firsts

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

The other thing is what kind of black (magic) lycra do you wear that makes your cellulite disappear??

The tight kind.

Sara- the shorts I like after trying 4 different deluxe ones- are the TE's Shebeest Ultra D. They are for long distance rides and the chamois is very nice. But i also like that of the 4 brands, these were the only ones that didn't have stupidly tight leg band hems. They don't make my thighs look like tied sausages.

[RolliePollie]

Sara- the shorts I like after trying 4 different deluxe ones- are the TE's Shebeest Ultra D. They are for long distance rides and the chamois is very nice. But i also like that of the 4 brands, these were the only ones that didn't have stupidly tight leg band hems. They don't make my thighs look like tied sausages.

Thanks, Lisa. I'll have to find someplace that carries Shebeest so I can try them on. The best ones I've found so far are Novara (REI's brand) - picked up a pair on sale, and the hem isn't quite so tight. I've decided to stop trying to mail order shorts if I've never tried them on before...shipping them back when they don't fit costs too much!

Funny how folks of all different shapes and sizes will walk around on the beach in skimpy bathing suits, but we get self conscious about our lycra shorts. I'd much rather be seen in public in lycra than in a bikini. Wait, let me rephrase that...I wouldn't be caught dead in a bikini! But lycra...I am almost there as far as being ok in public. Actually, when you look at some of the styles these days...you know, the "lettin' it all hang out" look...I think spandex is pretty nice!

[mom2twins]

Happy Birthday and YAY!!! on the new bike gear. I agree with Lisa, Black Lycra does make everyone look slimmer. I can't say I would just wear Lycra for the heck of it but I do think I look less soft and mushy in my bike clothes then I do in other workout clothes.

The best way to get over feeling selfconscious about wearing bike shorts is to go on a big group ride where everyone is wearing it. All of a sudden you look normal and the rest of the people in the 7-11 where the group takes a rest stop look strange in their baggy street clothes.

[Jiffer]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! And to ME too!!! My birthday is Thursday. My mom emailed me a week ago for "hints" on what to get me. I emailed her back and said, "A cycling jersey, of course!" And proceeded to give her links to two specific jerseys I want. I also mentioned that DH hasn't wanted to spend the big bucks on a cycling computer for me yet, but knows which one I should have, and maybe she wants to go in on it with someone else.

I just got birthday money from the In-Laws and immediately said, "Yay! Another jersey!" So, now I have to wait and see what mom gets me, so I know what to spend my other birthday money on.

Regarding wearing the cycling shorts, lucky for me, it's been a common site in my house and among friends of ours. DH has been cycling for years with his lycra shorts and hanging out with other people who do. So, it wasn't too much of a stretch for me to slip into my own and, I must say, I don't look too bad in them! Check out me and my bad cycling self! The weirdest part to get used to was the "extra baggage" in the back from the padding. Recently, some friends of our tried our tandem. My friend borrowed some cycling shorts and a jersey from another friend. When I saw her and told her how "official" she looked, her first comment was, "Yap. I'm carrying a load!" And turns around all goofy to show me. I think that was the weirdest part for her, too.

Well, happy birthday and happy cycling apparel wearing. Just so you know, I'm ALL about matching my bike! I've had the hardest time not only finding the right color jerseys, but jerseys that also fit well. I just got back from trying on a jersey that a store ordered for me. Perfectly cute. Didn't fit! I have jerseys to match the tandem (red, black and white) and, so far, only one to match my new single. PINK! Well, the bike is black, silver and white with pink handlebars, seat and bottle cages. So, my jersey HAS to have some form of pink on it.

Good luck with checking off your wish list as you accumulate all the marvelous cycling "stuff" there is to be had! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

[Rumblefish]

Jiffer...I'm jealous, I don't have a jersey to match my bike yet, and I want one! I want to coordinate with my bike!! I get angry at people who have jerseys that match my bike (red, black and white) so I guess that means I'm angry at you.

[onimity]

Congrats and happy birthday! My b-day is next week and I have been dropping hints about the bike gear I'd like too...

A lot of people ride bikes here and it wasn't long ago that my sister and I would snicker a bit at the neon-lycra cyclists clicking their way down the aisles of the grocery store like they'd been hobbled.

