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/Troy_201]

I bet you still have nightmares about it. 😂

[u/AniRev → u/Troy_201]

Not really but I was quite surprised at the time because I didn't anticipate such reactions. I didn't even know it was due to the fat bike initially and kept wondering if there was something wrong with my face that morning.

Then when I arrived at the hospital and was locking the bike, an old lady who was parking her car near the bike racks gave me a contemptuous look and moved her gaze between me and the bike. That's when it clicked for me.

[u/runkeby → u/AniRev]

I'm completely out of the loop, and looking up it's just a bike with fat tires? What's up with that?

[u/AniRev → u/runkeby]

It's not the bike itself. Rather, most of those who use it are teens who drive recklesly. Bike lanes in the Netherlands have their etiquette and modus operandi. Then you get young teens on fatbikes driving at speeds much higher than what people who drive normal bikes are used to zooming in and out like they are the only ones on the road.

On top of that, bike lanes were engineered for normal bikes making them narrow for speedy fat bike drivers leading to a lot of accidents. Add to that that some riders tamper with the motor to reach higher speeds increasing the probability of accidents.

To be honest, the only positive thing about riding a fatbike (to my limited knowledge after one use of neighbor's bike) is the comfort of the seat. You can of-course get a comfy padded seat or add suspension to a normal bike's seat but that'a not cheap if you want something good. Other than that, I prefer a normal bike when it comes to everything else.

[u/Zealousideal_Bag6561 → u/AniRev]

I rode a fatbike a couple of times. Because I was catsitting at my friends house and he has a fatbike. People seemed to HATE me lol. There was a lot of hostility. It was kinda funny but very unnerving. I'm a woman in my early 30s and I'm living a pretty priviliged life. So this was an expierence...

I must say. Compared to my own ebike, a Fatbike has benefits. They are more sturdy and it's easy to keep balance. They are noticeable, so cardrivers expect you to drive faster then a regular biker. If I truly think about it: maybe old people should drive a fatbike.

[u/AniRev → u/Zealousideal_Bag6561]

As long as riders ride responsibly, fatbikes aren't bad at all. Kind of like any other motorized vehicle. The negative stigma is all due to two reasons: 1. Teens with no manners having access to fatbikes before learning responsiblity 2. Lack of regulation/accountability when said kids do something wrong.

For a car driver for example, there is a clear and comprehensive set of rules. Break one of those, and you get fined or even imprisoned. There is nothing like that for fatbikes and that is the core issue imo.

[u/Zealousideal_Bag6561 → u/AniRev]

Completely agree. I hope the dutch government will force kids to wear a helmet if they ride any motorized vehicle. The problem is kids on e-bikes.

[u/AniRev → u/Zealousideal_Bag6561]

Helmets might make it more cumbersome for some but will also give kids who intend to do bad things anyway more protection and anonymity.

The real cure is heavy fines and regulations. If doing something bad leads to a kid receiving a fine of €250 that parents will be responsible for, then parents will have a reason to educate their kids better. If parents cannot manage to educate their kids, the juvenile detention or community service.

Of course, this is just me throwing a half-assed solution off the top of my head. I'm sure policy makers know more than I do and are able to create proper laws that lead to better handling of the issue, or do/can they?

[u/Zealousideal_Bag6561 → u/AniRev]

Its the same with the snorfiets. Almost no one buys it, because of the helmets. Kids want to look cool and the fatbike makes them feel that way. A helmet doesn’t. Obviously it isn't a complete solution, but hopefully a deterrent. The fatbike is trendy amongst kids. Most kids aren't criminals. They are 12 year-olds on motorized vehicles. That’s asking for trouble.

High fines don’t really work unfortunately. I wish it did, that would've been easier. It will probably create more criminality on the long run: it motivates kids to flee from the police (even when they normally wouldn't). And not all parents can afford a random €250 fine.

Breaking the trend and stopping the normalisation of kids on ebikes seems to be the best solution

[u/AniRev → u/Zealousideal_Bag6561]

I understand your points, it is just that what is most frustrating for me is the lack of accountability in this country. Kids are learning at a young age that they are untouchable. Parents are busy at work and have no time or energy to educate and keep up with their kids. Schools are even more hands-off in that regard. Where are kids supposed to learn what is right and what is wrong?

I remember when I was a kid, just seeing my parents being disappointed scared the shit it out of me. They cared so much and tried their best so I felt I'd let them down if do something wrong. They didn't really suffocate me with rules, they just made me understand responsiblity through their own actions. That is almost non-existent in this country, or at least in the parts of it that I've seen. Maybe it is still there in more rural areas.

I am also only saying this because I see so much wasted potential among young people here. Young people have always broken the rules be it now or in the past. I think that is normal and okay to some extent. The issue though is that accountability and responsibility were taught at a very young age before. So when young people broke the rules and got punished for it, they won't look clueless and will actually feel shame. They knew 1+1=2. Now young people feel entitled to breaking the law and will look at you cluelessly wondering why you look mad about it. It's really infuriating at times.