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Are you a Mamil?

by Gkam84
Mon, Sep 10, 2012 21:00
22

Just been reading the BBC's latest incite into cycling....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-10965608

Quote:

Given the number of men aged 35-44 who are buying fancy-pants road racing machines, is this a 21st Century mid-life crisis? Has the silence of skinny tyres and carbon fibre framesets replaced the thunderous noise of motorbikes?

I'm only 28.....So I can relax 19

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22 comments

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giff77 | 12 years ago
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Oi stumps leave us shorter uns alone mate. Caav's a gigantor when I'm stood next to him.

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Simon E | 12 years ago
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I think real munchkins might find that comment offensive, stumps

3

At 5'6" he's two inches taller than me but hardly something to brag about.

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Stumps | 12 years ago
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Cav isnt very tall but he still stands taller than Sugar, the man must be a munchkin if those photos are anything to go by 7

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Gkam84 | 12 years ago
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Who's riding his PPP (Prized Pinarello Prince) in those photo's?

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Gkam84 | 12 years ago
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You sure it wasn't his treasured Pinarello Prince?

As shown here in the old kit

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2009/03/28/article-1165492-040A18BB000005...

The newer kit

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/16/article-0-0D71DC6600000578-342...

And with the socks in full stretch mode 3

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/08/16/article-0-0D71DC7600000578-414...

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Raleigh | 12 years ago
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I'd post it again but. I can't be bothered so I'll describe it to you:

Alan Sugar in complete garmin kit.
Helmet with a peak, and socks extended well beyond the furthest extent of varicose.
He stands abreast a pinarello Paris with super record and 404s.

Never.
Never.
Go there.

#5, htfu etc.

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Simon E replied to Raleigh | 12 years ago
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I think über-Mamil Alan Sugar's choice of clothing is entirely up to him, though I'd not wish to look the same. But then he surely doesn't give a s**t what we think (and surely wouldn't want to dress like you or me either).

More recently he was featured in Cycling Weekly riding with Mark Cavendish; that time he was wearing rather less garish Assos and riding a white Pinarello (photos here).

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Comrade | 12 years ago
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Spooky. This must have resurfaced somewhere, some one at work e-mailed me the same article this week! I did laugh as I'm 46...Simone the E and I are not twins yet I feel like I stole his identity!!! Sorry !

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Simon_MacMichael | 12 years ago
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Should point out the term MAMIL was coined by consumer research group Mintel (whose report is referenced in the BBC report) 3

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_Karlos_ | 12 years ago
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I'll treat this media borne descriptive genius with the contempt it deserves.
Makes me want to kill.

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Simon E | 12 years ago
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I'm 46 and wear lycra but my wife insists I'm not a Mamil. I think it's a compliment rather than an indication that I don't quite make the grade. I ride a cheap aluminium bike; my cycling drawer contains Aldi, not Assos or Rapha; and the only sportive I've entered was a road.cc scwhag grab. I took my two young kids and we rode the shortest loop at a leisurely pace.

A sports car used to be the classic mid-life crisis purchase. Perhaps nowadays a Dogma (with Zipps) on the roof of the X5 sends the same kind of message.

The spectacular growth in the number of Mamils has prompted the comment that "cycling is the new golf" (example). That sends a shiver down my spine!

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londonplayer | 12 years ago
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I'm 40, I wear lycra and also don't give a stuff. However, I have been cycling since 1975 so why should I stop now?

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Gkam84 replied to londonplayer | 12 years ago
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londonplayer wrote:

I'm 40, I wear lycra and also don't give a stuff. However, I have been cycling since 1975 so why should I stop now?

Were you wearing Lycra in 75 19

I've been going since 86. When I reach "middle" age, I'll invest in a wardrobe of new lyrca.....but it might be out of fashion by then with some super dooper new material 19

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Raleigh | 12 years ago
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I'm a big fat mamil.

1

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OldRidgeback | 12 years ago
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I'm 50 and wear lycra and don't have any saggy overhang. I've got the motorbike as well, but then I've had motorcycles continuously since I was in my 20s.

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RobeH | 12 years ago
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im 47 and i wear lycra and guess what i dont give a *uck what i look like 33

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ploughclose | 12 years ago
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This was a brilliant piece. I first started road biking aged 58 (I'm now 62) so I'm an OAMIL and very proud of it! 16 (I've also done Ventoux as per the article....) 4

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Stumps | 12 years ago
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I'm 45 now so i was a mamil back in 2010, but does that make me one now 39

Hope so cos i still love riding me bike 4

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James Warrener | 12 years ago
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http://road.cc/content/blog/46858-my-sunday-rogues

I blogged this on here a little while back (kind of)...

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notfastenough | 12 years ago
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Well I was about to admit to being a mamil, since I'm 36, BUT when that was published, I was only 34, so therefore I'm not a mamil!

Still, f*** it, at least the author was writing it having tried riding, (and enjoyed it).

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Gkam84 | 12 years ago
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Oh frug. I didn't even see that, It was under their "Most Popular" top 10 stories.....Why does it keep doing that to me. 19

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VecchioJo | 12 years ago
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"14 August 2010"

welcome to the internetz
1

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