Newbie here - Plus-Size gal with severe fear of lycra

[Beth-Ro]

Bike shorts can be scary.

I am also of the plus-sized persuasion, and the first time I put lycra on in the dressing room at the bike shop last August, I was, quite frankly, horrified by what I saw in the mirror. My fear of riding without some padding overrode my fear of wearing the shorts, so they were added to the pile at the register when I bought the bike. I shoved the bag containing the teeny tiny bundle of lycra under the back seat and instead concentrated on my pretty new orange mountain bike.

Then it was time for a ride...I snapped on those shorts and made the mistake of wearing regular shorts on top of them...modesty is such a pain in the tail, literally. My first few bike rides were fraught with tears and much huffing and puffing as I struggled up the cruely long and mocking hills of the blue ridge mountains...apparently we don't do anything flat around here. I was so overrun with the hill drama and my out-of-shape-ness that I didn't really notice the damage I was doing to my bikini line. The humidity and heat of August in South Carolina combined with that extra outer layer of shorts soon took it's toll and the chaffing was unreal. I was forced to swallow my pride, take off that extra layer, and ride with lycra-exposed thighs.

And you know what? Once I got on the bike, the focus was on the ride, not the outfit. And the ride was more enjoyable what without all that extra layer and chaffing and all.

Those people in their cars that MIGHT notice me riding my bike are to busy talking on their cell phone, eating their sausage biscuit, smoking their cigarrette, yelling at their kids, wondering if they paid the mortgage, and SPEEDING to really pay any attention to my cycling trousseau. Unless they ride. Then they are checking out the bike.

Of course it's one thing to don lycra and go riding with DH and quite another to parade before other riders/racers/been on a bike for at least 20 years types with their toned bodies and their fancy shmancy clipless pedals. But those guys I ride with have other, urm, protrusions they are constantly adjusting, so why am I so selfconcious?

And thank goodness I'm doing this for myself and not for them!!!

The Terry plus shorts have a 9-inch inseam. That should go to your knee. Right now I feel better with just-above-the-knee length shorts because they don't cut into my leg funny and I think the longer stuff would be more hot than I could take here in subtropical land. I just (it arrived yesterday) purchased the plus size orange Sporthill jersey from our dear sponsors here at TE and I LOVE IT! It is not body hugging and has no elastic in the sleeve or hem to ride, bind, and generally annoy me. This is the first jersey I've found that is ample enough across my chest.

So, find the gear, wear with pride, love your body, and look yourself in the mirror every morning and remind yourself "I am better today than I was yesterday". That's how I did it. And guess what? I've put 1300 miles or so on that new orange mountain bike...5 and 10 miles at a time...in less than a year. Mother's Day weekend I rode 40+ miles for the first time. And honey let me tell you about the muscles in my legs!!!!

Lycra is your friend. Embrase it and ride like the wind!

-beth, who was probably a little too excited about a plus sized sister on a bike

[effulgent]

You guys are so great, seriously! I do think I'll get leggings because I never thought about leg stuff jiggling before Sisu's post. I'm sure they would make me feel more comfortable. But I am pumped about investing in a pair of leggings and an obnoxious jersey.

And here's the bizarre question for the day - has anyone ever bought the Curves Sports Bra that Avon sells? I'm not the Avon type, I've never bought anything from them before, but I noticed while perusing a catalog at lunch yesterday (a co-worker drapes the catalogs all over the building) that they have a sports bra for $15. The only ones I've found on the Internet have been $50 or more. I wear a 42D right now, which the catalog says will fit me, at least in theory. My main concern is that underwires SUCK when you're all sweating and whatnot. I could afford to get 3 Curves bras for what 1 bra somewhere else would cost. But if they are horrid, I don't want to even risk it.

Ladies?

[Beth-Ro]

I don't use a sports bra because I've never found one that was big enough, so post back here if you find one you like.

And please post back on the jersey you find that you like. I may have to try that Terry jersey too!