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Unsightly bulges? New Zealand hotelier bans Lycra

Lunch boxes said to be spoiling breakfast appetites

A New Zealand hotel has banned Lycra on its premises with the owner arguing that “unsightly bumps and bulges” should not be visible to his other clientele.

The Plough Hotel in Rangiora has put out a sign reading: “The bicycle is a beautiful object but they should never have invented lycra! No lycra shorts allowed please.”

Mike Saunders, co-owner of the hotel, told Fairfax: "It's just a little unsuitable, we don't always want to see any unsightly bumps and bulges. We get a nice group of customers out here, some elderly folk ... when you're trying to concentrate on your breakfast you just want to see the sausages on your plate."

Saunders told The Guardian he was not against Lycra in general, just Lycra shorts. “A lot of our customers are elderly or children and they don’t need to know that much detail about the shape of somebody.”

Siobhan Tolhurst, who once worked for Saunders’s at another café, added: “We had a number of experiences with large men in tiny shorts and that’s not appropriate for children to see.”

Spokes Canterbury chairman Don Babe said local cyclists would simply find elsewhere to go. "Generally a good cycle ride involves some food along the way. If the guy in Rangiora doesn't want them to go to his place that's fine, there's plenty of other places."

Ron Van Til, owner of the nearby Rangiora Bakery made a pitch for that custom, saying: “I have a different view that the world is a diverse place and we should embrace bodies of all shapes and sizes. I have no problem with Lycra at all.”

Last year, four cyclists were turned away from Perth pub The Raffles Hotel by a waiter who told them there was a "strict policy of no lycra". Management subsequently claimed that the incident was a misunderstanding and that their only issue with cyclists was when large numbers of bikes were left against walls or close to paths.

A month later, a Montana bill which would have seen Lycra and other figure-hugging gear banned was shelved. It would have extended the state’s indecent exposure law to include any exposure of the nipples – whether women’s or men’s – as well as to clothing that “gives the appearance or simulates” someone’s buttocks, genitals, pelvic area, or the female nipple.

Representative David Moore, who tabled the bill, had argued: “I want Montana to be known as a decent state where people can live within the security of laws and protect their children and associates from degrading and indecent practices. I believe this bill is written preserving that reputation.”

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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13 comments

Avatar
Leviathan | 7 years ago
1 like

Hope he hasn't heard of an event called the Olympics happening this summer.

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fixit | 7 years ago
0 likes

clear case of over-masturbation illness...

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Critchio | 7 years ago
0 likes

I dunno I can kind of see his point (no pun intended). I've seen a few x-large guys on sportive meal stops who clearly don't have enough room in their bibs to fold up their manhood within the area of the pad to discreet levels.

When you have half a millimetre thickness of lycra covering that and you can clearly see the shape of it right down to the Mr. Vein sometimes, well I wouldn't want my daughter or my elderly mother seeing it whilst trying to eat....

It's fine in a gym or in the peleton or on the pitch, not so nice in a place where people eat with their families.

Speaking to my wife and female colleagues at work previously about this kind of thing it's just not nice. Curious, yes, funny yes and does cause most ladies to stare but most have agreed that it's not pleasant or even sexy, well the ones I speak to anyway. They'd rather look at toned glutes, abs or arms. Guess the point is try to be discreet with a better pad or adjust your manhood. I'm sure some guys lift it up high so that it can be seen... Ugh...

Same with camel toe. I would stare and probably smile, but sexy it ain't and I wouldn't want young kids seeing it. In fact it would put me off my steak....or muffins. Or bacon sandwich.

Cant see why the hotelier wouldn't ban women too, even if they do look hot in lycra with the right body shape. Camel toe really isn't nice and I love p....!

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Bikeylikey | 7 years ago
0 likes

“A lot of our customers are elderly or children and they don’t need to know that much detail about the shape of somebody."  Eh? They're probably not looking, and if they are they obviously do need, or want, to know 'that much detail'.  And why not, if the wearers aren't bothered? The man's obviously obsessed with genitalia.

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Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
0 likes

I hope there'll be a camel-toe ban too.

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PaulBox replied to Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
5 likes

Duncann wrote:

I hope there'll be a camel-toe ban too.

 Why???

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BBB | 7 years ago
2 likes

Does the rule also apply to some seriously overweight ladies wearing Lycra tights casually?

 

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demondig | 7 years ago
3 likes

Brings to mind the immortal words of Mr Nigel Tufnel in Spinal Tap: 'They see us on stage with tight trousers and we’ve got, you know, armadillos in our trousers. I mean, it’s really quite frightening, the size. They run screaming.'

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aladdin pain replied to demondig | 7 years ago
2 likes

demondig wrote:

Brings to mind the immortal words of Mr Nigel Tufnel in Spinal Tap: 'They see us on stage with tight trousers and we’ve got, you know, armadillos in our trousers. I mean, it’s really quite frightening, the size. They run screaming.'

 

In that vein (...), who among us has not been humiliated during a Derek Smalls-like cucumber-in-the-bibs incident?

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wycombewheeler | 7 years ago
0 likes

nothing to worry me here, and not just because I don't lige in new zealand, as the proprieter of a restauraunt he can apply any dress code he likes.

eat eslewhere, or carry a pair of sports shorts in your back pocket (they are not large or heavy) if the food there is so good you want to keep using it.

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belgravedave | 7 years ago
1 like

Great story, made me laugh out loud while queing in my bank.

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PaulBox | 7 years ago
1 like

Who cares, just take your business elsewhere.

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Dnnnnnn | 7 years ago
5 likes

This ban is going to cost him a packet.

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