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Fat Lad At The Back (almost) at the Mallorca 312

#mallorca312 #fatladattheback.com #cycling

Mallorca 312

13 hours 31minutes and 1270th out of 1429 riders who finished the Mallorca 312km. Not quite the Fat Lad At The Back! It was everything you’d expect it to be. Foolishly and somewhat buoyed by a couple of beers we had joked on Friday evening that there was only 150km of climbing and then it was a straight forward 150km+ on the flat. It had to be achievable - didn’t it? It was an early 7am start, especially for those of us who hadn’t accounted for the 1 hour time difference but it was already warm enough for shorts and short sleeve, so at least kit choice was easy. Nutrition on the other hand proved to be an ongoing challenge. Food stops were rumoured to be good, so I planned on that basis. The event is superbly managed, locals are really friendly and drivers are so considerate - they even stop at roundabouts when they see bikes approaching! The food stops weren’t great and having been hypnotised off chocolate 8 years ago, choice was VERY limited for me. Hard cheese as they say, perhaps they had sampled the cheese sandwiches on offer. By the time I was at the third feed station I had been gritting my teeth so hard I could neither chew or fancy one. I’d got enough gels, bars and hydration drinks to keep me going but from about 175km I was finding it really difficult to eat or drink. Apparently there comes a point when the body stops digesting food and turns its attention to driving the muscles only. It also lets your fingers, toes and arms go numb and your brain loses its ability to think - I tried to calculate how many km I had left and how long it would take, but however many times I tried, I couldn't come up with a sensible answer. All I did know for sure was that after 150km of climbing, 6 hours on the flat doesn’t feel so flat. Despite the pain in the mountains, the views and descents are spectacular and I was a little disappointed I didn’t get over 70kph but there’s always next time! We had set off at skinny whippet pace, averaging 33.7kph for the first 22km’s and then pushed up the first category 2 climb at an average 17kph - that’s too fast for a Fat Lad. Although none of the climbs are especially steep in comparison to the Yorkshire hills I’m used to, they go on for longer than my wife, when she finds out I’ve got another cycling weekend in the diary. The advice at the start of the ride is to “get on a group” after Palma. I was on my own at half way and in a dark place and so I’m all the more indebted to a lad from Dundee Cycling club who suggested that I “jump on”. We worked together (him doing more than me) for a good few miles, sweeping up another few riders and forming a mini peloton of 8. It was an blessed relief and doubled my average speed for the time until we somehow managed to break up and I lost them. Thankfully I was overtaken by the Kinetic Velo group from Peterborough/Rutland Water who were dragging around 30 bikes at a cracking speed. I stayed in their peloton moving at 40kph+ for 50km or more. They pushed on even faster and dropped the group eventually, but their lack of selfishness for those miles was incredibly welcome - They were awesome and a fantastic group of real gentlemen. When my Garmin ran out of battery I was devastated then I realised that I’d spent much of the ride fixated on it’s screen and it was liberating to be released from it’s reluctant countdown! My biggest thanks goes to the small group of 8 cyclists from mussols.es. Although only 1 spoke some English (and I only speak Yorkshire and some English) they kept the spirits of our remaining group of 12 high with their laughter and camaraderie as well as keeping us moving at 27-33kph - a pace fast enough for a respectable and somewhat emotional finish. That’s the beauty of cycling, it’s an international language in itself and you don’t need words ito understands the pain you go through to achieve the smallest of goals. The last word as always goes to the FLAB community. The one thing that I kept thinking about in the moments when I so desperately wanted to get off, were your posts of encouragement before the ride. It really did make a huge difference to the outcome of the day - thank you so much! https://www.strava.com/

#mallorca312 #fatladattheback #cycling

The Clothing Dilemma

I remember my first Triathlon – I had set myself the challenge several months earlier as part of a focused effort to get fit and lose the extra stones I had been collecting since my twenties.

