New Plus Sized riders needs pointers

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to cycling and this board. I have several questions. First off, for those that don't know, Tahoe where I live, is VERY mountainous, and in the town I live in, very hard to find flats. Should I just ride that flat (6 miles round trip) over and over again until I get better, or are hills OK?

Secondly...as I"ve seen many people mention, my butt HURTS! I am extremely (read super fat) out of shape, but do have a good mountain bike (a GT Aggressor that is a couple years old but freshly tuned). I put semi slicks on it, and have a cutout gel seat, but after just a couple mile ride today.. my butt is killing me. I don't have the money to buy the chamois from this website right now and plus size stuff is just not sold in normal bike shops, especially in the tiny town I live in. So, because it hurts so much, should I suck it up and ride again tomorrow? Or wait a day and let the poor rump have a break?

Lastly...anyone nearby?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

Welcome, Tahoe! I'm big myself (leaner and stronger than I was, but German and Cherokee blood will see to it that I stay curvy) and this is my first year of riding on the road after a winter of spin classes at a gym. In April, I could do 3 miles - some small hills - I was shaking by the time I got in the driveway, and I was so slow and wobbly on the bike, I was afraid I'd fall over like in the old Laugh-in show, if you remember Arte Johnson..., and if I saw bikers in the distance, I wanted to just hide in the bushes til they left.

I rode that 3 miles over and over. Then one day, I felt I could do a second lap. Now I'm doing 8 miles, still learning to shift, climb, even how to drink from my water bottle while in motion (still iffy. please don't watch) The strength and speed are really coming a long. You are really in the best place to get questions on anything about getting started, and I mean anything! :eek:

Ride on, you're gonna do great! :D

Congrats... and please don't think that your size will keep you down! There are plenty of plus-size riders who are strong and fast!

Now... as far as being uncomfortable on the seat. Have you tried different seat adjustments to see if that fixes the issue? I know when my seat was lowered just a hair, the pain I had between my legs just went away completely. And I was having pain after a few miles.

Finally, if that doesn't work, you really need to get some good padded shorts. This should fix the problem. You only have to buy one pair... just keep washing them (without fabric softner and hang to dry). Save what you can... maybe sell something on Ebay? Offer to clean a friends house? Have a garage sale?

Best of luck!

Plus-size here, too. Gravity is not our friend (uphill).

You could ride that same 6 mile loop over and over. Pretty soon, though, you'll want some other scenery. That's when you need to get creative.

You have some options on hills, you know. You could see how far you can get up one. Turn around and enjoy the gravity sled down. Tomorrow you'll go further. Really. Or you could just peddle as far as possible and walk the rest of the way. If someone tries to give you grief, look 'em straight in the eye and say "Cross training."

In any case, remember that you are working harder to get the greater mass up the hill. Those rail-thin types are cheating!

Whatever you do, enjoy the downhills, you've earned them.

Hi TahoeChick - welcome!

I have 2 pairs of 4x cycling shorts that need a new home:
baggy cycling shorts and underliner cycling shorts - just wear then under other shorts. The padding is pretty good - they really made a difference for me when I got started. I used them for about 4 months, and I'd love to see them getting some more use - if you'd like them, just PM me.

Another place to look that has good plus-size shorts, at pretty reasonable prices, is Aerotech

Regarding hills, I was totally scared of them for the first few months I was riding, but you do get stronger, and low gears really help - since you have a mountain bike, it sounds like you'll have some good low gears. I find stopping to get my breath then starting again makes the hill not so daunting. And then at the top, even though I had to stop, I know I rode the whole thing.

KSH is so right about the seat adjustment - I went through several miserable rides before I got my seat angle set right.

You're going to have a great time! Enjoy it! And what a beautiful place to ride!
-Ann

Hey there, welcome to TE!

What those other gals sed, and when you get a chance find the getting to know you thread.

That way you can read all about us and we can get to know you too.

Fit is key. At the distance you ride you can get away without wearing bike shorts, I always wear mine even on my epic 2-mile commute to work but that's just because it feels more like fun than going to work ;-)

Yes they are more comfortable because there is no seam and as you ride further you'll want the chamois. For now have you checked the seat? What KSH sez, lowering the nose make sure it's level or imperceptively lower than level (nose down) can help.

Cycling shorts are a must for riding for more than 60 minutes and they will help a lot with chafing, but it will remain that your derrière will be seated on a relatively hard saddle. (Cushy saddles are not necessarily more comfortable.)

