What's the obsession middle aged lads have with cycling?

shakeitoff · 23-07-2018 12:00PM #1

Every weekend, they swarm around, what is it about cycling that brings them in? Why aren't they playing weekend footie or mountain biking?

23-07-2018 12:00PM

shakeitoff wrote: »

Every weekend, they swarm around, what is it about cycling that brings them in? Why aren't they playing weekend footie or mountain biking?

joints man

joints

Vegeta · 23-07-2018 12:04PM

You can cover a good distance with relatively less effort than other forms of exercise. Get to see a bit of the countryside while exercising. I can see the appeal to that, but I'm not a cyclist so could be talking out my hoop.

Giraffe Box · 23-07-2018 12:05PM

They should be in a public house enjoying a pint pot playing 'Rings' or 'Dominoes'.....and don't call me Grandad!:)

nelly17 · 23-07-2018 12:07PM

Stay Fit/loose weight, beats cutting the grass or putting up shelves gets you out in the fresh air and its easy on the auld joints

shakeitoff · 23-07-2018 12:08PM

Vegeta wrote: »

You can cover a good distance with relatively less effort than other forms of exercise. Get to see a bit of the countryside while exercising. I can see the appeal to that, but I'm not a cyclist so could be talking out my hoop.

Explains why a lot of them are tubby. They probably do the cycle and then eat/drink so much. Probably doesn't burn that many calories.

Wildly Boaring · 23-07-2018 12:10PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

joints man

joints

Exactly. The knees, hips and ankles can't take running no more.

Cycling v accessible. Need to drive to a pool to swim. Just hop on bike for hour or two.

shakeitoff · 23-07-2018 12:10PM

TBF it's not a bad thing, but a lot of them have the most smug annoying faces. The whole get up is quite cringeworthy it must be said, zero chance of them doing it in football shorts and a t-shirt, has to be the most expensive equipment, reminds me of every middle aged tennis club player ever, shows up in all white with the best equipment and loses in straight sets to the guy with the 20 year old racket.

troyzer · 23-07-2018 12:11PM

It has its own acronym: MAMIL or Middle-Aged-Men-In-Lycra.

Alanstrainor · 23-07-2018 12:11PM

Deleted User wrote: »

joints man

joints

Yup. Low impact exercise, easily accessible to anyone and it's good fun.

jester77 · 23-07-2018 12:15PM

Deleted User wrote: »

joints man

joints

I only ever get the munchies, never had the urge to hop on a bike

23-07-2018 12:16PM

shakeitoff wrote: »

TBF it's not a bad thing, but a lot of them have the most smug annoying faces. The whole get up is quite cringeworthy it must be said, zero chance of them doing it in football shorts and a t-shirt, has to be the most expensive equipment, reminds me of every middle aged tennis club player ever, shows up in all white with the best equipment and loses in straight sets to the guy with the 20 year old racket.

cycling for four hours in football shorts?

ouch :eek:

whisky_galore · 23-07-2018 12:23PM

Only use a bike to get from A to B, you know, like what normal people used do before they had cars. Not busting my balls doing a ring of Kerry or whatever.

mloc123 · 23-07-2018 12:25PM

Aegir wrote: »

cycling for four hours in football shorts?

ouch :eek:

Indeed... spend 3-4 hours cycling in football shorts and report back on the state of your balls.

PlaneSpeeking · 23-07-2018 12:27PM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Yup. Low impact exercise, easily accessible to anyone and it's good fun.

Not when they're hurtling towards you on the LUAS platform it's not!!!

Bandana boy · 23-07-2018 12:27PM

they don't like their kids and or wife

McTigs · 23-07-2018 12:29PM

I am one of these.

Cycling gives me everything as a hobby.... Keeps me in good shape, gets me out of the house, de-stresses me and provides headspace like nothing else I have ever tried, provides that pain/endorphin kick back on a hilly ride, gives me something mechanical to tinker with..... and there is nothing, NOTHING like flying down the side of a hill at over 60k, sheer unadulterated kid-like joy!

23-07-2018 12:29PM

Bandana boy wrote: »

they don't like their kids and or wife

whereas middle aged men who spend all weekend in the pub or on the golf course do?

barney shamrock · 23-07-2018 12:33PM

Road tax!
Lycra!
Tour de France wannabes cycling 3 abreast!
Etc, etc

shakeitoff · 23-07-2018 12:33PM

McTigs wrote: »

I am one of these.

