A first for me today

[DDH]

Congratulations!!! I am a big girl and I don't look good "per say" in the bike shorts but I have adopted the attitude that if someone doesn't like the way it looks then they don't have to look. It's an evil necessity, I must have the padding. It's not like I am going to the beach in a bikine. LOL

[RolliePollie]

The shorts thing still makes me squirm. But I look around at other people and realize I don't look any worse in the shorts than they do! I hate the "sausage leg" look created by the wonderful elastic band and the hem, but oh well. It's so worth it to be comfortable on the bike!

I think I'd be much more uncomfortable in bike shorts if I were a guy. I mean, you can basically see exactly what they've got "down there." Sorry if that's too much information...but gee whiz (no pun intended), I think I'd be a little self concious about showing that off. Wait, these are men I'm talking about...maybe they're proud!?!?!

[Kristi]

I have to agree with all of you. I was pretty embarrassed standing in my living room wearing my first set of bike shorts. My BF is a mountain biker and wears baggier shorts. But after riding for an hour or so, I understand. They were so much more comfortable. It's worth it.

[Zen]

I think I'd be much more uncomfortable in bike shorts if I were a guy. I mean, you can basically see exactly what they've got "down there." Sorry if that's too much information...but gee whiz (no pun intended), I think I'd be a little self concious about showing that off. Wait, these are men I'm talking about...maybe they're proud!?!?!

I admit it was an enjoyable part of the TdF.

[sundial]

Well, now that I'm a member of the 40+ club, I don't give one hooey about how I look in shorts. Well, unless there's a hole somewhere.....

Skorts are a nice compromise for hot weather. On the bike you hardly know you are wearing them until you stop for a break, then you are covered and no one has to know what you look like in shorts.

[boy in a kilt]

I think I'd be much more uncomfortable in bike shorts if I were a guy. I mean, you can basically see exactly what they've got "down there." Sorry if that's too much information...but gee whiz (no pun intended), I think I'd be a little self concious about showing that off. Wait, these are men I'm talking about...maybe they're proud!?!?!

Actually, bike shorts kinda suck. I don't like tight shorts of any sort. If you don't get things set just right, life can be miserable. Things shift and move of their own volition, sometimes into positions you would prefer they not move into. I don't know how many times I have sat up on a ride and stuck my hand down the front of my bibs to adjust things into a more comfortable position.

As for everyone seeing your business, you just deal with it. I suppose it's kind of like womens' nipples standing up when they are cold or exercising. There they are, so what?

[Starfish]

I suppose it's kind of like womens' nipples standing up when they are cold or exercising. There they are, so what?

Yep, I got over this as a mortified high schooler on swim team. Guys and girls were all horrified at what they had to show (or not show!) in public. You get over it.

[li10up]

That's the reason I took up cycling...all the fit guys in tight lycra shorts with their muscular shaved legs. Wait....did I say that out loud???

I'm self-conscious around non-cyclists when I'm wearing my cycling clothes, ie. leaving work for a ride. I wear baggy shorts over the lycra. But I've noticed that I get more "strange" looks when a cyclist sees me in my baggies than when I'm just in lycra. It's like you only get noticed if you AREN'T in lycra.

You'll never go back to riding with anything over your bike shorts. Good move!

[wannaduacentury]

Congratulations!!! I am a big girl and I don't look good "per say" in the bike shorts but I have adopted the attitude that if someone doesn't like the way it looks then they don't have to look. It's an evil necessity, I must have the padding. It's not like I am going to the beach in a bikine. LOL

Kudos to you DDH, I think I look better in lycra than I do in a bikini too and I've got chicken legs LOL. On my last club sponsored ride, I saw a large lady wearing lycra and no one batted an eye at her and she a nice bike too. Jenn

[Starfish]

Sara: You kill me. I love your posts.

As for the shorts, I have a lot of fat and don't love how I look in the shorts. But, I have to say, I DO love how my growing confidence and achievement on the bike have splashed over into all the rest of my life, like not caring NEARLY so much how I look in the gym, on the bike, on the beach, etc.

Truly, I credit getting older (finally, my forties!) and riding the bike to having more and more confidence in all settings. Now, even though my body looks fat, I am proud of what it can do, and I feel like I belong in the gym or on the bike, no matter how I look. Since my pudgy body can keep delivering the wonderful experiences I am having on the bike, I am growing to respect it for so much more than how it looks.

And now, although I am going to focus on weight loss and strength gain for the fall, it is SOLELY because I know that every pound I drop will be that much less I have to haul uphill for the Shasta Super Century next summer. It is very freeing for the idea of weight loss to be tied only to performance gains on the bike, rather than how the shorts looks.

Oops, kind of ranted there, didn't I!! I'm just very enthusiastic about how continuing on the bike has changed so many ways I look at myself!

Good for you for wearing the shorts!! YAAAYY!!!!

[LoriO]

I have the opposite problem. I am actually pretty comfortable in the shorts (maybe because I am used to wearing boots and riding breeches when I ride my horse?) but I am very self-concious of anything snug up top! Between being very large chested and having that lovely muffin top roll around the middle I am embarrased to wear anything that is form fitting on top.

I always feel that peope are looking at that fat roll and getting grossed out or that the guys are enjoying the free show as the boobs bounce around (ok they don't bounce much due to a good bra but still.....)

Now if I can just lose these next 30 pounds...........