You will partly develop resistance to it (including stronger butt muscles). And partly still feel it when you will pay attention. But it is normal that it takes a couple of rides to feel better about it just because you don't notice anymore. (I know it sounds weird at this time...)

Most of the pain will go away but, at the end of your first century (you WILL ride one some day sooner than you think - trust us!) I swear that your derrière will still hurt a bit like mine was hurting last week!!!

By the way, I suggest everybody read the Bicycling Magazine latest issue paper on very-plus-size riders. Very interesting. Too bad: only men as usual. Maybe we could write a letter to the editor and suggest they make more efforts to include women in their articles in the future.

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by Grog

By the way, I suggest everybody read the Bicycling Magazine latest issue paper on very-plus-size riders. Very interesting. Too bad: only men as usual. Maybe we could write a letter to the editor and suggest they make more efforts to include women in their articles in the future.

Cheers!

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yeah, I read that...and while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at al. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

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Originally Posted by Grog

By the way, I suggest everybody read the Bicycling Magazine latest issue paper on very-plus-size riders. Very interesting. Too bad: only men as usual. Maybe we could write a letter to the editor and suggest they make more efforts to include women in their articles in the future.

Cheers!

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yeah, I read that...and while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at all. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

This is the second time I've seen them mentioned on the boards (the Aerotech shorts that is) and I was wondering if anyone has tried them, specifically a plus size cyclicst. If so, what are your thoughts impressions? I currently have one of the Terry skorts but was thinking of picking up a pair of shorts.

Welcome to the boards, Tahoe, I'm another one of the plus size cyclists on the board.


Thanks,
Angela

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This is the second time I've seen them mentioned on the boards (the Aerotech shorts that is) and I was wondering if anyone has tried them, specifically a plus size cyclicst. If so, what are your thoughts impressions? I currently have one of the Terry skorts but was thinking of picking up a pair of shorts.

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I've got a pair of the Womens' Pro Bike Short in 2X size and I really like them. Their website is a little strange, but the order was processed quickly. Along with my new Terry shorts, they are my favorites.

There's not a lot of choice out there... The Mt. Borah shorts were good for shorter rides, and the baggy style helped me ease into the lycra world, but for longer rides and hills, I prefer the aerotech and terrys.

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Originally Posted by shadon

while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at all. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

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I thought this article was good in that it addressed the fact that all this fancy-schmancy lightwear equipment designed for the 140 lb racer isn't necessarily the best choice for everyone. Right now, the fad is for the lightest bike possible but if you get into the manufacturer's fine print you will sometimes find weight limits. In other words, the warranty doesn't apply if you weigh more than the weight limit, no matter what your bodyfat percentage is. For example, you walk into a bike shop and the only road tires they carry are 23s because everyone thinks you'll go faster on narrower tires. This a ridiculous size for larger people in non-race situations or bad pavement. Many of the spiffy factory built wheels have weight limits. Bike shops have a very difficult time explaining to a buyer ready to plop down a large chunk of change for the latest uber bike that it is "understrength" for the buyer's size. You risk broken equipment and broken body for the sake of a few grams off your bike. None of this is gender specific.

OK, off my soap box. But I though the article delicately addressed a real-life issue that has nothing to do with gender. If those computer-enhanced bodies were done with a women I think there would have been huge cries of outrage about their "lack of sensitivity." I thought it was a good article and an inspiring article.

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Originally Posted by shadon

yeah, I read that...and while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at all. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

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Frankly I didn't learn much either but I was glad that the average Bicycling-magazine reader (among which many 140-lbs racers) would learn about those riding plus-size. I'm on the light side but I do hear snickers about big riders and I always intervene if I can. Road riders in particular can be quite snob and need to be reminded to be welcoming in their sport to people of all genders, colors and sizes.

It also tells bigger folks: hey you can do it to.

Two weeks ago I saw a really big lady on a reclining bike with... small wheels on the sides! But hey she was riding and although it felt like quite a flat road to me I knew that those false-flats must have been hell to her and made her heart pump hard. She had the guts to get out there on the bike path and learn the skills. I felt proud for her, but I can imagine she did not get only respectful smiles that day.

Congratulations, TahoeChick, for starting to ride. You're going to be great.

One thing about your post and latelatebloomer's post made me smile. This weekend, I did my first tri. And you know what? I got passed by a bunch of women who were bigger than me. No lie. Just goes to show that big girls can kick the skinny ones' butts! :)

As for plus sized stuff, I saw there are plus sized shorts on the TE site, made by Terry ( http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=1342 ) and also the Terry Commuter Skort, which is super cute ( http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=9254 ). They're expensive, but hey, you only need one for now. Just wash and wear again.

