Cyclists make great dates, says match-making website eHarmony

"No, no, no, they are leg warmers!"

The mankini thing is the worst. To the extent that I won't put the straps on until the last moment before putting on the jersey. In private, in the bathroom. The one time she saw them in full she fell about laughing fit to burst.

On the other hand, she loves the bike (celeste green won her over) and seems curiously fascinated by bum butter. Says appreciative things when I show her a new widget/tiny improvement. Looks in awe when I show her my (crap) Strava times. Admires new jerseys. Is thrilled by the leg muscles and slimmer waist.

As for cycling together, we occasionally go out for a tootle around London on the weekend. A couple of times she encouraged me to go out riding with her seriously toned female friend. She was miles faster than me.. I think she was trying to hint at 'out of your league buddy'

All pretty positive actually. But we have been together a long time!

I have found over the years that the best way to keep a relationship going is to have no interests in common at all.
Hell, even when it comes to holidays we go separate ways.

And never, never, never ever try to convert a loved one to your interests.
1) They may prove to be better at it than you.
2) In the same way that you lent them your best jumper 3 years ago because they were cold and now it's buried in the depths of their wardrobe. You "gave it to them!". You "don't wear it anymore!" (Not that you've seen it since they 'borrowed it'). You will find all your best bits of kit migrating, your tools will disappear mysteriously and all the cleaning products will be down to the dregs because 'you' need to get some more.

The wife has just read this over my shoulder, 'Harrumphed!' and stormed out of the room. Judging from the banging about upstairs I'm either getting my best jumper back or she's off to her mother's.

We were married before I got seriously into cycling but my wife has firmly stomped on my fond hopes about the allure of cycling.

The decisive blow was a few years ago when I was in the shower and she was out in the bedroom.

It was an en suite, the door was open and I could see her looking at me in the shower.

But it wasn't a passing glance. She was gazing at me intently, and definitely looking below the waist, as I started to imagine what intent she might have.

Sure enough she started to walk over into the bathroom and by this time I was well on the way to being ready and willing.

As I waited eagerly for any suggestions she said "Your tan lines look utterly ridiculous."

Couldn't have been more effective if she'd just turned the cold tap on.

Mmmm... Sorry, girls, he's married

I can vouch for that, I met my husband through Matchmaker.com back in 2002, both of us had put that we were members of the LCC, then simultaneously we emailed each other saying "i see you are a member of LCC" and it took a moment for us both to realise we had sent each other the same email at the same time.
We both cycled everywhere in London, I was working at Bikefix at the time - so me, the girl was the more bikey one. He came to one of the Spin classes I taught at the YMCA and almost died of exhaustion.
We've been married since 2005 and earlier this month rode the 10 miles from Ely to Reach Fair and back with our two sons, the eldest, who is 7 was racing me back and winning as I had his 5 year old brother on the back of my bike.
We are moving to NL in the Summer and I can't wait to get my eldest his first road bike.

Or trying to explain to your mother-in-law why that large tub of "face cream" is not really meant for moisturizing ...

“Cyclists are handy,” says eHarmony. “After years of honing bike-maintenance skills, your date will be up for fixing things around the house, too.”

I was cleaning my bike and didn't know the gf was watching til she piped up with "That's three times you've cleaned that chain!" I've had a loose tile on my roof for two years

Really, there's nothing that turns a woman on so much as discussing leg shaving and weight loss with her guy.

After years of honing bike-maintenance skills, your date will be up for fixing things around the house, too.

After coming home from a long ride, your date will shower, eat, park himself on the sofa, and watch some bike race on TV until he falls asleep.

There, fixed that for you.

Aybee wrote -
"Riding with your date is crap when they can't keep up".
It's also crap (AND embarassing) when I can't keep up with her !

Interesting interview with Fern Brittain in Waitrose magazine this week. I realise how achingly middle class that sounds but bare with me. Fern urges more women to cycle as it gives you 'a firm bum'. It's the best incentive I've heard to get more women on bikes.

As my wife rarely has a pot if tea brewing when I get home she might as well come out with me....

The first time my wife saw a pair of bibshorts, she uttered two words: "Borat. Mankini."

My mate's missus walked in on him getting ready for a ride, to see him in bibshorts, a HRM chest-strap, and a pair of armwarmers. For a minute she thought he was Liza Minelli.

"Do you really need to go for a ride today? I thought we could go to Ikea/paint that room/drive somewhere nice for the day/watch some nonsense on TV."
"Yes, I really do."

The first time you get spotted in just your bib shorts - That's not awkward, oh no.

A direct quote from my girlfriend: "I can't remember the last time I saw you in normal clothes. You're always either naked or in cycling gear."

They missed another advantage.

You'll be able to borrow his car a lot.

Not a good idea to show them your helmet immediately too.

Riding with your date is crap when they can't keep up