The rise of the MAMIL — middle-aged men in Lycra — has led to soaring hospitalisations and a doubling in the number of deaths for cyclists aged over 45.

A new report found there was an average of almost 10,000 cyclist hospitalisations a year, with the most recent figures showing three quarters were men.

A cyclist rides up King Street, Sydney CBD. Credit:James Brickwood

The study by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare compared injury and death rates for cyclists across a 17-year period in which 651 people were killed.

The number of cyclists aged 45 and over taken to hospital grew by nearly 500 per cent from 728 to 4120, more than a third of all cases.