Good luck!

You are all amazing. I am so glad that I found this site! Someone mentioned that I will ride a century sooner than later. Ya know what? She was right. Right as I read that.. I made that a goal. I'm going to do it!!

Thank you again for all of your help, and I will find that thread to get to know all of you!

Additionally..if anyone is every in Tahoe.. please let me know! We'll go ride!

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Originally Posted by TahoeChick

You are all amazing. I am so glad that I found this site! Someone mentioned that I will ride a century sooner than later. Ya know what? She was right. Right as I read that.. I made that a goal. I'm going to do it!!

Thank you again for all of your help, and I will find that thread to get to know all of you!

Additionally..if anyone is every in Tahoe.. please let me know! We'll go ride!

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This is so funny, I used to make fun of my SO for getting up at the crack of dawn and subjecting herself to a "100 mile bicycle seat enema"...now I'm thinking hmmm I think I want to do a Century. :p

Oh and bikerz... I did send you a PM... let me know if you get it or not

I'm actually (*gasp*) thinking of training for the California AIDS Lifecyle next year - 600+ miles in 7 days! Usually at least 2 centuries - and I used to think people that did this ride were nuts! Cycling is like a drug - you get hooked, and it's never enough!

Hi Tahoe! I'm late getting here but wanted to say welcome too... which area are you in? My brother used to have a cabin on the south shore by the grade (just down from Heavenly)... lovely area! If I lived there I'd ride with ya!!

Part of the butt pain MAY be due to wearing regular clothes... bike shorts are made with padding which you mentioned but equally important is the lack of SEAMS that rub, rub, rub!!! If you can get a pair of shorts do it! It really will help some!

My brother is a cycling success story... 3 yrs ago he weighed 458 lbs and was going to have gastric bypass... went thru the whole process, chickened out and got a bike... Feb of this year found him at 320lbs and completing his first century!!! SINCE then he has completed a century a month and on June 18 he was down 200lbs and completed his first DOUBLE century in 11 hours 59 minutes! :eek: :D We ride centuries together regularly.

I'm sure there are "bike snobs" out there that laughed when he rode by, but there are far more that went by with words of encouragement!!! Any snobs he can now keep up with easily and some he drops! ;)

Do whatever climbing you can and increase it slowly every week! You WILL do a century in no time! Looking forward to hearing about your progress... :)

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Originally Posted by Queen

This is so funny, I used to make fun of my SO for getting up at the crack of dawn and subjecting herself to a "100 mile bicycle seat enema"...now I'm thinking hmmm I think I want to do a Century. :p

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Queen LOL... welcome to the nuthouse!

I had a goal of someday completing ONE century... did that in Feb and have ridden 3 more since, with another Aug 20, Sept 24 and Nov 19 planned! :eek: :D

Padded bike shorts will help a lot with the sore butt problem. I have the Aerotech shorts and a pair of Terry shorts, and I prefer the Aerotech (sorry Terry!). The fabric is a little heavier with a little stronger lycra. I am trying to get my seriously plus-size hubby to ride with me, and his whole attitude changed when I got him a pair of shorts from Aerotech. I haven't completely solved the bike-butt problem, but I do know that I feel better the more I ride, in spite of the sore butt. And I refuse to be intimidated by the mini-cyclists out there. I detest wind and hills, but the more effort you give it, the stronger you will get. A hill is one time when the down side is the best part!

Welcome TahoeChick......This is the best board to get info and support. As a plus-size rider, I initially did not feel worthy enough to be out there. But later I thought why not??? I'm out having a good time, and not stuck behind a desk. It's great to be outside and getting exercise. Since starting to ride last year, I have completed several centuries, and this year I did the Seattle to Portland ride which is 200 miles in 2 days. Last year I could not have even thought about doing it. And now, I'm seriously thinking of doing the AIDS Lifecycle ride next June...(Trek, I'll be calling you!!!) So.....start slow and easy, gradually work up the mileage, and invest in good equipment/clothing. You WILL do great!!!!!

My partner's cousin lives in Carnelian Bay, and we go up a few times a year. What part of Tahoe do you live in???

Hill Slug sez..."And now, I'm seriously thinking of doing the AIDS Lifecycle ride next June...(Trek, I'll be calling you!!!)"

Hill Slug, Bikerz stop "seriously thinking" and register ;-)

I usually decide if I'll do ALC around Sept/October, leaning towards skipping a year then back in the saddle again on ALC6. Pray for a cure, can I do this again?