Cycling gives me everything as a hobby.... Keeps me in good shape, gets me out of the house, de-stresses me and provides headspace like nothing else I have ever tried, provides that pain/endorphin kick back on a hilly ride, gives me something mechanical to tinker with..... and there is nothing, NOTHING like flying down the side of a hill at over 60k, sheer unadulterated kid-like joy!

Awesome

Bandana boy · 23-07-2018 12:47PM

Aegir wrote: »

whereas middle aged men who spend all weekend in the pub or on the golf course do?

No they don't like their kids and or wife either !

Cee-Jay-Cee · 23-07-2018 01:06PM

shakeitoff wrote: »

TBF it's not a bad thing, but a lot of them have the most smug annoying faces. The whole get up is quite cringeworthy it must be said, zero chance of them doing it in football shorts and a t-shirt, has to be the most expensive equipment, reminds me of every middle aged tennis club player ever, shows up in all white with the best equipment and loses in straight sets to the guy with the 20 year old racket.

I'm also one of these...started back cycling when I was 40, in my late 40's now, I'm fitter and healthier than I ever was in my life. Yes its expensive (I've now got 4 bikes and every one of them fills a different need) and I have spent a considerable amount of money on gear, equipment etc but like I said, I'm fitter and healthier than I have ever been and to be honest I'd rather be me than someone like you who hasn't a clue and critical of something you have never done/experience.

I'd challenge you to cycle for 4 hours in a pair of football shorts and runners...see how you get on. :rollseyes:

mikemac2 · 23-07-2018 01:10PM

You could have put golf in the title OP and gotten the same thread

23-07-2018 01:12PM

mikemac2 wrote: »

You could have put golf in the title OP and gotten the same thread

No, for some reason, every mention of golf does not end up on the same drooling Pavlovian response of bloodycyclistsmamilsredlightsroadtaxJoe that cyclists get.

Boom_Bap · 23-07-2018 01:27PM

I do a good bit of cycling now, I love it. Great form of exercise and you get to see stuff and it's something anyone with any level of fitness can enjoy.
I've tried to incorporate it into daily life, like instead of jumping into the car to run an errand, I'd hop on the bike and do it.

Badly Drunk Boy · 23-07-2018 01:30PM

whisky_galore wrote: »

Only use a bike to get from A to B, you know, like what normal people used do before they had cars. Not busting my balls doing a ring of Kerry or whatever.

Same here. I'm 45 and got my bike 7 years ago through the Bike-to-work scheme (although I previously had one in my 20s). I use it for going to work mainly, and for going shopping since I don't drive. The very odd time I go further afield.

I've never worn lycra, though. I just wear black jeans, black shirt and black steel toecap boots. It's my lo-vis look. :pac: A friend of mine started cycling in his 40s but he has all the gear, and joined a cycling club straight away. I hate cycling with anybody else...

PandaPoo · 23-07-2018 01:31PM

There's a loveky cafe in eniskerry that we go to every second weekend or so. We try get there early because around 11 or 12 a swarm of cyclists come in. Their bikes block the path and the exit, they stomp in with their noisy clompy shoes, take up the whole restaurant and outside. It's really annoying.

Rory28 · 23-07-2018 01:34PM

Aegir wrote: »

whereas middle aged men who spend all weekend in the pub or on the golf course do?

I think we can all agree that kids are just terrible.

m5ex9oqjawdg2i · 23-07-2018 01:35PM

To call it an obsession is a bit of a stretch. It's a hobby just like any other, but, as it takes place in a public place, you are more exposed to it.

Cycling is fantastic for keeping you fit, really great for building leg muscles.

Alun · 23-07-2018 01:37PM

PandaPoo wrote: »

Their bikes block the path and the exit, they stomp in with their noisy clompy shoes, take up the whole restaurant and outside.

It's always amusing seeing them trying to walk in those shoes when it's wet, falling on their arses

Effects · 23-07-2018 01:38PM

mloc123 wrote: »

Indeed... spend 3-4 hours cycling in football shorts and report back on the state of your balls.

How do cycling shorts protect your balls?

What's the obsession middle aged lads have with cycling?

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