So of course when we started riding a lot we got MTB shorts so we'd have padding and 'standard' shorts to wear over. That lasted...two weeks?

Lycra shorts, especially with the 'load look,' aren't exactly the most flattering thing on me. But I don't really have to look at myself in them all that often and they are wonderful to ride in! And now when we go to the grocery store it's click-click, click-click, click-click. I'm sure someone is laughing but I just don't care.

Anne

[coyote]

Happy early birthday to both Jiffer and onimity

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!!! And to ME too!!! My birthday is Thursday. My mom emailed me a week ago for "hints" on what to get me. I emailed her back and said, "A cycling jersey, of course!" And proceeded to give her links to two specific jerseys I want. I also mentioned that DH hasn't wanted to spend the big bucks on a cycling computer for me yet, but knows which one I should have, and maybe she wants to go in on it with someone else.

I talked to my dad this past weekend. He was quite impressed with my bike enthusiasm. He hadn't mailed me my birthday $$ yet so he asked me how much a new bike would cost. I thought he was going to choke when I told him. It was pretty funny. I know he does not have that kind of money but it was sweet of him to ask.

I know where I will not look out of place in Lycra...any coffee shop near the college.

[Jiffer]

Jiffer...I'm jealous, I don't have a jersey to match my bike yet, and I want one! I want to coordinate with my bike!! I get angry at people who have jerseys that match my bike (red, black and white) so I guess that means I'm angry at you.

Well, Rumblefish, I'm not sure how to help you with your anger problem, other than to tell you to GET A MATCHING JERSEY!!! Then happiness will abound and peace will reign on the TE boards. And you'll be really, really good looking on your bike, like me!

In the mean time, I'll think of you as I'm out cruising in all my color coordinated glory.

[Jiffer]

I talked to my dad this past weekend. He was quite impressed with my bike enthusiasm. He hadn't mailed me my birthday $$ yet so he asked me how much a new bike would cost. I thought he was going to choke when I told him. It was pretty funny. I know he does not have that kind of money but it was sweet of him to ask.

It's funny how some people have no idea how much a bike can really cost (and why), not to mention all the stuff that goes with it ... like just the shoes alone. I was happy to find a $50 jersey to tell my mom about, since most of them are more than that.

Have fun spending Dad's birthday money when you get it. KAH CHING!!!

[Rumblefish]

Yeah anger management would be a good idea for me One of these days I'm going to give a dirty look to the wrong person wearing a jersey that matches my bike!!

I'm working on finding a matching jersey though....it's my new mission!

My boyfriend and I have a system set up, for every 100 miles I ride I get a new piece of bike gear and he pays for it (he's the whole reason I started biking), it's a great little set up cause I'm just eating the miles up now! Yay!!

A matching jersey WILL be mine and soon!! I'm due for two rewards so the bike store better watch out, cause I'm going to be scouring the racks for one!

[Jiffer]

A matching jersey WILL be mine and soon!! I'm due for two rewards so the bike store better watch out, cause I'm going to be scouring the racks for one!

Yay! Sounds like a good system you worked out with your boyfriend. What are your colors? I must know?!

At the risk of you being even more angry with me, I have to say, I just got ANOTHER MATCHING JERSEY TODAY!!! Mommy bought it for me for my birthday. It's one of the one's I "hinted" to her, so she did good! I'm so happy! You realize, of course, that I have both a single road bike and a tandem. Different colors for each and I must match both at all costs. I have 3 jerseys that match the tandem, but until today, only one to match the single and it frustrates me a little, so I'm glad to have another one that, so far, seems better. I think I'm going to take the other one I have to a tailor and have them do some adjustments to it. I figure, I'm not going to keep wearing a $70+ jersey that bothers me when I can pay a little more to fix what bothers me. The collar around the next, mostly. It's huge! I probably should have sent it back when I first got it, but I didn't. I wore it cause I HAD to match my bike the very first time I rode it, of course!

[Rumblefish]

New jerseys are so much fun!! I just ordered a jersey today from TE to match my bike!! My bike is red, black and silver (but for ease we'll just say white will match my bike, 'cause I don't think there are many silver jerseys out there....I could be wrong...)

By midweek next week I will no longer feel the intense anger towards riders with jerseys matching their bikes because I will have one too!! I'm turning into those I hated

Matching bikes and jerseys rock!!