Harrassment

Encounters
Northernlycra
posted 2 days ago
Has anyone ever experienced any harrassment or judgemental looks when out in lycra either cycling or running. Or even at the pool. I have had the odd judgemental look even had people smirk. It really irritates me. But then again I find it's them who are the problem not me. I am wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences

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BrooklynLycra
posted 2 days ago
Never, or not that i’ve noticed at least. I think most people have a lot going on in their own heads and don’t have much bandwidth to care about what others are wearing.  I’ve only experienced indifference toward my clothes or compliments on them To be clear, i’m speaking about standard lycra gym and pool wear like tights, spandex shorts, compression shirts, speedos—-not wearing just a thong in the supermarket or something very bulgy in a setting where it’s not appropriate
Last edited: 2 days ago

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Northernlycra
posted 2 days ago
posted by: BrooklynLycra
Never, or not that i’ve noticed at least. I think most people have a lot going on in their own heads and don’t have much bandwidth to care about what others are wearing.  I’ve only experienced indifference toward my clothes or compliments on them To be clear, i’m speaking about standard lycra gym and pool wear like tights, spandex shorts, compression shirts, speedos—-not wearing a just a thong in the supermarket or something very bulgy in a setting where it’s not appropriate
That's what I mean in an appropriate situation. 

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Swimmer2004
posted 2 days ago
Leaving aside the jerks back in school who would use anything different about you to bully and harass you, I've found that out in the real world, nobody really cares, especially if you're wearing them for sport or something else active, like hiking. I might get the odd funny look here or there, but nobody has ever said anything negative or harassed me, and I've had smiles and positive comments too. It makes a difference, of course, where you live though, or where people are from. I live in a coastal Florida city, and people who live here are pretty open minded and easy going. It would probably be very different if I were to visit and walk around in certain communities in other parts of the country, wearing spandex. And likewise, tourists who visit here from abroad or around our country, the norms where they are from can be different, and they wouldn't be used to seeing guys, or possibly anybody walking around in spandex.
MessyShinyLycra
posted 2 days ago
Harassment is very different to judgemental looks. It's a criminal offence and so should be reported to the police. I'm busy doing whatever I'm doing so don't pay attention to what anyone else might be doing or expression on their faces. I'm not bothered about what they're up to and they'll be just as uninterested in me and what I'm doing  But I live in a rural area next to a small market town so I'm well aware that in a different setting I wouldn't be able to be so relaxed about things.
Northernlycra
posted 2 days ago
posted by: MessyShinyLycra
Harassment is very different to judgemental looks. It's a criminal offence and so should be reported to the police. I'm busy doing whatever I'm doing so don't pay attention to what anyone else might be doing or expression on their faces. I'm not bothered about what they're up to and they'll be just as uninterested in me and what I'm doing  But I live in a rural area next to a small market town so I'm well aware that in a different setting I wouldn't be able to be so relaxed about things.
What I mean is homophobic harrassment, abuse from teenagers, people following. Has anyone ever been attacked. I once saw a video where a maga person in USA went mental at a cyclist wearing lycra in a cafe. 
Swimmer2004
posted 2 days ago
posted by: Northernlycra
posted by: MessyShinyLycra
Harassment is very different to judgemental looks. It's a criminal offence and so should be reported to the police. I'm busy doing whatever I'm doing so don't pay attention to what anyone else might be doing or expression on their faces. I'm not bothered about what they're up to and they'll be just as uninterested in me and what I'm doing  But I live in a rural area next to a small market town so I'm well aware that in a different setting I wouldn't be able to be so relaxed about things.
What I mean is homophobic harrassment, abuse from teenagers, people following. Has anyone ever been attacked. I once saw a video where a maga person in USA went mental at a cyclist wearing lycra in a cafe. 
There are communities here in the USA and I'm sure other countries too where I totally believe this could happen, but I've never personally seen or experienced it, or know anyone who has.
Cycling
posted 2 days ago
Never found it an issue in France, I live in a small village with about 80 people and I'm not the only who wear lycra but it so common here for guys to wear lycra, specially when doing sports, speedo is no problem as Public swimming pool have the speedo law where it compulsory for all men to wear tight fitting swimming wear, if wear baggy swim its gets you kick out and some time they may call the police. But saying that when I visit the UK I do find it a very negative some time nasty environment towards lycra cyclist and so rarely see guys running in lycra in some area. 
wetlycraboy
posted 2 days ago
Never had any issues in the UK, either cycling in public or using various gyms/pools/waterparks. As others have said, the vast majority aren't even taking notice of you or don't care.

