Although titles and classifications can feel restricting and gatekeep-y, I think it's also important to acknowledge their value when it comes to relating and communicating with other people that might be in the same situation. Even in this post, there are people who have mentioned going through the bi-cycle. It can be a lot less scary and confusing for someone dealing with it if they go online, say "is it normal to flip between what genders you're attracted to?" and then getting a veritable chorus of people saying that it's not only normal, but also has a name.

Of course, then you might also wind up stuck wondering if you really are bisexual because you've never had that experience (which I've also seen and tried to help someone through), so it's definitely a double-edged sword... In the end, gender and sexuality are messy and hardly ever as easy as some crowds want to claim, but that's a realization that I think each individual needs to get to themselves. Trying to force it on others just threatens defensiveness and shutting down communication.

Personally (m), one reason I used to hate it was because it made me feel uncertain about my sexuality. I used to think something along the lines of am I really into guys, or do I just want to be into them for some reason?. But the biggest thing that bothered me was worrying I was being unauthentic with others. I already felt like I was being inauthentic (implicitly lying to since small degree) to straight people. Once I came out as bi, and I felt more strongly attracted to women for a day or two, I started feeling like I was lying to my gay friends, too.

It no longer bothers me. Probably because I've been in a relationship with a guy, or because I'm used to it, or because I just care less about what others would think about how I identify. Or maybe even because I've met more bi folks.

It's just super annoying. I used to be nearly gay nowI have a slight preference for girls, still like guys tho

Thanks for the insight. I'm aware that bisexuals aren't more prone to cheating since I'm bisexual and monogamous myself, but the majority of straight and gay people I talk to have this assumption that all bisexuals experience the bicycle and they avoid bisexual partners for that reason. Physical attraction is the most significant part of sexuality to me (if I'm emotionally but not physically attracted, that person would just be a friend) so the bicycle stereotype of switching attraction between masculine and feminine physiques would imply that I will lose attraction to a partner completely on a scheduled basis. Therefore, I try to challenge the stereotype whenever I see it. But I understand now that the bicycle won't cause problems if the person is most attracted to personality or if the partner's appearance is fluid.