Racer or Rider – what’s your biking DNA?
OK so you’re reading the blogs on the Ride Expeditions website, so there’s a fair chance that you absolutely love bikes. Like some kind of depraved addict, all your spare cash and time goes into supporting your habit – searching out the next hit of motorcycling junk. And we’re just the same – when we’re not riding bikes we’re fiddling with bikes, when we’re not fiddling with bikes we’re reading about bikes, looking at pictures of bikes or watching videos of other people on bikes – it’s an addiction and we can’t live without our regular dose. But though it’s safe to say we share one common obsession, there is a very obvious division in our ranks that comes from our early experiences and motorcycling DNA, and it’s evident in every aspect of our lives. So who are you – Racer or Rider?
Now you might think that once you leave the track behind then this type of thing no longer matters and we all get on with enjoying bikes in the same way, but nothing could be further from the truth. Go on a road run and it’s immediately obvious – those with the race gene still want to be at the front at all times and can’t bear going slow anywhere. If there’s a few racers in the group, it’s not long before a leisurely ride becomes a version of the Isle of Man TT . They might not admit it but winning is still the aim even if it’s not a race. Now it’s not that the riders in the group have always never been on a race track, it’s just that for them the joy was and still is in riding, rather than being consumed with the need to be the fastest or the best.
Take our quiz and find out your biking DNA .
- You are looking to buy a new bike – how do you decide what to buy?
a) You read all the available magazine and online reviews from both British and US sources, test ride the top performers and chose the bike that is the best for your type of riding
b) You shop around a bit to find look for the most competitive deal with the most comprehensive warranty and aftersales service, but then faced with driving 400 miles to save £100, you buy from your local dealer
c) You buy one because you liked the colour
2. Having bought the new bike, what’s the first thing you spend your money
a) You take the bike straight to a suspension specialist and get the bike properly set up. Power means nothing without control
b) A shiny new aftermarket can to replace that ugly fire extinguisher contraption that the manufacturer fitted to meet Euro 4 regulations. Now it sounds great!
c) A purple anodised bolt kit with a matching oil filler cap and brake reservoir lid
3. OK so lets look at your riding kit now – what do you wear on the bike?
a) A selection of old and newish kit and the odd ‘lucky shirt’, but most of the white bits turned grey/brown from years of abuse and washing. Most of your money goes on the bike – clothes do not make you faster
b) A selection of old and new kit, but as you’ve got older you’ve been able to afford better stuff to replace the old suff. Your money is split between the kit and the bike, but you gotta look cool, right? Oh and lots of helmets ….
c) A hi-vis jacket from work, white camo jeans and a flip front helmet
4. One year after purchase, how is you bike looking ?
a) Pretty tired. You’re out on it whenever there’s a spare moment. It’s only twelve months old it already looks like it’s done a five years as a despatch riders winter hack . If it’s a dirt bike, you are running aftermarket plastics, so that when you sell, you’ll list it as ‘never raced – green lane use only’
b) Better than new. What with the new exhaust system, tasteful selection of carbon fibre goodies, shorty levers and uprated brakelines it’s looking great. Would black wheels work?
c) A confusing smorgasborg of anodised parts, eye-watering colours and unnecessary bling
5. On the subject of aftermarket parts, what makes you get the wallet out and exchange cash?
a) Does it make the bike go faster, handle better or give me an advantage over everybody else. If any of the above is a yes, then it’s on the shopping list. And if it makes the bike look better, sound better then that’s good too
b) Does it make the bike look better or sound better or make me look cool ? If any of the above is a yes, it’s on the shopping list. And if it makes the bike go faster, handle better or give me an advantage then that’s good too.
c) Is it shiny or coloured,? If yes, it’s on the list
6. OK so away from bikes and you are at the bar and there’s a huge queue.Do you
a) Fight your way fearlessly through the crowd, head down, elbows out, get to the bar and attract the barman with your ‘thousand yard stare’.
b) You stand patiently in line, slowly edging closer to the front, getting progressively damper as seemingly everyone around you is pushing past with three pints in each hand. Once at the front you wave a damp tenner occasionally saying ‘Umm – I think I’m next’
c) You don’t like bars but really love Starbucks – there’s a long queue, but you pass the time thinking of a silly name to give them to call out when your drink is ready
7. You and a group of mates have organised a session at a karting track. What’s your race strategy ?
a) Although appearing not to care, you watch every heat intently to see the best lines and most importantly, which is the fastest cart. Once racing, you will happily risk killing yourself and all around you to win, never letting the engine drop below maximum revs from start to finish
b) Although appearing to care, you watch every heat with a mounting sense of impending failure, but still try to spot which cart is not the slowest. Once racing, you realise you either got the slowest kart or you really have less skill than you had hoped at driving karts, or possibly both. No worries – you are enjoying the craic.
c) You have no strategy or skill, go stupidly slow, spin out and stop the race with your cart caught up on the tyres.
8. After years away from the track, you enter a local event and end up winning. How did this happen?
a) Talent, skill and determination. You were always a good rider and this just goes to show you’ve still got it. Maybe you should look at starting racing again …
b) Complete flook. There were only three people entered into your class, one didn’t turn up and the other had a mechanical problem and did not finish. But no matter – a win is a win and that trophy is getting pride of place at home!
c) You’ve never raced but have plenty of opinions on how how Marquez isn’t as good as people think
9. You’ve booked up for a road book style rally event with a few riding mates. Do you
a) Try to get away as early as possible and lead throughout the day, First into the lunch stop, first into the fuel stop and you get unfeasibly annoyed if you read the road book incorrectly, get lost and end up being overtaken by other teams. You barely notice the scenery beyond the front of your fender.
b) Set off whenever everybody is ready, stop for photographs, take time to enjoy the scenery and appreciate just how lucky you are to be riding in such a beautiful place. You come in having had a wonderful day on a bike
c) You tag on with a team that was missing a member, but are infuriatingly slow and are the last to be ready again after every single stop.
9. Why do you ride a motorcycle?
a) It’s the best thing in the world
b) It’s the best thing in the world
c) It’s the best thing in the world
So there you go kids – let’s look at the scores to find out where you are on the scale
Mostly a) You are a true racer to the core – every aspect of your life is still about competition and winning . Second is first loser to you. You would dearly love to have had the breaks to have gone professional, and are slightly consumed with regret that you never were.
Mostly b) You are a Rider through and through, and if enthusiasm and love of bike won races, you’d be champion. But the lack or raw speed and talent doesn’t mean you enjoy riding any less – in fact quite the reverse. Unshaclkled from the yoke of competitiveness you just take every ride as it comes and enjoy it.
Mostly c) A bless you – God loves a tryer and you are that guy. OK so maybe if you are that guy you’re not reading this anyway, but motorcycling is a broad church and there’s space for everyone.
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