jmcdowell

I have the same thing. Being a big person, I've always tried to dress down my weight. For me, that means shirts that hang straight down from my shoulders - to minimize the love handles etc, and loose shorts or pants to hide the bottom half.

But, I've gotten over that for riding. Once I put on my cycling shorts, jersey, helmet, sunglasses, etc. I feel almost like I am in disguise.

I have ridden past my spouse, my mother-in-law, and my uncle, (all on seperate occasions) as they were driving and not one of them realized it was me on the bike. I had to stop and flag them down to get their attention. And all of them told me they didn't recognize me.

So.. what I'm getting at is. If no one knows who I am, I don't care what they might think about me.
It doesn't change the way I feel when I look in the mirror, but it helps me not to worry about it when I'm on the road.

Neil_B

You should have shown him the ring on your finger and told him "I'm taken."

Sam Wade

Me too. 429 at my heaviest (now that was a sight on a bike!) I stuck to the bike path or an access road to a dam that wasn't used much by the public as it didn't go anywhere. I rode back and forth, back and forth 1 mile each way. I'm still not out on the general public roads but at 301 I feel much more comfortable on the bike than I did at first. Maybe you can find a greenway to ride for a while?

Missbumble 

Is it just me or is this an amazing thread?? It's neat to see the C/A posters all here and piping in. I think it's what we have in common - ok biking too- but how we feel about it all or how we stand up for ourselves, or get trampled on.

Anyhoo just thought I would say I feel pretty strongly about the thread and love how we are rallying to support the OP. Not the easiest things to admit (especialy for a woman) but how we feel about being the size we are or were and being out in public..expecially in a sport that chooses a uniform that is made for the Skinny bikers...

Tom Stormcrowe

MissB, I remember all too well the slings and arrows, still. I lie in a college town though and it seems that the maturity level of 1920 year old guys has suffered since I was that age (I know, we all say that. ) I do have t say, though, that when I was still using O2 to ride, the entire Purdue Cycling Team slowed down once and rode with me to encourage me. That was a trip, I can tel ya!

I still can't keep up with them at their race pace, these guys are fast, but it's a goal.

As to the support in this forum? Well, we've all worked to keep it this way. It's a community and not a bunch of rugged individualists ripping on each other.

turtlewoman, it's great you are confronting your feelings on this. It's going to make you get through it faster, and learn that the idiots just don't matter, especially when you outlive them. (That's the best revenge, anyway, isn't it, to live well and longer than your detractors? )

Push

I started out at 534 pounds and still have that mentality, that I am 500 plus pounds even though I have lost more than 200 pounds so far. I have wanted a bike for a good long while now and kept telling my wife "ain't no way I'm going to end up on youtube on a cell phone video titled fat dude on a bike" she called me crazy and on went life.

My birthday came and I decided that it was time to get a bike even though I am 330 pounds currently, I went as far as to have my father (he was with me when I found a bike that I liked) take pictures of me sitting on the bike with..what else? my cell phone so kind of ironic but I decided to get the bike and now you can't get me off of it!

I haven't had anyone say anything to me yet while riding but then with me at 6'5'' tall and 330 pounds they had better be able to out run/ride me if they do lol

I decided to just get over it and do what I need to do for me, why sit on the sidelines wanting to do things like ride a bike because someone may think that I look silly perched atop a bike at my size? besides, it will help me take some more of these pounds off so I am doing it no matter what someone else may have to say about it.

As Ever
Me

petflunky

FWIW, I wear basketball shorts over the bike shorts. I'm just more comfortable that way. Even pre-clyde those many years ago (1991-1992) I wasn't comfortable without regular shorts over the biking shorts.

Call me sexist, but I've never seen a biking lady look bad in bike shorts

Now, if I can get my wife to wear some.

Rob P.

I've been called "obscene" when wearing spandex. I've been "asked" (and not very politely either) to "leave the store" because other patrons were "shocked" at my clothing. I've been teased, whistled at, cussed at, buzzed, derided, and all sorts of other derogatory comments (and foreign objects) have been sent in my direction.

My response?

