Do you guys feel insecure wearing spandex and jersey.
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Do you guys feel insecure wearing spandex and jersey.
Hey guys I have myself a pair of spandex padded cycling shorts as well as a jersey. I always feel a little insecure because I have wide hips and narrow waste and my jersey which happens to fit gives me the feeling that I want to pull it down over my rear. I know the jersey fits and all that but I'm so used to having my street reg. shirts pulled out and not tucked in. I saw myself riding in a reflection in a window and thought "what a mutant". I'm slim but my body is weird and hippy in the waste. Don't get me wrong I see the purpose of these clothes but I just feel like a spandex mutant.
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Sacramento, California, USA
Posts: 40,865
Bikes: Specialized Tarmac, Canyon Exceed, Specialized Transition, Ellsworth Roots, Ridley Excalibur
Mentioned: 68 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2952 Post(s)
Liked 3,106 Times
in
1,417 Posts
My advice is to change your route so as to not pass that window.
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: New York, NY
Posts: 415
Bikes: Wheelbarrow
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 19 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Hey guys I have myself a pair of spandex padded cycling shorts as well as a jersey. I always feel a little insecure because I have wide hips and narrow waste and my jersey which happens to fit gives me the feeling that I want to pull it down over my rear. I know the jersey fits and all that but I'm so used to having my street reg. shirts pulled out and not tucked in. I saw myself riding in a reflection in a window and thought "what a mutant". I'm slim but my body is weird and hippy in the waste. Don't get me wrong I see the purpose of these clothes but I just feel like a spandex mutant.
"I topped caring about this stuff.
I'm already wearing a skin tight outfit with what looks like diapers between my legs hunched over an overpriced pile of carbon/metal rendered irrelevant since the advent of the combustion engine over a century ago ... me being worried about people seeing the outline of my tip is like closing the barn door to keep the wind from blowing the leftover hay out after the horses already bolted a looooooong time ago."
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Walnut Creek, CA
Posts: 2,669
Bikes: 2023 Canyon Aeoroad CF SL, 2015 Trek Emonda SLR, 2002 Litespeed Classic, 2005 Bianchi Pista, Some BikesDirect MTB I never ride.
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 648 Post(s)
Liked 139 Times
in
90 Posts
Chris Froome seems to be ok with it (being a mutant, that is).
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,545
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18398 Post(s)
Liked 4,522 Times
in
3,360 Posts
I don't own any Spandex!!!!
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: MI
Posts: 265
Bikes: '14 Trek Madone 2.1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
3-4 days a week I'm swimming laps at the pool. Compared to that, my biking attire feels like formal wear. And I honestly don't give a rip what I look like in either.
#10
SuperGimp
#11
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
Yes ... I'm wondering this too ...
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#12
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: take your time, enjoy the scenery, it will be there when you get to it
Posts: 7,281
Bikes: 07 IRO BFGB fixed-gear, 07 Pedal Force RS
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Insecure about wearing spandex cycling clothing? Not even slightly.
#13
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SoCal
Posts: 3,078
Bikes: Roubaix SL4 Expert , Cervelo S2
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 85 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Once you're on the bike the wide hips shouldn't really matter. People shouldn't be able to notice it unless you're walking around.
I used to feel insecure in lycra when I was heavier but I'm slim enough now to pull it off.
I used to feel insecure in lycra when I was heavier but I'm slim enough now to pull it off.
#14
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 364
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Wear bibs they help smooth the lines out and maybe decrease the taper you have. They'll also prevent you from tucking in your jersey ever again.
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: D'uh... I am a Cutter
Posts: 6,139
Bikes: '17 Access Old Turnpike Gravel bike, '14 Trek 1.1, '13 Cannondale CAAD 10, '98 CAD 2, R300
Mentioned: 62 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 12 Times
in
9 Posts
The spandex and all (cycling shoes, helmet, jersey, glasses)... is an outfit, a uniform. Every form of outfit, uniform, style, or type of clothing... when thought about and examined is ridiculous. Don't worry about how you look... enjoy the ride. Watch the road... not the windows.
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Silicon Valley, CA
Posts: 3,209
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 139 Post(s)
Liked 33 Times
in
20 Posts
No. And I don't have a racer's body and I'm slow. Not everyone who cycles looks like a pro, but wearing cycling specific clothing for functionality (pockets in jerseys, padded shorts) and comfort is important to many cyclists. It makes a difference on longer rides. I wear plain clothing; no fancy kit for me.
#17
ka maté ka maté ka ora
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: wessex
Posts: 4,423
Bikes: breezer venturi - red novo bosberg - red, pedal force cg1 - red, neuvation f-100 - da, devinci phantom - xt, miele piste - miche/campy, bianchi reparto corse sbx, concorde squadra tsx - da, miele team issue sl - ultegra
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 25 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times
in
3 Posts
i have the body of a greek god. so no issues. wear bibs.
#18
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,434 Times
in
1,187 Posts
Come ride with the group I ride with on the weekends. Trust me, you'll feel much better about yourself after.
#19
Stand and Deliver
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Tampa Bay
Posts: 3,340
Bikes: Cannondale R1000, Giant TCR Advanced, Giant TCR Advanced SL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
Do some people watching at any large gathering and imagine these people in spandex. Yeah, not a pretty image, eh? Keep on pedaling and turn those big hips into muscle. No, I don't concern myself with what others think. If it really bothers you, hit the gym.
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 526
Bikes: Too many to list
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Weird body shapes are the hallmark of a true cyclist. If you want to look like the average american (assuming you live in the US) then sell the bike and eat a couple slices of pizza daily, then you'll have a wide gut to match your wide hips. Otherwise, embrace being a spandex mutant.
Last edited by yankeefan; 04-20-15 at 06:36 AM.
#21
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 28,682
Bikes: 1990 Romic Reynolds 531 custom build, Merlin Works CR Ti custom build, super light Workswell 066 custom build
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6556 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 58 Times
in
36 Posts
Weird body shapes are the hallmark of a true cyclist. If you want to look like the average american (assuming you live in the US) then sell the bike and eat a couple slices of pizza daily, then you'll have a wide gut to match your wide waist. Otherwise, embrace being a spandex mutant.
#23
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 596 Times
in
329 Posts
So ... get a picture of yourself in that window and post it here:
https://www.bikeforums.net/road-cycli...le-2015-a.html
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#24
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,705
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1111 Post(s)
Liked 1,013 Times
in
519 Posts
I grew up swimming for my primary sport. I learned at an early age to be OK with my body, 'cause the speedo hides NOTHING! I'm not proud of how my body looks and I'm not ashamed of how my body looks. I am kinda proud of what my body can do while riding a bike - that's what matters to me.
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Tulsa OK
Posts: 2,076
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 63 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Given the shape most of my peers are in, no I don't. Aside from that my wife says I look good and she likes my smooth legs so theres that.