Originally Posted by jon c.

I might have been embarrassed when I was young. But virtually no one wore bike gear in the 70s. I didn't take up riding again until a few years ago and once I started riding further I switched to bike shorts without a second thought. They're more comfortable. I suppose they might be a bit revealing for social occasions though.

(edit - I'm just old, not fat. Since I started riding I'm down to about what I was at 17.)