are your opinions on men who wear red?

Are you trying to tell me red is one of "those" colors for men in Australia?

Goodness gracious!

I think red on a guy is jes' fine, unless his complexion clashes with it! If my husband wears certain shades of red, it makes him look like he's coming down with some disease. . .

Please, please explain about red down there!

Are you trying to tell me red is one of "those" colors for men in Australia?

Goodness gracious!

I think red on a guy is jes' fine, unless his complexion clashes with it! If my husband wears certain shades of red, it makes him look like he's coming down with some disease. . .

Please, please explain about red down there!

Here in Queensland, which is about 35 years behind the rest of Australia, red is considered one of 'those' colours for men in Australia. I wear it because I happen to like it, but around here it seems a lot of 45 year old teenage rednecks do not. It's their problem, not mine.

Interestingly enough, I didn't get those sort of reactions when I wore it in Tasmania. I can only concur with my sister's philosophy on this issue. Often people in cooler climates are more civilised.

Wearing lycra bicycle shorts does not make a man gay. Being sexually attracted to other men makes a man gay. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!)


Yes, you are right, but there are a whole LOT of guys who wouldn't get caught dead in lycra--because they think it makes them look "un-manly"!


And if those football jocks are so macho, why are they always slapping each other on the ass and dancing like nancies in the endzone?

I know why I'd be slapping football players asses in the end zone. They feel good!



And if people want to give cyclists those looks, let them look! They can see what a real man looks like.

With the correct fit, they certainly CAN!



But putting a jock strap under bike shorts won't make a guy look manly. It'll just make him look dumb! He might as well tattoo "Please give me infected saddle sores" on his forehead.

But don't you realize that under that tatoo, in small, fine print it'll say "I'm Bob B!tchin' and I am a real man, cuz I can put up with the pain. . ."



Underwear Nazi
You're durn straight we have better legs and buns!

As for yer legs and buns, I'm a doubting Thomas--let's see em!

...there are a whole LOT of guys who wouldn't get caught dead in lycra--because they think it makes them look "un-manly"!
It probably would. For some men to slip into lycra shorts would be problematic, at best. The end result would not be pretty.

That's all I have to say about that.

Yes, you are right, but there are a whole LOT of guys who wouldn't get caught dead in lycra--because they think it makes them look "un-manly"!


Any item of clothing that so prominantly displays the bits could hardly be described as 'unmanly'. Quite the opposite in fact - they leave no doubt as to the gender of the wearer.

As to thinking that bike shorts are 'gay' - it's never occured to me. I always thought the people yelling 'poofter' or '******' on their car windows were advertising rather than abusing. Unfortunately I'm happily married, so their offers don't temp me.

As to thinking that bike shorts are 'gay' - it's never occured to me. I always thought the people yelling 'poofter' or '******' on their car windows were advertising rather than abusing. Unfortunately I'm happily married, so their offers don't temp me.

:roflmao:

Any item of clothing that so prominantly displays the bits could hardly be described as 'unmanly'. Quite the opposite in fact - they leave no doubt as to the gender of the wearer.


As to thinking that bike shorts are 'gay' - it's never occured to me. I always thought the people yelling 'poofter' or '******' on their car windows were advertising rather than abusing. Unfortunately I'm happily married, so their offers don't temp me.

Maybe the people yelling the names ARE advertising, 'cuz they think the spandex is advertising?
;)

Maybe the people yelling the names ARE advertising, 'cuz they think the spandex is advertising?
;)

You obviously haven't seen me in my bikeshorts. The only advertising I could do would involve my picture with the word 'Before' underneath it.

I don't think it's just the lycra; after all, other athletes wear lycra. It's also shaving legs, and being skinny. Let's face it, being thin and neat- well, you all know the rest. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Also bike shoes go clop clop when you walk, sort of like women's high heels. And cyclists will say things like, "How many fat grams did we burn?" etc. So you have skinny guys with shaved legs in lycra shorts with all their goodies outlined,wearing shoes that clop and worrying about how much fat they burn. SO it's not unlikely that the less enlightened will think they're gay. Not that there's anything wrong with it!

