Tom Stormcrowe

Aerotechdesigns is also a forum member, by the way.

jim10040

Now you know, if you're riding a '70s or '80s Pugeot, you're going to get guys talking with you about it. And when you tell them you fixed it yourself, that'll be even better! So now you'll have new riding partners, and you'll wear your bike shorts, and you'll have a good time hanging out with completely different people than you've been with in the past!
This is Progress!
You'll have a blast, too!

Kneez

Thanks for the welcome. I am getting a sort of mixed Bianchi Imola/Vigorelli. I wanted the Vigorelli but I didn't like the compact double so I went for the Imola but am having the Imola components upgraded. The frame is the same so it will almost be the same as the Vigorelli but with a triple rather than the compact double.

Missbumble 

Looks like Aerotech has all sizes of womens bike shorts. I think I bought my mens form an LBS and womens fromAerotech. I believ I hve bought expensive and cheaper shorts from Aerotech and liked the more expensive ones better. I think withbike shorts more you spend,the better they are.


https://www.aerotechdesigns.com/cyclingshort-women.htm

nkfrench 

I usually prefer the men's relaxed cut bike JERSEYs anyhow. The women's short sleeve jerseys generally have the sleeves too short for me; and as a curmudgeonly 50-ish person I don't like wearing cutesy prints (butterflies, dragonflies, flowers). For daytime training rides I usually just wear a wicking T; other times I want the bike jersey for either the hiVis color or for the pockets.

Bike shorts are pretty easy for me - I fit in "regular" women's sizes on those. Jerseys I need L or XL mens (easy) or XXL womens (harder to find). It's just a legacy from a lot of swimming.

cncracer

I am that way, I have just had knee surgery, and was a runner prior to that. Running lets you wear normal running shorts, and that is what I would like for the biking I now have to replace the running with. I just cannot see myself riding outside in something that looks like my under clothes. The bikers I ride with think it is funny, and I may stand out like a sour thumb, but thus far I am in baggy shorts over biker shorts.

Jasmijo

I agree. Shorts under your regular clothes will allow you to be more comfortable, physically and emotionally.

Also, I haven't caught too much flack from idiots while riding my bike, but once someone quietly said to me from their car as they were driving by, "You need to drop some weight." I was like, "What?! I am ON a BIKE!" Anyway, those people who will say or think negative things are the same people who will say or think negative things whether you were on a bike or not. So, don't let them stop you from living your life!

ibebikin

sorry jasmijo, but i just laughed my ass off at your post. just the idea of the comment and the fact that you were, in fact, doing something to help you lose weight is crushing me right now hahah.

ride a clyde!

jdon

Its only shallow and insecure people that laugh as they worry about their own inadequecies.

Ride on an enjoy the sport!

Jasmijo

I know! It's not like I was sitting in a lawn chair, eating ice cream (which, btw, sounds fantastic). You just have to shrug off stuff like that.

gotls1

This made me laugh as well. That's really all you can do when confronted by idiocy like that. Just laugh and say F-em. They don't know you, never will, and that's their loss.

ibebikin

OR, you could throw your bike tool thru their window and then turn and ride the wrong way. sucks to be in a car sometimes sucka!

Pinyon

Had somebody say something like that to me from the passenger seat of a car at a traffic signal. I said something like "You figured that out all by yourself, huh? Whew!". The other teenagers in the car laughed their asses off.

turtlewoman

I have ordered and received the shorts!! They're just as bad as I had imagined-------BUT, I have worn them with no ill effects. Nobody had a heart attack at the sight of me or yelled profane and embarrassing things. I'm not sure that I was a whole lot more comfortable on the bike but I don't really go far enough to tell yet. So, here's to all of you who offered so much encouragement. Now it's just a question of more time on the bike. Which is not that hard to do since I love it.

Sir-Loin

I am right where you are, Just got my riding setup and its going to be a long road. I read Heft on Wheels for support, 3 times!

turbo2L

People look down on and make fun of overweight people regardless. Just do it!

