Road Cycling - To fat for lycra and jersey?

I'm getting ready to go out for a ride on the road bike. Great weather temp is in the upper 60s F and little to no wind. So, I have don'd my Pace cycling shorts and a really cool Velo jersey from the Death Ride in California that I purchased off of ebay last winter. I look in the mirror and for the first time I had a thought of not being sure I should be dressed like this. (?) I have never had an issue with wearing cycling clothes in the past even when I was much heavier. I guess I would often wear a loose fitting t-shirt to cover the imperfections. Now around 225lbs I still have a bit of a stomach and some loose skin from the loss of over 100lbs. Man, I don't want to be a poser, or just another fat guy in lycra. Perhaps I just need to get out on my old bike and ride leaving this thought in the mirror.

Sorry for the long post. I guess there may be others who will be facing this same dought as the cycling season comes upon us.

edit: I've attatched a photo taken when I got home.

eh...just ride.

eh...just ride.

I agree. you didn't get there overnight, you wont get back from there overnight and you will never get back from there lessn' ya ride!

As a former poser Big Guy (6'2.75", 216 lbs lifetime max), I want to cheer you up a little.

You're going the right direction and you just have to keep going. When you finally bottom out you can get plastic surgery to get rid of the extra skin. That's commonly done. Don't stop now.

There's always somebody faster and there's always (we hope) somebody slower. You're always going to be in the middle. Don't worry much about where you are compared to everybody else. Just watch what you eat and ride more and harder.

Someday you're going to be in pretty good shape and the wind will be blowing 25 mph, and those wispy 130lb climbing weenies will be looking to hide from the wind behind you. They'll shell you as soon as the road goes up unless you get in really good shape, but you will be appreciated and you will have your place. Stick with it, and live the healthy good life.

Over the years I have done a lot of towing and a lot of leadouts. Seems like I will never sprint at 40-46 mph (I'm 45 years old), but this year I show promise as a climber. I'd bottomed out at 184 lbs in January before I got sick for a month and gained 13 lbs to 197. I've dropped to 194, but I'm really struggling. I'm counting on the time change next Sunday to turn me around on my way to 179 lbs. I'm already climbing well, doing a lot of standing and high rpm sitting going up the local hills. Every time I waver, I ask myself: "You want to go to Colorado this summer or not?". So far, it's working.

As for the lycra, don't worry about it. I bet you're in better shape than almost anybody who doesn't ride a bike, and a large fraction of those who do. Wear the club, sponsor, and ride jersies. There's a "Green Demon" club ride down here in a month, and guess what, I'm gonna get my "Incredible Hulk" (Marvel Comics, you bet) jersey out. And I will be doing some towing on the front. And I will be valued.

man you lost 100 pounds!!! thats great, don't worry about how you look in lycra just remember how you used to look in lycra

Break the mirror and do what you want. 240# Joe

Thanks to everyone for the kind words! Ya know, last summer I didn't really even give it a second thought. Perhaps it was just a momentary lapse in my ego. :)

I posted a photo to the original post. I guess its not as bad as I had thought. Well, at least my wife didn't think so.

I have never had an issue with wearing cycling clothes in the past even when I was much heavier. I guess I would often wear a loose fitting t-shirt to cover the imperfections. Now around 225lbs I still have a bit of a stomach and some loose skin from the loss of over 100lbs. Man, I don't want to be a poser, or just another fat guy in lycra. Perhaps I just need to get out on my old bike and ride leaving this thought in the mirror.

Too fat for lycra? Never! - if you have this jersey, at least:

(I think it's the perfect "cover" for us, ahem, bigger guys until we're in summer shape, at least!)

You think that's fat? You must have high standards... hahaha... ;)

Too fat for lycra? Never! - if you have this jersey, at least:

(I think it's the perfect "cover" for us, ahem, bigger guys until we're in summer shape, at least!)

OH THATS GREAT! Where can I get one?

I got mine at the SF bikeswap last fall, but I've seen it in the Velogear catalog or online, too - in fact, it's RIGHT HERE:

http://store.velogear.com/newfatguyjer.html

If you do 'the Death Ride' instead of just wearing the jersey, you'll lose another 5 lbs!
Seriously, you've done great, keep up 'being a loser' by riding more!

I got mine at the SF bikeswap last fall, but I've seen it in the Velogear catalog or online, too - in fact, it's RIGHT HERE:

http://store.velogear.com/newfatguyjer.html

What no XXXL?


Thanks for the link Allen! That is just great. Now I'll have to work on the wife to let me get one. ;)

If you're wearing the clothes to impress other people, you're a poser even if you're in great shape. If you're wearing them because they are comfortable and practical on the bike, who cares what other people think.

When I ride my Harley, I am image concious. I have to wear the right glasses, jacket with patch, gloves, boots etc. If I don't look like Fonzie, somethings amiss.
When I ride my bike, I look like a cross of Urkel and Latka Gravis. On the bike, image means nothing. Then again, I ride the bike by myself on nature trails. No one to impress but the squirrels.

