New Plus Sized riders needs pointers

[TahoeChick]

Hi everyone! I'm brand new to cycling and this board. I have several questions. First off, for those that don't know, Tahoe where I live, is VERY mountainous, and in the town I live in, very hard to find flats. Should I just ride that flat (6 miles round trip) over and over again until I get better, or are hills OK?

Secondly...as I"ve seen many people mention, my butt HURTS! I am extremely (read super fat) out of shape, but do have a good mountain bike (a GT Aggressor that is a couple years old but freshly tuned). I put semi slicks on it, and have a cutout gel seat, but after just a couple mile ride today.. my butt is killing me. I don't have the money to buy the chamois from this website right now and plus size stuff is just not sold in normal bike shops, especially in the tiny town I live in. So, because it hurts so much, should I suck it up and ride again tomorrow? Or wait a day and let the poor rump have a break?

Lastly...anyone nearby?

Thanks in advance for all your help!

[latelatebloomer]

Welcome, Tahoe! I'm big myself (leaner and stronger than I was, but German and Cherokee blood will see to it that I stay curvy) and this is my first year of riding on the road after a winter of spin classes at a gym. In April, I could do 3 miles - some small hills - I was shaking by the time I got in the driveway, and I was so slow and wobbly on the bike, I was afraid I'd fall over like in the old Laugh-in show, if you remember Arte Johnson..., and if I saw bikers in the distance, I wanted to just hide in the bushes til they left.

I rode that 3 miles over and over. Then one day, I felt I could do a second lap. Now I'm doing 8 miles, still learning to shift, climb, even how to drink from my water bottle while in motion (still iffy. please don't watch) The strength and speed are really coming a long. You are really in the best place to get questions on anything about getting started, and I mean anything!

Ride on, you're gonna do great!

[KSH]

Congrats... and please don't think that your size will keep you down! There are plenty of plus-size riders who are strong and fast!

Now... as far as being uncomfortable on the seat. Have you tried different seat adjustments to see if that fixes the issue? I know when my seat was lowered just a hair, the pain I had between my legs just went away completely. And I was having pain after a few miles.

Finally, if that doesn't work, you really need to get some good padded shorts. This should fix the problem. You only have to buy one pair... just keep washing them (without fabric softner and hang to dry). Save what you can... maybe sell something on Ebay? Offer to clean a friends house? Have a garage sale?

Best of luck!

[MomOnBike]

Plus-size here, too. Gravity is not our friend (uphill).

You could ride that same 6 mile loop over and over. Pretty soon, though, you'll want some other scenery. That's when you need to get creative.

You have some options on hills, you know. You could see how far you can get up one. Turn around and enjoy the gravity sled down. Tomorrow you'll go further. Really. Or you could just peddle as far as possible and walk the rest of the way. If someone tries to give you grief, look 'em straight in the eye and say "Cross training."

In any case, remember that you are working harder to get the greater mass up the hill. Those rail-thin types are cheating!

Whatever you do, enjoy the downhills, you've earned them.

[bikerz]

Hi TahoeChick - welcome!

I have 2 pairs of 4x cycling shorts that need a new home:
baggy cycling shorts and underliner cycling shorts - just wear then under other shorts. The padding is pretty good - they really made a difference for me when I got started. I used them for about 4 months, and I'd love to see them getting some more use - if you'd like them, just PM me.

Another place to look that has good plus-size shorts, at pretty reasonable prices, is Aerotech

Regarding hills, I was totally scared of them for the first few months I was riding, but you do get stronger, and low gears really help - since you have a mountain bike, it sounds like you'll have some good low gears. I find stopping to get my breath then starting again makes the hill not so daunting. And then at the top, even though I had to stop, I know I rode the whole thing.

KSH is so right about the seat adjustment - I went through several miserable rides before I got my seat angle set right.

You're going to have a great time! Enjoy it! And what a beautiful place to ride!
-Ann

[Trek420]

Hey there, welcome to TE!

What those other gals sed, and when you get a chance find the getting to know you thread.

That way you can read all about us and we can get to know you too.

Fit is key. At the distance you ride you can get away without wearing bike shorts, I always wear mine even on my epic 2-mile commute to work but that's just because it feels more like fun than going to work ;-)

Yes they are more comfortable because there is no seam and as you ride further you'll want the chamois. For now have you checked the seat? What KSH sez, lowering the nose make sure it's level or imperceptively lower than level (nose down) can help.

[Grog]

Cycling shorts are a must for riding for more than 60 minutes and they will help a lot with chafing, but it will remain that your derrière will be seated on a relatively hard saddle. (Cushy saddles are not necessarily more comfortable.)

You will partly develop resistance to it (including stronger butt muscles). And partly still feel it when you will pay attention. But it is normal that it takes a couple of rides to feel better about it just because you don't notice anymore. (I know it sounds weird at this time...)

Most of the pain will go away but, at the end of your first century (you WILL ride one some day sooner than you think - trust us!) I swear that your derrière will still hurt a bit like mine was hurting last week!!!

