When is a woman too old

[s7ephanie]

Thanks guys xx gonna carry on, its not like this is the fashion centre of france rather the opposite! They dont know me and if i carry on i wont be 20lb over for long xxxx

 

[User10119]

Attagirl! Wishing you miles of smiles.

 

[BoldonLad]

Thanks guys xx gonna carry on, its not like this is the fashion centre of france rather the opposite! They dont know me and if i carry on i wont be 20lb over for long xxxx

That’s the spirit! Go for it.

 

[BoldonLad]

Thanks guys xx gonna carry on, its not like this is the fashion centre of france rather the opposite! They dont know me and if i carry on i wont be 20lb over for long xxxx

That’s the spirit! Go for it.

 

[Ianboydsnr]

I’m a large lady and cycle in Lycra. I get catcalled often but I just ignore the brain dead idiots**

** aka men, often fat, bald, ugly (At least 2 and often 3)

Now you have me worried, I have never catcalled, not even sure what that means, but I am probably mostly a 3

 

[Levo-Lon]

You may see yourself as a fat old lady.
Others will see a older lady riding a bike and probably thinking ,I wish I could cycle . I doubt any were thinking your fat. If there were any ..

We cycle for ourselves not others..
How was the pat'e

 

[biggs682]

go out in whatever you like - why worry

My sentiments totally and it's a shame more cyclist dont follow these simple guidelines

 

[vickster]

Now you have me worried, I have never catcalled, not even sure what that means, but I am probably mostly a 3

Hmm there are other common qualifying criteria...

Do you drive
A van/skip lorry/tipper truck
A clapped out hatchback
An older series BMW
A taxi?

Do you have more than one functioning brain cell?
And if not, does your brother usually have control of it on days of the week from Monday to Sunday inclusive?

 

[winjim]

Excellent. I salute you (not, of course, that you need any approbation from me).

My concern is that when a person manifestly does care what other people think - which is how I read the OP - simply saying "who cares what other people think" may not actually be very effective at addressing their needs. Indeed, I'd have thought that, in general, when someone says "I have a problem" and the response is "well you shouldn't have" - or even more so, if the response is edging in the direction of "I don't have a problem so you shouldn't" - the exchange may not have been terribly fruitful.

I do recognise that part of the solution is indeed other people setting an example, and I don't want to decry the good intentions of anyone. But that doesn't quite offset my queezyness at the tone of the initial replies in this thread.

Sometimes you just need to take a deep breath and shout 'fark you' to the world, which is not quite the same thing as saying there is not a problem. It's acknowledging that there most certainly is a problem, and then telling that problem to fark right off.

The intention is to provide empowerment. I do appreciate that this tactic may not be applicable to all people or in all circumstances.

 

[I like Skol]

Can you post some pictures of you wearing the offending items? This won't make a difference to my answer because it really doesn't matter, but post them anyway. By cycling and keeping fit you have already achieved more than a lot of the population of the western world and you should be happy with who you are.

Post and be proud

Just to set the ball rolling, here is one of me from a while ago just to prove that looks are not important and it is ok not to care......

 

[I like Skol]

Not quite a lycra pic.... but "larger than life" :

View attachment 404736

You look different than I imagined. Is that @potsy with you in the background on the girls shopping bike?

 

[Milkfloat]

You look different than I imagined. Is that @potsy with you in the background on the girls shopping bike?

@potsy On a bike? I don't think so. That is @Fab Foodie

 

[smutchin]

"I’ll tell you what I think of bicycling. I think it has done more to emancipate women than any one thing in the world. I rejoice every time I see a woman ride by on a bike. It gives her a feeling of self-reliance and independence the moment she takes her seat; and away she goes, the picture of untrammelled womanhood." - Susan B. Anthony

Be that picture of untrammelled womanhood.

(As others have said, overcoming self-consciousness is easier said than done, but we're all on your side here, if that helps.)

 

[Cycleops]

Baggy shorts? I much prefer them, but whatever you feel comfortable in.

 

[Fab Foodie]

@potsy On a bike? I don't think so. That is @Fab Foodie

Damn! Spotted looking grim....