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dildo-spandex
posted 2 days ago
posted by: Northernlycra
Has anyone ever experienced any harrassment or judgemental looks when out in lycra either cycling or running. Or even at the pool. I have had the odd judgemental look even had people smirk. It really irritates me. But then again I find it's them who are the problem not me. I am wondering if anyone else has had similar experiences
In 40 years of wearing spandex at least 50̆% of the time, alas, no one cares. In all that time, the only one who have made any comments were homeless mohawk women and a black teenager who shouted "hey! We can see that guy's balls!". However, blacks almost always have a long, silent, hard look at my bulge, men or women… I like blacks… ;) As of other gays, they are most often horrified (this includes all the boyfriends I've had), some being more vocal than others… And I’ve met only two gays who are also in spandex, one by the Internet actually, it was even before the internet, through a BBS and one during a World Naked Bike Ride. He did not really notice me until I jumped into my red bike shorts at the end…
Last edited: 2 days ago

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dildo-spandex
posted 2 days ago
posted by: Swimmer2004
Leaving aside the jerks back in school who would use anything different about you to bully and harass you,
Haha… I guess I would have enjoyed teasing those bullies while wearing spandex if it had been available back when I was in school. (The only time one got physical with me he learned that a good kick in the balls hurts well I got the reputation of a faggot, yes, but I did not care because I knew I was gay and other geeks did not take chances with me). But then, it’ not sure, I was such a geek that I was in a totally different plane of existence than the run-of-the-mill bullies, so I was only bullied by the other geeks…
posted by: Swimmer2004
And likewise, tourists who visit here from abroad or around our country, the norms where they are from can be different, and they wouldn't be used to seeing guys, or possibly anybody walking around in spandex.
I spent 2 months in Europe 30 years ago, and whenever I went out in spandex, I really got strange looks, especially in Paris... (Nowadays, spandex is no longer something strange for joggers) Oh, I don’t think I can call this harrassment, but once, as I came out of a gay sex shop and I was unlocking my bike, I was wearing those blue tights: and a guy on a wheelchair, I think with cerebral palsy, when ballistic and extended his hand towards my bulge; I figured out he never had fondled a hot bulge, so I let him fondle me on the street… I suppose this was my good deed for the day…
Last edited: 2 days ago
Northernlycra
posted 1 day ago
posted by: Cycling
Never found it an issue in France, I live in a small village with about 80 people and I'm not the only who wear lycra but it so common here for guys to wear lycra, specially when doing sports, speedo is no problem as Public swimming pool have the speedo law where it compulsory for all men to wear tight fitting swimming wear, if wear baggy swim its gets you kick out and some time they may call the police. But saying that when I visit the UK I do find it a very negative some time nasty environment towards lycra cyclist and so rarely see guys running in lycra in some area. 
Yes sadly us British folk tend to be very repressed. Sadly I think it's the same for the Americans too. 

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Bcd
posted 1 day ago
I remember back 25 years ago or so, I was doing a lot of mountain bike racing.  At that time a lot of riders were wearing baggy MTB gear, I of course was still rocking the spandex.  I’d get some smirks, the odd comment and sideways glances (although I’m sure some of those guys were checking me out lol) but at the time I was fit & athletic and a very strong rider so I’d generally place well so it was some vindication for me when the rider in the skinsuit was dominating over the baggy shorts guys.  I still ride recreationally,  still rocking my spandex bibs and jersey,  nowadays I find the only attention I get is from other lycra clad guys and I don’t mind that one bit
justplyn
posted 1 day ago
posted by: Bcd
I remember back 25 years ago or so, I was doing a lot of mountain bike racing.  At that time a lot of riders were wearing baggy MTB gear, I of course was still rocking the spandex.  I’d get some smirks, the odd comment and sideways glances (although I’m sure some of those guys were checking me out lol) but at the time I was fit & athletic and a very strong rider so I’d generally place well so it was some vindication for me when the rider in the skinsuit was dominating over the baggy shorts guys.  I still ride recreationally,  still rocking my spandex bibs and jersey,  nowadays I find the only attention I get is from other lycra clad guys and I don’t mind that one bit
well for me Ive been wearing leggjngs since the mid 90’s,  and even back then i would wear those Hot Nike tights out running in the neighborhood. Now I never did wear them into a store just out  running errands like I would nowadays. Over these past few years ive worn my Leggings in public more and more  but i do have shorts over.  Ive never gotten a reaction from anyone.  A couple weeks ago I left the gym and made 3 stops, the post office,  Department of Motor vehicles,  and  Home Depot to buy some flooring, it all went off without a hitch. But i quit caring what others thought years ago.   
jtalbot812
posted 1 day ago
posted by: justplyn
posted by: Bcd
I remember back 25 years ago or so, I was doing a lot of mountain bike racing.  At that time a lot of riders were wearing baggy MTB gear, I of course was still rocking the spandex.  I’d get some smirks, the odd comment and sideways glances (although I’m sure some of those guys were checking me out lol) but at the time I was fit & athletic and a very strong rider so I’d generally place well so it was some vindication for me when the rider in the skinsuit was dominating over the baggy shorts guys.  I still ride recreationally,  still rocking my spandex bibs and jersey,  nowadays I find the only attention I get is from other lycra clad guys and I don’t mind that one bit
well for me Ive been wearing leggjngs since the mid 90’s,  and even back then i would wear those Hot Nike tights out running in the neighborhood. Now I never did wear them into a store just out  running errands like I would nowadays. Over these past few years ive worn my Leggings in public more and more  but i do have shorts over.  Ive never gotten a reaction from anyone.  A couple weeks ago I left the gym and made 3 stops, the post office,  Department of Motor vehicles,  and  Home Depot to buy some flooring, it all went off without a hitch. But i quit caring what others thought years ago.   
   Is Pepper spray  legal in your area? You will get looks,  some will be in admiration   some might be gawking  in disapproval I have had people  look or give frowns,,,   Here is a simple truth Those who mind,  Don't matter...... Those who do matter  they don't mind.          If someone calls you a name or  says something   get your pepper spray ready...    They might need a Juice therapy to help them adjust their attitude!!!