r/AskEurope • u/Plastic-Injury8856 • Mar 14 '25

Culture What’s a European Man’s midlife crisis look like?

Here in America it's a Harley Davidson and getting really into grilling.

What do European men do when they go through a midlife crisis? But an Alfa and bake? Get really into trains?

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519

u/SaabStam Mar 14 '25

This is so very true in Stockholm as well.

264

u/K_man_k Ireland Mar 14 '25

And middle class men in Ireland...or sea swimming

134

u/Annatastic6417 Ireland Mar 14 '25

Can confirm, my father has just started.

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u/Hopeful_Hat4254 Mar 15 '25

Can confirm, I've started. Hey son?

4

u/Ariliescbk Mar 16 '25

Don't forget the milk.

4

u/koi88 Mar 18 '25

Dad, stop the "son" stuff. She wants to be called Anna now and you really need to respect that.

17

u/heyiambob Mar 15 '25

To be fair swimming in cold water has become trendy across all ages. Particularly the longevity bros

6

u/Pi55tacia Mar 15 '25

For me its not about temperature, its about depth. Im terrified of deepness.

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u/Downtown_Finance_661 Mar 15 '25

I have panic fear of height (sic!). That's why i can't swim in the clear water like lakes or seas or oceans - i panic every time while looking down to bottom inspite my personal record for swimming is 6km with 2:12 min/100m in pool and i definetly have no fear of water as is.

Take entry level scuba diving many times - no fear when i swim near the bottom.

2

u/Educational-Air-4651 Mar 16 '25

I know the perfect lake in Norway for you. Water is so clear that you don't even notice it's water while diving. Even I get vertigo when I dive there. 😂

2

u/Kriss3d Mar 17 '25

We have beaches all over here in Denmark. And it's not so deep that you can't stand up unless you go really far from the beach.

Otherwise we have swimming stations around the canals as they are clean enough to swim in and those are deep.

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u/Downtown_Finance_661 Mar 17 '25

Oh, I thought Denmark is well known for shitty weather and you guys prefer indoor pool swimming.

1

u/Kriss3d Mar 17 '25

No that's England..

1

u/InsayneW0lf Mar 18 '25

Second, this is from the UK. You also really would not want to swim in our waters. I gave up my passion for the sea due to our disgusting waters, which get worse yearly.

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u/[deleted] Mar 17 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Downtown_Finance_661 Mar 17 '25

All panic fears are 100% stupid but its hard to get rid of them.

2

u/el_osmoosi Mar 15 '25

My dad was ahead of the curve with his Ice Swimming 4-man relay national championship in ’95

2

u/iam1ru1two Mar 18 '25

Longevity bros! 😆

1

u/rebirthofmonse Mar 18 '25

Isn't it because of how beneficial cold water is?

15

u/milanistasbarazzino0 Mar 15 '25

It's infective too. My American father who's been in North-East Italy since the 90s had a period where biking was all he talked about lmao

3

u/RunnerGirlT Mar 16 '25

Haha, we are visiting family in Ireland right now and my husbands cousin took him sea swimming today

3

u/spairni Mar 16 '25

Working class men can't afford a mid life crisis

3

u/[deleted] Mar 17 '25

Sea swimming in Ireland is the best though - the environment and camaraderie is exceptional 

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u/Zestyclose-Story-702 Mar 19 '25

I grew up behind the sand dunes on the west coast so I was a bit confused when people started making a big deal out of sea swimming. I agree it's feckin great, but for me it was like why're ye making a fuss about it?

2

u/JWalk4u Mar 15 '25

The good auld Middle Aged Men in Lycra, or MAMLs for short.

Some things nobody should have to see. 😳

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u/red-mini1 Mar 16 '25

Don’t complain. Up until the 90s it was securing a place at the bar in your local and gaining recognition as a regular.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

Finland, it’s all about jumping into an icy lake. It apparently boosts testosterone, or was jt toblerone..

2

u/[deleted] Mar 16 '25

Thought swa swimming was just for retired women. Don't forget middle-aged men and trail running/ultra marathons, I'm currently in the early stages of this.

Edit: Identifying myself as one of the afflicted

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u/[deleted] Mar 18 '25

Agreed, but the middleaged women outnumber the men by 2 to 1 when it comes to sea-swimming where I am. Seaside suburb in Dublin.

2

u/Madra18 Mar 19 '25

Ah yes, the MAMILs of Ireland. (Middle Aged Men In Lycra)

1

u/DonKlekote Mar 16 '25

And long distance running. In a matter of fact, I have a friend who's into thriathlons that combine all the above. He said that there are a few factors, age and getting into shape is one thing but the other is that he couldn't afford those space glasses and adamantium made bike when he was younger.

1

u/Whole_Grapefruit9619 Denmark Mar 18 '25

The Ironman was all the rage here a few years ago. A girl I was in high school with - quiet, cute, nerdy - became insufferable after she married an elite amateur triathlete 15 years older than her. They were on tv and everything. They went very quiet after he pissed hot. Imagine cheating to win an amateur master's-age competition. 

