Clydesdales/Athenas (200+ lb / 91+ kg) - New rider gear?

I'm thinking about going to the bike store to get some gear for riding. I've looked at a few things online and most of being spandex. My question is, is there anything I could get thats not spandex for riding? I don't know if I'm ready to let it all hang out right now :lol: Thanks.

well, i wouldn't worry too much about the spandex, but if it concerns you that much, you could do spandex shorts (this is the really important part, as it keeps a lot of pain from your bum and other bits in between your legs) and maybe your own choice for top. just remember, the spandex jerseys have multiple purposes, in that they are 1) aerodynamic, 2) wick away moisture and thus keep you cool and relatively dry, 3) are lightweight compared to some other fabrics, 4) hold things with well placed pockets for cycling, and 5) other things i'm sure i'm forgetting. loose fitting cotton tee's for example don't do this as well.

bib shorts are great, might hold excess weight up and in a bit better than just spandex shorts, but are more costly. there is also the option of a "hybrid like" short, in which it combines the look of a normal board-like type short with the padding where it counts. more popular as mountain bike gear i believe, but probably a bit more $ and less aero/cooling/etc.

I'm too modest for the spandex (yes, I need to get over it!), so I went with the "hybrid" shorts at first. Very comfy. And the pockets on them make up for not having pockets on my shirt. I have regular wicking shirts to wear.. I'll eventually track down a proper jersey, but I need to quit spending so much money right now, and need to find some in a tall size.

The solution to spandex shorts and modesty is this nifty device known as the gym short. Wear the gym short over the spandex short and your in buisness :thumb:. It took me quite some time to convert to jerseys but I must say they are worth every penny. They keep you cool, have handy pockets, and are longer in the rear which helps to cover the plumbers crack.

Have you got all your other gear squared away? Seat pack, spare tube, tire levers, multi-tool, patch kit, and frame pump? Helmet?

Oh, not all jerseys are skin tight either, look for "club fit" and they will wear like a regular t-shirt.

I've seen the Baggy Short in Bicycle stores, it has the padding like the Spandex does, but it looks nothing like bicycling gear, it looks like regular shorts.

It's a great idea.

http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/bigsize.htm#baggy

I have seen the sizing vary, one brand a Medium fits and another brand I'm in a large. I think it's something you just need to try on before you buy.

Love my Baggies. I wear them everywhere, riding, the store, the local bar. If I ride in the morning, they become my attire for the rest of the day. They look like really cool cargo shorts, and have the padding for the critical areas, as well as a cooling liner that is attached at the top and bottom (that is real important that they are attached a few inches from the leg ends, to keep the leg from creeping up toward the seat).

I hear above about aerodynamics. I guess if you are obsessed with being the next L.A. that is important, but if you just want to be comfy and ride, go with the attire that makes you feel good about yourself along with being functional and you will probably ride more.

I'm a recent convert to spandex bib shorts. They're more comfortable than regular shorts, since they lack a waistband, and they provide a bit more... motion control... for the top half of the body. I use the ones from Love2Pedal (http://www.love2pedal.com/), which work well for me and are very affordable. For my lunchtime rides from the office, I wear a pair of hiking shorts over the bibs. I wear jerseys from Primal Wear, which tend to be cut a bit loose.

I just started biking around a month and ahalf ago and immediately went with the spandex bib. I figure, if it is comfrotable and practical, to hell with what others might think. I am 220 lbs, so I am nowhere near slim, but I couldn't imagine riding without my bibs. Throw your modesty out the window, trust me, you won't regret it!