According to the British cycling boom in the last decade, the ever-growing cycling obsession of the so called MAMILS – Middle-Aged-Men-In-Lycra – isn’t just a modern mid-life crisis. Research has found that MAMILs aren’t cycling primarily to relive their youth or prove they can still compete against other men. Instead, their motivations are much more complex, tied to the desire for good mental, as well as physical health and fuelled by technology.

“Lycra is so much more than the tight-fitting attire which has become the butt of many jokes you might traditionally associated with holiday-makers, gym teachers or embarrassing Dad’s. Lycra also means high performance, compression and freedom of movement – the very properties the modern MAMIL is seeking when cycling on the open road,” the leading fibre producer Invista reports.

Mixed with clever yarns such as Coolmax, Lycra is breathable and keeps you cool in your sportswear. Since its launch nearly 60 years ago, Lycra has evolved into a performance-driven ingredient, providing consumers more in their stretch and desire sport-specific garments designed to help optimise their performance.

With the three-index focus’ on Power, Comfort and Energy, Lycra Sport technology aims to make it easier than ever for MAMILS’s and consumers alike to take advantage of these specific consumer needs.

With leading brands including Lycra, Coolmax, Cordura, Stainmaster and Antron, Invista is one of the world’s largest integrated producers of chemical intermediates, polymers and fibres. The company’s advantaged technologies for nylon, spandex and polyester are used to produce clothing, carpet, car parts and countless other everyday products. Headquartered in the US, the company operates in more than 20 countries and has about 10,000 employees.

www.invista.com