Ageing Mamil's bodies

I bought my first bike at 40 ( a hybrid) then my first road bike three months ago (at nearly 42). I am fat and told myself I'd never wear lycra, but now have tights and the tops and try not to give a stuff what other people think. I am rubbish - can barely get up anything, can only afford to buy the cheapest stuff (Sports Direct rather than Rapha), could only get the bike (Giant Defy 5) thanks to Cycle to Work saving me 40%.

But I love it. It keeps me fit and there is nothing like the feeling of being on quiet country roads on a summer's morning whizzing along at a thousand miles an hour (OK, OK - 16 mph).

So I couldn't care less what people say. Mamil & proud, say I.

I skipped the MAMIL stage, coming in as an OMIL. I watched my son and son-in-law complete the 2011 Stoke Tour Ride, thought it looked like fun and bought myself a bike as a 64th birthday present.

I then did the 2012 Tour Ride but didn't enjoy it, my first and only sportive.

I enjoy pootling around the countryside going "hello clouds, hello sky", but next year I'm planning to enter the Eroica Britannia and ride the Manchester 100 miler to raise money for a fund set up to raise money for research in memory of the teenage son of a family friend who died this year.

As for the physical effects, I've lost over 2 stones and a beer gut, reduced my blood pressure sufficiently to come off medication, 'cured' a knee condition that was preventing me from walking more than 15 minutes without severe pain and now have a RHR in the mid 50s.

MAMIL is a badge non-cyclists and generally unfit people give to those of us who care about our health and fitness enough to do something about it.

I'm 42 now, been cycling regularly (on and off, admittedly) since I was about 17. I've always loved it, it's like low altitude flying. The only thing that will ever get me off a bike is if a doctor tells me that the next hill will kill me. And even then, I wonder if I wouldn't rather just die doing something I love.

So let people call me a MAMIL. At least I'm not drinking my wages away, or smoking my lungs dry, or clogging my arteries with rubbish.

Since moving to New Zealand, I've been astounded at the difference the climate here makes to people....with regard to weather and attitudes. I am 38, took up riding and triathlon properly (up to 70.3 at this point) at 33, and although I'm an ex serving military officer, I've never been fitter. I regularly ride here with people who do the Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Enduro at varying levels - with some people in their late 60s and early 70s riding 200, 300, or even 800 miles non stop other than snatched 1.5-2 hour roadside naps.

If you used the word MAMIL here, you'd be met with a quizzical look in many places...because it's a typically negative UK sentiment. People just get on with it and enjoy it, regardless of age, size, or gender. It's a shame it can't be that way everywhere without sneering chimps chipping in their tuppence' worth.

Where does middle age stop and old age start???

Climbed back on the bike at 61, in an effort to get a bit of conditioning back following some serious surgery when my appendix went to the dark side and gave me septicemia. I remembered how it felt from my youth, decided the CX bike I bought wasn't my favorite and picked up a CAAD8, which was appropriated by my son, and now ride a SuperSix. In keeping with my over-estimation of my cycling prowess I challenged my son to the Paris Roubaix Challenge last April, this coming April (right after I turn 63) we have the Tour of Flanders, Paris-Roubaix (again) and for dessert the Etape Atlas. So at this age it does take longer to train up, and "up" ain't near what it used to be. Conditioning drops off faster and injuries heal slower and it takes longer to get back up to speed, but feeling better ALL the time, and with a resting pulse down from 90+ to 58 both me and my doctor (who is Irish (see profile for relevance)) everyone is much happier. I don't recall seeing MAMILs or for that matter OAPILs when I was growing up, but more power to all of us...

I 37 yo with one leg, busted and dislocated hips and carrying 4 stone too much.
started cycling post amputation, and have found the freedom I only remember from cycling like a kid. I commute now, ride sportives and have been gifted a Specialized Roubaix, which won't be ridden hard until the Spring. Hell yeah I wear Lycra, and I don't care who calls me what. when I get on my bike, I'm no longer the old boy riding, I'm the 10 yo burning the daylight!

