Im afraid to wear cycle shorts.

dashcamdanny

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?

You will stick out like a sore thumb in mountain bike shorts on a road bike. Just embrace the lycra!

Bigus

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.

Brian?

There's plenty of portly gents cycling around in Lycra. Join us, feel the liberation. Cycling is not a sport for the modest, we all look ridiculous.

Raam

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.

NamelessPhil

If the lycra is strong enough, it'll smooth out some of the lumpy bits, think of Spanx for women. They promise to make you look like you've dropped a dress size ... do not wear them under the shorts, that's just wrong.

El Horseboxo

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 Sparrow

Wear bib shorts or bib tights. In this weather you will probably have a jacket on too so you will just look like every other cyclist.

At least that's what I keep telling myself. :pac:

arybvtcw0eolkf

You'll get a slagging, we all do but we get over it. And once the weight starts to come off you'll be feeling a lot more comfortable ~ and great about yourself.

The extra comfort & protection to your delicate bits afforded by proper cycling bottoms will encourage you to ride further, and more often.

NotCominBack

There should be a tax applied to those who wear Lycra.

Just a little Samba

Bibpants, or as I've heard someone call them, Bellybras are like spanx for cyclists. I look about 7 KGS lighter in mine.

Just a little Samba

NotCominBack wrote: »

There should be a tax applied to those who wear Lycra.

There is.
V.A.T.

niceonetom

The sad truth.

MB Lacey

Embrace your portly figure, you'll eventually be saying bye to it anyway if you start to cycle a lot.
There's a Yorkshire company called 'Fat lad at the back' who specialise in oversized gear which I think looks really good.
'Like' them on fb if you want to see non svelt cyclists enjoying their cycling in lycra :-)

http://fatladattheback.com

Fian

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.

Harrybelafonte

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?

Extra stone? Who f uckin cares, I wore them with an extra 5 stone.

Just get bibs, as they'll be way more comfortable and will hold you in more. Never be more than three feet from the bike.

Macy0161

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.

kal7

I wear modesty running shorts over my lycra tights when running. Running shorts would probably be a chafe problem on long rides.
Strangely therefore don't bother on bike just feels like it is ok when riding. Do stay close to bike though.

Ryath

As long as they're black who cares.

NotCominBack

Unfollow

Effects

NamelessPhil wrote: »

do not wear them under the shorts, that's just wrong.

Really?

Lumen

Effects wrote: »

Really?

Doubleshorts whilst playing tennis falls under the jurisdiction of the tennis forum (if there is one) and has no bearing on appropriateness for cycling.

bobcranfret

OP: wear whatever is comfortable for you. What other people may think is completely irrelevant.

Cee-Jay-Cee

I can't believe no one posted this >>>

kal7

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

el tel

OP: have you considered Spanx for men?

dragratchet

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.

Wishbone Ash

Fian wrote: »

... 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....

Carrying a helmet would have been a lot more effective.

iamtony

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!

dashcamdanny

iamtony wrote: »

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!

Now that is exactly where I want to be in a year. I am tipping in at 14 stone with a terrible habit of needing a beer or 2 with my over sized dinner every evening.
I would be happy at 13 stone to be honest. And save the beer and the big meal for a once a week treat.

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.

What shorts are the best? Im guessing I will only need one really good pair.

Spent my b2w budget on the bike so I have to find value somewhere else.

cdaly_

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

Thanks. Did a bit more googling.

Just ordered these as they were a bit cheaper. I wont look like that in them. Im sure of that.

dashcamdanny

dashcamdanny wrote: »

Now that is exactly where I want to be in a year. I am tipping in at 14 stone with a terrible habit of needing a beer or 2 with my over sized dinner every evening.
I would be happy at 13 stone to be honest. And save the beer and the big meal for a once a week treat.

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.

What shorts are the best? Im guessing I will only need one really good pair.

Spent my b2w budget on the bike so I have to find value somewhere else.

If you change nothing about your diet and go for a few spins during the week you will see the weight come off. But if you sort the diet as well you should see big improvements in your weight and cycling fitness.

I shifted 2 stone since this time last year doing both.

MugMugs

Get yourself a pair of mtb shorts. I Did when I started on the road and now I wear lycra to show off my bulging quads and glutes

Jesus I've just become what I hated

jrar

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 !

JK.BMC

Join Naas CC asap - plenty of lycra-clad folk of all sizes to make you feel right at home, you'll look odd if you don't wear it! Failte spin on Sat morning @ 9.30 from K Leisure.

Lusk_Doyle

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?!?!

dashcamdanny

Thanks folks. Have to wait on head office with my B2W voucher first.

Cant wait.

Jakey Rolling

Lusk_Doyle wrote: »

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

That's what I was thinking. It's only now that I've lost a stone and my butt is gone all skinny that I've started to get numb nutts on longer rides. Reckon I'll have to change my saddle to make up for the lack of natural padding!

el tel

This is the look you want to avoid. Serious harm comes from shizzle like this.

mrcheez

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.

iamtony

mrcheez wrote: »

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.

Ha ha yeah good point wear whatever you want who cares what people think:-)

Unknown Soldier

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?

mrcheez wrote: »

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.

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

mrcheez

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).

07Lapierre

mrcheez wrote: »

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).

Do you have a link to that thread?

Brian?

mrcheez wrote: »

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).

Mentions you say?

lismore7

When I first took up cycling a few years ago and my LBS presented me with a pair of lycra shorts, my first concern was looking like Freddie Mercury on a bike!!
But then it was put to me "when you pass a cyclist, do you stop and ponder what their wearing"?
"I want to break free"

mrcheez

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

lismore7 wrote: »

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

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

lismore7

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