Chris Hoy made remarks about middle aged men in Lycra that raised more than a few eyebrows. But he's now come out saying he didn't mean to sound so harsh.
Chris Hoy apology for comments on MAMILs and Lycra
British Olympic legend Chris Hoy has issued an apology for remarks he made about middle aged men in Lycra - or MAMILs as they are known.
Hoy had written a cycling style article for GQ magazine. In it he said Lycra was not flattering. And he suggested it was best left to eight stone cyclists.
“Lycra isn’t the most elegant material you can wear,” the now-retired six-time Olympic champion said.
“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.”
He also felt sorry for MAMILs, especially when they walked into a cafe dressed in Lycra and people were “sniggering at them”.
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The article generated a lot of media coverage on cycling news sites, including stickybottle.
Hoy has his own branded cycling clothing (including Lycra). And he has his own line of bikes.
And took to Twitter to say he didn't mean to cause any offence. He was a "14+ stone MAMIL" himself and the article was tongue-in-cheek.
"(It) wasn't meant to offend," he told his 728,000 followers. "I'm really sorry. Reading it back it looks harsh. And that wasn't my intention.
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"Whatever your age or build, if you're on a bike you have my respect."
As a 14+stone MAMIL myself, this was a tongue-in-cheek article that wasn't meant to offend (1/2) ??https://t.co/ludxBQm9QN
— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) August 28, 2017
I'm really sorry; reading it back it looks harsh &that wasn't my intention.
Whatever ur age/build, if ur on a bike u have my respect?? (2/2)— Chris Hoy (@chrishoy) August 28, 2017
He added he felt sorry for MAMILs, especially when they walked into a cafe dressed in Lycra and people were “sniggering at them”.
However, cyclists would need to wear shorts if riding a long distance. But Hoy said shorts were also made out of other materials, and not just Lycra.
“The bottom line is that most cycling kit exists for a reason,” he said.
“The padded shorts, for example, might look silly, but if you are riding for any length of time on a small, thin saddle you are going to feel it.
“Alternatively, if you want to protect your undercarriage (and your dignity), you can wear a pair of merino wool boxer shorts with a padded insert under your clothes. They’re unobtrusive yet very comfortable.”
