I know this is much easier said than done, but the easiest way to gain confidence is to just do it. Go out for a spin. The more and longer you get out there the more confident you will be regardless of your size. I live very close to a extremely popular bike path. tons of usage. cyclists of every shape, age and size use it........ It's all good. 99% of people are to into their
own thing to notice and or care.
Ok, I just had to update- I've been so obsessed with this bike that my parents got it for me and are calling it an early b-day presant. (B-day's in Sep) YAY! Can't wait to pick it up this weekend!
Well I just saw it today, and it's much bigger than it looks like in the picture. I don't know hoe I'm gonna get it all the way back home! lol. Mine is pink and white... I need to look up the model. Anyhoo, I am really glad you told us about them, not I can go biking with my hubby and not hate it.
sunflowergirl68 Unfortunately it's illegal in Florida to ride with headphones, and my town is huge on biking so they enforce the bike laws really heavily. I know I should just ignore them, but for now I can't
You have got to live your life. If biking makes you feel happy and healthy - then bike. You only live once, and other people shouldn't keep you from doing something. Plus, look at it this way if you're out biking what are the chances you will see the people you pass ever again? Florida is huge, and full of tourist. If someone is rude to you, you won't see them again.
I'm friends with guys more often than woman and there are always young guys who will call girls fat, no matter her weight (unless shes underweight). I know guys who think a girls fat if she isn't underweight. it all depends on their maturity level if they are going to yell it out though. i really don't think you will have any problems with it unless you bike somewhere where a bunch of highschool boys hang out in a large group. silly highschool boys do anything to look cool
Um, you're riding a bike and therefore exercising, so if they make fun of you for exercising, then they're idiots and you should just ignore it.
And if you want, put on headphones. That's what I'd do.
Pretty much what I was going to say. (Except that I'd be afraid of the headphones. I don't have good peripheral vision, and I'd have to rely on being able to hear traffic.)
Why is it that people make fun of us and say we should "put down the Big Mac and get up off our lazy fat @$$es and exercise," but then when we do, they make fun of us for doing that too? And I speak as one who has been mooed at while taking a walk. It doesn't exactly encourage us to take the advice, does it?
Last edited by LovebirdsFlying; 04-08-2010 at 01:24 PM.
Reading your post made me so mad! I've been called fat by frat boys while I was just walking down the street. And I think you have gotten some really good advice. Those jerks are going to harass whoever they can. It's a sport.
I think it's unrealistic to expect yourself not to react to it. I always get a sick feeling when someone makes fun of me. I think riding on a trainer at home is a great way to start building up your cardio fitness. Then you will be better able to get up hills when you are out there. Start out somewhere remote, maybe on a bike path where there are no cars. Bike paths and walking trails tend to have families and people out who are generally trying to be healthy, so they get it. Work up from there!
I used to worry about going to the gym and having people stare at me. Then I thought, as someone else mentioned, "well, how do people expect me to not be fat if I don't go to the gym"?
Do what you can, riding indoors, riding somewhere remote, and your confidence will build.
I know how you feel. I really do. Last year I didn't have a car and so I rode my bike to the gym. It seemed like a genius idea until I actually went out and did it. I was always really uncomfortable and awkward... I realized then you don't often see bigger girls on bikes much (not like you would walking down the street) so I looked really out of place, and I'm sure people made fun of me.
If I were you, I'd just do it. I did it... it was really totally awkward at first, but eventually I got used to and and I actually started enjoying riding my bike again, especially when I could maneuver it the way I could when I was a kid and even talk on the phone while riding lol.
Oh, and for what it's worth, I never heard anyone say a single word to/about me, and I only used my ipod a small handful of times.
Last edited by oodlesofnoodles; 04-08-2010 at 03:27 PM.
Well, let me tell you guys something. Turns out my parents got me a Schwinn, but they did a lot of research and it's supposed to be pretty similer for about 1/2 the cost. It's retro and beautiful. Anywhoo...
So I took it out on my first real public ride yesterday and I did get comments, not about my weight, but about the bike! Everyone thought it was so interesting. And you were right, WAY easier to ride. I <3 it!
Well, let me tell you guys something. Turns out my parents got me a Schwinn, but they did a lot of research and it's supposed to be pretty similer for about 1/2 the cost. It's retro and beautiful. Anywhoo...
So I took it out on my first real public ride yesterday and I did get comments, not about my weight, but about the bike! Everyone thought it was so interesting. And you were right, WAY easier to ride. I <3 it!
Just revisited this thread and saw this—I ended up getting a Schwinn, too, also pink and white! Maybe we have the same bike I'm planning to get the Townie as a halfway-to-goal present.
Well, let me tell you guys something. Turns out my parents got me a Schwinn, but they did a lot of research and it's supposed to be pretty similer for about 1/2 the cost. It's retro and beautiful. Anywhoo...
So I took it out on my first real public ride yesterday and I did get comments, not about my weight, but about the bike! Everyone thought it was so interesting. And you were right, WAY easier to ride. I <3 it!
Which Schwinn did you get? I have been thinking about buying one and can't decide what or how much to spend. I haven't ridden one in 25 years.
You only live once, and other people shouldn't keep you from doing something. Plus, look at it this way if you're out biking what are the chances you will see the people you pass ever again? Florida is huge, and full of tourist. If someone is rude to you, you won't see them again.
I'm planning to get the Townie as a halfway-to-goal present.