The training was tough and I found the swimming pretty lousy, but the most worrying part of all was my clothing dilemma.

I envied the svelte lads, clad in skin tight Lycra, transitioning with ease from pool to bike and bike to run and wondered, what on earth I was going to wear.

There’s not much choice at a 44-46” chest so after much research I had ordered a size 44"chest short and top ensemble in blue. It was the largest size I could find and I was optimistic from the photographs and the sizing chart on the website!

My hopes were dashed when it arrived and I held up the tiny clothes against my 6’3” body. Shameless hilarity ensued from my wife and children, as I wriggled into the shorts, which un-stretched, were no wider than one of my thighs. Once on, they left nothing to the imagination and the extra inches from my waistline bulged over the waistband like a cake overflowing its baking tin.

The top was even worse and I was hot, sweating and flustered by the time I had got it on. The hemline refused to stay put and rolled its self up to my lower ribs, exposing two decades of over indulgence and denial. My cleavage on the other hand had been so effectively enhanced by the shrink wrapped Lycra, I was now an enviable D cup and even my wife had to concede, it was impressive!

This was serious! The Triathlon was challenge enough, without having to undertake it dressed like an extra from the Rocky Horror Show. I needed a fat lad tri suit and if I needed one, that meant other fat lads needed one too. It needed to be generously cut with proper sized arm and leg holes, as well as practical and technical and it needed to have a long zip at the front so that you didn’t have to be Harry Houdini to get in and out of it.

The Fat Lad At The Back Try Tri suit is all that and more. There are few more ridiculous outfits available to a sporting fat lad than a triathlon suit, but all things told, I think ours is a very flattering piece of kit. Designed especially for Fat Lads, it’s available in black, which we have found to be a particularly Fat Lad friendly colour. The Try Suit has been tested by me and other Fat Lads in the pool, on the road and on the bike, with some great feedback and some unconfirmed reports that it may actually make you go faster – Either way, it won’t leave you looking like a badly packed sausage and that can only be a good thing for all concerned.

Made in Italy from a superb lightweight, fast drying Italian technical fabric it has a slim, fast drying compression pad, handy back pockets for gels and snacks and a silicone hem to stop it riding up, plus the nice long zip at the front.

RICHARD BYE Co-Founder and Lad In Charge.

#Cyclewear #triathlon #fatladattheback #obesity #health #sportswear #fitness

At Last! Cyclewear With Built In Curve

Lynn Bye - Co Founder, Creative Director and Lass in t' Office

Not long after we launched our men’s cyclewear, we were inundated with requests from women or should we say lasses, demanding the same thing. It made sense of course, that if average sized lads were struggling to find quality cycling gear, that average sized lasses would be too, so we set about producing a collection to fit and flatter the curvaceous shape of the female body.

The jersey’s have been designed following research with women cyclists and on our social media, which highlighted that many women were finding it particularly difficult to find cyclewear which accommodated their bust and hips and which was long enough in the body for them to feel comfortable wearing, both on and off the saddle.

As a result, the Fat Lass At The Back tops and jackets feature a carefully tailored shape which is based on women’s body measurements, contoured side panels which help to slim the silhouette and a longer body length. Our research also identified women’s favorite jersey colours and we have picked the most popular colour from the blue and yellow colour spectrums, to compliment women with either blue or yellow skin tones.

We are aware that although most people love the name Fat Lass At The Back and want to be a part of the growing community of FLABS, others don’t feel so positively about it, so the jersey’s come in two versions. The Full Fat jerseys feature the Fat Lass At The Back logo and branding and for those who prefer a more subtle garment, but still want the great quality and fit of a FLAB jersey, our 0% version has been de-branded and has no mention of the F word.

0% Lasses Nippy Jersey £59.99

Our pedal pushers and Winter leggings have a tummy flattering front panel and a high waist and back, which give all the benefits of a bib, keeping the back and kidneys warm and offering outstanding comfort, without the inconvenience on comfort stops!

