People are rude!!

[Crankin]

I've never felt uncomfortable in cycling shorts in public, but I have been in places where I thought it might be more appropriate to be a little more covered up, mostly in Europe.
I have noticed a phenomena where it's mostly women who stare. I chalk it up to wishing they could do what I do, jealousy, etc. I notice this more as I get older, where other women my age stare a lot. It happened at the B and B we were at this past weekend, in the Berkshires. On the second morning, we went to breakfast in our bike clothes, because we were on a time schedule. We got stares like crazy. I chalk this up to the fact that most of these people were from that large city about 200 miles south of here, and they aren't used to seeing hordes of lycra clad riders of all ages, shapes, and sizes, all of the time, like we do.

[lph]

I have to admit, I stare because I'm curious. That is, I try not to stare, but when I see someone wearing something a little out of the ordinary I get very curious, and start wondering what they're wearing, why, where they're from, what activity they're doing. But honest, I try to be discreet, especially if I get the feeling that they don't want to attract attention. It's mostly a "wow, someone different. Cool!" kind of reaction.

I get stared at a lot, since I commute by bike and run a lot of errands on my way home wearing bike gear, or hop on the metro if I'm loaded down. I'm happy with the way I look in bike gear and don't really mind attention, but sometimes I'll feel that someone, usually a middle-aged guy, is giving me disapproving looks, or obviously checking me up and down in a rude way. If I'm up to it I respond by staring blatantly back.

Best done with a mild and pleasant look on your face, but that's hard if you're annoyed.

[zoom-zoom]

??? That's what I think every time you mention that you are pudgy.

On what planet are you pudgy? You're lean! You have absolutely no tummy, and look very fit overall.

Just saying.

I'm pushing 30% body fat and weigh 153 at <5'4". I could stand to drop at least 20#s. It kills me on the uphills when I ride with slimmer folks without so much excess dragging them down the hill.

[zoom-zoom]

But you look very slender to me.

'Cause I only post the flattering photos of myself...they are often not an accurate representation of reality.

[lph]

But you look very slender to me.

You look very slender to me too, zoom-zoom. But, Muirenn... I hate to say this, but you look sort of short and stubby, and snubnosed, and four-legged...

<== look who's talking)

[Eden]

You have stars on your rear? I don't have stars...I want stars too!

Eeek! Sneeches!

[hebe]

You have stars on your rear? I don't have stars...I want stars too!

They are Maloja shorts, link is to Minx-girl as TE don't seem to carry this brand. I have red ones and blue ones.

[OakLeaf]

Honestly I'm more uncomfortable in my hi-viz jersey than I am in my Lycra shorts. The whole point of the thing is to draw people's eyes to me. It's been a huge comfort in the last couple of years that for whatever reason (OSHA regs?? New dyeing techniques??) most outdoor workers, mostly men, now wear hi-viz T-shirts on the job and keep them on when they shop and eat. I still stand out, but I'm usually not the only one in hi-viz in the store.

[Tri Girl]

They are Maloja shorts, link is to Minx-girl as TE don't seem to carry this brand. I have red ones and blue ones.

I like those fancy britches!!! Stars on your rear- too fun!!!

[redrhodie]

When I first read the stars on the rear comment, I was wondering if it was a colloquial English saying I was unfamiliar with. Cute shorts!

[antkate]

I remember once I must have been looking at someone for too long because she sharply asked me "What are YOU looking at?" I apologized and said " I didn't realize I was staring, I was just noticing how pretty you are..." I was so embarrassed. (We really never know what people are thinking. After she understood I meant no harm, she apologized to me. No harm meant...

On the flip side, as a 55 year old who isn't so buff these days, I couldn't care less when people are looking at me in biking gear. Great freedom in that alone.

[Jo_S]

I always say to myself that impossible is nothing -> http://yeeti.com/23797 I have this poster in my bedroom. And I think about it when people stare at me and make me feel uncomfortable. Because one day I will stare at them and make them feel uncomfortable instead

[lauraelmore1033]

There is a car commercial out now with a little girl who claims her father is an alien. There are a series of shots from the girl's perspective and we can see how she thinks that. One of the shots she says"he's an alien, just look at him..." and he clumps into and out of the shot all kitted out in cycling gear; spikey helmet, goggles, form fitting spandex with almost skeletal outlines in high vis stripes, and he really does look alien. Maybe the person staring at you was seeing the same thing...

[PamNY]

I went shopping at Trader Joe's with my helmet on and my helmet light still blinking (I forgot I'd turned it on).

Nobody stared at me, but it was in Brooklyn, which probably explains the lack of interest.

[Irulan]

It was also TJs. I bet WalMart would be different.