If he ignored it he might have had to speak to HR anyway. The conversation might not have been as pleasant for him then.

Yeah, I'd definitely be intimidated by someone who can't handle lycra.
If all else fails he simply didn't get the email.

It was in an email? That is not a warning. IMHO More idiotic than anything.
A warning is when they sit you down and say face to face "don't do this". That would be a verbal.
The only ones I worry about are when I am told to sign something. That is generally an employer getting his\her ducks in a row to legally toss you out on your bum and have enough paperwork to avoid you taking unemployment.

It's not the fat woman on a scooter he needs to be concerned about, it's the HR and or ER departments. They exist to avoid lawsuits, bad PR, and complaints outside the company. They are the home of political correctness. And they do have the ability to force his boss to address the lycra issue all the way up to termination, if need be.

Also, we have to keep in mind the HR card game. Woman trumps man in a dispute in most cases. Just as black trumps white, and gay trumps black.

Bottom line is that if it's an issue you're obviously not worth much to them anyhow, so time to move on.

Sounds like you're getting discriminated against because of your weight, to me. If you were as fat as them they probably wouldn't bother you. No reason this can't cut both ways.

The obvious solution is to ride in nekked. That way they can't fault you for wearing lyrca.

...I'm too sexy for this job....your prudish, overweight, PC mob, I'm too sexy for this job.....

I'm so waiting to see how this all turns out. There are so many variables here it's impossible to predict. Here's hoping the.... wheels of justice are human powered and not motorized.
Keep us up to date. Photos would add the the report.

uh, please no pics of an old fat woman on a scooter. Nor the OP lycra wearing guy. I think pics are not necessary.

Hmmmm...Falstaffian belly...you trying to tell me something? Guess somebody recognizes my handle comes from more than a defunct brewery :D

fat is where its at
 

I'm a recovering fat man as well and I'm not offended at the idea or sight of a fat man riding a bicycle. In fact, I think its awesome seeing that. I do however find lycra somewhat offensive as it subjects others to every curve, fat roll and bulging genitalia. On the bike, I'd say its fine but walking around in it is kind of like walking to the local coffee shop in a speedo. If a cyclist is stuck on the padded diaper concept then mountain bike baggies function just as well, comfort wise and are more modest attire. I just think the skin tights on commuters are overkill. I'll bet most commuters ride less than 10 miles one way anyway. Its pretty hard to argue that there is any real performance benefit or comfort for that matter on such a short ride. The last I checked, sweating profusely on the way to work was a bad idea. I usually save my extreme efforts for the trip home and ride in a manner that conserves energy going to work. I actually tried riding to church in my slacks with shirt and tie and it wasn't bad at all. I actually felt kind of like a normal guy using a bike to get around for once, rather than a weekend workout junkie. I just like the idea of integrating cycling into my lifestyle without the special costume. I have a nifty film on my page showing British cyclists enjoying a nice ride wearing standard casual dress, loafers and all and they seemed to be riding at a fairly decent clip. Its an interesting bit of history and might shed some light on my views.

My page my bikes (in the slideshow) cycling film (bottom left youtube box):
http://www.myspace.com/eccentriccyclistcharlie

You know guys, it is not always the distance that makes the difference in whether you wear bike shorts or not.

On my commute there are three big hills... now my commute is only about 13 miles or so, but doing those hills in anything less than comfy bike shorts is really gonna take a toll on my parts.

I may not be traveling at anything over about 8MPH while I ascend those hills, but my legs are moving at about 100+RPM the whole time, and I am sweating like a stuck hog... folks I gotta tell ya, the suggestions to wear "sweats" or "jeans" or anything else that doesn't allow the free easy movement of bike shorts is frankly just BS under those conditions.

Work doesn't have any right to control what you wear during transit... (unless you are a GI... then there are some restrictions). Tell 'em to pack sand and you wear what you want. (If you're a GI, thanks and sorry for the uniform restrictions... gives the "brass" something to do back on the "home front.")

And if some nurse is "shocked" by what she sees... well then frankly tell her to hit the books, as she missed something in her studies.

Sheesh!

+1

Suck for the OP. I'm glad my co-workers are cool with my tight clothes wearing ways.

Unless they stated it in a policy somewhere (which I've never heard of), then he's just being a jerk IMO. Unless your walking into the building long enough to go to restroom and change is causing some kind of disruption, then he has no reason to say a thing about it. My guess is perhaps one person said it looked a little risque or something like that and he felt he should say something to you.

I'd calmly reply that you bike to work and this is what cyclist wear. Plain and simple. Tell him that if you are being asked to stop wearing bike clothes when you are riding a bike, then he better have a very good reason for doing so.

+a billion
If I were in an examination room and the doctor showed up not wearing a white lab coat and carrying a stethoscope I wouldn't believe he was a real doctor. I'd want to see his license and maybe his diploma too.

Falstaff: I have writ me here a letter to her; and here another to Page’s wife, who even now gave me good eyes too, examined my parts with most judicious œilliades: sometimes the beam of her view gilded my foot, sometimes my portly belly.

Pistol: Then did the sun on dunghill shine.

