Updated: Sir Chris Hoy apologises for comments about MAMILs

In some ways Hoy is as far from a normal cyclist as things get really. Look at what he actually did and it's so pidgeonholed it's ludicrous. It's a bit like someone who goes drag racing laughing at the guy that buys a fast car and does the odd track day. It's ferkin drag racing mate! You shouldn't be laughing at anyone. (Sorry just not much of a fan of short range track stuff, it's all a bit greyhounds)

Laughing at the people you're supposed to inspire. What a life eh?

So, now it's cool to body-shame men in the name of "style"?

I can just imagine some poor out-of-shape bloke deciding to do something about it and buying a nice new racing bike. They go out and about on it and really enjoy themselves and get a bit fitter at the same time. Then, along comes Chris Hoy and pokes fun at them and makes them feel ridiculous for thinking that they could every aspire to being more athletic.

Thanks Chris, great job you're doing there.

“Never wear an aerodynamic helmet,” he cautioned. “Unless you are taking part in a time trial at the Olympics or one of the grand tours, don't do it.”

What a Dick to make comments like this...

I wear a Casco SpeedAiro helmet for several very good reasons;

1. It is extremely strong and safe.

2. It has an integrated visor which give the rider a brillient view of the road ahead plus great visability from the side for excellent overall vison, unlike a lot of cycling glasses.

3. It has a number of vents above the visor so your head can get very good air circulation, plus these vents have fine mesh grills behind them so it keeps all the flies and insects off of your head.

Aldi, Decathlon and Halfords provide perfectly utilitarian cycling jerseys and for a long time, that's what I wore. A few years ago though, I bought a couple of Rapha jerseys in the sale - they're just miles head in terms of comfort and practical use. For a leisurely tour of Holland/Belgium with my wife, I wore the Rapha tops with pretty minimal amount of washing - barely a whiff*. I probably presented the exact opposite image to the one Rapha wants to nurture - said jersey was matched with either baggy MTB shorts and mitts from Aldi and I was riding a CDF with (shock, horror) flat bars.

*Jersey didn't smell much to me, but people around me might have said otherwise

There is just so much of Hoy's interview that reeks of snobbery but I'm bemused at the whole “Another common mistake is buying the most expensive cycling gear just because it is perceived as fashionable or cool,” comment. I'm sure most of us have tried a piece of kit in varying price ranges but to brand all 'expensive kit' as a common mistake, really? I have to hold my hands up and say I did avoid that well-known brand Rapha for a long time, the perception being I'd look like a tool and would need to either loose a few stone or grow a beard (preferably both) to be taken seriously in it and when I say being taken seriously, I merely mean not getting ribbed by my club mates. However, having recently succumb to the urge to find out if it's actually any good I purchased a Brevet jersey. Holy Hell, I can't even begin to tell you how good it is. Yeah, so kit maybe more expensive, Gabba? Often there are very good reasons behind the additional price and like many on this thread have already pointed out, it serves a very essential function. 

Or maybe Chris Hoy just wants us all wearing baggy shorts and a t-shirt? 

GQ magazine is the place for pretentious bullshit opinions like Hoy's, and that is where this drivel should stay. Chris Hoy was a great athlete, he is now just another overpaid celebrity who thinks he's an authority on everything.

If you read Hoy's GQ article, it's actually light-hearted and pretty inoffensive. I've no problem with it at all. It's the Daily Hate that spun it into a dig at cyclists in general. 

Dress how you want. I for one won't be judging you.

Grayson Perry, a personal hero of mine, but I wouldn't suggest riding a bike in this getup.

I'll be charitable and say Sir Chris has evidently been badly let down by his PR flunkeys. Likely he needs to big up the new capsule range with Vulpine or get some profile so his agent can get him on Celebrity Brick-Laying Challenge Squad. 

Given this country has major problems with obesity, inactivity and an unending love affair with motorised traffic,  I'm delighted if people wear bin bags/speedos/Bill & Ben outfits if it gets them on a bike.

way to go chris, all those MAMILs who might have bought one of you your kids bikes for their kids. no idea if he actually owns the bike company. lets see what that does for the sales figures on those bikes

Does anyone remember the old days when you could have a laugh and everyone wasn't so busy being offended?

