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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Serious? Do men know the slightest about women

335 replies

Gothamgirl1970 · 29/08/2020 03:19

Posting here for traffic and opinions.

As it’s 3 am and I am posting it’s because I simply am perplexed and need the hive mind.
Dating apps: presumably a person joins up because they would like to meet someone for company, to find love, just a shag or probably 100 other reasons I can’t contemplate this late.
I’m not sure if this holds true for all age groups but what I’ve observed is in men 46-58. In the profile area you can post some photos if you wish. A lot of men do but write no bio which tells me nothing and essentially they are just a body.
Here’s my serious question. Approximately 60% of men with photos lead the opening photo of themselves In Lycra gear with a helmet and sunglasses on, a bit of mud displaying their bicycle with pride. In many cases all 3 photos will be man and bike. Mid flight, crossing some finish line etc.
I know lots of women who are also befuddled by why a man would think bike photos would interest any woman in him at all. Shouldn’t they put a photo that shows the face, and is in a friendly happy pose?
What is it these cycle mad men are trying to convey? I cycle most of the time so I won’t have any time to spend with you? I want a woman who will cycle with me ? Look at my bike it’s impressive? I look decent in Lycra?
Please help. My friends and I are dying to know why they do this and what they are trying to communicate and further who are they thinking they can attract with this?

AIBU to not have to look at literally hundreds of cycling photos?

OP posts:
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7
Goatinthegarden · 29/08/2020 19:10

@inickedyourbiro I enjoyed that analogy and am busy analysing DH based on his bikes. He keeps them a long time, maintains them well, chooses good quality but isn’t too ostentatious and always buys within his means. Hopefully bodes well for me!

I haven’t OLD for ten years, but I Know plenty of happy relationships that met online so like to remain positive that there are lots of lovely people from both sexes on there looking to form lovely relationships. Don’t give up!

ForrestTrump · 30/08/2020 00:36

I had a really awkward date years ago where she was a lot bigger than in her photos. They were a mix of headshots and photos taken two years previous from before she stopped the gym. Was curvy in her pics but plain rotund in person.

I'm quite into fitness and the moment she got out the taxi I knew I didn't fancy her. Felt a bit deceived but didn't want to hurt her feelings so I just tried to be the most boring git imaginable lol. Thankfully she texted next day to say she liked me but didn't think we clicked.

Angelofdeath · 30/08/2020 05:50

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GoodBoyDoggy · 30/08/2020 05:58

A man once told me that he went on a date expecting a Black lady & a White lady turned up!*
😂 this takes the biscuit!

Angelofdeath · 30/08/2020 06:12

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GoodBoyDoggy · 30/08/2020 06:21

I don't know how you could meet someone after misleading them. The cheek!

Aridane · 30/08/2020 07:13

Men have no interest in pandering to women because most of them think they should be accepted just as they are.

Women feel they need to improve themselves, market themselves, lose weight, put on makeup, remove every hair from eyebrows down because they feel like they aren't enough.

Most men just go tada, here I am, fat, useless, ugly, sweaty, self obsessed, bike obsessed or whatever they are and some poor deluded woman will take them on anyway.

I think I prefer the male approach

Aridane · 30/08/2020 07:16

@inickedyourbiro

I have a b-twin bike from Decathlon. Does that mean I’m undateable?!?

OngoingOmnishambles · 30/08/2020 09:00

I work for a company where middle age men are 50% of our customers. Over time I've moved myself off that product line to the other as I just don't want to deal with them. They are unbelievably arrogant and it's actually totally put me off men over 40. I used to think women who didn't like men were weird but am now one of them.

Aweebawbee · 30/08/2020 09:08

Right, I've got the solution!

How about we set up a dating site where, instead of putting up your photo, you have to share your browsing history. I think that would tell me everything I needed to know.

Angelofdeath · 30/08/2020 09:53

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Zaphodsotherhead · 30/08/2020 11:39

@Aweebawbee

Right, I've got the solution!

How about we set up a dating site where, instead of putting up your photo, you have to share your browsing history. I think that would tell me everything I needed to know.

I'm an author currently deep in the throes of writing a vampire novel.

That's me undateable.

Hangingover · 30/08/2020 11:41

Fish photos are weirder.

Angelofdeath · 30/08/2020 12:24

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

inickedyourbiro · 30/08/2020 12:47

[quote Aridane]@inickedyourbiro

I have a b-twin bike from Decathlon. Does that mean I’m undateable?!?[/quote]
No it means you did your research to get a decent bike without paying silly money. Top marks from me. Road, hybrid or mountain?

Aridane · 30/08/2020 13:43

Road bike - but I’ve swapped the tires for fatter puncture resistant / proof tires!

somthinginthewoodshed · 30/08/2020 17:54

DancingCatGif is indeed spot on. Most men are completely pathetic. Their egos are so weak they’re afraid to let themselves be seen as they are - we’d run a mile, so they get themselves up in Lycra (to let us see what wonderful bodies they have)🤣🤣) and hide their faces. Sorry but I’ve been cynical about men most of my life and have very little reason to change that view. The only decent one I know is my son in law.

Helenmc0605 · 30/08/2020 18:05

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winniestone37 · 30/08/2020 18:12

Hold on, man loves cycling- Obviously thinks it’s a relevant part of character- Posts on dating website. Women scrolling through website isn’t interested and feels man needs to be berated and shamed as photos is not to her liking. Women thinks man has problem. You sound ridiculous. If more the images/bios/men that don’t do anything for you and find ones that do. Spend less time blaming men on MN.

stuckdownahole · 30/08/2020 18:31

I agree with previous comments - he's indirectly communicating i) that he has a hobby that he spends a lot of time on and ii) he likes to keep fit and would value that in a partner.

Also, as a fairly typical middle-aged male, I just don't have many photos of myself. If he's the same, the best shots he has are probably from the day a photographer turned up to his cycling club.

By the way, that explains the prevalence of fish photos - you pay for a day's deep-sea fishing and the package includes a photo of you holding a big fish which the tour guide will take with your phone, so you have it stored. I've got lots of pics of the day I visited an elephant sanctuary, for the same reason.

cakewench · 30/08/2020 18:38

Ok I admit I haven't read all 5 pages but, how about the pictures of men with fish they've caught? I'm not sure if it's a thing here or just in the USA, but I've seen a lot of pictures posted from dating sites on FB and a huge percentage of men Over A Certain Age seem to feature fish Confused

inickedyourbiro · 30/08/2020 18:57

@Aridane

Road bike - but I’ve swapped the tires for fatter puncture resistant / proof tires!
You sound thoroughly sensible. I have a sensible bike too and a flash wanker bike, which men on other flash wanker bikes like to make nice comments about at traffic lights. The project bike currently is in no fit state to be seen in public.

This means I'm crap in bed, having a mid-life crisis, and useless at DIY - all true

ThingsThatMakeYouGoHmmmmmmmmm · 30/08/2020 20:53

Woman - how tall are you ? Perfectly fine. Man - How much do you weigh ? Burn the creep. Pictures of men with bikes.....what about pics of women with cats ? Red flag !!!!!

FelicisNox · 30/08/2020 21:16

It's clearly a "look at me all fit and cycling and not over the hill" projection.

It wouldn't work on me: my health is shocking (so I don't want a health freak rubbing my nose in it thanks) and I HATE cyclists (and I don't even drive).

SurroundedByIdiotsEverywhere · 30/08/2020 21:48

Men & Women post rubbish photos...

Men: Awful lycra photos - They want to show they are active but shows awful bulges!

Women: Photos of when they were 5 stone lighter and caked in makeup!

Works all ways!