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

Alun · 23-07-2018 01:40PM

Reyansh Silly Geek wrote: »

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

So are lots of other sports. There seems to be an attitude amongst the more serious cyclists that they're in a unique position, and that everybody else, especially car drivers that interrupt their enjoyment of the public roads is a beer swilling, snack eating lard arse. It may surprise them that many of those car drivers are on their way to partake in other outdoor sports that are just as good, if not better for them than cycling. Low bone density anyone?

Cordell · 23-07-2018 01:43PM

I'm a middle aged lad that occasionally partake in cycling, but have never ever had any inclination to those balls and micky revealing pants. Have some decency, ffs. And if you have to, wear something else over, you don't need to by that aerodynamic, those flaps don't really help at all.

Canis Lupus · 23-07-2018 01:47PM

Cordell wrote: »

I'm a middle aged lad that occasionally partake in cycling, but have never ever had any inclination to those balls and micky revealing pants. Have some decency, ffs. And if you have to, wear something else over, you don't need to by that aerodynamic, those flaps don't really help at all.

Why are you worrying about other mens crotchs?

Alanstrainor · 23-07-2018 01:47PM

Cordell wrote: »

I'm a middle aged lad that occasionally partake in cycling, but have never ever had any inclination to those balls and micky revealing pants. Have some decency, ffs. And if you have to, wear something else over, you don't need to by that aerodynamic, those flaps don't really help at all.

If your micky is showing through your cycling shorts then something is very wrong. It's not about being aero, it's about comfort and stopping chafing. And the shorts are padded. It just makes it way more comfortable.

Canis Lupus · 23-07-2018 01:50PM

Alun wrote: »

So are lots of other sports. There seems to be an attitude amongst the more serious cyclists that they're in a unique position, and that everybody else, especially car drivers that interrupt their enjoyment of the public roads is a beer swilling, snack eating lard arse. It may surprise them that many of those car drivers are on their way to partake in other outdoor sports that are just as good, if not better for them than cycling. Low bone density anyone?

Strange the attitude amongst the more serious drivers that cyclists are there to prevent their enjoyment of public roads...

Canis Lupus · 23-07-2018 01:51PM

Alanstrainor wrote: »

If your micky is showing through your cycling shorts then something is very wrong. It's not about being aero, it's about comfort and stopping chafing. And the shorts are padded. It just makes it way more comfortable.

plus when you wear shorts over the shorts you reduce wicking. Maybe he just likes sweaty balls?

Boom_Bap · 23-07-2018 01:51PM

Whoever invented the padded cycling shorts is a hero.

Cordell · 23-07-2018 01:51PM

If your micky is showing through your cycling shorts then something is very wrong.

Yes, probably they don't come in my size, but that's beside the point.

meeeeh · 23-07-2018 01:51PM

I don't mind lycra, I think it's functional and cycling is good fun. Especially in hot weather it's a lot cooler than other forms of exercise. But I do wonder is it a man thing that they first spend couple of grand on a bike when something between 500 to 1000 would be perfect for the amount of cycling they actually do.

tobdom · 23-07-2018 01:51PM

PandaPoo wrote: »

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.

Yea, you think the cafe owner would bar them in fairness, I'd say they hate to see them coming, spending money & the likes...... I'd say they wouldn't spend as much as a 'swarm' of drivers or a swarm of walkers (given that we're grouping people in such a fashion)

blackvalley · 23-07-2018 01:53PM

Cordell wrote: »

never ever had any inclination to those balls and micky revealing pants. Have some decency, ffs..

Personally I would be looking around at our fantastic countryside as I cycle and not as you say " the balls and mickys " of my fellow cyclists . Each to his own of course but if thats what turns you on then there are probably many adult only late night clubs that cater for your particular fancy

23-07-2018 01:55PM

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.

you mean get to see a bit of the countryside while causing 5km tailbacks :rolleyes:!!

work · 23-07-2018 01:56PM

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.

Cannot change peoples faces for you, perhaps its just the air in their faces, alters the look a little? Lots of people cycle in regular gear, you are talking complete muck.

Try cycling a long distance in a nice pair of tracksuit bottoms and then in cycling shorts you and your nether regions will be thankful.
It certainly doesn't have to be expensive....I have 1 bike, 5 years old, and cycle every day getting aprox 2 services a year.

