Are you a MAMIL or whatever the lady version is?

[Hover Fly]

Lycra gives me the creeps.

 

[Moon bunny]

Wool in a suitable color, not black or very dark, for me. And yes, I do care what I look like.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I think the term MAMIL was first coined to describe those who got into cycling in middle age as a fashion thing more than anything else, and bought all the racing kit to look the part.

Seems it was coined by market research firm Mintel in 2010, in a report called "Bicycles in the UK 2010". I can't find a copy but these articles must be among the earliest mass circulation references:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

https://road.cc/content/news/21443-new-research-highlights-rise-mamil-thats-middle-aged-men-lycra

The idea that they are dilettantes interested only in fashion probably came from those who considered themselves to be Proper Cyclists, upset that someone else was doing their thing and trespassing on their territory.

I'm a quintessential MAMIL (even though I tend to wear baggies) in that I returned to cycling in middle age at about that time, 2010-11 ish, after having being quite a keen tourist in my 20s

In fact I distinctly remember how it all started. I was at a party chatting to a friend who had just had a medical and who had family history of heart disease, I was recovering from a wrecked knee, and we decided to give cycling another go. We were no doubt influenced by the MAMIL zeitgeist.

So I'm one of the original MAMILS. I'd go so far as to say I'm a Proper MAMIL, not like those others who are doing it all wrong.

 

[Alex321]

I'm a quintessential MAMIL (even though I tend to wear baggies) in that I returned to cycling in middle age after being quite a keen tourist in my 20s at about that time, 2010-11 ish.

In fact I distinctly remember how it all started. I was at a party chatting to a friend who had just had a medical and who had family history of heart disease, I was recovering from a wrecked knee, and we decided to give cycling another go. We were no doubt influenced by the MAMIL zeitgeist.

I'd had a gap of almost 20 years from when I used to ride regularly in the 80's and 90's, commuting from Pontypridd - Cardiff. Then I changed jobs, and moved house in Jan 2000 to one too far to consider commuting by bike, and pretty well stopped riding.

Then along came COVID, and they were telling us we could go outside for an hour for exercise, my wife said "Why don't you go for a ride on your bike", and I haven't stopped since.

At what age does one go from being a MAMIL to an OMIL?

 

[presta]

Lycra shorts and an ordinary white T shirt for me if it's hot. Anything more is just too hot.
As it gets cooler I wear ordinary fleece jumpers, jackets, cagoules, and as many pairs of Bikesters as it takes over the top of them. If they're practical and convenient I'm not bothered what they look like.

 

[Dogtrousers]

You can't get Ronhhill Bikesters any more. At least you couldn't last time I looked. They seem to have gone the same way as the lamented Altura Winter Cruisers.

It's a conspiracy by Big Tights I tell ta.

For winter I replaced my last pair of Winter Cruisers with Ronhhill Trackers. I wear clip-on braces with them.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

At what age does one go from being a MAMIL to an OMIL?

When you get an e-bike I think or is that an EOMIL?

 

[Pat "5mph"]

They seem to have gone the same way as the lamented Altura Winter Cruisers.

I know, shame.
I like them because they aren't padded and are a bit water repellent, they don't look too much like cycling gear.
Ideal for my short commutes.
I still have 2 pairs: one in use in winter, the other relegated to autumn garden duties, because they look tatty now.

 

[Oldhippy]

Just regular clothes I always wear, not a hobby or a sport just great daily transport and leisure.

 

[Webbo2]

I guess there are folk who are cyclists, there are racing types, there are people who ride bikes and those who it is just transport.
So different clothes for different games.

 

[Oldhippy]

A lifelong joy of riding a bicycle.

 

[Jenkins]

You can't get Ronhhill Bikesters any more. At least you couldn't last time I looked. They seem to have gone the same way as the lamented Altura Winter Cruisers.

It's a conspiracy by Big Tights I tell ta.

For winter I replaced my last pair of Winter Cruisers with Ronhhill Trackers. I wear clip-on braces with them.

I have one last pair still in the packaging purchased well over 5 years ago which I saved for when my other pairs wore out/fell apart. Looks like they'll be pressed into service this winter along with a couple of pairs of Tracksters.

 

[Alex321]

Lycra shorts and an ordinary white T shirt for me if it's hot. Anything more is just too hot.

I sweat too much for a cotton T shirt to be good enough. Lycra wicks the sweat away, cotton just holds it.

As it gets cooler I wear ordinary fleece jumpers, jackets, cagoules, and as many pairs of Bikesters as it takes over the top of them.

I will add arm warmers when the temperature is below about 11C, and switch to a long sleeved (and thicker) jersey and add leg warmers when the temperature gets down to about 7C. I'll add base layer under my jersey if it gets down to around zero.

I just don't feel the cold as much as a lot of people do.

If they're practical and convenient I'm not bothered what they look like.

Absolutely. I just happen to find Lycra the most comfortable thing to cycle in.

 

[raleighnut]

On a bike I wear shorts/winter cruisers* but they don't seem to work on the trike


* I got fed up of wearing out the bum of jeans just as they got nice

 

[ktmbiker58]

I've been cycling most of my 67 years, I did go through a lycra period but I am not a fan of padded shorts - sweaty and not exactly hygienic (especially if touring) - I turned conventional thinking on it's head and made sure my bikes have comfy saddles so no need for padded shorts.

I've spent a fortune over the years on technical clothing to keep cool and found the answer is simply wear a thin man made fibre T shirt, I buy Airism products for summer base layers. I just don't go fast enough for skin tight aero clothing to be a consideration - GCN did a test of lycra versus baggy clothing, spoiler alert: for anyone who isn't racing there was no measurable performance difference.

The only thing that matters is do what makes you comfortable, mentally as much as physically. Some folks want to conform to a certain look to be part of group, others (me included) are comfortable doing their own thing, I like to indulge my inner anarchist

One last point, I don't know if anyone else has found this but I do have the impression that during my lycra phase (when I was also riding a very racey looking Canyon) I received more abuse from motorists than I do now that I look like an old fart wobbling to the shops on a touring steed. Mind you it could of been that I was riding like a dick on the Canyon

Bottom line - wear what you like and get out and ride on whatever bike, trike, recumbent, home made contrivance makes you smile.