Wearing Lycra in Public - around town & sports

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When Lycra shorts and running tights first came out, they quickly became a popular part of the Speedo swimsuit/short shorts/tight jeans scene of the '80s. Those types of clothing were considered slightly fashion-forward, but not too far out of the mainstream. As running and gym wear Lycra had obvious advantages.

But as mainstream guys tried Lycra, many discovered it showed a lot more than they were comfortable with. When spandex was worn alone, your dick would snake down one leg, your junk flopped around as you moved, and heaven forbid if you popped a bone! Support underwear was the obvious answer, but jock straps and even briefs showed right through and destroyed the clean lines of the Lycra. So after an encouraging beginning, spandex wear lost favor except for men who desired to show off their attributes in full glory. "Nothing comes between me and my spandex" became the motto. That tended to take spandex wear out of the mainstream, branding it as gay and fetish wear, similar to what happened with Speedos.

I never abandoned Lycra. I swim in Speedos, wear Lycra tights as winter running wear, and spandex shorts to the gym. I like the way it looks & feels and don't give a fig if that brands me in the eyes of some fatso casual observer. Lycra's skintight fit encourages me to stay in shape. I don't want to look like a pork sausage when I wear it!

But I also don't want to be an exhibitionist when I wear spandex in public. I'm not an "erections are natural, it's OK to show them popping through your spandex" guy. If that's your thing, fine with me - enjoy, just saying it isn't my style.

So how do I manage to wear spandex with no jockstrap lines and without showing off my junk? I followed the lead of male ballet dancers, who wear a thing called a dance belt under their tights. Dance belts are kind of like a jock except with a thong rear. There's no lines, they package your junk into a nice smooth bulge that won't shock the local citizenry, and they support better than a jock strap. I'm sure I'm not the only spandex fan who wears a dancebelt, but I've never seen them mentioned in this or other Lycra forums.

Speedo briefs are making a comeback with HS swim teamers. Hip-hugger super tight jeans are popular with guys who can get into them. Why should women have all the fun of wearing spandex? As a Speedo guy, you already enjoy Lycra, so why not try it for your dryland activities as well as to get wet? A dance belt may be just the thing you need.

[Byron]

The lycra chat forum doesn't seem to get much readership but you're right
- the only time I've ever seen a dance belt referred to is your brief posts
with Dorcas in general speedo chat in February.
(I believe it is a matter of pride with some wrestlers by the way, that they do not wear support under their singlet).
What I guess is needed here are some responses from rowers runners and cyclists.

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Originally Posted by Byron

What I guess is needed here are some responses from rowers runners and cyclists.

That's me!
row - in the basement on Concept CII rowing machine
Lycra shorts/dancebelt (normal unpadded spandex - hate Concept's rowing shorts)
run - trails around town, 20 - 25 miles per week (seasonal)
Lycra shorts/dancebelt (beats running shorts w/built in brief)
ride - good confirmed roadie
Giordano cycling shorts w/padding/nothing under (don't tamper with success)

But I value others' opinions! Bring it.

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Originally Posted by Byron

(I believe it is a matter of pride with some wrestlers by the way, that they do not wear support under their singlet).

If internet pictures are any reliable method of determining standard wrestling attire, no joke!

I was brought up in the "if you're doing anything more active than math homework, or if you're wearing revealing clothes, wear your jock" era. (You can read my article on wearing a swimmer's jock under my Speedo in the Stories section). I still like everything solidly held in place.

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Byron

I guess you're right - nobody checks the Lycra forum, so writing in it is a waste of time.

[singletlover]

As a Lycra fan, I wear when I can. Yes there are times when it is looked down upon. Riding my mt bike and running are the only times I try to be conservative in my attire.

The dance belt idea scares me. I have two and they are the most uncomfortable things to wear. Possibly I have an incorrect size or one of the cheaper brands.

Agreed bike shorts by themselves is best. Running I tend not to wear anything underneath.

[Byron]

Readers like me who have not worn one may wonder what's the difference here from a jock strap ?
Well, here's one site with dance belts for sale - they look just like big jockstraps but there's more than one design around by the look of them.

http://www.thefind.com/apparel/brows...ns-dance-belts

[singletlover]

There is a difference. A jock has the two straps from the waistband to the pouch. The dance belt has one strap, like a thong. I understood when I ordered mine, so long ago, that they are meant to be tight fitting, much more than a jock. And they are. It is an interesting, squeezing feeling along with pulling up in the crotch (the penis should be pointing up).

I have a fetish for anything "underwear" and I am glad I tried my dance belts and added them to my collection, but I believe I only wore them one or two times.

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Historically, dance belts sucked. They were really uncomfortable and you wouldn't want to wear one if you didn't have too. But there are a whole bunch of new ones out there that are truly comfortable. Super lightweight/light support, get an M.Stevens. Brand new and great, WearMoi! I don't like any of the ones on the webpage Byron found.

[singletlover]

Will have to look into the newer ones. One that I have is not Lycra/spandex, it has a quilted cotton pouch. The other is some form of lycra, and the waistband is stiff and about 2-3 inches wide. Will have to find these bad boys and give them another try.