What Happens When Two Cyclists Date?
First, let me get you up to speed, my boyfriend was a collegiate cyclist and I’m just your average joe that rides bikes. Here we are now, 3 years into the relationship, we’ve fully come to terms with what we’ve gotten ourselves into as a couple that both rides. There have been days when my exact words have been, “this is why you should never date a cyclist” and there have been days where I also say, “I wouldn't have it any other way.” At this point, as I sit in our 450 sq ft apartment with 6 bikes I’d say I truly wouldn't have it any other way. You know what they say, couples that ride together stay together
Here’s a few things you should know before you buckle up that helmet and date a fellow cyclist
Marriage + Babies…
Let’s start off by saying don't take any offense when the engagement ring is delayed by the purchase of a new team bike (because you understand N+1 always.) The only ring in the near future might be a new chainring on the climbing bike.
When your friends are showing off their beautiful engagement pictures and adorable newborn pictures you’ll both join in by showing pictures from your last bike-packing trip. When it comes time for the marriage talk, you’ll both be on the same page - madly in love but not ready to spend a beautiful Saturday morning planning a wedding when you could be out on a ride together. You’re both in agreement that these are your prime years to be out riding commitment-free. You’ll both spend more time dreaming and talking about the bikes you want to own in the future rather than how many kids you want--- unless you’re dreaming about taking the kids out for a ride in the bike trailer.
Moving to a New Place
Planning to move into a new place? Riding conditions, distance to trails, and bike storage will take top priority in the search. When it comes to doing some home improvement at the new place if it can’t be fixed with a bike tool you’re going to need to call in backup. They might offer to help put air in your car tires with a bike pump or scrape out the bathroom drain with a pick tool from the bike box.
Romantic Date
The dresses and fancy clothes in your closet will be jammed behind all of the cycling clothes collecting dust. Cute shirts will turn into bike rags and believe me, you’ll need them. Romantic dates will be spent in bibs and chamois followed by a quick change into sweatpants to grab dinner because a hungry cyclist is a scary sight. Instead of a glass of wine to finish off the date night, you’ll find yourselves chugging a protein shake before bed. On the topic of wine, you might not even own wine glasses--there will be no room with all of the cycling water bottles oozing out of every cabinet.
Social Gatherings
When you both hit the town for a wild night with friends, the alcohol consumption is generally kept in a no-hangover zone and you won't have to explain to your partner why you’re ready to go home at 10 pm because you’ll both want to be back at a reasonable time in order to get enough sleep before waking up early to ride. There will certainly be no all-nighters, that would mess up the training plan.
No matter how hard you try to avoid talking about them, bikes will always find their way into the conversation. Your friends and family will give you a puzzled look when you both throw around bike jargon at the dinner table.
Battle Scars
Make-up? There’s certainly no point in trying to cover the 4 stitches on your chin, scars, and bruises from the Mtb crash you had last week-- they dig it.
Vacation (you’re gonna need a vacation from your vacation)
You’ll never go on a normal vacation again, trips will be planned around rides and every trip will involve a bike in some way. The bikes go where you go. You’ll spend more time making sure your bike bags are securely packed than you will spend packing outfits. You’ll come back from a beach vacation not comparing bathing suit tan lines but the tan lines you got from your kit.
No More Flowers
When a holiday or special occasion rolls around, get ready for a new bike toy. Bags, tools, or parts, they'll put a cute spin on it, don’t worry. The holidays are for helping each other get your bike dialed in or you guessed it, they’ll surprise you with another bike vacation. Also, don’t worry it’s totally normal to feel jealous when they buy their bike more gifts than they do you.
Competition
You will 100% be each other's biggest hype man. The biggest competition will be who has the smoothest legs.
The Unexpected Call
You’ll unknowingly be one another’s pit crew meaning, you’ll be their go-to for a rescue. You’ll gladly pick them up and lecture them about how they need to bring a flat kit EVERY TIME they ride.
FOMO
THE SINGLE MOST DIFFICULT PART OF DATING A CYCLIST. Get ready to experience mild depression every time they get kitted up for a ride without you. Epic ride with the boiz, shred with the gals? You want to be out on the saddle too. You might even find yourself checking their location on Find My Friends to see if they've made it to the big climb yet. At the end of the day, they will always make time to ride with you too:)
Couples Therapy
Hours together on the saddle can make for some of the best memories and conversations. You’ll learn more about their life and less about their FTP goals.