I am almost 60 and have plenty of old injuries from my other sport (mountaineering). I have been cycling regularly for about 25 years. Just about the only time I see a doctor is when I end up in hospital with some injury. Not had any serious injuries from cycling (yet:). Like others say, it does take longer to recover as you get older.

I am hoping to do some long cycling trip next year to celebrate my 60th year. Possibly LEJOG, although it doesn't really interest me as a route. I have never cycled abroad, so maybe some Alpine passes and combine it with a climbing trip.

One problem is that my 16r old son is now faster than me, although he has been rowing and training regularly for a couple of years. However, it does give me an incentive to improve!

Started riding again last year at age of 43. Didn't bother getting checked out by doc - just self-checked my BP, blood glucose, and cholesterol. Getting on for 3 stone lost since then and almost 1000 miles on the bike, that figure will at least double in 2015 as I'll have a ten mile round-trip work commute. Aiming to get down to sub-99kgs. No injuries yet bar a sore right knee I sorted out with riding position change. And sadly yes, I'm a MAMIL - too much chafing in delicate areas from riding in standard clothes if you're a fat bloke

As far as the 'MAMIL' label is concerned. So what? People like to label everybody one way or another. As long as Lycra remains the most practical material for cycling clothing then I shall be wearing it.

I'm 77, rode a ten mile time trial this week, (cold and very wet) wore umpteen skins of lycra, I would be very pleased to be classed as MIDDLE AGED MAN IN LYCRA!

I'm 43 a fairly fit 43 I hope. Go to the gym. Like trail running. Like my Mountain bike etc, etc. Decided to buy a road bike on the work cyclescheme. So it makes me a mamil. Is that really a " bad thing " are all you serious cyclists going to look down at your nose at me when you realise. Or am I better to keep my misdemeanour secret for fear of ridicule? It really gets my goat. What if it's the new golf. Who gives a fig anyway. Do what you like and enjoy it whatever your age. Plus you will heal eventually whatever your age. Just go out and don't take yourself so seriously

27 year old checking in - took up road cycling to get over a badly broken wrist (football) at the tail end of last year and haven't looked back.

Only had one handlebar moment this year, can imagine if I was double my age then I wouldn't have just bounced!

I broke a finger in the summer, but that was the fault of the idiot who doored me, and I imagine that would have had the same outcome regardless.

Having been riding a road set up for about 6 months and aged 23, I'm looking forward to being older, wiser and faster. The bruise on my hip from slipping on ice outside the Arsenal stadium was my fault, not my birthday's!

I am 42 been riding properly now for 12 years and frankly if I crash just heal and get back on.

Age is purely a mental thing and I would rather cycle than anything else and get my RHR below 60 (currently 64 or so )

Quote:

I though it was meant as a dig at people getting into biking later in life

I don't think it reflects the age at which you start cycling, just the age you are. I'm 50 (young or old, I don't care), I've been cycling since my teens, but I'm still a MAMIL.

Whatever, you get to an age when what others think doesn't matter one jot.

It's rather nice.

I'm only 35 and started riding this year, I was getting better and was getting the miles in.

The pain isn't my fault it's from being hit by a car not sure how I will recover. I've attached photo shows the resulting metal work I've had to had put in my spine.

I will be back on a bike soon, and better than before.

Im 37 and been riding roadbikes for 5 years now, been a bmx'er for over 20 years (here's to another 20 more!)

tbh falling off dosent bother me (happens quite often on the bmx) which helps you to learn how to fall/deal with coming off

wearing lycra actually bothers me more lol

Im 32 and only back on the bike properly since April this year although i used to do cross country MTBing as a teen. I recently started the thread about a slipped disk. My guess is my injury is from years of not doing much exercise after leaving the forces and my body still isn't used to it.

After the Fabrice Muamba incident I got checked out by a doctor (I'm 49 and ride TTs competitively - I probably try too hard!).

The Dr's verdict upon giving me a clean bill of health? "More people die from not exercising than from exercising."