Determined bikers find ways to smash 5000-mile target

Lockdown may have put the brakes on big-distance rides for a few months, but plenty of #ride5000miles members have wasted no time getting back in the saddle and are already smashing the high-mileage mission.

With a year to hit the 5000-mile distance target, some have used a mix of leisure rides, commuting and two-wheeled coronavirus volunteering to close in on the total.

Related articles on MCN

• Born-again biker commits to R5K challenge
• R5K members share their best post-lockdown rides
• R5Ker gets back to biking following two-year break

“You’ve just got to grab the opportunity where you can,” says 26-year-old Hayden Young, who’s already covered 6460 miles since the start of 2020. “Even if the skies are grey and there’s a bit of dampness in the air, adjust your plans and ride accordingly.”

Using his bike year-round for commuting and pleasure, petrochemical worker Hayden had already seen off 500 miles during the first week of January – visiting Cheddar Gorge on his BMW R1250GS.

“I’ve been trying to get out as much as possible,” he continued. “It gives you a little bit of freedom when you’re riding to and from work and it helps keep you happy!”

Another rider smashing the figure is Claygate commuter, James Enderby, 50, who’s hit 5300 miles on his Yamaha Tracer 700 while commuting in all weathers.

“I do enjoy it, but it’s a tool first,” James explained. “It’s probably the highlight of the day, really – riding to work and riding home on it. It doesn’t matter what the weather is doing, it’s still brilliant even when it rains!”

James is now considering tackling some serious adventures, admitting: “I’ve often looked at those wonderful tours in the Himalayas and it always appeals.”

Elsewhere, Operations Director, Andy Storey, from Andover, has packed in 10,000 miles of exploring on his Triumph Tiger 1200 and Kawasaki ZZR1400, as well as his previous Triumph Tiger Explorer XRT, which had racked up almost 60,000 miles in three-and-a-half years.

“I think the secret to it for me is using it for work,” Andy told MCN. “I don’t quite understand why more people don’t use a motorcycle for work because it’s a good form of transport and cuts through the traffic.”