Temple111

So i am cheating a little as i am only 49 and 1/2!

Just bought my first bike for years ans i'm a little overweight, i'm looking to buy some clothes and don't want skin tight Lycra just yet!

Any one found something practical and doesnt look stupid on a mid aged rounded fellar!

pdlamb

How far are you riding? Up to 5 miles you can perhaps get away with blue jeans. Somewhere between 5 and 10 miles, you'll start to appreciate shorts that don't rub inappropriately, or catch on the saddle when you're boarding or sitting.

You might also want to check out the clydes and athenas forum (look for the new embarrassed rider thread).

mpath

"MAMIL" - middle-aged men in lycra. No matter how we may think we look cool in them, they rest of the population does not share that view. IOW, wear what's comfortable, and when you're ready for lycra, you won't look any better.

Tony P.

Like you (I think), I'd rather stop wearing lycra too early than too late. I've opted for MTB pants which are very comfortable. At times I wear lycra shorts with tennis or similar shorts over them so only a few inches are visible near the knee - compression like. I still wear bike jerseys but have moved to loose fit.

Iride01 

I used to buck the system and wear clothing that was normal looking to non-cyclist's. So anything you want that doesn't have a lot of bulky seams in the crotch and bottom. I also highly recommend you don't wear any cotton material to cover body parts that move and rub against each other or that rub on the bike saddle.

And that goes for underwear too. Gets some sports underwear that is made of synthetic material. When sweat gets on cotton material it becomes very abrasive and will loose any support that it may have given you. Synthetic material will hold it's shape and stay form fitting when wet or dry.

After you've ridden a while and start getting into longer and longer rides, the mamil concept will start to make sense. Might take a year or two, but if you continue to cycle for several hours at a time, you'll be posting a question.... "bibs or shorts"

MRT2

Cycling clothing is built for performance. Shorts are tight because they are designed to move with you rather than chafing as you pedal. I don't see a problem, but if this bothers you, you can either opt for mountain biking shorts or alternately, throw a pair of loose fitting gym shorts over your tight fitting bike shorts. Jerseys are cut more form fitting than a loose t shirt so they don't flap in the breeze, and with back pockets to keep your stuff out of the way as you pedal. And front zippers so you can get some relief on hot days. But you can find jerseys that are a little more relaxed fitting if you are a little heavier or feel a bit self conscious. You may also need to check the sizing as some brands idea of XL or XXL might not be your idea of those sizes..

HeyItsSara

Embrace the lycra! You don't know where the weight will come off of. Wear what's comfortable!

I've always worn cyclist clothing, even on my spin bike.

Carbonfiberboy 

Google "padded cycling liners". You can wear them under anything. On top, anything you have around the house. Experiment. If it's warm, a synthetic T-shirt works fine. Jersey pockets are nice but unnecessary, especially on short rides, say under 20 miles or so.

David Bierbaum

Not to worry. That's 346.5 in dog years.

No "cycling kit", as the folks on GCN would say, for me.

1. In cold weather, I wear those fleece sweatpants, with possibly some long underwear if it's really cold, along with layers of fleece sweatshirt (if it's really cold out) or undershirt, topped by a construction orange or safety green sweatshirt, and construction orange fleece hoodie, with regular work gloves for keeping my hands warm. On colder days I put the hoodie up, then stick my helmet on top.
2. In warm weather, it's just the orange or safety green sweatshirt and some cargo pants.
3. My only concession to cycle-specific clothing is my padded cycling liner shorts. In place of jersey pockets, I just use an old fanny-pack from ages past.

DDzBike

MTB shorts with padded liner and a T=shirt does it for me in the warm weather

badger1

fify

BobbyG

I commute and wear moisture-wicking black golf shorts with a belt. The pockets come in handy for holding my gloves, and I carry my keys in my left front pocket, tethered to a belt loop. I wear a belt-mounted holster for my phone. I know this sounds like a major chafing operation, but I have done 6 hours with no problems.

I also wear a slightly loose moisture-wicking hi-vis athletic jersey (non-bike specific).

In the summer I add a neck-gaiter/shade and sun-sleeves. In the winter I add layers as needed.


"Hello, ladies!"

