Originally Posted by
Maxillius
I'm one of those riders the spandex-coated folks sneer at in derision. You know, maximum speed of 15 mph on an off-the-shelf Walmart bike in jeans and a tshirt. I was perfectly fine with that up until this summer when I rode the "road course" at Island Lake State Park. Nothing makes one feel like a ****** like pedaling full-speed uphill in 1st and getting overtaken by a spandex meat-machine whose legs are barely moving. That and that mongrel bike I had was a piece of crap. So now I have something faster that I can stretch my capabilities around. No more spinning at 18mph! I don't really see a need for the spandex though. At 280 lbs, I don't think a flapping tshirt will make a whole lot of difference in speed or pedaling effort.
Previous ride: Next Avalon "shock-and-a-half" 26in. 7-speed
Current ride: Schwinn Admiral 700c 7-speed
Hello and welcome. Great introduction. I understand your concerns, but I don't think you will encounter sneering derision here. All levels of bicycle riders seem to be welcome. One big reason for spandex is to wick perspiration away from the skin for evaporation and cooling. Another factor is the reduced wind resistance of tight fitting clothing. It is acceptable to wear a t-shirt if you want; gym shorts over your spandex riding shorts works, too. The tight fitting shorts have definite advantages in keeping certain tender parts out of harm's way.
Congratulations on your new ride. I hope you got a good fitting bike and can extend your legs almost straight on the down stroke, and you don't have to over reach for optimal hand placement. This is fundamental to enjoying the ride and pedaling efficiently. Lots of tips here, so browse around the categories for conversation threads of interest, or use the search function. Good luck with your riding!