And as a fellow overeight person, I just used bicycle shorts for the first time yesterday, and I was able to ride without smashing my balls (with minor adjustments here and there) and zero chafing. The bunching problem with normal shorts is nearly eliminated with bike shorts.

But you could always put normal shorts on outside the bike shorts.

wild animals

Nice work turtlewoman!

I always wear knickers or loose workout capris when I'm riding. If I ever find bike shorts that I like, I'll just wear them under other pants. A bonus of wearing knickers is that you can go into a store without feeling like you're from an alien planet.

Nobody has ever yelled anything at me about how fat I am, but I've had lots of people yell or comment about my lights (some really nice comments too). But I guess once a jeep did drive by me and moo a bunch of times. The jeep, not the people! They had a "moo" instead of a horn. I still don't know what to make of that one.

turtlewoman

What is Heft on Wheels? Is it a book or article? Sounds like something I'd be interested in.

Tom Stormcrowe

It's a book. Its a pretty good one, too.

gitarzan

All I can say is that you guys are inspiring.

I golfed yesterday and was going to loaf today, Now, I have decided to put the laptop away, get the bike out and go...

isara

On the subject of shorts..

On the Aerotech site, there are a number of options, but I don't really know what I'm looking at. The High Performance and the Women's Pro are the ones I'm looking at right now. What's the difference? Has anyone tried both or have a particular preference?

Mook

Just get out and ride and have fun. I'm living proof that God has a sense of humor. Therefore, it is my godgiven mission to put grins and snickers on folks faces.

I ride because it feels good, I enjoy it, my daughter enjoys it. I get to experience a world that few people ever see hear or smell.

Enjoy the ride, rest easy in the fact that you've elicited a response that had made someone think and therefore challenge normal convention.

Have fun.

ecovelo

Individuals who find it necessary to demean others are typically extremely insecure themselves. Sometimes I may for an instant... just an instant feel sorry for those individuals, but really pity doesn't move anyone forward. Reaction is what they are looking for so I try not to indulge them.

Congratulations for getting back out there! Take pride in every mile, every ride...especially on those days when it's the last thing you want to do. I find those days to be the most rewarding

Thanks for the thread and the inspiration...
Ecovelo

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"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." - Eleanor Roosevelt

zowie

Nacho Libre!!!

markdavid570

Haha! This is great...I love hearing that I'm not the only one with this! I'm 6'5 and 265 lbs...while I don't necessarily consider myself to be too too big, I certainly want to drop 20 or 30 pounds. Here's my story...

I live in Lewisburg, PA...home of Bucknell University. Lots of rich kids with too much money and not enough to do...and little to no consequences (it's a generalization...they're not all bad, but you get what I'm saying). I don't consider myself terribly chubby, and at 29, I don't consider myself old...but I definitely get funny looks from people...especially when I ride close to the college when classes are in. I'll never forget riding past the campus and having a car full of trust fund kids ride by with one of them yelling "nice bike f*gg*t". Eh...what was I going to do? Does it make me mad when it happens...yeah, but that's because I have an unhealthy temper. All in all, does it matter...nope. My fiance tells me she loves the way I look. Do I think she's crazy? Yup. Am I questioning it? Nope! I full admit to being one of those guys whose significant other is way too attractive for him!

Anyway, I work for a group of orthopaedic surgeons...two of which ride competitively...I mean...real bada**es on bikes. The one specifically looks like he's cut from steel. Anyway, they are some of the biggest supporters of ANYONE getting out and riding. The way I see it, if the rich, cyclist/surgeon is on my side...what do I care about some frat kid? Besides that, every time I'm out riding and I see other cyclists...whether "real" riders, or just casual riders, everyone seems to say hello. That's important to me.

All that being said...I wear cycling shorts under a pair of mesh basketball shorts...and I just wear a black t-shirt. Maybe next year I'll think about the actual riding jerseys...but that's just my comfort level. I know I look pretty ridiculous when I ride...but I know that I feel awesome...and that's what I care about.