Screw 'em. I ride for ME!

K'Tesh

Worried about spandex? Try riding naked!!!

I'm 5' 11" 300+lbs and I still rode in the World Nake Bike Ride (links to my photos)... I didn't hear one comment about my backside... Haters are not to be listened to.


Skin side up!
K'Tesh

By the way, I'm the one on the glowing blue bike with the "OPEC SUX" message across the belly.

turtlewoman

Tom, I hope your wife is doing well with PT for her shoulder. My knee is slowly getting better and better. I love PT!
Again, thanks to all of you. Miss B, you kick it! Thanks! And Historian (i think your name is Neil) thanks also. And to all of you who have had so much weight to lose and DID IT. Wow. You are all an inspiration to me. Some of you guys make my 80 lbs seem measly. And I was feeling overwhelmed? What was that about!
I went out today and got a cycling computer. Not a fancy one just a little $20 one so I'll know how far I am going. Right now it's not much over 5 miles per day if that but I know that I will increase to greater and greater distances.
Hello and thanks to all.
I think this is a great thread within a great forum!
Kate

Tom Stormcrowe

Kate, feeling overwhelmed is quite normal. We've all been there, trust me. You did both a very courageous and correct approach, though, in bringing the feelings out in the open, and finding out you weren't alone in it. That's part of te reason I and everyone else in here works so hard to keep this community in the dynamic we've developed.

The wife is doing well in her PT, still very painful, but she's getting her range of motion back and the strength. The pain will start reducing soon, I'm sure.

Throttled

I am also very embarrassed when I go out and bike. But I'll bet like me you are even more embarrassed when seen at a vending machine or loathing over a bowl ice cream while sitting if front of the TV. Please don't think I am being cruel. My point is our embarrassment helps maintain our obesity. People don't ridicule us at the vending machine because that is where they expect us to be. When they see us biking, well for some poor souls it just turns their world upside down. I find comfort in knowing that I am improving myself by biking. Don't allow yourself to be crippled by embarrassment. Do allow yourself the joy and gratification that comes with self improvement.

goaliedad30

Ride. On my rides, I see every type of person on a bike, from hard-core racers, to those out with the kids, to those working hard to get fitter and change their lifestyles. And you know what -- ALL of them wave to everyone, say "hi", and encourage.

Stealing from Harvey Penick (yeah, I'm a golfer too ...) "If you ride a bike, you are my friend".

Just ride. We're all friends on two wheels.

Randy

Kazzy

For thirty some years I tried to be invisible and at eighty pounds overweight that's not easy! Then I decided I wanted to be healthy and I bought a bike and outrageously loud bike clothes so I wouldn't get run over and I drug myself out there, in public. Yes, I was hesitant to put on lycra shorts, but it turns out it's a lot more comfortable to ride in proper clothing. I haven't had many people making comments, at least not so I can hear them. I've gotten some looks, but whatever they're thinking is their problem. It's none of my business.

I figure, for however many people are looking at me and thinking "wow, some people should not wear spandex" there may be as many people thinking "wow, a fat woman is getting out there and getting some exercise and it looks like she's having fun, maybe I could do it too." because I know I'm not the only overweight person in town, and you're not either. The more I ride, the less I worry about it. Riding my bike feels good. I'm strong, I'm healthy and I refuse to allow a socially impaired person with poor impulse control to stop me from getting healthier.

I've been at it for more than two years now and logged about 8,000 miles. I try to be friendly to everyone I meet and most often they're friendly too. If you want to ride then get out and ride! And then keep doing it! It's fun! You'll feel better. You'll be stronger and healthier and taking charge of your life.

jim10040

For me, mountain bike shorts (very tough synthetic fabric over the padded liner), and a long synthetic jersey on top. Can't beat synthetics for getting rid of sweat, and for being tough. If I'm in a charity ride with a few hundred riders, I wear the normal roadie lycra...plenty more sizable people in the group, I don't stick out too much. Riding is the point.

turtlewoman

Throttled you are so right! I feel self-loathing when I'm at the vending machine or buying Reese's at the convenience store but nobody has ever said a word to me. I guess it's when you get outside somebody's comfort zone that they feel like they can comment, ie fat people eat fat people food, fat people don't ride bikes!