I've only got one piece of Hoy kit, a pair of socks. Now going to be consigned to to the bin.

Oh no, I cycled to work this morning wearing a football top and lycra shotrs. Damned on both counts.

I read the article in question through for a second time, and took it the same way as I did the first; Sir Chris taking the piss out of a social group of which he is clearly a member. Let's not take ourselves quite so seriously, hmmm?

Man states a fact and gets shot down for it?  Yawn.

Fair play to him for apologising, he sounds aghast at how it reads.

Big boned sprinters; not well known for being humble. More "Get to fuck out of the way, I'm coming through!'. Aye.

He's right about white shorts but so wrong about Team Sky gear. Who seriously aspires to wear it and how often do you seen it worn for all the Wiggins Froome success? Surely there's an article to be written about why people don't actually wear Team Sky and why Rapha baled out. 

Can't be bothered to wade through all the comments so apologies if someone already picked up on this  but, isn't it a bit like those wannabe F1 drivers that wear all the kit and look like knobheads. 

Well, you wouldn't go running in flip flops, or swim in a shirt and tie, or wear a speedo to work*. I wear lycra because it's designed for riding in, and I don't give a **** what I look like or what other people think.  

* - Unless you're a lifeguard...

Banter surely.  Print isn't the best medium for it, admittedly.  But he's right about the white shorts ... Wear what you like - just cycle.

I'm guessing this is a monumental PR cock up and crap press reporting, again. The larger riders already (possibly) feel self conscious but I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. Personally, don't give a cock what anyone looks like. Entirely up to them.

Tight clothing does not look flattering on fat men, just like tight clothing really doesn't look flattering on fat women (especially yoga pants).

Muscly men can get away with more but still look stupid if they have much obvious fat, and side profile can be a killer if obviously fat as I am!

Cycling alone will probably not be enough to regain a healthy weight if mainly aerobic, so it is probably better for men to pay for better food (less carbs!), and frequent a male only gym with serious weights or buy your own (like I have), than on loud lycra clothing which will only make you look more of a whale!

One of the many great things about cycling is that it is so inclusive: young, old, fat or thin, fit or unfit there is a bike for you and other people on bicycles pleased to see you out and about. I'm really quite ticked off that Chris Hoy has given ammunition to the anti cycling lobby to effectively fat shame people who's only crime would appear to be overweight whilst doing something about it but wearing lycra.

If even one cyclist looks in the mirror this week and then decides not to go out because they feel stupid or ugly or fear ridicule due to Chris's unconsidered words then he should be ashamed.

I'd rather listen to Laura Kenny, now that's saying something!

8st is less than Christian Bale weighed in The Machinist. For a 6ft man I would be dying if I only weighed 8st, I haven't been that weight since I was about 13, and neither has Hoy. I suspect he might not have been being too serious. But people do like to get their bibknickers in a twist.

As for reverse snobbery, you don't have to read too far into most comments pages about Rapha clothing (and Hoy/Vulpine, Millar, etc.) before you come across someone looking down their nose at you. Most people I know are not wealthy and work hard, so buying 'nice things' is a pleasure that most people can afford after a while. And quality kit doesn't go down the boghole like a dine-in-for-two meal at M&S.

Just go and ride a sportive just see what variety of clothes people are wearing (it is one of the few things to do, staring at butts; Castelli seems to be the nations favourite, and it ain't at the cheap end. )

I got a mountain bike when I was a 19 year old student. Then I was a 20 something in lycra, then a 30 something in lycra, now I am... No one said I only had 15 year to wear lycra. I still have an ONCE jersey I bought in 1999 [jeez, my Abus D-lock must be 18 years old, too.] 8 bikes later I am not stopping now.

Nice one Chris, http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-41081756

It seems like he only opens his mouth to change feet.

Only bitch men actually give a shit what anyone else thinks

I live in France and watching the the local clubs go by is great, you have pot bellied 70 year olds, 14 year old racing snakes, blokes and ladies and all wearing club and team lycra in all shapes and sizes and they dont give a shit cos there having FUN the real reason for cycling.!