Rise of the MAMILs

[Tim]

BBC News - Rise of the Mamils (middle-aged men in lycra)

"Flashy sports cars are out, now no mid-life crisis is complete without a souped-up road bike."

By souped-up, I thought it was going to be an article that touched on electric bikes, but it's very much about high end road bicycles.

A silly season story for sure, but great to see cycling is seeing popularity surge in every direction.

 

[rog_london]

BBC News - Rise of the Mamils (middle-aged men in lycra)

"Flashy sports cars are out, now no mid-life crisis is complete without a souped-up road bike."

By souped-up, I thought it was going to be an article that touched on electric bikes, but it's very much about high end road bicycles.

A silly season story for sure, but great to see cycling is seeing popularity surge in every direction.

That's an excellent, well-written, subtly bitchy article. Thanks for letting us know about it.

Fortunately I know it's not aimed at me - I've been past my sell-by date for 20 years already.

Rog.

 

[Scimitar]

Oh, I can't wait. I'm looking forward to sailing past the sweaty lycra hordes.

 

[CheKmx]

Does this mean I bought a flyer instead of a Ferrari and swapping the wife for a younger model? What have I done!!?!?

 

[tillson]

That's a good find, thanks for posting. I particularly like the collective name for a group of MAMILs, "a girth." Very funny.

 

[eTim]

That's a good find, thanks for posting. I particularly like the collective name for a group of MAMILs, "a girth." Very funny.

So true, of course electric bikers are exempt from this classification, even if they do wear a bit of Lycra now and then (for research purposes only, of course).

 

[timidtom]

I'm looking (in Oxfam) for an elder statesman/Sherlock Holmes image - deerstalker helmet, tweed cape, plus-two's and deck shoes. I've already got the matching bike ...
Tom

 

[tillson]

This article struck me as particularly funny because I very often see the same group of retired gentlemen, out cycling together, when I'm walking the dog. I've seen them for a few years now and as time passes, the Lycra gets more, "daring". It really is a sight to behold. I imagine that they are steadily working their way towards the ultimate atrocity, appearing poolside during the month of August clad only in preposterously brief Speedos.

 

[Mussels]

Great timing, I bought myself a racing bike at the weekend.
Nothing flash, it's a Dawes Echelon from the 70s but it might be the start of a slippery slope. At least the missus doesn't need to worry about weekends away as after riding to work all week the last thing I want to do on Saturday is go for a ride, I might make an exception for the Ventoux though.
My mid life crisis is going to be throwing one of these round muddy fields.

 

[Lloyd]

It seems our mainland fellow europeans have more of a love for it than we do. When in France with a group of friends we weren't allowed in the pool because we were wearing baggy swimwear, which they class as un-hygenic. Bizarre.

For the bike though I must admit I'm off on a night ride tonight, and I will be wearing a pair of lycra shorts, but underneath my baggy riding shorts No one need know.........