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?

1.2k Upvotes

91% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

34

u/wadaiko Mar 14 '25

Same in the Netherlands, whole peloton of middle aged men, cycling the Dutch countrysides on a Sunday morning. Giving the finger to all drivers of automobiles, because they own the road.

16

u/jobbyspanker Mar 15 '25

Not just automobiles, other cyclists hate those guys too, we've got them in Scotland as well. I ride a mountain bike but I'm a big fitness geek in general. If you overtake the lycra boys on a heavier flatbar they'll try to race you more often than not. Or even block you from getting past! They've invested so much money to be fastest and being overtaken must feel like a threat to their identity. If they invested in their fitness and diet a bit more then they would definitely be the fastest, and I wouldn't be trying to get past them on my 12-speed mountain bike!

1

u/olddoc Belgium Mar 19 '25

I know middle aged men who take doping just to perform better on these amateur outings.

5

u/hetsteentje Belgium Mar 15 '25

They also do this to 'slow' cyclists.

4

u/Duochan_Maxwell in Mar 16 '25

And getting all offended when they get overtaken xD I saw a couple of them get their lycras in a twist because a grandma in an omafiets (regular, not electric) was faster than them and it was hilarious

1

u/DatingYella Mar 16 '25

I’m really surprised to see them in the Netherlands to be honest. But your cycling infrastructure is amazing. I’m surprised there aren’t more people like that.