Anyone else feel this way?

[Luci]

Sometimes I think that we have a moral obligation to wear stretchy lycra biking clothes, because if we didn't, our joy and excitment might burst out while we were riding and hit innocent passersby and motorists, possibly causing injury or accidents.
So stuff yourself into those shorts and go out with a clean conscience knowing you are merely protecting the safety of others.

That's great!!!! I love the way you put that. Now that I'm getting back into biking, I have such a hard time seeing myself in my bike shorts . I was in such good shape a few years ago before I went back to school and those few years at my age make it exponentially harder to take it off.

On riding solo, I really enjoy it. I like riding with my DH too. Just variations on the theme.

I do hate riding in traffic and prefer a nice MTB ride, but had few concerns when I lived in Italy. I rode right in the middle with all of the cars there. As a cyclist, I was treated so much better there that I felt much more safe. Where I lived there weren't lanes painted on many of the roads so cars just drove in their own space bubble. As a result, people were very aware of their space and yours. They weren't just blindly following the guy in front of them. Then you compound that with Utah drivers and I really have to watch when I'm on the road.

[SandyLS]

As a 59 year old woman (with 42 inch hips) who started biking 3 years ago, I never thought I'd ever be seen in public in lycra shorts. I've even said out loud that some bodies should never be seen in lycra. I started wearing street clothes then switched to padded baggies at at this point do wear lycra. Some times I carry shorts to slip on over the lycra if I stop for coffee or something, but by the time I have done a nice long ride of 20, 50, or 62 miles it just doesn't seen to be worth the effort and I am too tired and hungry to take the time to put the shorts on. So far as far as I know I haven't scared any small children and shop keepers are still willing to take my money. If I stop to think about it I still say to myself "What are you doing out in public like that and without underware no less." Oh well if I don't loose my inhibitions at this age it might never happen!

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Sandy, um, what's so big about 42 inch hips that you would need to put an additional pair of coverup shorts over your biking shorts anyway?? My hips are 41", I'm 52 years old, and it doesn't look like something that needs covering just to buy a cup of coffee! No fear of causing anyone in a Qwik-Mart to faint.

[latelatebloomer]

To tell you the truth, I think I look a lot better in bike togs than I did in the silly-*ss baggy getups I used to come up with to "hide" my size.

And remember, almost everybody has a large mom, sister, aunt, friend - some dear woman - that they worry about. I like to think that people see my big bad self on the road and go home and tell that large woman they love - "guess what I saw today...and she was doing fine"

I get so many encouraging smiles from our rural motorists these days - people I don't know at all - I think they're saying "there she is AGAIN! she's riding ALL THE TIME!!!'

and all the "real" cyclists say hi now. I love that.

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Latebloomers,
I agree. When i bought my bike, another woman came into the bike shop and bought a bike- she was tall and very heavy. She must have equalled two of me at least. But she was confidently trying out bikes, and looked like she knew what she was doing and had been riding much longer than me. Yes she had a lot of extra fat, but she looked muscular as well, and powerful. She bought a beautiful gleaming purple sturdy tall bike, zoomed on out the door on it, and I found myself full of admiration for her.
Athletic women come in all sizes!

[Cassandra_Cain]

I find it very encouraging at how folks - Lisa and others - are out there riding and doing so with confidence.

I'll skip the long rant, but simply put, we don't have buy into this media and societal crap about having to look like air-brushed models! We are real people, real women, and our bodies should be a source of pride. After all, at least we are out there, working and using our bodies for healthy and fun pursuits like riding

[Denise223]

Hi Ladies!!

Originally posted by STACIE: This year my attitude changed. I realized, my rides had no purpose. Now I leave the house with a goal each ride. I have my long ride which I keep slow and steady, a medium tempo ride, and an interval ride. Goal setting has made such a difference for me. I have to say there is something very empowering about riding alone and taking care of yourself. Sometimes it's still hard to get out by myself, but once on my bike, I couldn't be happier. I love the confidence and solitude. I've ridden 150 miles by myself this week and loved every minute of it. good luck!

I was quite inspired reading your post. Congrat's for riding 150 miles solo last week . Like you stated, "there is something very empowering about riding alone and taking care of yourself."
I have not stepped out of my "comfort zone" as of yet.....but, as I read posts that are similar to yours -- I feel as if I am MUCH CLOSER TO IT! "Going it alone" seems much less "scary" to me, and that's great.

I am so much more comfortable on my bike, I can ride longer distances, and I do feel a LOT more confident, too.
I don't feel "as awkward" as I did in the beginning.

I have weekdays free to ride, and, the days are just flying by and I know I should be out there riding!

I don't want to waste anymore days in which I could be out riding .
The only person I have to count on is MYSELF -- I know I can do that !

Ben and I will go riding this afternoon, and we're planning for Sunday & Monday, too. I enjoy the quietness, the serenity, the beautiful scenery so much !!

Regarding bike shorts I think that we all look good in them. Sure, for me, it definitely was all new and it took some getting used to. I'm happy that I got used to wearing them fast.
There's A LOT TO BE SAID FOR "wicking fabrics"

I highly recommend bike shorts to everyone...... Even if you're riding 10 miles, shorts that are made for cycling make all the difference in the world!

When I WAS wearing my cotton shirt & cotton shorts, a lot of excess material would be "flapping in the breeze", and even though "cotton may breathe"..........it also hangs on to all of that sweat, and it can be terribly uncomfortable !

Originally posted by Cassandra_Cain: I'll skip the long rant, but simply put, we don't have buy into this media and societal crap about having to look like air-brushed models! We are real people, real women, and our bodies should be a source of pride. After all, at least we are out there, working and using our bodies for healthy and fun pursuits like riding

I will DITTO everything that you said, Cassandra ! Biking is wonderful for our health. And, when riding and using my body, I feel incredibly STRONG! It's the best feeling -- I'm having a blast!

Oh, here's a link to check out --

http://www.questoutfitters.com/wicking_fabrics.htm

Because shorts CAN cost a small fortune, I thought, "it would be nice to attempt to make them ", so I googled & found that site. I don't sew well, but....it might be a nice thing to try doing in the winter. We'll see.

Well Ladies, I hope that you all have a FANTASTIC beautiful weekend.... We are having awesome weather out here in MA....the heatwave is gone!

Peace & Love,

Denise

[Cassandra_Cain]

Right on Denise

Ok, but seriously your cute picture has flared up a terribly bad case of blue sky envy!!! Yes I live in the desert, and no, the sun has been hiding for several days. We desert rats go paranoid w/o our sun! Help :P