A hotel is banning Lycra-clad customers, in an attempt to remove any “unsightly bumps and bulges”. The Plough Hotel in Rangiora, North Canterbury, is now serving breakfast and owner Mike Saunders wants to up the dress code.

“We just want to set the standards out here in the country and make sure people wear trousers when they go out for breakfast.”

A sign has been placed outside the hotel informing potential customers that Lycra shorts are not allowed.

“It’s just a little unsuitable, we don’t always want to see any unsightly bumps and bulges,” Saunders said. “We get a nice group of customers out here, some elderly folk . . . when you’re trying to concentrate on your breakfast you just want to see the sausages on your plate.”

Saunders said he didn’t have many cyclists coming into the hotel but expected to see more patrons in the morning now they serve breakfast.

“We’ve got this beautiful garden and we want to make it the place for people to come and relax for breakfast in an uncrowded environment.”

He hoped people didn’t take the dress code personally.

“If there’s hordes of cyclists outside threatening to bash us with their bike pumps we can always barricade ourselves in, we’ve got a bit of food and drink here so we should be able to outlast them.”

Pegasus Cycling Club chairwoman Tracy Clark said the move showed a “lack of understanding” about cyclists.

“There’s people in New Zealand now who have grown up disconnected from bicycles, have no understanding of what it is to get out there and ride and see the scenery, they are interested in getting in their car and driving place to place.

“I think it’s just some ignorance or lack of understanding.”

Spokes Canterbury chairman Don Babe said cyclists would just find somewhere else to go.

“Generally a good cycle ride involves some food along the way, if the guy in Rangiora doesn’t want them to go to his place that’s fine, there’s plenty of other places.”

In 2013, Heathcote’s Castle Rock Cafe had a similar sign out front deterring Lycra-clad cyclists.

Cafe manager Amy Grice said the sign had been put up by the former owner because of an incident with a large man in tiny shorts.

That sort of sight was not suitable for children, she said.