Mamils... Be sensible

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Neil Wheadon — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 11:26:48 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]But if they were anything like real cyclists they would recognise, even though you're in civvies, that you're the real deal by your cadence, style and position on the bike.[/quote]

Top tip, check the gastrocnemius muscles (I do this to assess anyone on a trip)

If they have 2 bellies to the muscle, take care as they are probably quite useful

The longer the achilles tendon and smaller the muscle then the fitter they are!!

Mine are definitely looking good at the moment, so watch out lycra boy, the flowery shorts are out to get you (helped by a PCV that would make Marco Pantani blush )

Neil

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Martin Atkinson — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 10:40:28 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]

Boy does it annoy some lycra clad cyclists when you are dressed 'normally'

They often steam past me, say nothing, then I reel them in again after a few 500 metres and say a cheery 'Hello' as I pass.

If I'm feeling particularly mean, I just hang back 10 metres behind as they gradually go redder and redder as they are desperate not to be overtaken again.

[/quote]I play this trick most mornings as I commute to work in trousers and carrying a heavy backpack. Great fun :-). But if they were anything like real cyclists they would recognise, even though you're in civvies, that you're the real deal by your cadence, style and position on the bike. Mind you perhaps not if you habitually ride a bike with flat bars. [:-)

As an addition to this thread: have you seen that Chris Boardman has now said how he won't ride on the road anymore because its too dangerous? Sadly this may be influenced somewhat by the death of his mother last year in a cycling accident but for someone whose public agenda is to get more people on bikes, its either another own goal or hypocritical - take your pick.

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Rob Loxley — Fri, 01 Sep 2017 00:04:34 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Go to the continent and nearly everyone is wearing normal clothes.[/quote]

Come to Cambridge, where 29% of working residents cycle-commute and 39% of adult cycle at least 3 times a week [http://www.cyclinguk.org/resources/cycling-uk-cycling-statistics], nearly everyone in normal clothes.

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Clare Tapsfield-Wright — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:42:56 GMT

I have no problem with MAMILs with their funny shoes tapdancing around though they can be a bit in your face if you know what I mean . %

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 19:21:09 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"]want to go fast and be as comfortable on the bike as possible - khaki shorts and baggy T shirt don't cut it for that agenda![/quote]

Boy does it annoy some lycra clad cyclists when you are dressed 'normally'

They often steam past me, say nothing, then I reel them in again after a few 500 metres and say a cheery 'Hello' as I pass.

If I'm feeling particularly mean, I just hang back 10 metres behind as they gradually go redder and redder as they are desperate not to be overtaken again.

Neil

PS It's a fair point you make, and in Europe infrastructure helps enormously.

Check this out, we were building paths before the Dutch

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/carltonreid/lets-rescue-britains-forgotten-1930s-protected-cyc

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 18:22:20 GMT

[quote user="Neil Wheadon"]Go to the continent and nearly everyone is wearing normal clothes.[/quote]Be honest that's only partly true Neil and it's because many more people cycle for transport. I wear normal clothes commuting or going to the shops. But if you discount that and look at 'cyclists' as opposed to people 'just riding bikes' then they are even more gear conscious than here. When I ride for leisure even on short tours, I ride a racing bike, don't stop, want to go fast and be as comfortable on the bike as possible - khaki shorts and baggy T shirt don't cut it for that agenda! I do confess when I used to do leisurely 2-3 week camping tours in years gone by that is how I dressed but that was partly because I couldn't afford proper cycling clothes and lycra was barely invented!

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Neil Wheadon — Thu, 31 Aug 2017 16:54:09 GMT

In my opinion, it's an issue. Go to the continent and nearly everyone is wearing normal clothes. In the UK the perception is that you need to wear Lycra to be part of the 'tribe' It is a contributing factor to the lack of appeal for cycling in this country and yes I agree with Chris, it looks OK on racing snakes but normal cyclists??

Signed

A dedicated, non lycra wearer on the Manali-Leh road last week

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:07:11 GMT

[quote user="Sarah McGurk"]Don't most people wear it because it's comfortable and practical? Judgy people should look the other way if they're so bothered.[/quote]Precisely. I feel there is large element of envy that they are not fit enough themselves to even contemplate riding a bike seriously let alone worry about what they may look like.

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

David Mills — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 18:02:06 GMT

Despite being my imminent father in law, the thought of Atko in baggy lycra around his % should rightfully make humanity shudder.

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Sarah McGurk — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 17:41:01 GMT

Don't most people wear it because it's comfortable and practical? Judgy people should look the other way if they're so bothered.

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 10:24:40 GMT

[quote user="David Mills"]

Atkinson especially take note

[/quote]I'm way past being a MAMIL, I'm an OMIL and I don't weigh a great deal more than 8st!

[quote user="Robin Grimmer"]Disappointed with sir Chris Hoy over this one. And he weighs considerably more than 8 st! [/quote]It is all muscle but so out of proportion that he looks odd. And looking at his parents I hope he doesn't stop exercising or he'll make even the most bulging MAMIL look positively svelt.

Regardless he has now apologised and retracted much of his previous statement, maybe he realised he's had a Gerald Ratner moment as he has lycra clothing produced under his name.

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Iain Richards — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:37:21 GMT

I prefer Alexi Sayle's "puffin" as a perjorative

RE: Mamils... Be sensible

Robin Grimmer — Wed, 30 Aug 2017 09:12:27 GMT

Disappointed with sir Chris Hoy over this one. And he weighs considerably more than 8 st! When inactivity and lack of exercise is a leading cause of illness and premature death in this country, cycling should be encouraged not ridiculed.