CThis week Vote with Your Feet shares bicycle dating tips from members of the Chainlink (www.thechainlink.com), a Chicago online bicycle community
- great ideas for heating up your winter commute:
http://votewithyourfeetchicago.blogspot.com/

Keep on walking, biking and transit-ing,

John Greenfield

 

Chainlinkers' tips for finding love in the bike lane

by John Greenfield

[This piece also runs in momentummagazine, www.momentumplanet.com. Thanks to cyclists fromthechainlink.org, a Chicago online bike community for sharing theirbike dating ideas.]

There’s something very romantic about winterbiking: the snug feeling of being warmed from within as you pedal; that“winter spirit” camaraderie of hanging out with other cyclists; and thehushed beauty of back streets after a snowfall. It’s an especially nicetime to meet someone special to share pedal-powered adventures andcoziness afterwards, but these two-wheeled dating tips work any time ofyear.

If you’re going through a dry spell, check listings forbike events in your area and show up for lots of them.Conversation-paced rides like Critical Mass, neighborhood tours and barcrawls are particularly good for meeting like-minded people. I’vewitnessed several love connections being made on the Tour de Tiki ridesI lead, pedaling to Polynesian-themed pubs (although not on the ride pictured below).



Whileon these events, be sure to chat with members of your target datingdemographic. If you hit it off with someone, wait until the end anddiscreetly ask if they'd like to get coffee or a drink afterwards, orgo for a bike ride in the future. If it's the latter, exchange numbers.

Preparationand patience are key for an enjoyable bike date, especially if theother person is a newbie cyclist. Bring along flat-fix stuff, snacksand an extra raincoat for your companion, just in case. Figure out aquiet side street route to the restaurant, theater or club in advanceso you’ll be able to have relaxed conversation while you ride. Let theslower person lead, and discuss stoplight preferences in advance so youyour date won’t be scowling after you blow a red.

If all goeswell, you might get to kiss your companion goodnight after escortinghim or her home. Smooching while both partners are straddling theirbicycles in the moonlight can be oddly romantic, but necking inbalaclavas is not recommended.

A few more ideas to get the wheels of love spinning:

· Keep an eye out for stickers and spoke cards on bikes and use those at conversation starters.

· A great winter bike date (and SAD [Seasonal Affective Disorder]-buster): pedaling to your local tropical plant conservatory.

· Make laminated calling cards that double as spoke cards and offer them to bicyclists you’d like to know better.

·If you meet a transit rider for a date and want continue on to anothervenue together, bring your bike along on the bus or train, or put it ina cab’s trunk.

· Working at a bike shop is a great way to meet (but not hit on!) cute cyclists.