Last summer I had those very feelings. After 17 years off the bike I was up to 270 when I started riding again. The last thing I wanted to do was be seen in lycra. You just need to ride and not worry about what non-riders think. Other riders will think It's great that you are getting out. I'm down to 190 and now enjoy putting on the lycra.

Just ride. You look fine.

Just ride. You look fine.

Aww shucks. Thanks. :o

Ugh, I hate to admit this. I looked a guy in the group ride yesterday - I was the newbie - and thought to myself, he's 20 pounds overweight and a poseur. On the hills, I barely beat him and on the flats, he smoked me. So much for my stupid judgements.

It (once again) ain't about how you look.

55/Rad

At least you can buy sizes that fit you.
I am 6'3" and 290 lbs. I can get bike shorts that fit, but no jerseys.
Do I care what I look like to others? No. I am getting back on the bike to shed some of these extra pounds.
If i ever get back to my target weight (anything below 250 actually) I still doubt finding a jersy that wil fit.

So just go out and ride.

To quote a famous and very smart man, Richard P. Feynman.
"What do you care what other people think."

My mirror plays tricks on me, i think i still have the mentality that i am still 285-290, so i still think that what i see in the mirror is that image. I have been told from everyone i know that i look like a bean pole, but i still don't see it. Its all psychological, man. Just ride your bike, and be faster than everyone else.

When You look in the Mirror, Remember you are looking at Your Best Friend. that guy in the Mirror has been with you when times where hard. so dont say bad things about him. You look great and you are doing something thing great for youself and that guy in the mirror. 100 lbs. that is something to feel good about. beside when you are riding noone sees you, They see the bike. Just dont go to far from the bike dress like that. :)

When I started commuting 20-22 miles/day 3 years ago I was 270. I quickly lost 60 pounds then leveled off and have finally gotten back on track to get below 200 shooting for 190. I guess I started wearing cycling shorts when I was still 235-240. I knew I probably looked like a sausage, but damnit, cycling clothes were just more comfortable. I do confess to wearing regular shorts over the lycra for a while.

But, NZ, you look great! I'm pretty sure I didn't look that good at 225 (6 feet tall).

It goes the other way too. My husband won't wear lycra because he feels too skinny. I wear lycra, even though I'm carrying a few extra, myself.

It's all relative. I'm thin and fit to my nonathletic friends, but a little overweight to my competition. Screw 'em all.

MT/CZ.. One hundred lbs..You have done a great job..at that rate, buy some cheaper bike shorts/jersey..In no time you will be proud of how loose they are and can demonstrate such. You will be needing new bike clothes before too long, so don't go for the expensive stuff...
While on the bike, to heck with them...When I get off the bike, I tend to cover up with soccer shorts. They do have loose jerseys.

I agree with your wife. Looks good to me!

Perhaps I just need to get out on my old bike and ride leaving this thought in the mirror.



F-it man, you look fine to me, and the ride is what counts. I'd rather see you in stretchy stuff then in a steel coffin anyway.

You look fine, and mega-congratulations on the weight loss...that's quite an accomplishment. As others have said...just keep riding.

That said, I do have a style quibble about the Death Ride jersey. I'm of the opinion that "event" jerseys like that should be earned by doing the ride, and not bought off of EBay.

To quote a famous and very smart man, Richard P. Feynman.
"What do you care what other people think."Actually, wasn't it Feynman's wife who said that to him?

N7CZinMT. You should have seen me in my first Team Triathlon at 210lbs and 5'11" 2 years ago. I had a skin suit/areo suit on. I did get a few laughs, But that stopped as soon as I was riding and passing others. As someone else said. The flats are just great for a heavy rider. You just have keep it together on the hills. watch your heart rate, Try to keep it slow and just spin.

Actually, your jersey looks a little loose. Great weight loss. Damn, I took off 19lbs and thought I was doing something.

Get out and ride. They can't see that much form the back anyway.

To quote a famous and very smart man, Richard P. Feynman.
"What do you care what other people think."


Hey, Rural Roadie; '73 Scout with a 345, T-19 close and Dana 300. NO rust!! Yourself?

why would one need a jersey when riding? especially when its 60s outside?

Hey thanks to everyone for your opinions. SSP, yours is also of particular note. (I'll earn the next one)
I am looking foward to being able to ride more as the season goes on. Its just strange coming out of the winter cycling/commuting mode with all the extra clothing you have to wear and dropping down to your shorts and jersey. :)

I don't really care what others think of how I look. Well, most of the time I don't. Some of you who I consider "close" friends on the forum know my story and have perhaps a bit of insight into my pea brain.

Anyway, I didn't mean to get a pitty me or feed my ego thread going here. Sorry if it came off that way. Hopefully it will help some other folks who have had a simular thought.