Because our men’s sizing method has proven to be so effective, we have employed the same system with the women’s range and ask customers to get measured and use this information to order the correct size of garment. The fit of our garments is snug, without stretching, so if you prefer a looser fit, we suggest you go up a size.

When trying on the garments we suggest that customers sit on their bikes or at least adopt ‘riding position’, so they can feel how the garments will fit particularly on the shoulders, back and arms.

The collection which comes in size 34” to 50” bust and 37” to 55” hip is small at the moment but more jersey colours and additional pieces are planned for 2015.

Just like our menswear, the garments are produced in Italy using the latest top quality, Italian technical fabrics.

We have had great feedback about the range and the wonderfully positive effect it has on both the wearer and on people they meet. We look forward to welcoming new FLAB’s into the fold!

http://fatladattheback.com/product-category/lasses/

#cyclewear #womens cycling #cycling #plus size #obesity #weightloss #lose weight

The Importance of The Right Trousers! Especially if you're a 23 stone Fat Lad on a bike!

by Richard Bye - Fat Lad in Charge

It's hard to believe that something as simple as cycle clothing can have such a positive effect on your enjoyment of cycling. It wasn't until we launched Fat Lad At The Back, that I truly began to understand the benefits of technical fabrics and features, before that, I had made do with a MTB shirt and some baggy bike shorts - It was such a palaver finding gear in my size!

But what if you weighed 20+ stone and had a 60" waist?

We were inspired to create our Spare Tyre range, when we met Geoff. He weighed 23 stone and had already shed an incredible 15 stone from cycling. Here Geoff tells us what a difference being in the right gear has made to him.

"I've been getting some miles in now that I'm a fully dressed "Fat Lad", oh boy, what a difference it makes. I now ride further, faster and longer in such comfort. My first ride wearing my Fat Lad gear was 20 miles further than my previous best, it was a lovely sunny warmer day, but so comfortable, even riding harder and burning those calories up, the days of dripping wet through cotton T Shirts and boil in the bag rain coats are now a thing of the past.

Fat Lad At The Back Cycling Gear for the true Fat Lads has transformed my cycling, not only does it afford great personal comfort it's designed and shaped specifically for the bigger cyclist, the garments are superbly made from high quality, technical materials that perform superbly. The fit is absolutely spot on, friends and family all comment on how good it looks. The black colour renowned for its ability to disguise some of the "Spare Tyre" qualifications, works very well, I've had several favourable comments to support this. As a Fat Lad on a bike I would often receive unwanted comments even abuse from the less informed members of the public, this was sometimes restricting when and where I could ride, but now I just ride when and where I like, creating smiles and often pleasant comments as I go.

Fat Lad At The Back, you made a promise to do everything possible to provide quality cycle clothing for a proper Fat Lad. I know and appreciate that you took on a difficult task, but true to your word you have worked relentlessly to fulfil that promise and you have excelled in every aspect of design, comfort and understanding, to produce the perfect solution "Fat Lad At The Back Spare Tyre" range, well done and thank you so much."

The Spare Tyre Range is available in size 54 - 58" Chest and 58 - 62" Waist

http://fatladattheback.com/product-category/spare-tyre-range/

Spare Tyre Super Roubaix Bib Shorts £89.99

Spare Tyre Short Sleeve Jersey £59.99

#cyclewear #fatladattheback #plus size #cycling #fitness #lose weight #weightloss #get fit #obesity

From off the shelf to Do It Yourself.

Part Two: Weight a minute.

Cycling has gone marketing crazy! Don’t believe the hype or you’ll get sucked into riding the lightest, most aerodynamic, rigid yet most relaxed bike made from the rarest element we haven’t even discovered or named yet.

Let’s cut through all that and start with you. Decide what you want to use the bike for and what budget you have. Will it be a recreational bike to get to the pub, a countryside tourer, a bike to get round some of the longer 100 mile sportives or is it for a bit of club racing?!

