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

[RoadRaven]

Welcome to the forum, bikerz

Good on you for getting out there and getting yourself fitter

Your friends are right, cyclists come in all shapes and sizes - the important thing is what you are feeling now... increased fitness makes you feel so much better, physically, yes, but also psychologically and spiritually...

35 pounds in 4 months... thats quite dramatic - I assume you have rearranged your diet also? There are some great nutrition ideas on the forum too.

And 40 miles after 4 months... quite impressive... have you had previous bike experience, because thats a decent little bit of endurance riding for a beginnner...

To lose so much you must be really working on lifting your heart rate?

Are you on a road bike, a hybrid or an off-roader?

Keep posting and let us now how you go

[bikerz]

Thanks for the welcome and the encouragement!

Well, actually I hadn't ridden a bike since commuting in college, which was a long time ago! I have modified my diet, but what has mostly doe the trick is cycling a lot - I try to do 20+ miles twice a week, and another 30+ on the weekend, and a lot of walking. My metabolism seems to require lots of steady exertion. Although, in the last few weeks, with my cycling distance increasing, the weight loss has stopped - I guess I'm getting more muscle now. Clothes are still looser, so I'm trying not to get discouraged, and just keep riding!

I have a sturdy road bike (Specialized Sequoia), and it is a little heavy, but I'm not going to worry about that until I'm a lot less heavy!

[RoadRaven]

Specialized Sequioa - never heard of them

But it made me think of the redwoods we have planted in front of the house (plenty of space for them to grow)

My one regret when I was in California was that I didn't go up north to see the redwood forests there. I bet there are some fabulous roads thru forests to cycle along - and some super tracks for off-roading, no doubt

And yeah, clothes getting looser - thats how I measure success. I weighed myself last month and I had lost half a stone, but I don't have scales in the house, so have to wait til I go back to my friend's place and can use her scales again

Well done bikerz

[wabisabi]

Yes, there ARE fabulous roads up here in the redwoods! I did a metric a couple of weeks ago which ran in part along the Avenue of the Giants. Yesterday I did 45 miles, there through the redwoods and back along the coast, stopping midway at our favorite organic coffee place. There is a 600 acre community redwood forest behind my house. I walk there mostly with the doggies, but there are lots of MTBers. There is actually a 12 hour MTB ride through the forests coming up.

Having said that, I have alway longed to see your part of the world, it sounds pretty magical also.

[RoadRaven]

It is pretty magical here too, though I have not cycled much of it ... yet ...

Near Rotorua there is a Redwood Forest with a MB track running through it - thats on my list of things to do, though I also wish I had seen some redwoods in their home country

[shades]

Just found these forums -- how cool! I'm a new cyclist, as well, and also pretty large (I fall on the high end of misses sizes, or the very low end of plus sizes). I have been horrified, though not terribly surprised, to find that bike clothing runs, um, really small for the most part. "Normal" XL's almost always fit me comfortably, but not so with bike clothing (shorts okay, jerseys no way).

As to the lycra fear, I hear ya and I understand. I just decided when I really started riding that my comfort on the bike was far more important than my vanity. So I don't worry about wearing lycra shorts. I do carry a pair of normal shorts, a knee-length skirt, or a pair of capris with me when I ride if I know I'm going to have to go into a store or a restaurant -- I just slip them on over the bike shorts, so I can feel comfortable surrounded by people who aren't seeing me on the bike.

It's hard to do, I know -- but you just have to do your best to get over worrying about what other people are going to think. And remember, a lot of people who see you will be secretly cheering you on for being out exercising, no matter how bad you think you look.

[RoadRaven]

Welcome to the forum, shades.

Dont worry about the sizing thing

My partner is an L or XL in normal clothes - but when it comes to bike clothes (and depending on the brand) he may be wearing up to XXXL

I tend to just cut the tags out, and then I dont have to think about it.

[effulgent]

Hello all!

Just thought I'd give a quick update to how I'm doing. I've put 71 miles on my bike so far this year. I've been riding 3-4 times a week. Yesterday I rode for 12.5 miles, which is the farthest I have rode so far on one ride. I got really shaky after I had been out for about 50 minutes, so we stopped at a 7-11 for a Fig Newton bar and some Gatorade, so that helped quite a bit. I'm still woefully out of shape, but I'm getting better. My first ride this year I was only able to make it 2.5 miles and my husband had to go and get the car and pick me up because I couldn't make it home. I was worried about that yesterday, but I did finally make it home, even though it took a couple of rests after the one hour point to make it in.

I'm going to do some research and see if I can find a site that has a good list of strengthening exercises that I can do a few times a week to help my riding. I think it would help my riding a lot. Plus it's starting to get hot, and it's going to get to the point where I can't ride when I get home from work at night because it's 99 degrees outside. I want to be getting in better shape so that I can go on nice long bike rides in the mornings on the weekends, and tone and do cardio during the week. Listen to me, sounding all atheletic!!!

I've invested in some Terry Plus knickers and some dri-weave t-shirts, and I've been using my husband's Diadoro shoes. They're about a half-size too big, but the've been working. Now, I just have to talk my husband into letting me try his clipless pedals that go with the Diadoros (with a bike he doesn't ride often) until I can get my own, and we'll be in business!

[bikerz]

Way to go effulgent! Keep at it! It just gets better and better, and more and more fun!

When I started riding in January, 10 miles was my goal, and when I hit it I was thrilled. Riding regularly has made such a big difference, and I can now do my regular weeknight 20-mile ride without stopping at all, and I'm working on increasing my pace, and then adding distance on the weekends.

Do you have anyone to ride with? Having a couple of riding buddies has really helped me -- I have several friends that are experienced cyclists, and are (thankfully) happy to ride with me on these "short" rides - working to keep up with them has really motivated me, and they have taught me all the cycling protocols and safety rules. One tip that really helps is "drink before you're thirsty and eat before you're hungry". I also got a computer on my bike, and when I ride alone I watch the average speed and heart-rate to keep working hard.

I hear ya about the heat - it totally undoes me, so I have been riding very early in the morning on weekends. Luckily here in the Bay Area in the evenings, it generally cools off - then there are just the wicked bay "breezes" to contend with! (I try to think of them as workout enhancers!)

My next challenge is to work more hills in. I feel pretty strong on the flats, but as soon as I hit a longish hill, I really feel the extra weight I am carrying up the hill, more than my strength, and it's a little discouraging. So I want to keep dropping the weight before tackling anything too serious.

Congrats!

[RoadRaven]

Way to go efflugent!!!
The beginnning of riding is when you'll see the most dramtic increases in terms of fitness and endurance.
Like bikerz says, its def worth worth it!
Thanks for keeping us posted, always good to hear about the love for cycling spreading!

[KSH]

And remember, a lot of people who see you will be secretly cheering you on for being out exercising, no matter how bad you think you look.

Whenever I see someone who is not in *perfect* shape... walking, running, riding a bike... I always think, "Good for them, at least they are doing something to improve their health!"