Nym: I thank thee for that humour.

When you enter the door of your place of work you have to abide by their dress code. I would first try reason as suggested above with HR (being healthy, wearing clothing appropriate for your commute, just like a driver, etc), and if that doesn't work offer to put on a pair of shorts over your cycling gear until you get to sport where you can change in the bldg into normal work clothing.

I wouldn't make the process adversarial (mentioning attys) unless they take unreasonable action saying you can't come in the bldg unless you're in work clothing. Find the middle ground.

When people tease me at work about my bicycling clothes I tell them: "You wish you looked this good in spandex." We do a lot of laughing about my clothing, but these people are my friends and beneath all the joking is a decent amount of respect. It comes out of relationship. I have the privilege of working with all these folks and I like them. They know I like them. I'm the only one doing this so of course I stand out and am going to hear about it...that comes with the territory.

When you come in the door look them in the eyes, smile and say "good morning ladies". If you work your smile with people it will work for you. Some of those people are going to give it back to you and others will wonder why you're such a happy guy. You're doing a good healthy thing and you feel good about it. Let that good feeling permeate the place you work and let the jokes or criticism roll off. Work the relationships more than the judicial aspect of who can do what.

It really doesn't surprise me that you got an email like that. While many companies out there have caught onto the advantages of providing, allowing, and promoting physical fitness; many still haven't (either because of cost or a lack of anyone to lead the charge). There are companies out there who would prefer their employees to show up in business attire regardless; while most don't seem to mind as long as your "ready to go" when your due to start your work day.

Personally, as someone who has had to talk to an employee about their choices in fashion, I can tell you it is something that is annoying. Nothing is more of a waste of time then having to tell someone they can't wear this because we wouldn't want to offend anyone. Both the employee and I know that it was a stupid talk, neither of us really wanted to do it, and I usually don't get much of an objection.

However, I have had to remind people from time to time that just because you have it, doesn't mean you need to show it. Which does make me wonder why those who really don't have it, want to show it the most?

Being PC sucks sometimes, but there are times where the battle isn't worth it, and giving into PC is not only easier, but a smarter career move. There are lots of companies who would view an employee that objected to covering up as "problematic" and that could hurt you professionally. Stupid I know, but hey that is life in PC America.

-Nate

And is exactly why PC America becomes more PC each year. And is why it has reached the point the OP got an e-mail.

It is most often easier to give up freedom rather than fight for freedom. But the day does come when you no longer have ANY freedom.

...and then when the day came that they were rounding up all the people with bikes, and there was no one left to speak up for me.....

Silly comparison I know, the above poster does have a point. When does enough become enough? When do the busybodies of the PC world STFU & GTFO, and Suck It Up Buttercup? I swear the more Nimrods that get a taste for this sort on nonsense, the worse off we are.

Just curious, how far do you walk between bike and changing area every day?
Al

Ya know, when Political Correctness started to appear around 1990, I thought it was purely satire. I didn't think it would be taken seriously by anyone.

What a fool I was; I didn't think that lawyers would get involved and turn it into a money machine. Maybe I had too much faith in humanity.

I'm going to stop making funnies and be serious for a minute because I've been thinking about your predicament for a few days now.
It bothers me because I'm trying to find a job I can ride to, and I'm worried about having to endure something like this.

I want to ride my bike to work partly because I like to ride, partly because I KNOW (not think) it's good for the environment, and partly cause I know it will save me mad $ on gas. Granted I don't even own any spandex, but I think there's a much different force at work here.

You say have been at your company 4 years, and have been commuting by bike for 2. This lady has been there for 5 months.
Think about that for a minute.

If you (as a male) were to start working at a company where there was a woman who dressed somewhat provacatively ALL DAY and had been doing so for TWO YEARS, and decided to file a complaint about it, chances are you wouldn't have a job much longer.
I think the root of the problem has nothing at all to do with your clothing.

There's an old Mitch Hedberg joke that goes like this:
"It's dangerous to wave to people you don't know 'cause what if they don't have a hand? They'll think you're cocky! Look what I got! This thing is USEFUL!"

I think the real problem here is that seeing you ride your bike to work every day is a constant reminder to this lady that her condition (ie: using a battery powered scooter to get around) has less to do with her genetic luck of the draw or any medical condition, and is merely self imposed. If she wanted to be skinny, I'm positive she could do it, if she'd only get up and TRY. The Historian is proof. I'm proof. There's an entire part of this forum that is nothing but overweight people encouraging each other that "yes, you CAN do it!".
The problem is this lady doesn't want to hear that. She wants everyone to tell her "it's okay sweetie, it's not your fault." She wants everyone to accept her self-destructive behavior without telling her that's precisely what it is. In short, she wants to be coddled.

When you ride your bike to work she sees that and has to accept the fact that she is LAZY and that it IS her fault. She can no longer deny it. There's the proof, right in front of her, wearing spandex. You're unintentionally slapping her in the face with the glove of reality and she just doesn't want to deal with it.

I think that's what the REAL problem is here, but maybe that's just me.
Either way, I hope you dont have to end up changing your behavior because of someone else's failure to accept themself.
Good luck.