It’s immaterial. Steel, titanium, aluminium or carbon? I chose to build my bikes from titanium; mainly due to the fact I wanted something that will be impervious to our lovely weather. The intention was for it to be my “keep forever” bike.

People associate material as an indicator to weight and ride comfort, well that’s not strictly true. I’ve ridden some pretty soft carbon frames and some alloy frames that are lighter than their carbon counterpart. It all depends on how the bike is built, quality of materials and the components on it that determine its rigidity and weight. If you jump on the scales and find you’re twice the (size) rider of Froome, you should check the weight tolerance of the bike as some designs and models will have upper limits. A good LBS, manufacturer handbook (or our old friend Google) should identify that for you. If you’re not worried about being at the front you probably won’t need the raciest, stiffest or lightest bike. This could help put a tick in the budget box too!

Stay true. In terms of weight tolerance it’s the same for wheels. If you imagine your weight is suspended on the spokes above the hub rather than at the spokes at the bottom of the wheel, the more spokes you have the less weight each spoke will bear. More spokes distribute that weight over a greater surface area of the rim reducing stress. So Fat Lads at the lighter end of the scale could opt for those 18 spoke minimalist wheels whilst some of the bigger Lads may need to look at 32+ spoke wheels, which will help the rigidity and spread your love over more spokes. In other words ‘bomb proof’.

There are some very good factory built wheels out there but don’t rule out buying some hand built wheels which may be cheaper than you’d think but with the benefit of being tailored to suit your needs and, of course, the practicalities of riding in the UK! A wheel builder will ask you about usage, the bike and your weight to help determine the three components required - the rim, the hub and spokes. Wheels are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your bike and worth considering when it comes to replacement.

Tyred out. Even something as simple as increasing the width of the tyre can have a dramatic effect on ride comfort. I hold my hands up, I’ve converted from the once ‘pro choice’ 23mm to 25mm road tyres on my bike (as the pros have done too); a move away from the perceived wisdom and logic that thinner will always be faster. The 25s provide greater contact with the road but they are proven to roll faster. You may also want to consider the additional balance and comfort of a 28mm road tyre. Most road bikes should allow you to use widths up to 28mm. You can easily experiment post purchase, at relatively low cost, once you have your bike.

Pros and cons. Today’s professionals have reached the limits in terms of power to weight ratio. Any thinner or lighter and these pro cyclists will probably slow down. More gains are made on the bike and with the components to find those weight savings and aerodynamic benefits. The great thing for us is that, in time, those technological advancements trickle down to our everyday road bikes. Today’s mid range drive-trains (gears, chainset, cranks & shifters) were probably race wear a few years ago and will serve their purpose very effectively for all levels of rider. Top end drive-trains may shift marginally smoother but you’re really only paying for lightweight benefits or slightly more aerodynamic design. Something that the average cyclist, who struggles to match the 45-50kph avg speed of a pro, probably will see little benefit from! You should spend that cash elsewhere and I’d recommend investing that in a bike fitting.

Truth [never] hurts. They say the truth hurts but in cycling terms it’s the polar opposite. The best start you can make is being honest about your needs and, of course, your ability. I see riders that spend and invest more on their second or even third bike whether due to greater confidence or knowing their body shape will change. You’ll be surprised losing 6-10 kilos can alter how your body sits on the bike.

Bike fitting, for those more serious riders, can be an ongoing process and many riders will refit after a season or two on the bike. They might choose to move from a more upright position because the belly has reduced slightly, allowing them to lean further over! The key is finding a bike that provides the best possible fit to allow for those minor tweaks to be made.

Just remember the more comfortable you are on your bike the more you’ll enjoy it, you’ll ride more often, for longer and further.

Enjoy your ride Lads n’ Lasses!

Rich Baldwin

Catch up on Part One: The long and short of it.

