Im afraid to wear cycle shorts.

Wear them under a tracksuit to begin with, the padding in them is like an extra saddle, which your Lardy ass might need, no offence.

As long as you are on a bike or within 3 feet of a bike then we all look awesome. But once outside that distance we look like saps.

So to summarise: wear the lycra, stay near a bike when in lycra and no one will care.

I had a similar fear as I'm quite endowed and felt embarrassed at the thought. But I looked silly in other types of shorts and the bicycle shorts really flatten everything down. So they'll probably make you look smaller.

The sad truth.

Raam wrote: »

As long as you are on a bike or within 3 feet of a bike then we all look awesome. But once outside that distance we look like saps.

So to summarise: wear the lycra, stay near a bike when in lycra and no one will care.

This is important.

I went to Canaries last year and hired a bike to go for cycles in the mornings while my wife slept in. On the final day I headed off and had a lovely cycle, then dropped the bike off before noon at the hire shop. That was about two miles from where I was staying.

So I walk back through the crowds at the beach feeling a bit conspicuous in my lycra with no bike, but hey its not as if i haven't popped into shops etc. in them when out on rides, no biggy. I was trying to swing my pedals which i had in a plastic bag as ostentatiously as I could as if people would cop that I was on my way back from the hire shop.

Lots of pointing and giggling despite the fact that there were plenty around in bikini /speedos with no-one batting an eye. Low point came when one of the ladies who would pester you to buy sunglasses etc. as you passed on your way to the beach came over to try the hard sell on me and just burst into laughter. Maybe its the padding that makes the shorts look vaguely like a nappy, maybe its the other bulges, but anyway cycling shorts are clearly only ok when accompanied by a bike.

Having said all that, although i wouldn't wear them on my commute into work, on a weekend ride the cycling shorts are not worth worrying about.

dashcamdanny wrote: »

So just ordered a shiny new 2015 Defy 2.

Was hoping to lose a bit of weight.

But those shorts.. immmm I dunno. That extra stone of weight looks bad enough without cladding it in spandex.

Are MTB shorts a good enough alternative to begin with?

Speaking as someone carrying several extra stone of weight - better than a big hairy crack on display! Get bib shorts (probably tights (full leg) at this time of year). Put a pair of football shorts over them if you want, or don't fancy walking through the office in the budgie smugglers.

In a slightly more serious response, I did wear mtb shorts on my commute through the summer, and on into autumn. I'd say it depends on how long you'll be on the bike really.

As long as they're black who cares.

he is not even cycling, this is the mayor of the town and was only dressed like this for the race coming to town.

http://www.velominati.com/rantings-from-the-v-bunker/the-spandex-ballet/

velomini did an article on the charms/pitfalls of lyrca. im an addict personally. can never get enough.

For starters people in mtb clothing look silly on road bikes and vice versa. Your part of an elite group of road cyclists now and people within the circle will understand.
When I started cycling a year ago I weighed in at over 14 stone, I wasn't huge or anything but my family and kids had a good giggle when I came down the stairs in my gear. One year on and I weigh closer too 12 stone and have had girls whistle and shout nice things from there car window while passing me and my well defined calfs.
Just get them on and stop caring what other people think! I stopped caring what other people think a long time ago it's great!

I'm pretty happy with Dhb brand from wiggle. Their 'roubaix' fleece bibs are my standard winter leg wear. I use the 'Vaeon' but the 'Active' might do for shorter spins.

dashcamdanny wrote: »

I would also like to be able to cycle to the other end of the country this summer. And join Naas cycle club also. Just for the craic.

You have the bike, and the gear is on order - now check out the Naas CC website for details of their Sat. morning "Failte" spin for newbies or those getting back on a bike after a long absence

Gentle pace / good distances to build up towards joining one of the regular club spin groups on Sundays.

Sooner you get started, the sooner you get used to that lycra AND start losing the weight - go for it !

Bigus wrote: »

Wear them under a tracksuit to begin with, the padding in them is like an extra saddle, which your Lardy ass might need, no offence.

Why would an ass that is amply padded, or lardy, as you have put it, need padding?!?!

OP where whatever the hell you want. Jeans/ shorts over shorts / tracksuit. Do you honestly care what a bunch of bike snobs think??

Comments on this thread are part of the reason I'm glad I'm not part of the road-bike clique.

Wear what you feel comfortable in OP.
That's in the physical sense and in the mental sense.

Padded shorts are a bonus, if not essential on long spins.

We all had to start somewhere but there will come a time when you start wondering if your "kit" is slowing you down...

When I started out and then bought my "road" bike, I felt like proper "cyclists" were probably looking at me akin to someone who had bought a Ferrari and stuck a Subaru WRX spoiler on the back I even wore a rucksack so I'd look like a commuter.

I got over it though

Now that it's winter I am back on the Hybrid with lycra under MTB 3/4 shorts, as it keeps my ass dryer in the rain/wind/cold.

But it's FKW on the "road" bike. I love aliexpress.

Happy cycling. Get Strava and you'll never look back.

Brian? wrote: »

I know, right. The cheek of people recommending the OP wears the most comfortable and practical shorts on a bike. Complete snobs.

eh I'm pretty sure there were several mentions in this thread of how wearing bike shorts alone isn't practical, particularly if you need to walk around after locking up the bike.

Padded shorts under MTB shorts are actually more practical in this case (not to mention benefit of having pockets on the side).

lismore7 wrote: »

But then it was put to me "when you pass a cyclist, do you stop and ponder what their wearing"?

It seems an inordinate amount of people in this forum do that very thing

Wishbone Ash wrote: »

Of course not! Full inspection of another's attire should be carried out while one is drafting.

Very true.....but I was meaning non cycling civilians not giving a flying fender to what us cycle chappies wear...:D