The real reason middle-aged men in Lycra dominate cycling (it’s not a mid-life crisis)

The British cycling boom of the last decade

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has brought a new creature onto the UK’s roads. They can be spotted in both town and country but they’re most commonly seen on a weekend, travelling in groups and easily recognisable from their bright colours.

These middle-aged men in Lycra or “Mamils” might have been so-named by a marketing firm, but statistics from British Cycling confirm they really do dominate the sport’s amateur practitioners. With a penchant for expensive equipment and figure-hugging garb, they’ve also become the butt of many jokes.

Yet this cycling obsession isn’t just a modern mid-life crisis. Our new research has found that Mamils aren’t cycling primarily to relive their youth or prove they can still compete against other men. Instead, their motivations are much more complex, tied to the desire for good mental as well as physical health and fuelled by technology.

https://theconversation.com/the-real-reason-middle-aged-men-in-lycra-dominate-cycling-its-not-a-mid-life-crisis-82167