Mixed signals, ask out again?

Hi all,

I [25F] have been talking to a guy [25M] I met on tinder for over half a year. We had casual sex a few times in the first month, and then I moved abroad for 5 months. During this period we kept in touch over text on an almost daily basis, but it went from sexual (nudes etc) to only friendly / just banter.

I've been back for a month now and when I just got back I asked him out on a date. At first he replied with that he believes "if someone is the one for you, you would know from the outset", and when I disagreed he said "it would be such a shame if we found out it wasn't it and we would stop talking because of it", he later mentioned "he is kinda seeing someone" (in those words, never mentioned anything like this before).

I decided to stop persuing but interestingly enough he kept initiating conversation daily. He sends me pictures of what he is doing, pictures of him, sometimes makes remarks that I interpret as flirty. We went cycling (our common passion) 3 times since then, on his ask. One of those times we were gone for 12 hours. When we're together it's so obvious we have a great vibe, we're both incredibly at ease. Nothing physical has happened except for a goodbye hug (but these are corona times after all).

I'm torn whether I should make a move again and ask him for a non-cycling related activity. Or have I made my stance clear enough and let it rest.

I think it would be a collosal waste to not further explore our connection. Probably good to mention he hasn't had a gf in 6 years. I think he's either (1) incredibly shy and doesn't know how to date, or (2) thinking we can actually just be friends and this is his way of doing it, or (3) knowingly leading me on because he likes my attention.

I'd love to hear your opinions.