MAMISHTSC (Middle Aged Man in Stealth High-Tech Street Clothes) [pronounced Mamish-tsk]: MUSA Nylon shorts, wicking underwear from Ex Officio, wool tee-shirt or other wicking tee-shirt, wicking polo, or short sleeved seersucker shirt. Usually Keen sandals.

For the commute it's shorts & a polo/button shirt.

For long rides where speed & exercise is the primary focus, then yeah it's lycra all the way.

mtb underwear liners with cargo shorts and a vented short sleeve shirt
not that I care what spandex/lycra looks like on me
I just cant stand tight fitting clothes
I have two pairs of pearl izumi Pro shorts that I never wear unless nothing else is clean

OMIL here at 62, but only for training/group rides. I wear jeans for commuting.

I'm just a wee bit too young to be a MAMIL but I hope to be one some day ;)

The picture of fredness - middle aged, Primal jersey, helmet mirror, safety yellow jacket, Trapper John MD moustache and beard.

I'm N.O.R.M.A.L........Neurotic ORnery Male Against Lycra.....:)

At the moment I only meet one of the requirements for a MAMIL, so no.

I am all for Lycra regulation. It should be the sign of a 'pro' rider, or otherwise highly qualified rider, you know, a badge of honour you have to earn. Not for the common man or woman.

There is nothing normal about disdaining gear designed for your sport. It's like someone who climbs mountains in Tevas. Sure it can be done, but why?

Yeah, and HS football players shouldn't get to wear cleats, swimmers shouldn't wear speedos, and hockey players shouldn't wear big bulky sweaters. Gotta sign a pro contract for that. Ridiculous.

Lycra when I'm fighting crime, no capes.

Sure it isn't more of a body type privilege?

Actually, our fuller figured brothers and sisters deserve the chafing free comfort that is Lycra more than anyone. Wear it with pride!

I agree but was playing along with subwoofer ;)

i forwarded the article to my wife and she said I was not middle aged and she said "I looked good in my lycra. Keep riding":love:

Right, they deserve the comfort - and I deserve the right not to have to see them wearing they're comfortable, ill fitting, bulging in places not necessarily bulgable, lycra clothing. I include myself in this latter category and choose not to inflict that pain on others. I'll continue to wear my lycra covertly, under my cool, old guy baggy shorts

Just for fun this morning I rode my commute in full Lycra with no baggy mountain bike shorts or T-Shirt to cover up my Lycra-ness. Of course I couldn't tell what folks were thinking while I was on the Metro train, but no one said anything or laughed out loud . . . so that's good! All the other bike commuters on the train were dressed in street clothes but even they didn't make any comments.

So, really, not that different coming out of the "Hidden Lycra" metaphorical closet! I was an OMIL for sure and not a COMIL.

Rick / OCRR

I combine commuting with training (most amateur racers I know do too), so most days at least one of the commute legs is in team kit. Can't guarantee that it's this season's or even that it matches, but it depends on the laundry status.

Sorry, there are all sorts of fashion choices others make that the rest of us have to deal with. Yesterday I walked by a man who had almost no hair left except a couple of tufts on either side of his head. He chose to dye them bright purple.

Other than being quite memorable I don't think it really impacted my day at all so more power to him. If it did, that says more about me than him.

If you ride as hard as you can,pouring off sweat,hour after hour on your commute,then Lycra makes sense.....I don't race to work/store and back.

Lycra is not a fashion choice,it's made to do a specific job,like a wetsuit...Greasy clothes and tatoos while riding a Harley are a fashion choice.

I am much more comfortable in bibs. Nothing to bunch up or flap in the wind.

I would not consider it a fashion choice but a function choice.

+1

Although I believe that I have reached the age where my "junk" has evolved into fine jewels.

Too hot to have shorts over shorts here. Yes I am proud commuting in my Castelli kit at 43 so I am a Mamil and proud.

Lycra Pearl Izumi chamois liner under a pair of cotton Old Navy drawstring shorts and a high visibility, thin cotton, button down fishing shirt with a long tail. The shirts have vented back and underarms.

I have no idea what this mid life crisis thing is people talk about. Me, I just never changed. Yes, I wear Lycra and have been for several decades. I'm 64 with a body that doesn't look like it. One of these days I'll act my age. I don't know what that age will be.

I dont qualify for the "MA" but often yes to the "MIL" part. It's very comfortable to ride in & I don't bother myself over what others may think of it.

was that Eve-vette?