From off the shelf to Do It Yourself.

Many Lads n’ Lasses ask us for advice when buying or replacing a bike so we thought it best to seek the opinion of someone who knows bikes inside and out! It just so happens he’s fellow Yorkshireman and bike builder, Rich Baldwin. So over to the other Rich for the first of a two part blog series...

Part One: The long and short of it.

Firstly, I’m not going to plug the brands I think you should be buying; I want to start somewhere further back in the journey than that so you understand where I’m coming from. Think of me as the voice inside your head that’s going to ask the fundamental questions that often get overlooked in the ‘heat’ of purchase. I’ll throw in a few years worth of experience that could help when it comes to buying your next road bike!

I’ve spent a pretty penny on some great new bikes, probably too much, but they were the same great bikes that other cyclists were riding. That in itself isn’t a bad thing but I imagine it’s the same feeling that my wife might get should we turn up at a wedding, only to find another guest wearing the exact same dress. To me, it ran deeper than that. Much of the design conformity of manufacturers felt a little soulless.

More importantly, I didn’t represent a ‘standard’ size. I nestle between 5’ 11” and 6’ 00” on a good day, so I’d usually be handed a 56” bike (depending on the measurement of the manufacturer!). The trouble is, with my relatively long legs and short torso, the standard off the shelf model didn’t account for my unique body shape. You are a very lucky person if you’re the same template of the standard cyclist. Sadly, I needed a larger frame for my legs and a shorter frame for my body! For me, I’d be forever tweaking saddle height, position, stems and even different sized crank arms. My shorter torso needed a shorter cockpit but I didn’t want to compromise on my position, particularly on long rides, by over-stretching. In reality, the average cyclists out there will probably only alter the shape of their bike by raising or lowering the saddle.

After a crash replacement, I decided to bite the bullet and build my own. Whilst I don’t expect you to rush out and build your own bike, I can hopefully help with a few pointers.

My first recommendation will be to try and convince you to place more value on the overall fit of the bike rather than the brand or the colourways. Too often we can be seduced by the latest colour/ finish trends; the sold sign has gone up before we sit on the bike! I’ve seen riders finish a long ride on their £300 well fitted bike happy and pain free and seen others, ready to call an ambulance, having stepped off their ultra light pro replica that needed a second mortgage to finance! Expensive doesn’t mean best.

It’s my most important philosophy and one that seems to resonate with Fat Lad At the Back. I find if I feel good riding it, I enjoy it more and tend to ride more often and ride for longer. That can only be a good thing.

About Rich:

Husband, dad and aspiring guitarist! Never happier than when out on a bike and deeply passionate about bringing bike building back to Britain... one frame at a time.

Baldwin Titanium:

Baldwin Titanium, founded in 2012, are high end bicycles made to order, hand built, one at a time in Yorkshire. The unique enjoyment and performance derived from a bike should be matched by the precision and passion used to build it. Each Baldwin Titanium frame reflects the individuality of the rider and represents the ultimate bike for the discerning rider. www.baldwintitanium.co.uk

#cycling #fatladattheback baldwintitanium Bikes

Joining The Bulge

I was looking for something recently on our Facebook page and as I flicked through all the photos and the comments from FLAB’s I couldn’t help but feel a great sense of pride.

It struck me what a brilliant, extremely funny, diverse bunch of people make up the FLAB bulge and how that variety and sense of ‘team’ so perfectly epitomises what I had hoped for the brand.

Our recent Autumn Winter photoshoot couldn’t have embodied this any more and I am thoroughly “chuffed” with the photographs. Admittedly being mates with Simon Wilkinson, who is arguably one of the country’s finest sports photographers does help you get some really great shots, but as well as that, I think you can also see the genuine pleasure and pride on the faces of our ‘models’.

