RAPID STORIES - JULIAN
“It’s being the best you can, that’s what it’s about - never stop learning.”
It takes passion, commitment, and courage to be a great rider and at 71 years old, Julian has all of these by the tank full. A BIKEMASTER qualified rider, who despite breaking his back in an off-road accident last year, is still a regular RAPID track day rider, where he is usually one of the fastest out there! He embodies all that it is to be RAPID.
How long have you been riding?
Since I was 16. It started with a Lambretta - because I didn’t know any better - and then I worked my way up through different bikes.
And have you been riding ever since?
I’ve stopped and started. I commuted a lot when I lived in London and biking was the way to do it. I enjoyed my riding, but I never rode for pleasure. When I stopped commuting 9 years ago and my old GS rusted away, I started to miss it and wanted to do it again.
What was your journey like coming back to riding?
Because I’d been off the road for a while, I booked a BIKEMASTER course with RAPID. I used to be an idiot hooligan, and through RAPID I learned that there are ways of doing it that are ‘rapid’, but are safe.
You’ve done our BIKEMASTER course, but you’re also a regular at our track - what is it you like about it?
It’s a brilliant place to really put the bike through its places and learn what it can do. I don’t corner on the road like I corner on the track, but if I ever had to, I know it’s there.
And you broke your back recently? For a lot of people, that would have ended their riding career.
It ended my off-road career. But it hasn’t put me off - I’d just rather not fall off.
And you’re obviously coming back again and again to train, what is it that drives that? Is it a mission to be the best you can be?
I suppose it is- I love feeling like I’ve done it well, and if I’m faster than other people then that’s icing on the cake. But it’s about feeling that I’ve done it right and done it well. It’s being the best you can- that’s what it’s about. I never stop learning.
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