First time in lycra

[derrick]

Had my first ride in lycra shorts tonight, i bought them from our local bike shop ,they are endura shorts and they felt really good bought the matching top aswell, feel like a proper cyclist now, really comfortable done 15 miles tonight and that extra padding felt really good, have been using some cheapish mtb shorts and the differance was amazing, will be using the lycra all the time from now on, the wife was not really impressed but hey ho i'm wearing them.
Cheers Del

 

[NormanD]

welcome to a new world of cycling

 

[youngoldbloke]

They'll feel even better over freshly shaven thighs

 

[teletext45]

first time i went out in lycra i felt like everyone would be looking and taking the mick etc...

Once you realize nearly all road cyclists wear similar things you don't stand out, if anything you look odd not wearing lycra..

8 months in i feel like the work is paying off, couple of 'wolf whistles' from some women in town the other day




andy

 

[deanE]

"first time i went out in lycra i felt like everyone would be looking and taking the mick etc...
Once you realize nearly all road cyclists wear similar things you don't stand out, ............." Cold mornings don't help!

 

[Willo]

I wasn't overly confident when I first donned lycra shorts et al but soon realised no-one's really taking any notice and, in any case, my legs look equally grim in shorts. From my experience, getting some fairly decent lycra shorts is one of the soundest investments if starting out on a road bike. I also think the popularity of road cycling in recent years has also helped with lycra becoming the norm rather than being perceived as a bit quirky. Always makes me laugh when cycling in France as French, Dutch, Belgium etc. of all shapes and sizes happily parade in skin tight gear (then again they all wear speedos in the pool and can be easily distinguished from the Brits & Irish in their knee length swim shorts!) We're obviously a bit more self conscious!

I do draw the line if cycling to the station and wear baggier shorts on the train/tube to avoid any security alerts!

 

[Strick]

I moved to lycra shorts several months ago from baggies. I dont even have a road bike yet, still hacking around on a mountain bike with rack, mudguards, and road tyres on, lol.
The biggest thing i noticed was one day when my lycra was still wet and i had to lob my baggies on - wow, they dont move with you like lycra does. They almost rub/chafe your thigh with each rotation of the crank, not good!
Went out and bought another pair of lycra shorts, and a pair of tights that evening.

 

[fossyant]

The stuff does the job it's designed for. Thankfully no funny looks from my missus, as I'd already been wearing the stuff for 10 years before we got married ! She still thinks I'm bonkers.

 

[guitarpete247]

Just follow Joe's advice though

.

 

[Herzog]

I do draw the line if cycling to the station and wear baggier shorts on the train/tube to avoid any security alerts!

Such as smuggling peanuts...

 

[Globalti]

Last time I took the bike on a train I noticed a couple of furtive glances at my manly glutes as I clicked along the platform. Same when I walked around Chipping Steam Fair with the bike, people who go to those kinds of places just aren't used to the sight.

 

[numbnuts]

I wear my lycra gear when I go shopping by bike, when you get to my age I couldn't care a sh1t what people think

 

[MrHappyCyclist]

A friend of our ours was bemoaning the fact that she didn't have a man in her life at the moment. She said to my wife (jokingly) "you're my friend, why don't you find me a man?". She then looked at me and then said to my wife: "why don't you find me another cyclist?". (She has been there when I've arrived home in my lycra shorts in the past.) I tried to pretend not to hear, but was a little pleased, particularly given my age.

 

[MissTillyFlop]

I was paranoid when I first started wearing lycra, as I'm not the smallest of ladies, and my thighs are MASSIVE (totally out of proportion with everything else - the same size as my friend's waist (eeeek!))

I used to wear baggies over the top, but one day when it was really hot, I couldn't bear the thought of putting on another layer and went without - it was so much more comfy, I realised I didn't care and they actually made me look smaller than the baggies anyway.

Yay for lycra!

 

[youngoldbloke]

Just consider - which actually looks better - bloke in cargo shorts, or bloke in lycra shorts? Cargo shorts are the most unflattering garment ever invented!