The models are a perfect representation of our customers, because they are our customers and they span a broad cross section of size, experience and ability, from Skinny Rob who’s a super fit, competitive athlete and probably weighs less than our dog, to the beautiful and ever glamorous Justine; the face of Fat Lass and our plus size model, who’s relatively new to cycling and still only ever carries cash and a lipstick in her cycle jersey pocket!

The camaraderie and encouragement between the riders, the general sense of pride in wearing the FLAB badge and of being part of something great, not to mention the constant laughter and good humored banter, made for a fantastic day.

I know that some people feel the need to question the appropriateness of slimmer FLABS and I admit to feeling a bit disappointed because I feel like they have missed what we are all about. It has to be said that Fat Lad At The Back isn’t an outsize brand. It’s a sports brand, which does sportswear in all sizes because people of all sizes do sport.

The brand was originally created for lads like me - Mr Averages, with a 44" chest and a 38" waist who couldn’t find anything to wear. It quickly became apparent that there were other cyclists out there who were bigger and they needed something to wear too, so we introduced larger sizes into the range. Then we met a lad called Geoff, he was 23 stone and our largest jersey didn’t go anywhere near him. His story really touched and inspired us, so we designed the Spare Tyre range, a bespoke collection tailored for Geoff and all the other lads like him. In no time, the lasses were saying "what about us?" so we began work on our women's range and what we have become, is a brand for all people.

Whilst the models in our photo-shoot may not share a body mass index, they do share the FLAB ethos, which celebrates everyone and anyone who’s having fun on their bike and encourages others to join them.

Sportswear brands don’t usually acknowledge the achievements of ‘average people’, but we and the FLAB Community do and our social media is full of photo’s of FLABs, of every shape and size, achieving all sorts of fantastic things and that’s what makes it such a great place to be.

To put it simply, when you put on a Fat Lad At The Back jersey you're part of the bulge and that means whoever or whatever you are, you just got an extra 10,000 friends.

We are the Fat Lads At The Back - Join us and be proud.

#cycling #womens cycling #fatladattheback #fatlassattheback

I'll Always Be A Fat Lad - Richard Bye Founder of FLAB

I have struggled with my waistline most of my adult life. Some might say it's genetic and certainly, you'll find it hard to find any skinny people amongst my parents & family, unless they married in - oh how I've cursed my parents and their ‘heavy bones’.

My wife says I have an unhealthy attitude to food and she's right (plus she'll be reading this and I know where my sausage sandwiches are buttered). I definitely share the same obsession with dinner time as our Labrador, Barker. I also have a penchant for the finer things in life and I simply can't resist a freshly baked pork pie.

My battle started in my early 20's when work and eating McDonalds occupied my day. It was a gentle frolick to begin, but it soon turned into a wrestle. My jean size went from a sporty lads 34" to a 36" then to a 38" and finally to a 40". I tried to get a grip and embarked upon some weird diets: I drank milkshakes and ate beetroot and eggs, I played a bit of squash, did a couple of MTB rides a week and I lost a couple of inches, but never for long.

I started road biking about 10 years ago - I cut quite a dash in my MTB gear, amongst the skinny whippets - but I found that one or two decent rides a week at least helped me maintain my middle at an acceptable 38”.

The road biking was hard - as soon as the road kicked up, I fell off the pack - I was the fat lad at the back.

It wasn't until I hit 40 and had my midlife crisis that I joined the gym and they measured my body fat. Then I realised the truth. Vanity sizing had lured me into a false sense of security and the size 38" jeans I was squeezing into actually measured 42". I realised that the longer I left it, the harder it would be, it was time to man up. I halved my alcohol consumption and started eating smaller balanced meals. I realised I liked salad. I started training hard, circuits, cycling, swimming, running. I got some events in the diary so I had something to work towards - a Tough Mudder, a couple of sprint distance triathlons and some challenging sportives.

The weight fell off - within a couple of months I had lost 5 inches and was actually a 37" waist. My chins shrank, I was looking great and was buying new shirts in size L but I still couldn't find quality cyclewear to fit me.

