Are you a MAMIL or whatever the lady version is?

[katiewlx]

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.

well it was a marketing term originally I think, some market research firm found there was this group of middle age men, in the top social grades, with a decent income, who were spending alot of their spare money on expensive bikes & cycling stuff (as opposed to buying Italian sportscars, motorbikes or golfing) the lycra bit wasnt even really that big a part of it though inevitably they were kitting themselves out in early years Rapha I guess, back to the got a decent income and spending money on expensive things.

but then we had the London Olympics, the boom in cycling, and the tabloids sort of twisted it into this term to what they called "the weekend warriors" to begin with, as the rise of sport cycling (as opposed to purely utility cycling) took off at the weekends especially, and then just anyone on a bike in anything that remotely looked like sporty cycling kit. thesedays it gets used as a perjorative often to body shame people, often just to out group them as different.

really as long as the people riding the bikes are happy wearing whatever they choose, then really it doesnt matter what anyone else thinks of them.

 

[lazybloke]

Sports clothes seems very appropriate for exercise, so if I'm cycling for exercise (ie putting some effort in), then lycra it is.
If I'm doing a slower ride to the dental appt, hospital appt, the shops, the station, etc, then I might be dressed like a "normal person" <shudder>.

Always used MAMIL to refer to Middle-aged men or maidens in lycra.
Anyone younger than middle-aged simply doesn't exist. Pipsqueaks.
Anyone older, they deserve lots of respect.

 

[Punkawallah]

Ride a recumbent, don’t wear cycle kit.

You and your laid back attitude. . .

 

[T4tomo]

Yet to be convinced there is anything comfier than bib shorts for cycling in, so yes full mamil here. Not sure what age is the cut off from mamil to omil though?😉

 

[mustang1]

Here's one:
MAJAD
Middle Aged Journalist At Daily fail.

 

[Vantage]

GOFOAB
Grumpy old fart on a bike sums me up.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Cycle-Riding Aged Person

 

[Gwylan]

MOGIC, Miserable old git in clothes.
Depends.
Seems a bit of a pose going out in fancy branded lycra on an ebike.

Longer distances then discrete black padded pants.
Find cycling tops with the back pockets very practical But they are also unbranded.
All usually German shop specials.

From an earlier cycling existence I do have a set of denim styled bib pants branded Carrera. Very stylish 40 years ago.

 

[VinSumRox]

We are both OPIL (Older People in Lycra) but one of us looks better in it than the other 😄

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

well they tried to just make it MAWIL, but that seemed a bit low effort.

I always preferred WILMA (woman in lycra middle aged), or OWL (older woman in lycra) there are others like WOCAIL (women of certain age in lycra) but none have ever quite captured the same attention as MAMIL has done.

WILMA would be quite a good name for a women's specific cycling clothing range.

 

[ianrauk]

Mamil and proud and don't give a fig what other people think. Though as I'm fast approaching my 60th I guess I'm now a OGIL

 

[numbnuts]

Clothes are for ninny

 

[Ian H]

The 'baggies over cycling shorts' thing just looks silly to me.

 

[Toshiba Boy]

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.

My understanding too.

On basis I'm about to turn 61, still wear lycra etc., as I have since my late teens, and still 32 inch waist and about half a stone heavier than at 18, I wear the clothing best suited to my main means of getting around and keeping fit.