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Are you (more) a biker or a traveler? Are you (more) a biker or a traveler?
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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



Poll: (More) a biker or a traveler? Or a 4WDer or a traveler? (vote only one, pls)
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(More) a biker or a traveler? Or a 4WDer or a traveler? (vote only one, pls)

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  #1  
Old 4 May 2020
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Location: Tallinn, Estonia
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Probably biker first, traveller second.

Bikes were my first form of transport and remained so for about 13 years before work required me to buy a car too, but bikes remained. Bike trips were once a year and one year that translated to a fabulous 3mth trip to South America.

However, since then my bike travelling is not something frequent sadly. In fact nor has riding been. Over the last few years my annual riding dropped from close to 30K km a year whilst between commutes, Sunday rides and trips in the UK to a mere 200km last year.

Having kids, a place to keep in the country and dogs have all meant that the bike was almost never an option and before I knew it, the Estonian winter was already back on the horizon.

This year, the opportunity may exist and I'm ceasing it!
All we need is for the road borders to open!
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(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)
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  #2  
Old 13 May 2020
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I have never known how to answer this question and still don't but I have gone from describing myself as a motorcyclist who cycles to a cyclist who motorcycles, but still a traveller.
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  #3  
Old 7 Aug 2020
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I'd like to update my original answer (whatever it was) to indicate that I'm no longer much of either. Mostly, I sit around at home and wonder whether I'll be too old and decrepit to motorcycle or travel by the time I'm again permitted to do one or the other.

Needlessly glum, I know. Originally, however, I was supposed to be packing for Tajikistan right about now.
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  #4  
Old 7 Aug 2020
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Quote:
Originally Posted by markharf View Post
I'd like to update my original answer (whatever it was) to indicate that I'm no longer much of either. Mostly, I sit around at home and wonder whether I'll be too old and decrepit to motorcycle or travel by the time I'm again permitted to do one or the other.
You and me both. Each ache and pain I didn't have yesterday just makes the slippery slope just that little bit steeper. All my plans for this year - even the ones I thought 'yeah, yeah, even with the virus I'll be able to do that' - have ended up in the dustbin of broken dreams. We even booked a country cottage miles from anywhere for a family get away in Sept and now we can't do that. Nothing to do with the virus - not directly anyway. Our daughter's hospital work shifts have been moved around because of preparation for virus phase 2 and her holiday dates didn't make it out of intensive care. I'm still hoping I can at least get to France but UK restrictions for travel there seem to be on a knife edge.

You could always pop along to Sturgis as a consolation trip - that seems to be in full swing at the moment. Until they all start coughing anyway.
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  #5  
Old 24 Oct 2020
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May I interject into the glumfest?

Whatever your position on the virus, and I doubt many would disagree we need to be somewhere between sensible and cautious depending on age and health, in England we fortunately remain free of the utter stupidity they have elsewhere. Amazon must love the Welsh Junta's ban on supermarkets selling books and underwear and the Garda are burning up hard earned good will with cordons every 3 miles.

There is nothing to stop us popping out for a couple of tank fulls, helmet on being as good as a mask, take your own food (what we used to call a picnic) , ride carefully, visit the empty corners of this green and rather soggy land. I can appreciate the effects on key workers, my wife is working silly hours making sure people get their furlough cash and business grants, so priority is having a G&T ready at five past five, but getting out will keep you sane. Sanity will make the whole thing better for everyone and coming out ride ready improves your chances.

This does indeed possibly make me a biker now, but I aren't dressing like one of the Village People until they have a theme night down the pub (and then I'm going as the Soldier because doing the Actionman Eagle eyes gets a laugh).



Andy
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  #6  
Old 22 Mar 2023
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If I had to emphasise one aspect I suppose it would be "biker", since I was a biker long before long distance travel, and given that I'm not as young as I was I expect to be a biker long after it's wise to go long distance travelling on my own.

But again, there's bikers and there's bikers. I don't get those people who want to do massive daily mileages, all on tarmac, and stay in plush hotels in the evening. You could do that much closer to home, and "been there" bragging rights are so boring unless you've actually experienced something more than a grey ribbon in front of you all day. Take time to smell the flowers, you can be a biker and still be a traveller.
Last edited by Tomkat; 23 Mar 2023 at 16:39.
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  #7  
Old 23 Mar 2023
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Originally Posted by Tomkat View Post
If I had to emphasis one aspect I suppose it would be "biker", since I was a biker long before long distance travel, and given that I'm not as young as I was I expect to be a biker long after it's wise to go long distance travelling on my own.

But again, there's bikers and there's bikers. I don't get those people who want to do massive daily mileages, all on tarmac, and stay in plush hotels in the evening. You could do that much closer to home, and "been there" bragging rights are so boring unless you've actually experienced something more than a grey ribbon in front of you all day. Take time to smell the flowers, you can be a biker and still be a traveller.
So you don't have an Iron Butt then This topic has been going on so long I think we're well into the next generation. I think I said something about it but so long ago now that my opinion has bound to have changed. So traveller or biker? These days I find myself using any of my bikes less and less for short trips and it's more the journey than the ride that attracts me. It has to be something worth doing or I'll take the car / bus / lace up trainers. Having said that, even if (when) the travel insurance people price me off the road to nowhere I'll still keep a bike or two but they'll be for fine weather pleasure riding. So, still a foot in each camp but most of my weight is tilting onto the traveller side.
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  #8  
Old 29 Mar 2023
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My ten year old answer hasn't really changed.

Don't do leather stuff, be it one piece baby suit or black with studs, so still think motorcyclist is a better description than biker. That said, a clear road and suitable bike is still a fun way to pass a few hours.

I don't actually get to travel much. When I do it's a case of tools for the job. I actually quite like trains, you get to have a and not worry about parking. Motorcycles can be both fun and a tool on the right journey though. I certainly aren't one for slogging motorways on a bike just because I've fixed on that mode of transport, I'll never buy a Goldwing.

If the two choices I'd pick "traveller" just because I have no desire to join a patch club.

Andy
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  #9  
Old 6 Jun 2023
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Are you (more) a biker or a traveler?
Trains hey Andy!

I have spent weeks trundling around Japan on local country trains just watching the scenery roll by - Kirin Beer and bento box at hand

Life’s simple pleasures


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