Call, e-mail, pick my brains, that goes for Bikerz, Shadon any of you "thinkin' about it" TE'ers. We'll do a:

"So ya wanna do the AIDS Ride?" thread.

Before Day 1 ALC 3 my longest rides were 30 miles and a few metric centuries, never did a century. Day 2 was my first. ALC has 2 of them and the other 5 days avg. 80 sumthin. 26,000 feet of climbing.

I'm not recomending the TREK420 training regimine, Bike Goddess's is best (lotsa miles, cross train) but it was the best I could do as a "single parent of a dog" and this year especially....it worked.

"So.....start slow and easy, gradually work up the mileage, and invest in good equipment/clothing. You WILL do great!!!!!"

What she sed, base miles base miles base miles....I told Bikerz one of the challenges of ALC is it's early season so while other people are in their peak and charging up Diablo you need to concentrate on building a base so I felt it put me opposite other riders. But if you start slow and build a base you'll be a rabbit in June.

The other was finding a red frock I'd wear on a bike.

Tahoechick, how'd you find us? Always interested in that. I think I've "referred" a few lost biker gals from my other boards recently. No idea where they are IRL, coulda been you.

The help, humor, on this board spoils me for any other site.

I don't remember how I found this board, glad I did. Everything I need to know I learned on TE :)

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Originally Posted by bikerchick68

Queen LOL... welcome to the nuthouse!

I had a goal of someday completing ONE century... did that in Feb and have ridden 3 more since, with another Aug 20, Sept 24 and Nov 19 planned! :eek: :D

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YIKES!! :eek: I can't wrap my head around riding that far! Maybe some day we'll share an beer and joke about "how Queen used to think a Century wasn't do-able". :D

Queen, very do-able. :D and bikerchick...what's wrong with October? You're missing a month.
:cool:

sit back my children and you shall hear ofthe midnight ride of CorsairMac.

Ok..that didn't rhyme but I am a bike commuter that used to think Centurys were things people like BikeGoddess did.....not lil ol lady bike commuters like me! I mean bikegoddess and lance armstrong go hand and hand to me while I'm just happy I made it home up the friggin mountain again tonight before it was time to go to work again the next morning.
Until I came here and Bikejournal.com....and met people that were just like me and were doing centurys just coz they could.
and ya know what........ya can, and I did.....and I did again....and I did again.

now I'm thinking a century a month maybe - just coz I can! how long have I been riding this time around?....since mid-Aug 2004 and I had Never done more than 25 mile rides in my previous biker life. It isn't the miles anymore it's "how much time do I have today?"

Corsair "yup...feeling fiesty tonight can't ya tell?" Mac

[QUOTE=
My partner's cousin lives in Carnelian Bay, and we go up a few times a year. What part of Tahoe do you live in???[/QUOTE]

I live on the north shore, in Incline which is less than 10 minutes from Carnelian Bay! If you ever come up.. let me know!

Man... the century seems amazing. After my maybe 3 mile ride the other day I thought I was going to pass out..yet you all are doing it. Any books or magazines you can suggest? I admit I'm lost with the talk of spinning and cadence and the like. I'd like to start right.. so I might as well find out from the beginning.

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Originally Posted by Trek420

What she sed, base miles base miles base miles....I told Bikerz one of the challenges of ALC is it's early season so while other people are in their peak and charging up Diablo you need to concentrate on building a base so I felt it put me opposite other riders. But if you start slow and build a base you'll be a rabbit in June.

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You know, Trek, every person's body is different in terms of what training it likes but this is the first year I've done so much hill climbing and my legs are not only stronger but my knees haven't whined at all this year. Seems weird with all the hills, but the knee caps have been totally quiet. I have to think that building some power early in the spring made a big difference. We rode our normal long flat base miles in the friggin' cold foggy winter, but I found that my ability to ride multiple days of long rides or high intensity rides is much better for having thrown in some high intensity climbs. The variety has made a huge difference for me and has actually made my afterwork loops much more fun because I have a different goal with them (like I can go any speed I want without falling over :p ).

Someone asked about a book or something...

I have two of Ed Pavelka's books (one of them is Long Distance Cycling) and I think they are very good introductions to ALL aspects of training for centuries and more. I read a lot of it in the early Spring, and reread parts over breakfast once in a while because there are things I didn't notice then that I now know to be important.

And Bicycling's last issues had a "my first century" story. But just reading this board will be A LOT of help. (But I have a hard time fitting my laptop on the kitchen table and not getting peanut butter on the keyboard so I have to find a way to get cycling information printed on paper while eating... !)