SurferCyclist

I wear lycra and happy with it. Bike specific clothing is the best for well, cycling so why not wear it. Don't worry about what others say or think, the ones who may make sarky comments are often the ones way over weight and couch potatoes.

Anyway, at 61 I reckon I'm too old to be a MAMIL!

257 roberts

MTB shorts with padding and a bright yellow or orange long sleeve pull over fishing shirt with high UV rating,padded fingerless gloves,Brooks running shoes and helmet.......will never ever be seen in a "kit"

Kabuki12

I have bike shorts with a padded insert , a couple of zippered pockets and they work well. I ride vintage racers , so wool jerseys with a thermal underneath unless it is hot out. The shorts are loose and the jersey snug.

CyclingBK

Yup on the padded liners, they are great.

SpindriftEd

Look in the gravel bike shorts, they aren't as baggy as MTB shorts and not form fitting like road shorts.

rydabent

I simply wear T-shirts and Champion rugby short that are pretty much cut off sweat pants. But then I ride recumbents.

ecsuser

Basketball shorts over padded cycling lycra shorts. Love the padding and the basketball shorts will usually ride up a little revealing the cool bike shorts underneath.

canklecat

When I resumed cycling in 2015 after many years away, I wore whatever shorts and t-shirts I already had. But as my fitness improved and my goals got tougher, I eventually gave in and resumed wearing form fitting kit on my road bike (not on my hybrids -- I still wear casual clothes for those rides).

Form fitting kit is safer, not just a little more aero. In spring we get some pretty fierce winds and loose fitting clothing can make it a chore just to hold a steady line in a ripping crosswind. Almost every ride I've taken the past month has been in 15-30+ mph wind, often with unpredictable gusts. Snug clothing gives the wind less to grab and use as a sail. It's reassuring on rural two-lane highways when drivers sometimes misjudge passes and don't quite give me enough distance. Being able to hold a steady line helps us all.

Not a big deal when I'm enjoying a relaxing 10-12 mph cruise on my hybrids. But on a downhill blast at 40 mph with a tailwind and crosswind gusts from passing vehicles, every little bit helps keep things steady.

The past couple of rides I wore jerseys that are somewhat form fitting, but not race fit or aero jerseys for time trials -- I have those and wear them often, but the weather suddenly heated up this weekend and my other slightly relaxed jerseys are cooler fabric. The race fit/aero jerseys use some slick, thick plasticky fabric around the shoulders that supposedly makes them slippery in the wind, but the fabric doesn't breathe as well.

I could feel a bit of difference in crosswinds, between the jersey types. My not-quite-aero jerseys flapped very slightly around the sleeve hems and sides, just enough to remind me I wasn't wearing aero kit.

The aero kit is a bit faster too, especially if I include an aero helmet (rounded, few or no vents, not the full TT/race type with elongated fins or tails). It's usually good for an extra 1 mph over my usual 20-50 mile routes. But I don't go for new personal best times every ride so I don't wear the aero helmet often. It's not as comfortable as my regular vented road helmets. But it also helps with crosswind stability.

BEC111

I had prostate issues and discovered padded liners which helped when it was bad, and now post successful treatment, are very comfortable. Though it does feel like a filled diaper at first .

I have MTB and other wicking shorts for the warm weather and “active” slacks for the cool days. The slacks are often called commuter pants. I feel these are appropriate as a senior. I just feel Lycra is pretentious for someone my age on a hybrid bike. My wife, though, thinks the tights are hot.

I do like cycling shirts for their bright reflective colors, cooling and pockets.

David Bierbaum

There are four boxes to check off, to know if you are dressed for biking.

1. Not naked (this one is important)
2. Pants not shredded by chainring (I've had this happen to me)
3. Happy butt: Saddle sore formation under control
4. Clothing not turned sticky and icky by sweat-drenching

If you have these four covered, you're good to go. Everything else is based on personal preference...

Iride01 

You know that there are organized naked rides that actually happen. Google it.

David Bierbaum

How outrageous! They should at least be wearing helmets and socks!!!

fastcarbon

I am 77 and ride with a full kit including bib shorts and a jersey I get from a club I joined; once you get over a few miles you will get a raw crotch without a pair of shorts with a chamois. If you are overweight get a "club cut" jersey. If you keep riding you can eventually wear "race cut" because you will lose weight.