Rixtory

Get out there and ride woman!!!!
You are going to go through time anyways, so you might as well do it while doing something healthy and fun.
In 6 -9 months, there will be more people gazing at you fly by with tan lean legs and a shapely behind accentuated by smooth black lycra (it is also slimming) and they won't be laughing - they will be wishing they looked like you!!!!

petflunky

I guess by looking at it from this perspective, it's a good way to mess with skinny peoples minds.

Just wait until you start riding circles around them!

nkfrench 

I have so much more respect for people of any size who are trying to improve their health and fitness than I have for people who are so hung up on their appearance that they won't do anything active lest they might get sweaty or muss up their hair/makeup/clothes or "not act like an adult".

Engaging in physical activity is even more commendable for large people. I read that a PE teacher strapped on heartrate monitors to some of her "lazy" fat students and had a jaw-dropping revelation that the fat kids were near their maximum heartrate even though they appeared to be slacking off and the skinnier kids were outperforming them at moderate heartrates. They were doing the best they could in their current condition, but were so demoralized by the attitudes of their teacher and classmates.

During the Tour de France coverage, the cyclists were doing some steep climbs but the TV showed a feed from a cyclist's heartrate monitor. He was only at 100 bpm -- a level many fat people have just walking slowly. How do you think he would do if you strapped a 50-pound weight vest and some ankle weights on him ?

Some may say bike clothes are just for skinny people; I counter that fat people quite possibly need them more than anybody else. Many of us sweat a lot, overheat, chafe, and need compression and support for comfort while being active. The stretchy wicking fabric is also very friendly for those of us that don't wear a perfect size and have a few lumps and bulges.

Riding a bike where I can say howdy every once in a while on streets with pretty scenery is fun and something I look forward to doing.

Riding an exercise bike in front of the living room TV or riding back and forth in a deserted area is just exercise that's harder to persuade myself to do.

Oidar

Well, this oughta make you two hundred & some-odd pound "fat people" feel better. I'm 6 foot tall / 435lbs, & today I went to the bike shop & dropped almost $500 bucks for a Cannondale C7 with disc brakes. (and an extra-large seat)

Yes, I feel VERY self conscious, but I just got tired of waiting. I hate the treadmill, & I'm not too very fond of walking. 30 years (and 200lbs) ago I rode a bike everywhere. I rode a couple of blocks when I got it home & I feel so awkward on it, I wonder if it wasn't too soon.

But tomorrow (Sunday) morning, I'm going to load it in the back of the truck and find a big empty parking lot and try to get comfortable riding again.

Speaking of comfort, I know they don't make bike shorts in 5x, but is there a big-tall store alternative? Boxer briefs maybe?

takingcontrol

No, its not to soon. I hasn't hit 435 yet and I have been riding for 3 months I know I look as goofy as @#$!. Hill pumper proved it with his pic Just have fun

txvintage

Perhaps you should reconsider the Speedo only cycling attire plan?

Wait, where were you carrying your water bottle?

txvintage

WAIT, WHAT? You got a new bike and haven't posted new bike pics yet? Don't make me come over there!

It's NEVER too soon, unless you have an injury and your Doc has told you to stay off the bike. Awkward, smawkward. It will pass. The first ride, or rides, may only be up the street and back, or maybe around the block.

Those are major milestones and not to be taken lightly. Eventually it will be around the block twice, then a couple of miles, then several miles. It's a long journey, and thankfully we have our bikes to have a great time and enjoy the journey on.

z415

Too lazy to read the other posts and can't relate 100%, but for every creep out there, there is someone that thinks it is INSPIRING and IMPRESSIVE that you ride.

Neil_B

Congratulations!

For a short ride you can probably wear anything. For a long ride some folks can seem to wear anything. Most of the rest of us wear bike shorts.

Aerotech Designs has bike shorts in 5xl, designed to fit a 56 inch waist.

https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/bikeshorts.htm