[Closed] Anyone over 8stone shouldn't wear lycra.

Lots of people also worry about what colour skin people have, what religion they are or where they were born. This doesn't make it any more right.

Yes, skin colour and the wearing of sports clothing is definitely analogous.

FYI, Hoy has apologised for his comments which he said were tongue in cheek:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-41092831

He also points out that he, himself is 14st anyway 😉

Wow there's some idiotic comments on here.

there is nothing worse than a fat middle aged cyclist clad in lycra

I think theere is, child killers, hitler, narrow minded people, people overly bothered what other people wear, fashion victims tc, etc

Lycra should be banned. MTB shorts with bib shorts underneath FTW

You do know bib shorts are made of lycra?

Wear normal-er clothes and be 1mph slower, that's all the public is asking.

Wow there's some idiotic comments on here.

Are you new to Singletrack?

It's not always about Strava and Lycra though is it?

[url= https://theconversation.com/the-real-reason-middle-aged-men-in-lycra-dominate-cycling-its-not-a-mid-life-crisis-82167 ]Another view[/url]

Wear normal-er clothes and be 1mph slower, that's all the public is asking.

Do you have also have a cheap, low-end bike we can laugh at too while we're at it, or perhaps a really nasty colour car?

Sigh.

I agree with him. Nobody LOOKS GOOD in Lycra and the performance gains are non existent for the overwhelming majority of us - just like a lot of gear in cycling. If you're chasing marginal gains then it's ok to look like a spanner, but for those of us just chasing some or any gain then normal shorts and t-shirt that are not too baggy will suffice.

But people are free to wear what they like, but it doesn't mean they look good in it.

Licra pah! a real skin suit is where it's at says Mario
[img] [/img]

Are you new to Singletrack?

Yes I just joined tomorrow.

Jeez...my eyes!...glad I'm not drafting him.

Can you post a picture of yourself in your trail garb please so we can ridicule you too?

No, but nothing to stop you browsing my posts I guess...there's no pajama wear in there as I agree that trend has gone a little mental. Just normalish clothes and a decent bike that allowed me to ride the british isles without frightening too many humans or wild animals.

Yes I just joined tomorrow.

That's when the new forum is due.

the performance gains are non existent for the overwhelming majority of us

The lack of chafing is a massive performance gain for a lard arse like me.

.I think people in the UK see cycling as a sport [s]rather than[/s] or else a desperate means of transport for assorted and intensely annoying drunks/driving ban recipients, spotty youths too young to drive or worst of all poor people's shamewagon because cannot afford car.

FTFY

I'm starting a new MTB specific Acronym:

MAMIBA - Middle Aged Man In Body Armour!

Often extensable to MAMIBARASC as well (Middle Aged Man in Body Armour Riding A Santa Cruz )

😉

I drafted* a bloke wearing speedos on the bike leg of a half ironman tri for about three miles. It was not a pleasant experience but he was going too fast to overtake easily.

Put me off my sis gel!!

*not to ref, pls don't DQ me know

MAMIBA - Middle Aged Man In Body Armour!

5 years ago called, they want their acronym back.

A new acronym?
What's wrong with PUFFIN (pathetic unfit fat f***ers in nappy) ?
(Copyright Alexei Sayle, allegedly)

Why should I put baggy shorts on over perfectly good lycra? They decrease the comfort and get out of place. Really no need for an extra layer.

[img] [/img]

Anyone still want to justify their ludicrous choice of clothing ?

I've been having these thoughts since I commute in Lycra. The thing is, I could wear baggy shorts over the top, but they would serve no practical purpose other than to placate Joe Public who may or may not harbour strong feelings about what I'm wearing. They'd be extra weight, more drag, and extra washing. Why bother?

I can't explain why I wear baggy shorts on the MTB though. So maybe I'm a hypocrite. *shrugs*

I think the wider point is important - people in the U.K. see cycling as a sport not an everyday thing. It's something fitness freaks do. Whereas in some places it's normal, it's just a way of getting around. In order to dispel this attitude, maybe we [i]should[/i] stop wearing Lycra?

