Cycling clothing just not a good look

[redrhodie]

I love my cycling clothes. I wear mostly wool jerseys that are simple and flattering. I would wear them on the street, if I weren't afraid of getting stains, as I'm prone to doing. But then again, I also like really obnoxiously colorful kits as well. They're fun.

[Biciclista]

While I agree that an obese person looks terrible in bike duds, I can't say that is true for everyone. Some people look terrific in bike clothes. I love the wonderful colors and designs you can get in the jerseys, I SO appreciate POCKETS that are even to be found in WOMEN'S jerseys. I like seeing healthy people out on their bikes. In lycra, cotton, wool, whatever. And I don't care what others think really if they don't like looking at an old lady in lycra, is it really any worse than walmart people???

[Blueberry]

I have to chime in since this thread is under my skin a little.

I'm not thin. According to BMI charts, I'm technically obese. I've been working hard on losing weight for a long time, sometimes with more success than others. Looking at me, most people would probably think that I dine on McDonalds cheeseburgers and milkshakes and sit on the couch. What you wouldn't know is that I cook most of my own foods (and I've had a nutritionist look through them), and that I exercise a LOT (biking, elliptical, weights, etc).

Some days, I'm embarrassed to get out there on my bike in bike garb. I feel like others are saying just what people are saying in this thread - that it looks terrible on me, that it's not a good look, that it's unattractive, that i shouldn't be wearing it. It might. But, for long rides, I'm just not comfy in regular clothes. I try to find loose clothes that hide what others might not want to see, but those are hard to find (particularly in something other than teeny tiny sizes). Which means the choice is to ride in clothing that others might judge me on or to not ride (because, lets face it, riding in uncomfortable clothes just isn't gonna happen). Some days, the insecurities still win out.

I try not to care, I shouldn't care. I just wasn't expecting to see comments here re-affirming what the negative voices in my head tell me. My issue, but still - hopefully another perspective.