There. I've admitted it: I'm a Clydesdale. I guess it sounds better than fat.
But I'm wondering what the best bike shorts are for us heavyweights. I picked up a pair with gel padding at my lbs last week and it just didn't do the job. And the amount of padding in the chamois versions varies greatly.
Hmmm... while I'm at it... how about jerseys that don't make me look like a sausage stuffed into spandex? I take an XL in a regular short but with a bike jersey, I need XXL. But some XXLs are far from REALLY being XXLs.
Recommendations... sources... anyone?
I won't have these problems when I lose 50 pounds but that's going to take some time and I'd like to avoid total humiiation if possible.

See my Ride to Fitness blog:
http://ej.typepad.com/ride

I agree I need some more shorts also!

I hate to sound like I'm probaly gonna sound, but, just don't wear bicycle specific clothing, I never have and have never had a rash/saddle sore, etc even after 120 mile rides in summer heat.
So when i was big (220 now down to 162 at 5'10") looking like a sausage was never a problem.
I do buy those synthetic/part lycr underwear briefs to wear under my regular cotton shorts, at least sometimes I wear them, and then a typical cotton T-shirt.

only one place i've found:

Borah PLUS shorts and jerseys

- unlike other jerseys sold that say "XXXL," these ARE indeed XXXL

- save some money on shorts and just buy the liners; you can then wear your regular shorts...

hth!

The measurements at this site go to impressively large and check out the link to their jerseys:

http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/bigsize.htm#mens8P

How big are you?

I'm 6', around 220lbs, and I find bib shorts to be the most comfortable. In street clothes I wear 38 or 36 shorts/trousers and usually a L shirt. All my cycling shorts are XL, but for jerseys it depends on the cut. Most are XL, but I have a few XXL. Most brands size by chest measurement, and I've never gone wrong buying mail order when I've just matched my chest size to the correct jersey size.

Check out www.velowear.com for high quality, great value bib shorts ($54.95).

Some people need to measure the stomach (around the widest part of the stomach with a measuring tape) to get the right chest size. . .

Lots of ideas about jerseys... how about the best padded shorts???

Somebody already mentioned aerotech, but let me give them a 2nd nod with personal experience as well.
http://www.aerotechdesigns.com/

I have 3 pairs of bike shorts from Aerotech and they work great for me. They are a top notch place too....if you read up at their website you will find that they have made clothing for Olympic teams. I emailed them recently and suggested loose (mountain bike style) shorts with pockets would be great. A lady immediately emailed me back and wants to make them and will give me free ones as a "test subject" for her to create them.....THIS PLACE IS TOP NOTCH.

That being said.....I did order their 3x jersey and found it a little tighter than I want. That Borah place mentioned looks good....only one I've seen go up to 4x. I just ordered a few 3x from Performancebike.com to see how they are....their size chart shows their 3x a little bigger than Aerotech, but Aerotech's shorts are GREAT!

Edit: Oh....and BTW..I'm 5'11" and 350#

Tell me about it! I have to wear a xxl mens jersey because women's XL is so not "extra large". Since when was a size 12 "extra large". Come on people...they seem to think if you ride a bike you must be thin. I don't think a size 16 is fat, yet I can't get a jersey to fit right. Most of my problem is the whole "back fat" issue. HATE IT. I call it "leftovers" from when I truly was fat! Lost 85 lbs go me!! Anyway, I found a jersey from Pearl Izumi in a mens xxl that is roomier then most xxl's and I'm happy. So until the makers of high performance clothing come to realize that not every cyclist is thin...we will continue to struggle to find well fitted clothes. Oh well...story of my life.

I like my Nashbar monday shorts for as cheap as they are and I have another pair that is a definite better chamois but cost a lot more.

The monday Nashbar short is 17.99 and the XX fits me so it should fit you as well.

I've got two pairs of bike shorts from Netti, one set are the supershy shorts and I can't quite remember the name of the others. Basically they are a set of harder wearing knee length shorts with a padded inner. Cost me about $100 AUD and come in sizes up to 3XL which are the ones I own. No idea what my regular sizes are for other clothing off the top of my head, will find out and let you know later, however I"m about 117kg.

I just purchased a new pair of Descent bib shorts with a molded chamois - lots of air holes and no seams!

Very comfortable. I used to be ummm, rather largeish too. But now that I can use my aerobars without suffocating, I still find that I'm too used to good padding to go back. These bibs do the trick and are forgiving around the midsection when the gut comes out to say hello!