Uncategorized

MAMIL is an acronym for Middle Aged Man (or Men) in Lycra, a term that is used particularly in Australia and the UK to describe a middle-aged man who rides a bike whilst adorned in lycra (aka Spandex). It is a term mostly used by non-cyclists to describe male cyclists rather than a term that male cyclists would use to describe themselves. It is often used to poke fun, albeit in a good natured way, in a majority of cases. I choose to embrace the term (probably for the best given the name of my Blog) but I also feel it necessary to delve more deeply into the meaning, history and usage within popular culture in order to set the record straight on what I believe it is to be a MAMIL.

The Indian Pacific Wheel Race is a 5,500 kilometre (3,400 mile) ultra distance self supported road bike race across Australia from the Indian Ocean in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the East. It joins a growing list of long distance bike packing races such as the Trans America, the Transcontinental and the Tour Divide. Should I get through the Trans America in June relatively physically and mentally unscathed then this race sits atop my ride Bucket List.