Hoy: Men over 8st shouldn’t wear Lycra!

MOST of us politely ignore the style crimes of the legions of middle-aged men who squeeze themselves into Lycra to ride bicycles.

But not six-times Olympic champion Sir Chris Hoy, pictured. He said many Mamils – middleaged men in Lycra – believed they had to wear ‘a full Team Sky racing kit’ to be taken seriously as cyclists, but most ‘look as ridiculous as an overweight football fan wearing the shirt of his favourite club for a pub five-a-side game’.

Writing in GQ magazine, he added: ‘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.’

The retired track cyclist said those in tight white cycling shorts are among the worst offenders, adding: ‘They’re terribly unflattering… and become see-through when wet. Enough said.’

‘I feel sorry for Mamils,’ he wrote. ‘When they walk into a cafe dressed head-to-toe in Lycra, you spot people sniggering.’