Bike and gear cost €1,000 and services approx €40 each. As such if i ditched the bike tomorrow that would have cost about €300/year to cover my commute and weekly exercise (most anyway)....How ids that expensive.
Who are they competing against, just going for a cycle?

Canis Lupus · 23-07-2018 02:01PM

meeeeh wrote: »

I don't mind lycra, I think it's functional and cycling is good fun. Especially in hot weather it's a lot cooler than other forms of exercise. But I do wonder is it a man thing that they first spend couple of grand on a bike when something between 500 to 1000 would be perfect for the amount of cycling they actually do.

Probably? Who doesn't like bling I guess and when you're middle aged you're more likely to have to cash to spend and offset your belly weight with carbon

I just got back into cycling and spent like 200 on a 2nd hand alu bike with 105 running gear. No real need to spend any more than that imo.

23-07-2018 02:02PM

meeeeh wrote: »

I don't mind lycra, I think it's functional and cycling is good fun. Especially in hot weather it's a lot cooler than other forms of exercise. But I do wonder is it a man thing that they first spend couple of grand on a bike when something between 500 to 1000 would be perfect for the amount of cycling they actually do.

which is why we all drive Mitsubishi Colts I suppose :rolleyes:

23-07-2018 02:03PM

Canis Lupus wrote: »

I just got back into cycling and spent like 200 on a 2nd hand alu bike with 105 running gear. No real need to spend any more than that imo.

yes, but if you could buy that carbon bike with Di2 gears, you would :P

Jim Bob Scratcher · 23-07-2018 02:05PM

They have to ride something if they're not getting it at home.

Reati · 23-07-2018 02:06PM

The arse of hte young wan in front of you is what one lad in his fifties told me when I asked him.

23-07-2018 02:06PM

Reyansh Silly Geek wrote: »

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.

yeah but does nothing for the beer belly ...........or the back muscles.:P

Canis Lupus · 23-07-2018 02:07PM

Aegir wrote: »

yes, but if you could buy that carbon bike with Di2 gears, you would :P

lol, honestly? Alu and ultegra (cable) at most.... I find bikes to be a mostly functional thing... I splurge my almost middle aged money in other areas of my life

Alun · 23-07-2018 02:07PM

I've done a couple of cycling holidays on the continent, and am doing the same this year, 6 days of an average of 50-60km a day in perfectly normal clothes and had no problem at all in the nether regions. It was all on the flat mind you and on rental bikes with big soft gel saddles.

I used to live in the Netherlands and cycled a lot, both commuting and for leisure, as did everybody else, and they too almost universally managed to do so without looking like a travelling advertising hoarding for the Tour de France. It's perhaps relevant that the Cycling forum here falls under the Sports category rather than Commuting and Transport.

railer201 · 23-07-2018 02:11PM

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?

The middle classes were latecomers to cycling - that's what happened.

PandaPoo · 23-07-2018 02:14PM

tobdom wrote: »

Yea, you think the cafe owner would bar them in fairness, I'd say they hate to see them coming, spending money & the likes...... I'd say they wouldn't spend as much as a 'swarm' of drivers or a swarm of walkers (given that we're grouping people in such a fashion)

Exactly.

23-07-2018 02:19PM

[Deleted User] wrote: »

you mean get to see a bit of the countryside while causing 5km tailbacks :rolleyes:!!

Take an average car length of 2 metres, please tell us when you have seen 2,500 cars behind a group of cyclists?

OldMrBrennan83 · 23-07-2018 02:21PM

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Iwouldinmesack · 23-07-2018 02:22PM

troyzer wrote: »

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

Or WIL, W@nkers in Lycra

Boom_Bap · 23-07-2018 02:25PM

Patww79 wrote: »

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yeah cyclists, take it to the water will yiz

Canis Lupus · 23-07-2018 02:25PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Should we cycle on the roads to get to these designated areas or do you prefer more cars on the road?

Alun · 23-07-2018 02:26PM

downtheroad wrote: »

Take an average car length of 2 metres, please tell us when you have seen 2,500 cars behind a group of cyclists?

ROFLMAO, average car length of 2m? Is your name Noddy?

sham58107 · 23-07-2018 02:26PM

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.

Suppose the t- shirt would be a " county " jersey ? like you see on the golf course and the runners .

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

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