A trailer has been released for a new film called MAMIL that explores the phenomenon of middle-aged men in Lycra, featuring riders from Australia, the US and the UK.
Narrated by Phil Liggett, the film shows cyclists talking about how they got into cycling and what they get out of it.
MAMIL – Official Trailer from Demand Film on Vimeo.
Lasting 90 minutes, it was written and produced by Eleanor Sharpe and Nicholas Bird.
It recently premiered at the Adelaide Film Festival in South Australia and will now go on general release via Demand Films.
Here’s what they have to say about it on their website:
Middle Aged Men In Lycra! At last, the love that can finally be shared — that of man for bike. We’ve shaved our legs and we’re here to stay!
Deal with us, as we sweep down hills on our bikes, stopping for nothing (except maybe a macchiato).
You might be queer in New York, you might be Christian in the midwest, you might be an Adelaide Fat Boy, you might be a lawyer or a cancer survivor, you might be hauling your middle-aged belly up the Col de Tourmalet or just popping down to the shops, you might be on a top-line Trek or a heap of junk, you might be wondering how you’re going to explain all of this to your missus, but you still thrill to the moving meditation of the bike.
Thanks to road.cc reader Rupert Englander, who blogs at www.themamil.co.uk and appears in the film, for the heads-up.
15 thoughts on “Video trailer: MAMIL – the documentary”
The guy in yellow in the
The guy in yellow in the banner photo needs a bike fit. His arms look ready to pop out of his shoulder sockets he’s stretching so far.
Jamminatrix wrote:
Absolutely shocking isn’t it, I wonder if he has shoulder/neck issues?
I haven’t watched the preview but surely men of a certain age have being riding in lycra for yonks, not to mention pub/cafe stops. It’s just that there’s more coffee houses than decent cafe’s now.
I went on a ‘coffee’ ride last year, refuse to buy the shit on offer from a chain that would’ve been the best part of £6. I get the socialising aspect but I’d rather have a ride then finish with food and drinks not half way round after only 20 miles or so.
Jamminatrix wrote:
hard to say in that position – maybe he was born with no elbows?
Jamminatrix wrote:
He’s also got a reflector in his front spokes and is riding in trainers and flats! The horror!!!
DrJDog wrote:
He’s also got a reflector in his front spokes and is riding in trainers and flats! The horror!!!— Jamminatrix
Hate to think what you would say about me riding my TT bike with flats! You wouldn’t know by looking at me but I have a degenerative autoimmune disease which causes mobility probs and I physically cannot get my foot out of cleats, I know, I’ve tried on a turbo, not possible no matter how much they are adjusted. I cannot get the shoes off either because of poor fine motor skills, I have to have elasticated trainers, and I have the same problem with clips, I don’t have the movement (or speed) to get out of them in time. Despite that I can be flippin fast on my bike when sprinting and can leave most of my colleagues standing (males included), and have many a strava QOM. Yes, it is a disadvantage uphill, I cannot do anything about that, but I wont let it stop me. I used to be so embarrased at races that I had flats that I ended up having a ‘disabled rider’ sign put on my bike as explanation. I’ve since removed it and decided it doesn’t matter what others think, and besides, I love the look on their faces when I smash their times or hammer it past them 🙂 And yes my posture looks wrong when I ride in a standard position, but again I have to be like that because I have limited mobility in my wrists which is why my physio suggested a TT.
kiwifi wrote:
Sheldon Brown rode his whole life on flats in sandals….
I used to be a Young Man in
I used to be a Young Man in Lycra, I just don’t know what happened.
Leviathan wrote:
you bought a bike?
Yes, I also. Spent my
Yes, I also. Spent my teens and early 20s on a bike then got maried and so put the bike in the shed for a year or two, then kids so a few more years off. Then kids learnt to ride pulled old bike out shed but it was a bit old and keen for cycle path so bought hybrid had many happy years and memorable times , kids got bigger and quicker and I got the bug back so bought a new road bike, bang got my mojo back. Now 45 years old and in Lycra!!
I bet the ‘Fastboys” aren’t
I bet the ‘Fastboys” aren’t British. The saddest part is wearing a bandana
I generally consider the
I generally consider the MAMIL to be a middle-aged bloke that hasn’t ridden a bike in years and has suddenly been bitten by the bug, probably from fitness or casual entry to a couple of charity rides as a work thing and, finding themselves with the means, has gone out and spent a sack full on a carbon bling machine.
I don’t consider myself to be a MAMIL, because I can’t remember ever not having a bike – I’ve consistently had at least one road bike and at least one mountain bike since I left university.
It takes a lot to make me
It takes a lot to make me pass a decent cafe after a couple of hours of riding, but a bunch of club-shirted bandanna wearers is certainly one of them.
We don’t wear club kit but I
We don’t wear club kit but I’m the bandana wearer amongs us, usually as a headband rather than bandana to be fair. Helps with the sweat, helmet rub (stop it) and keeps my flowing locks out of my eyes. Oh and I look awesome!
I ride with a chap who has
I ride with a chap who has been riding for decades. He over reaches aswell. he’s happy enough 100 miles later
I used to be a young lad in
I used to be a young lad in wool and corduroy. Now in my late 70s and still cycling I’m definitely an EGIL, (Elderly Gent In Lycra)