Overcoming fear of lycra

[Bollo]

Am I allowed to find it depressing (albeit predictable) the extent to which this thread has largely been conducted from the male perspective?

There are several posts that you start reading, thinking this could be a sensitive comment on body image, then discover about three quarters of the way through that no, it's all about penises.

That was my feeling as well. The thread shouldn't have been so much about the pros and cons of Lycra but more about @RyanB98 s perception of his own body and how he feels judged by others. It took me into my 40s to be comfortable in my own skin so I have some sympathy. Wear what you want. Ignore the judgement of others. Enjoy your ride.

 

[mjr]

I was so intrigued by this that I looked it up - it seems that the rule is often applied by local municipalities and campsites etc. and that the rationale is "the swimwear rules are put in place for hygiene reasons. Our friends at Château de Boisson shed some light on this often confusing situation: “it is unlikely that men will wear tight-fitting swimwear other than at the pool area whereas swimming shorts and Bermuda shorts could arguably be worn all day long and the accumulated dirt and perspiration then all passes into the swimming pool if they then subsequently use the same shorts for bathing.” (pasted from https://www.canvasholidays.co.uk/blog/2015/04/06/the-rules-of-swimming-attire-in-france/ but echoed elsewhere).

No, some men wear tight swimwear under their trousers all day until they go swimming so all that sweat is still going in the water. Probably more because of how sweaty lycra is.

What a daft rule. They'll be compelling hi-viz next

 

[mjr]

What do swim shorts hang like when wet? How do you hide the belly overhang that stops some from wearing lycra. Personally Speedos with pride for my swimming as they fit the swimming I do, shorts are fine for a more leisurely splash around.

No belly overhang to hide for me so dunno. A Leisurely splash is all I do. I didn't realise you're a racing swimmer too.

 

[Turdus philomelos]

Without a care I will walk through work (secondary school) at the end of the day in full Lycra.

However you will never ever catch me wearing any form of leggings/jeggings.

 

[freiston]

Ive just bought a new jersey and shorts for my rides. They're comfortable and fit well. When im on my bike, I feel fine, no worries at all. Its the short distance I have to walk from my front door to the road about 6 metres in front of my house. This wouldnt be a problem if I lived on a small sideroad, but I live on the largest and busiest street in the area, and so many people stare . Something so silly I know. Anyone else have this problem?

No I don't have that problem but I live in a small close on an estate one road from the country lanes. For no logical reason, I do feel a little (and I stress 'little') bit awkward/gauche/self-conscious when I make the short walk from the changing area to the water for swimming - be it in a pool, at the sea or anywhere else, whether there be other people around or not

 

[johnnyb47]

I suppose it also depends on the area you live as to wearing Lycra. Living in an area where cycling is not to popular and the street corners are littered with bored teen-agers will always draw attention towards you with some sarcastic comments coming from them. If your self conscious its the last thing you want to hear, but other places where cycling is popular as with joggers etc people don't bat an eye lid at you. Tonight I ended up with a puncture and ended up mending it right on the side of the road , no doubt looking like a right wally in my tight cycling gear. I had a few young chavs shouting remarks out at me as they went past in there cars. I just laughed it off and did a Louie Spence at them and wriggled my fat arse at them while changing the tube..
I couldn't give a stuff what they think and just humour the idiot's.
Off for a pint now :-)

 

[Lee_M]

I've read that in France swim shorts are banned, and wearing them will result in your being ejected from public swimming pools, which are strictly budgie smuggler only.

I can vouch for that in Paris,,, er and yes they do throw you out which can be fun if you feign complete ignorance of the French language (although I didnt need to feign it very much)

 

[Bollo]

Just to spice things up a bit:

Tights under baggy shorts

Runs and hides.

Not for the first time
View attachment 357604

 

[mick1836]

Ive just bought a new jersey and shorts for my rides. They're comfortable and fit well. When im on my bike, I feel fine, no worries at all. Its the short distance I have to walk from my front door to the road about 6 metres in front of my house. This wouldnt be a problem if I lived on a small sideroad, but I live on the largest and busiest street in the area, and so many people stare . Something so silly I know. Anyone else have this problem?

You could always buy one of these to wear?

 

[smutchin]

Most fun runners aren't wearing tights.

I would guess at least half of the women at my local parkrun usually wear tights. I don't know if they'd count themselves as 'fun runners' though. Men tend to wear more traditional 'running shorts' but there are always a few who wear more figure-hugging garb.

Comfortable is the order of the day and figure-hugging ain't comfortable for many.

I can't speak for anyone else, only myself, but I find figure-hugging clothes more comfortable for cycling. A trisuit is very comfortable for both running and cycling, but I need to lose several more kilos before I can fit in mine again.

 

[smutchin]

I've read that in France swim shorts are banned, and wearing them will result in your being ejected from public swimming pools, which are strictly budgie smuggler only.

That tallies with my experience. It's for hygiene reasons. They also won't let you in the pool if you don't shower first - something I wish would be more widely enforced in public pools in the UK.

 

[slowmotion]

That tallies with my experience. It's for hygiene reasons. They also won't let you in the pool if you don't shower first - something I wish would be more widely enforced in public pools in the UK.

They are missing the point though. What does it matter whether you wear board shorts or Speedos when the real hygiene issue lies elsewhere? Read on at your peril.....
https://www.theguardian.com/science...imming-pools-new-urine-test-reveals-the-truth

 

[slowmotion]

Am I allowed to find it depressing (albeit predictable) the extent to which this thread has largely been conducted from the male perspective?

There are several posts that you start reading, thinking this could be a sensitive comment on body image, then discover about three quarters of the way through that no, it's all about penises.

I don't think that you should be depressed at all. Body image cuts across the sexes. Some men wearing lycra feel pretty self-conscious. What's the fundamental difference between" does my willy look small in this" and "does my bum look big in this"?

 

[swansonj]

I don't think that you should be depressed at all. Body image cuts across the sexes. Some men wearing lycra feel pretty self-conscious. What's the fundamental difference between" does my willy look small in this" and "does my bum look big in this"?

What is depressing is not that men, too, have body-image problems (though I do find it just a touch depressing the way male body-image problems seem to focus so much on the sex organs, with the virility of a six pack coming up behind), but the way that, when discussion of body image takes place in the public space (here), men, and their penises, assume a dominating role.

 

[Venod]

What is depressing is not that men, too, have body-image problems (though I do find it just a touch depressing the way male body-image problems seem to focus so much on the sex organs, with the virility of a six pack coming up behind), but the way that, when discussion of body image takes place in the public space (here), men, and their penises, assume a dominating role.

Its something that always comes up in debates about Lycra.