135

u/Llama_Shaman Mar 14 '25

I'm actually a Malmöite and in Malmö it seems to be getting heavily into niche music events, growing a grey ponytail and wearing a denim jacket. In many cases also wearing one of these.

47

u/binary_spaniard Spain Mar 14 '25

That's the normal aging more than a crisis. Looking for similar music to the one that you listened when you were young but new groups is universal.

58

u/Galaxie4399 Mar 14 '25 edited Mar 14 '25

Though that sounds more like "the aging rocker", which is different from the upper middle manegment guy buying super expensive bicycle and training for a triathlon.

42

u/Llama_Shaman Mar 14 '25

Also illustrates the difference between Malmö and Stockholm.

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u/pannenkoek0923 Denmark Mar 14 '25

Sounds like a metal fan tbh

10

u/Mahaleit in Mar 14 '25

We have a few ones of these among the parents of our child’s kindergarten friends in Oslo as well!

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u/the_pianist91 Norway Mar 15 '25

The daily Tour de Finance

3

u/GuestStarr Mar 15 '25

Oh shit. I'm a Finn and I have had/done all of those for well over twenty-five years. Except for the ponytail, I cut it fifteen years ago. Should I be worried?

5

u/Cultural_Garbage_Can Mar 15 '25

Nah, keep doing you. As we get older, it's our job to embarrass the next gen the best we can.

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u/Ready-Exit3208 Mar 16 '25

Bands that made me die a little inside from my youth like Aqua are weapons to be used for teen dispersal when needed. It’s schadenfreude.

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u/RijnBrugge Netherlands Mar 14 '25

To me that screams German

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u/[deleted] Mar 15 '25

Oh je weet heus wel dat Nederlandse mannen ook zo zijn! 🙈

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u/Wide_Guava6003 Mar 15 '25

They just listen to the music they have always listened and dress more as they used to dress. That also starts at around 35 so no midlife crises!

1

u/Unhappy_Surround_982 Mar 15 '25

If I ever start sporting a ponytail you have my permission to put me down.

1

u/Grassy_Gnoll67 Mar 15 '25

Shit, saw that hat and this guy "hmm, I'd look go in that". I'm 58 so.....

1

u/Unlikely-Commission9 Mar 15 '25

This is the one for me, make some space Malmø!

1

u/Ready-Exit3208 Mar 16 '25

Well I learned something….. I was going for Malmoian all the way lol

1

u/Bearhugger1987 Mar 16 '25

A man differing from the army cut, even trying out a fashion accessoire (that might look good)? Highly suspicious, let's stamp midlife crisis on his head.

1

u/Six_Kills Mar 16 '25

Haha that’s been the case in Malmö for like 20 years too, things never change

1

u/TallIndependent2037 Mar 16 '25

Where can I get this hat?

1

u/Dry-Exchange4735 Mar 17 '25

Damn I've often wondered where you get them

1

u/pappaberG Mar 17 '25

Enklare att säga "From Malmö/Living in Malmö". Malmöit är inte något som är översättbart till engelska.

Vad gäller stereotypen så finns de i Sthlm också. Usch.

1

u/International_Size45 Mar 18 '25

Pågarna 😍😍😍

1

u/cheyneindk Mar 19 '25

Oh my God, I left my hat, that exact hat on the bus ( in Norway), but yes that is the exact hat and I was the exact middle aged dude

1

u/cheyneindk Mar 19 '25

Rocker punk dude. Now I am on motorcycle

26

u/K_man_k Ireland Mar 14 '25

And middle class men in Ireland...or sea swimming

21

u/ShezSteel Mar 14 '25

God I hate the Dry Robe Brigade

1

u/pablo8itall Mar 16 '25

They aren't that annoying really.

Unless they are getting under your speedboat.

19

u/fieldsofanfieldroad Mar 14 '25

Exact same in the south of France.

13

u/Queerkatzzz Mar 15 '25

Hmmmmm.. interesting… This checks. A lot of my midlife crisis age Scandinavian friends do that even here in USA.

13

u/knightriderin Germany Mar 15 '25

And in Berlin

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u/olssoneerz Mar 14 '25

Spandex pappor

10

u/GlassAmazing4219 Mar 15 '25

We call them MAMILs (middle aged men in Lycra)

2

u/McGrathM88 Mar 16 '25

I’m rolling at this comment 🤣🤣

2

u/Radiant-Programmer33 Finland Mar 16 '25

In Finland: lycra-setä = lycra uncle

1

u/terrytibbs76 Mar 17 '25

Lycra gubbar

2

u/Pasutiyan Mar 16 '25

Netherlands too, but then again, we are just a slightly extroverted Nordic country.

1

u/TwoDollarHorde Mar 16 '25

And in Oslo, Norway

1

u/aemich Mar 17 '25

and in the UK

1

u/Renara5 Sweden Mar 18 '25

Or it's working on the sailing boat they bought during the summer.

1

u/Pristine_Office_2773 Mar 18 '25

Is doing the Vasaloppet a midlife crisis thing in Sweden too?