By the way, I suggest everybody read the Bicycling Magazine latest issue paper on very-plus-size riders. Very interesting. Too bad: only men as usual. Maybe we could write a letter to the editor and suggest they make more efforts to include women in their articles in the future.

Cheers!

[shadon]

By the way, I suggest everybody read the Bicycling Magazine latest issue paper on very-plus-size riders. Very interesting. Too bad: only men as usual. Maybe we could write a letter to the editor and suggest they make more efforts to include women in their articles in the future.

Cheers!

yeah, I read that...and while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at al. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

[shadon]

By the way, I suggest everybody read the Bicycling Magazine latest issue paper on very-plus-size riders. Very interesting. Too bad: only men as usual. Maybe we could write a letter to the editor and suggest they make more efforts to include women in their articles in the future.

Cheers!

yeah, I read that...and while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at all. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

[Satori78]

This is the second time I've seen them mentioned on the boards (the Aerotech shorts that is) and I was wondering if anyone has tried them, specifically a plus size cyclicst. If so, what are your thoughts impressions? I currently have one of the Terry skorts but was thinking of picking up a pair of shorts.

Welcome to the boards, Tahoe, I'm another one of the plus size cyclists on the board.


Thanks,
Angela

[bikerz]

This is the second time I've seen them mentioned on the boards (the Aerotech shorts that is) and I was wondering if anyone has tried them, specifically a plus size cyclicst. If so, what are your thoughts impressions? I currently have one of the Terry skorts but was thinking of picking up a pair of shorts.

I've got a pair of the Womens' Pro Bike Short in 2X size and I really like them. Their website is a little strange, but the order was processed quickly. Along with my new Terry shorts, they are my favorites.

There's not a lot of choice out there... The Mt. Borah shorts were good for shorter rides, and the baggy style helped me ease into the lycra world, but for longer rides and hills, I prefer the aerotech and terrys.

[SadieKate]

while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at all. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

I thought this article was good in that it addressed the fact that all this fancy-schmancy lightwear equipment designed for the 140 lb racer isn't necessarily the best choice for everyone. Right now, the fad is for the lightest bike possible but if you get into the manufacturer's fine print you will sometimes find weight limits. In other words, the warranty doesn't apply if you weigh more than the weight limit, no matter what your bodyfat percentage is. For example, you walk into a bike shop and the only road tires they carry are 23s because everyone thinks you'll go faster on narrower tires. This a ridiculous size for larger people in non-race situations or bad pavement. Many of the spiffy factory built wheels have weight limits. Bike shops have a very difficult time explaining to a buyer ready to plop down a large chunk of change for the latest uber bike that it is "understrength" for the buyer's size. You risk broken equipment and broken body for the sake of a few grams off your bike. None of this is gender specific.

OK, off my soap box. But I though the article delicately addressed a real-life issue that has nothing to do with gender. If those computer-enhanced bodies were done with a women I think there would have been huge cries of outrage about their "lack of sensitivity." I thought it was a good article and an inspiring article.

[Grog]

yeah, I read that...and while it was a sort of fun story ("two big guys just got out there and rode!"), it didn't add anything to my knowledge...and it didn't address women at all. GRRRR. I was hoping to learn something.

Frankly I didn't learn much either but I was glad that the average Bicycling-magazine reader (among which many 140-lbs racers) would learn about those riding plus-size. I'm on the light side but I do hear snickers about big riders and I always intervene if I can. Road riders in particular can be quite snob and need to be reminded to be welcoming in their sport to people of all genders, colors and sizes.

It also tells bigger folks: hey you can do it to.

Two weeks ago I saw a really big lady on a reclining bike with... small wheels on the sides! But hey she was riding and although it felt like quite a flat road to me I knew that those false-flats must have been hell to her and made her heart pump hard. She had the guts to get out there on the bike path and learn the skills. I felt proud for her, but I can imagine she did not get only respectful smiles that day.

[anaphase]

Congratulations, TahoeChick, for starting to ride. You're going to be great.

One thing about your post and latelatebloomer's post made me smile. This weekend, I did my first tri. And you know what? I got passed by a bunch of women who were bigger than me. No lie. Just goes to show that big girls can kick the skinny ones' butts!

As for plus sized stuff, I saw there are plus sized shorts on the TE site, made by Terry ( http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=1342 ) and also the Terry Commuter Skort, which is super cute ( http://www.teamestrogen.com/products.asp?pID=9254 ). They're expensive, but hey, you only need one for now. Just wash and wear again.

Good luck!

[TahoeChick]

You are all amazing. I am so glad that I found this site! Someone mentioned that I will ride a century sooner than later. Ya know what? She was right. Right as I read that.. I made that a goal. I'm going to do it!!

Thank you again for all of your help, and I will find that thread to get to know all of you!

Additionally..if anyone is every in Tahoe.. please let me know! We'll go ride!