A Fun, Fit Bike Date By the Beach
Do you and your partner frequently find yourselves stuck in a rut when it comes to date night? Opting to #NetflixAndChill over doing something exciting, simply due to a lack of inspo or preparation?
The hubs and I do.
We’re often too tired after a long week to get gussied up on Friday night, and usually find ourselves walking over to our same old sushi spot.
With Valentine’s Day on the horizon, I decided it was time to break our boring streak and try something new.
We both enjoy leading an active lifestyle and like to plan outings that incorporate more than sitting around, stuffing our face. Don’t get me wrong — that part is of supreme importance — but I like to work for my meals.
Last weekend we scored a pair of super cool bikes from Solé Bicycles in Venice and it was immediately apparent how we’d infuse some excitement into our weekend bonding — a bike date by the beach!
Studies show that working out with a partner increases performance and that trying new activities together enhances relationship quality.
Saturday morning, we picked up our chic new bikes from Solé’s Venice shop and made our through the city.
First stop, Gjusta bakery + cafe on Sunset Ave.
I’d been told this popular eatery was frequented by the Westside’s hippest crowd and I was dying to see what all the fuss was about.
No sooner had we parked our bikes and sauntered up to the deli counter than Jake Gyllenhaal and his bro-in-law Peter Sarsgaard strolled through the joint.
Being a former entertainment reporter and lifelong Gyllenhaal fan, this sighting was pure gold for me — I tried my best to close my gapping jaw and act nonchalant in front of my date/husband who was less than impressed by my school girl giddiness.
In addition to its potential for celeb sightings, Gjusta proved to be a stellar restaurant with its incredibly delicious, healthy eats.
I ordered the scrumptious Grain Bowl which included sautéed greens, fermented vegetables (yay, probiotics!), and a soft-boiled egg, while the hubs got a Lox Bialy.
After breakfast we continued our beachside ride, taking the boardwalk from Venice past the Santa Monica Pier.
The ride gave us time to digest our food and enjoy the sights, and by the time we made it to our favorite stretch of beach, we were ready for the next portion of the day date: a quick Couple’s HIIT Workout.
We swapped our date wear for activewear and hit the sand for a little cardio to finish off the afternoon.
We got in a great sweat sesh and enjoyed a beautiful ride back as the sun set over the ocean.
We had such a blast on our biking date that we’ve decided to do it again this weekend on Valentine’s Day.
This time we plan to bike from Santa Monica to Manhattan Beach and back. It’s a whopping 26 miles, but the lavish lunch we’ve got planned post-bike should provide enough motivation to make it through (fingers crossed).
Want to have your own fun, fit biking date by the beach? Solé Bicycles are not only super stylish, they’re also incredibly lightweight — only 25 lbs. Check out my bike — The Whaler — and the husband’s bike — El Tigre — on Solé’s website.
You can also rent bikes for pretty cheap along the boardwalk.
Like the fashion from this post? Shop the looks. >>
FIT FASHION
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On me: Adidas Daybreaker Hoodie // Adidas Seven-Eighths Tights //Adidas Ultra Boost Running Shoes // Jonathan Adler Positano Sunglasses On the Hubs: Nike Track Pants // Lululemon Shirt (similar here)
DATE FASHION
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On me: BCBG Sweater Dress (on sale!) // Stella & Dot New Moon Necklace + Arc Pendant // Stella & Dot Hudson Tote // Jonathan Adler Sunglasses // Lace Up Booties (similar here) On him: J Brand Jeans Kane Slim Fit // J.Crew Long Sleeve Tee (similar here)
Stay tuned this week for a video of the Couple’s HIIT Workout we did on the beach.
Also — if you’re single, this V-day and looking for a like-minded, fitness-loving partner, I’ll be sharing a very cool new way to find love on the blog later this week!
Weigh In: What are your plans for Valentine’s Day? Do you and your partner like to workout together?
*Disclosure: The bicycles in this post were provided by Solé.
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says:
You haven’t been married long enough to fall into the same old routine yet lol!! Looks like a fun date
Whitney English says:
My husband said the same thing after reading this and scolded me for making us look so lame haha! I blamed the rut but it’s really just my obsession with sushi that has us in that routine :)
Patti Cakes says:
How fun! My husband and I have been thinking about getting bikes, and you have motivated me to act on it!
Whitney English says:
Awesome!! I hope you do – share some pics!
Rena says:
Love your dress! Also what a creative date idea, will try this in NYC in the springtime :)
Whitney English says:
Thanks Rena! I’m obsessed with this dress :) So comfy/casual and great for day to night! Hope you can enjoy the date idea when things warm up over there!! xo
Barely Vegan says:
I love this! My husband and I are moving to LA and one of the MAIN reasons is because we want to be more active year-round. We like to bike ride, hike, swim, and I daydream about driving to the desert on a clear night and star gazing. Maybe bring some food with us. Those are our favorite kind of dates so your suggestions are right up our alley! I am Evernoting this post and will be checking out all the places you mentioned when we get there :)
Whitney English says:
You are going to LOVE LA then :) We’re still trying to get around the the desert stargazing trip ourselves – hopefully this spring!
Harry says:
I understand people who choose the online dating option for themselves. And on this issue, I found an excellent article on brightbeginnings-eip.org which contains all the pros and cons of online dating sites. Read if you are interested in this topic and have some free time. Have a nice day, everyone!