If you don't already know, this acronym has nothing to do with overweight mammals but with Middle Age Men in Lycra. Seems in the West, this trend of men in their mid-life crisis years instead of getting that red Porsche convertible, swipe their Platinum Visas for the latest Pinarello Dogma and expensive lycra suits.
The BBC ran an article a few months back about MAMIL here.
In Singapore, we do see them early on Saturday and Sunday mornings, hitting the Thomson/Mandai route in wolf packs and its quite common here in Perth as well. My take is that so long as people, young and not so young, are discovering or rediscovering the joy of being on a saddle, this must be encouraged and affirmed. Cycling is for everyone but the focus must be fixed on the pleasure of the cycling experience rather than it becoming a one up-manship game on who has the newest and the lightest.
Speaking on behalf of the folding world, I guess we are not as hung up on maintaining that "sporty and cool image." By opting to ride a "circus" bike that sometimes make kids laugh, we already are comfortable with our rock solid self-esteem. But please marketeers, do not call us MAMOF - Middle Age Men on Foldies...
3 comments:
Excellent article brother Al! I am also a man of lycra...with a belly and riding a "joker" bike. Makes it even worse right haha.. just ride, eat and enjoy the company!
Indeed TW, cant agree with you more. I also like to add that since we are such eccentric cyclists, its not too far a stretch to say we are on top of the human powered chain, or in some eyes, the lowest. But who cares? Lets stop talking and start riding!
Think it is more like MOBIL - Male Obese Blop in Lycra. Did'nt think that they made cycling outfits that size! Guess he'll definitely need more than a dedicated cycling lane for cars to avoid him regardless of whether he is on a foldie or not.
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