Yes.

Should men over the age of 40 ever wear Lycra?

Lycra has a bad reputation, but there's a reason why cyclists of all ages wear this clever technical material, writes self-confessed MAMIL Andrew Critchlow

By Andrew Critchlow, The Telegraph 4:43PM BST 09 Jun 2014

A new survey by the British Heart Foundation has suggested that the thought of wearing Lycra is enough to put middle-aged people off cycling. Apparently, a third of the 2,000 professionals it polled thought that men over the age of 40 should never wear the stretchy stuff, while experts in the beauty industry think that the cut-off age is much lower, at just 27 years old.

The research also found that bankers, teachers, scientists and hairdressers were most likely to be fitness freaks, working out on average 3.4 times or more a week. A British Heart Foundation spokesman said that the charity wants everyone else to follow suit by joining the national cycling campaign, regardless of their job.
It's undeniable that there's a taboo attached to Lycra – but for it to inhibit a third of all people questioned from taking up cycling represents something of a tragedy. If you’re holding back from enjoying the health benefits of hitting the open road because of the fear of being branded a MAMIL (Middle Age Man in Lycra), then I can only think it’s the psychologist’s chair you need, rather than the bike saddle.

Of course, I can only speak for other cyclists on the matter, but regardless of age, shape, size or ability, Lycra wins hands down every time. First brought onto the mass market in the 1970s by the legendary Swiss cycle clothing Assos, the skin-hugging fabric has become an industry standard for the sport, offering a number of practical benefits.

Snug fitting clothing is essential to enhancing your enjoyment of cycling. It won’t snag on equipment, or fill up with air and act like a parachute to slow you down. New Lycra-based fabrics are also incredibly efficient, wicking away sweat from your skin and acting as a barrier to bacteria.

The alternative to Lycra kit is baggy shorts and a football shirt, which almost defeats the object of going for a bike ride in the first place. Whether you're out on a Sunday morning club ride or your daily commute to work, one of your principal aims will be to get from A to B in as little time as possible. Aerodynamic and robust, Lycra helps no end.

For me, the ritual of getting ready to go for a long ride has become part of cycling's appeal. Checking my tyre pressure, filling up my water bidon with Isostar, putting on a heart rate monitor belt and – yes – squeezing into Lycra shorts that were a better fit 10 years ago; this is what my hobby's about. Cycling has an almost mythical allure and the truth is that Lycra has a big part to play. Try it once and you never go back.

And then there's the psychological effect. Although I don't doubt that I look ridiculous to other road users, in my own mind I am just a few training rides shy of giving Chris Froome a run for his money in this year’s Tour de France. It's a great feeling, I promise – and it's available to you, whether you're 14 years old or 40.

And just in time for Tour Season...