I don't think it's just the lycra; after all, other athletes wear lycra. It's also shaving legs, and being skinny. Let's face it, being thin and neat- well, you all know the rest. Not that there's anything wrong with that! Also bike shoes go clop clop when you walk, sort of like women's high heels. And cyclists will say things like, "How many fat grams did we burn?" etc. So you have skinny guys with shaved legs in lycra shorts with all their goodies outlined,wearing shoes that clop and worrying about how much fat they burn. SO it's not unlikely that the less enlightened will think they're gay. Not that there's anything wrong with it!

Well I am thin, single never, married no kids, but neat thats a stretch, shave my legs NEVER that is gay ;) (not that there is anything wrong with that.) I don't know how many fat grams I burn but I do tell people I ride so I can eat all the chocolate I want so I guess if you add that all up I could be mistaken for gay. But come on it takes a real man to wear bike shorts in public :D

Don't worry guys, my science teacher supports gays so we can all go live with him :D

It might be because I grew up in Werris Creek, but I can remember a time when "gay" actually meant "happy". Kind of puts a whole new perspective on this thread, doesn't it? In fact, last Monday's commute kind of reminds me of that ol' favourite "singing in the rain".

Men in spandex shorts are yummy.

:)

Men in spandex shorts are yummy.

:)

Before or after a ride?

Chris, enough with the fashion faux pas. Everyone knows basic black can be used for any occasion.

i've always wondered how ya'll keep the details of yer buldge from showing... but i doubt i'll be wearing tight shorts any time soon.

You can't really stop it showing Merton. Depends a lot on the cut of the shorts, position of your "meat and potatoes" and colour of your shorts. Put it where its comfy and bugger... erm, I mean ignore... the looks. If people want to stare at your crotch that is there problem.

I've always wondered how ya'll keep the details of yer buldge from showing...
Just ride in cold weather and don't think about sex :D

Down here a lot of sports people shave their legs and wear lycra. Cricket players (Mark Waugh) shave their legs to stop the pad straps pulling out hairs and for the massage. Footy players shave to reduce the grass burn from sliding on grass, they also wear lycra tights in Winter during training.

CHEERS.

Mark

The solution is easy to lessen the public's resistance to cycling shorts...Keep a pair of somewhat longish soccer shorts in your jersey pocket..Put them on while off the bike.
No one knows the difference.. While on the bike, it is no ones' concern.

The solution is easy to lessen the public's resistance to cycling shorts...Keep a pair of somewhat longish soccer shorts in your jersey pocket..Put them on while off the bike.

Or alternatively, just ignore people's stupid comments and continue to wear the cycling shorts wherever you damn well feel like it.

I could care less about people's reactions to the appearance of cyclists..But, when inside a store's boundaries, I usually feel more comfortable when others are more comfortable.
Stop at an outside coffee shop or restaurant , I could care less. In fact years ago, I remember stopping at a coffee shop frequented by cyclists..While Wearing soccer shorts, I was the one who was rediculed.
I do think educating non-cyclists to the usefullness of cycling clothes is a good idea. They just do not understand its' functionality. When they realize our feet are spinning at 90 rpm's, maybe then they will realize the fact that traditional shorts get in our way.
One only need look at the condition of traditional cotton shorts that one might wear over cycling shorts, while riding .....It takes a very rigid cotton fabric to not come unravelled.
The one's I have used have a very short life, before they are trashed.Plus our arses hurt.

A couple of years ago I stopped at the local pub for a brew after one of my rides, I had on my tights. Tese two guys at the bar kept glaring at me like I was strange (well maybe I am but they didn't know that) finally one asked "My buddy wants to know why you were tights?"

My response was "cuz I got the legs for it" ;)

He laughed and said "you ain't got the legs fot it you got chicken legs" and bought me a beer, he's now my egg man and wolf whistles whenever he sees me in tights or shorts.

You can't really stop it showing Merton. Depends a lot on the cut of the shorts, position of your "meat and potatoes" and colour of your shorts.

I just throw it up my back under the ole skinsuit and tell anyone who asks it's just a big Camelbak hose. I do have a problem with the Idahoes though. Too big to call bladders, too small to call reservoirs. So I just call them my flow meters and leave it at that.

one asked "My buddy wants to know why you were tights?"

My response was "cuz I got the legs for it" ;)



Can I use that one?