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Queen, very do-able. :D and bikerchick...what's wrong with October? You're missing a month.
:cool:

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LOL... I just haven't found an organized one I wanna do that month... may go ride a solo with my bro... except now he drops me like a rock... sigh... :D

Queen... yup, you KNOW we're gonna have a beer and laugh about it someday...SOON woman! The mental century is way more difficult than the actual ride... once you decide you CAN do it... well, ya just can! ;)

There's a century in Lake Tahoe in the spring you could train for. I know that the Leukemia Society has a whole "Team in Training" program that will help you get ready for your first century ride. Check out their Web site and find out when they have an organizational meeting in your area for this ride.

I was going to train for that one but didn't want to have to travel that far (or wait that long) to do my first century, so I've signed up for the Seagull Century on the Eastern Shore. Anyone else doing that one?

Hi TahoeChick!

You're in luck. The Tahoe Sierra Century is coming up shortly. You could make it your goal to do the 30-miler or maybe volunteer to see what it's all about. One of the things I love about centuries is the variety I see there. You see so many inspirational things--kids riding, hand bikes, folks with artificial limbs--it would be worth it to hang out there for the day.

For a while there was another Tahoe gal posting but I haven't seen much from her in a while. I think she was on the N shore. I live in Placerville but don't get up to north shore that much. Are you on N shore or S shore (or W shore)?

A really good ride is the Burnside Lakes Road out of Hope Valley, which would be convenient for you if you're in S shore. It's newly paved and you can go as far as you want and then turn around and go back. Remember, you already have an altitute advantage since you live at the lake!

Welcome!

-Sue

PS Oh! And you will, believe it or not, come to love those hills someday. It happens whether you like it or not. I'm a hill freak, just ask SK.

I think what SK says about hill training is right on the money. I have a training program I do which includes hills, but if I could I'd do more Diablo climbs. Most of my hill climbing is on club rides. The more you do hills the stronger you will get. I've done 5000 + miles this year and climbed (approx)122,000 feet. Some of this footage is guess work it's probably on the low side. I also do interval training which helps on speed. So re your riding on flats- absolutely use flats to warm up your legs and heart. When you get more comfortable with your riding you can set up little benchmarks to see how fast you can get from one point to another. Rest and then do another one. I'd do that about twice a week. It's fun and you'll have an idea of how you are progressing.

After you are warmed up (usually 20-30min into your ride) then go after some hills. Small at first. The goal- get to the top. Use the lowest gear that you need. As you get stronger you will be able to use a higher gear. Spin up hills as much as you can, easier on your legs as well as your heart.

Also if you don't have a speedometer by all means get one. That in itself will help you gauge your progress. I keep track of my miles on the Bike Journal as well as how fast I went. Then I can go back and see what progress I have made on the same route earlier in the year.

Because of my age, I have to watch how much I put my body through. It takes longer for me to recover from hard riding so I vary my rides to make sure that I don't get injured or fatigued. So far it has worked and I don't think I have reached my potential as a cyclist yet. I might have a year or two to get to my peak.

We all have handicaps to work with whether its knees, weight, age, etc. As you ride more mileage, you will find out what works the best for you. Just remember we all started at square one. Where we end up is anyone's guess! So keep up the good work and the benefits will come, that's for sure! :) :)

(Quote TahoeChick) Lastly...anyone nearby?

Thinking cycling up your way might be a tad snowy come Winter.

If you are looking for a place not snowbound to ride and have transport come down my way and we can go for a ride together.

Let me know what you think and before the snow sets in maybe I could come to your neck of the woods for a ride.

I have a road bike - are you still riding road or have the trails taken your fancy? :D

My butt hurt to and i was going to just give up but i told myself maybe the more it hurts the smaller it will get!!! So i kept going and let it hurt now i am fine after a week. And my but is getting smaller. My friends would joke that i have a shelf but they now say my shelf is going away!!!

Hi Tahoe,
As a VERY Plus size rider myself who has just started riding for the first time in over 20 years a couple months ago at 270+ pounds, if I can do it, YOU can do it. I lost 80 pounds a bit over a year ago and this summer I started walking but best of all, I started riding. I don't have any fancy clothes (yet, I'm in the process of sewing my own pants and soon jersey) I have now ridden 545 miles and I haven't lost new weight (YET) this summer, but I have lost INCHES!! :D :D

Good luck, put one pedal in front of the other and ride like the wind!

http://www.picturetrail.com/mary9761