It’s a couple of years on now and a couple of inches have crept onto the waistline - I’m still fighting my flab and I’ll always be a fat lad at the back but at least I’ve got the cyclewear sorted and I'm pleased with how my cycling’s and overall fitness is coming along - It's a battle, but I’m focused and determined. If only I could employ that same determination and just a little bit of self control at meal times!

#fatladattheback #cycling #sportive #toughmudder #totalwarrior

Where did 12 months go?!

Although only launched in October last year, Fat Lad At The Back was first conceived on that epic trip to the Alps a little over 12 months ago and since then it’s been an incredible ride! It has taken a huge amount of time, effort and sheer bloody-mindedness to get to where we are and we continue on a steep learning curve. In hill terms, it’s about a 15%er and you know what that’s like for us Fat Lads!

You may think this is strange, even a bit twee, but there is something much bigger at play. Although we hoped to create a community of FLABs; to encourage and support normal people to get out on their bikes and have a go, nothing could have prepared us for what it has become and what it means to you; our customers and fans.

We’ve been utterly gobsmacked at the stories and photos that we see and read on a daily basis that chart the immense highs, lows and sometimes even crashes of people in our gear. The support and the genuine camaraderie that exists out there, between FLABbers, is both astonishing and humbling too. We certainly get a boost knowing we’re not alone and, it would seem, so do you.

We’ve had plenty of conversations (we’re not just talking about the Dragons) with people who didn’t get it. We’ve heard “No one else makes cyclewear like this, it won’t sell” “it’s supposed to stretch,” so many times, but we stuck to the plan which makes the reaction we get from customers all the more worthwhile. It’s a shame the Dragons didn’t understand the depth of the brand and it’s potential to empower people, but if you have to explain it, they’re never going to get it! Evans Cycles totally got it, which is why it’s been such a pleasure to work with them, and we’re proud to be one of their 'Odd Ones'.

Before we go, in case you were wondering, working as a husband and wife team certainly has it’s challenges and we’ve seen our fair share of inclement conditions and broken chains but as all FLABs know, the more you pedal, the easier it gets...

Please Lads n’ Lasses carry on sharing how you get on, we love being a part of your journey. We’re chuffed you put your faith in us, we’re in this together.

What about the Lasses?

Well it didn’t take long after the first delivery of Fat Lad At the Back kit to arrive for the girls to shout “what about us?”

We all know there is something symbolic about being a fat lad at the back. You may in truth not be fat but there’s always someone more whippet shaped and faster! The challenge, for us, wasn’t necessarily ripping up the cycle clothing templates for women’s gear; we’ve done that successfully with the Lads kit.

The real challenge was whether we describe women as ‘Fat Lass At the Back’. This is unchartered metaphorical territory; a territory that touches on more sensitive issues and infinitely more personal feelings and attitudes. Surely in a world obsessed with size 0, women would steer clear of a brand that labelled them as ‘fat’ and turn against us? Perhaps not...

More and more stories surface from Lads who have achieved great things, overcoming personal difficulties, losing weight, feeling healthier and generally enjoying life more. The fact that our kit acts as an ice-breaker whilst out riding; so other riders laugh with and not at our Lads heightens their sense of empowerment. The Lads, in their flattering and equally well fitting gear are enjoying themselves. The girls, or should we say Lasses, wanted to feel that same confidence. It is all about having fun in great quality, great fitting technical garments that they look and feel great in. We still know that some Lasses may not feel comfortable on the inside when their great fitting jersey labels them as ‘Fat’ on the outside. This led us to developing a range that supported both types of Lasses.

As Clare Woodhall, FLAB customer says “Go out and have fun, life can be far too serious!”

Without further a do Lasses, say hello to the Full Fat and 0% Fat jerseys. We know feeling good on the inside is just as important as looking good on the outside. Whatever you wear you are not alone, be proud! Let’s ride.