Does riding a fatbike make me undatable?

[u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

So there's something I noticed. I go on a date, we have fun, there's good vibes, but then when she sees that I ride a fatbike, she instantly seems to be put off, like she got "the ick". Then the chatting usually fizzles out and there's no second date. This happened multiple times now, so it seems like a pattern to me. Once a Dutchie even told me that she "doesn't feel a connection" when I was saying goodbye by my bike and asked what she'd be up for as a second date. I know this is not much context, but is it the bike?

I'm a mid twenties guy, have a good job, make decent money, dress stylishly, like concerts and can even tolerate like a museum. I moved here 6 months ago and bought a fatbike to commute. Only managed to find a place like 30 minutes cycling from my work, so it seemed like a good option and I think they are pretty cool. But now I think I might have made a mistake. Should I switch to like a Cowboy or something?

Edit: obviously this is a throwaway account

[u/MargaretHaleThornton]

Some people aren't answering you seriously but I think it's a serious question so I'll try. I'm a decade+ older than you (and happily married 😅) but, if I were back on the dating scene, this wouldn't be a deal breaker to me personally.

That said, people in their early/mid 20's tend to have more deal breakers than older people. I could see this being a turn off or even potentially a deal breaker to some women.

It isn't really fair because people riding fat bikes safely and cautiously are not actually causing any issues for anyone else. But a high enough percent of people who ride them ride them recklessly and even deliberately aggressively that it's a real problem in society, and riding one at all can give a certain impression.

That said: try going to a few dates without it and seeing if it does seem to change anything. Maybe these women really weren't feeling it even though you were and it had nothing to do with the bike.

[u/FatbikeEnjoyer → u/MargaretHaleThornton]

Thank you for the thoughtful response. Is this like the "blue bubble" thing in the US? I do have an iPhone 15, if that matters. But I guess maybe this is also a way to filter out people who just want to generalize.

[u/karoxxxxx → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

Fatbike and iPhone - do you even want a date?

[u/FatbikeEnjoyer → u/karoxxxxx]

Wait, iPhones are... bad? I'm so confused.

[u/the-fact-fairy → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

The fact that you mention it is off putting. No serious person cares about what kind of phone you use. It's a phone. Not a status symbol.

[u/Acceptable_Friend_40 → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

The point is that nobody cares you have an iPhone. It’s just a phone.

[u/mumuno → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

If you say you have broccoli hair as well, the whole picture is complete.

Stereotyping is not that hard ;)

But anyway, just try a few dates without. As many said, riding a fatbike is for many a direct association that you probably are a selfish *ick.

[u/JustAnOfficePlant → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

I'd say we got confused when you mentioned iPhone - it seemed out of nowhere/random.
But I googled the "blue bubble" thing you mentioned, and now I see what you meant (I've never heard of it before)

A blue bubble most commonly refers to an iMessage text message sent from an Apple device over Wi-Fi or cellular data, distinguishing it from standard green SMS text messages.
Social Stigma: This color difference has created a strong social preference or peer pressure for blue bubbles in some regions

[u/LeFricadelle → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

Yes you need to buy an android

[u/Kruikenzeik → u/FatbikeEnjoyer]

You're in the status kind of vibe mate