Spandexplanation: My Spandex (lycra, skinsuit, & kit) Theory

A story about overcoming society's challenges with the support and openness of the cycling community.

I’m a big guy trying to live in a world that is not really meant for big people. I have learned quickly that big guys are not accepted and should generally not be doing or wearing certain things.  Being big I was shunned by many people because of my size. I was looked down upon, called names, and often found myself as the butt of jokes. Big guys are literally forced to cover themselves up, wear shirts at the beach, no shorts… just big jeans to cover up and be ashamed. 

When I decided to get into cycling back in April of 2010, weighing 570 pounds, I got some big baggy cycling shorts, naturally. Heaven forbid I wear spandex; what if anyone saw me!  So I got them and started riding. I HATED them.  Boils, and an infection. It got so bad that I even needed medication to stop the infection. So, after doing some talking, and a willingness to “take on societal norms” I got a pair of spandex bib shorts, from a company called Aerotech design. They make bib shorts up to 5XL.  The first ride with them I fell in love.

I rode only on a stationary bike trainer until September, 2010.  I wanted to take my bike outside, but was scared to wear spandex in public. So again, I did some talking, talked to my doctor who suggested I find a cyclist or two to wear the spandex with me, accept me for who I am… and ride. I did that and have never looked back!

Wearing spandex when I ride gives me the freedom to be me. I am not ashamed, not scared and I am not going to run and hide After gaining the confidence to wear what is comfortable while doing something that I love, that is helping me lose weight, I STOPPED HIDING. 

While wearing spandex on my bike, I started to love myself and fix my self.  It also helps me deal with my depression because spandex is honest.  It makes me honest with myself and with others. This is why I think the cycling world is so open; when people can accept themselves for who they are they can also accept others and help them to be their self. You can’t help others if you can’t accept and help your self. You make the spandex what it is, not the other way around.

This, in one big guy’s opinion, is why spandex gets picked on. People can’t accept the honesty that spandex brings. They can’t respect how hard other people work in spandex to be healthy. It’s not about looking good; wearing spandex is about feeling good – physically and mentally. Rather than do something about it, people criticize.

I call this: The Spandex Theory

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Little update 7/1/2011, This Theory has been seen by many people all over the world now.. Whats interesting is the different names lycra is called, same for bib shorts and skinsuits... In the USA  we call it lycra, spandex sometimes or just lycra.. Well in Germany  radhose means bib shorts, and "zeitfahranzüge" or " einteiler" is for skinsuit.  Ill add more terms to this list as I learn, so others from around the world can understand what the spandex theory is all about.


2nd little update 7/27/2011.. my good friend from Mark from Denmark told me.. By the way, in Denmark, which is where i am from, it is called "cykelbukser" which means "bikepants". Skinsuit is called "fantomdragt", "fantomsuit".

3rd little update 7/28/2011 A good friend of mine Thomas from France told me that a Skinsuit is called "combinaisons" and that bib shorts are called "cuissard"...