I'd wear lycra, but I don't seem to be able to attract the level of sponsorship most MAMILs have. 🙁

It may be comfortable and the best thing to wear for some types of cycling but I think if he had just said all people wearing lycra look bad he would have been fine as it's the truth 😉

People wearing lycra need to think what they are inflicting on the eyes of other people as the pictures tang posted prove 😆

I am overweight and I wear Lycra. But only when zwifting.

Generally if I'm commuting I'll wear baggies and a loose top. If its really warm full lycra. Doing a charity ride later this month though so will be full lycra. I'm a fully authenticated fat bastard and I simply dont care.

People wearing lycra need to think what they are inflicting on the eyes of other people as the pictures tang posted prove

People who are offended by the sight of me in lycra will just have to put up with it, or look away. Although looking away can be hard when I'm in my fluro yellow tri kit, it's certainly eye-catching 😆

A new acronym?

FOB WATCH

Fat Old Bloke Wearing A Terrifying Crotch Hugger

I think I look pretty good in Lycra and so do some car drivers. They get extra close to me on my bike for a better look.

Why is it ok to say that cyclists shouldn't wear Lycra if they don't look good, but we don't tell people outside of a bike riding situation that they shouldn't wear this and that because they don't look good?

we don't tell people outside of a bike riding situation that they shouldn't wear this and that because they don't look good?

Course we do!

Have you seen Captain Flashheart's shoes?

Oh God! Is he wearing brown in town?

How frightful!

A lady shouted 'nice bum' out of her car window at a friend and me as we cycled last night.

Neither of us are 8 stone.

This is a great example of the "Chinese Whispers" effect of the internet. As someone pointed out above, Hoy did not say "anyone over 8st should not wear lycra", but that's how the OP and numerous news agencies have interpreted it. He said:

The flipside is that Lycra isn't the most elegant material you can wear and professional cycling gear generally looks awful on pretty much anyone heavier than eight stone and with more than five per cent body aerodynamic fat.

Not read all the thread, so apologies if this has already been pointed out.

[i]I know BMI is bollocks but on the chart you'd have to be very short (5'4" or less) for a chap to weigh 8 stone and be 'healthy'. [/i]

yup, shorter than that. I'm 5'4" and weigh 58-60kg (a nip over 9st) with about 12-14% bf. BMI is prob. 22.

so what Chris H is saying is that only children can wear lycra. 😕

I had a quick flick through the GQ article before my work internets blocked it for "incidental nudity" - it seems that SirChris was just pointing out that you should wear whatever, not really trying to lycra shame.

There are a lot of people who seem to think it's necessary to put on specialist sports clothing for a saunter to the shops or work - it's a reflection of the fact that cycling is viewed as a sport not just a normal way of getting about in this country. Of course I don't care what someone looks like in lycra as long as they're comfy, but at the same time, people are buggering about putting specialist clothing on when they could just hop on the bike in their normal stuff.

Baggies over lycra is just as bad in this respect (but is my usual non-XC racing MTB outfit all the same, because I'm a fashion slave. Also I wear lycra on the way to work these days, but it is a bit over 10 miles each way and I take the opportunity to ride hard).

From the GQ link (no nudity, incidental or otherwise, I'm sad to report)

Among the '10 best new menswear items...' (scroll down a bit, past the mclaren and football things)

[img] https://gq-images.condecdn.net/image/WZe1NmlPJrj/crop/810 [/img]

I think it's safe to assume the entire publication is tongue in cheek.

This is a great example of the "Chinese Whispers" effect of the internet

Then in the very next post..

so what Chris H is saying is that only children can wear lycra.

Which is not at all what has been said!

frenchies got it right!![img] [/img]

id knight him again if it was possible

I think the actual news, which everyone seems to have missed, is that GQ is still going! I was sure it had died along with lots of other toss from the 90s...

Surely that fact alone dwarfs any nonsense the retired king of cycling indoors might write to appeal to the magazine's audience...