Cavalry Division

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FROM TWO WHEELS TO FOUR LEGS

 

Who would have thought that there was a similarity between riding a motorcycle and riding a horse…!!!! Let’s face it a motorcycle has an ECU for a brain and an engine for a heart with the rider in full control of the direction of travel. A horse, on the other hand, has a real brain and a real heart.  The brain can sometimes disagree with the rider in more ways than one with regards the direction of travel.

 

Why the comparison? Well, I was recently in London and had the lucky fortune of visiting the Household Cavalry at the Knightsbridge Barracks in the West End of London. The Invitation to the regiment was extended to me by the Regimental Corporal Major Spencer B Taylor Esq., on the auspices of viewing the very traditional changing of the guard between the two divisions of the regiment, the Life Guards and the Blues and Royals. On arrival, I was extremely impressed to see a plethora of motorcycles parked on campus. A little investigation as to why so many machines were in one place was needed.

 

The answer was…Commuting.  That was basically the main reasons for all the different machines; Harley Davidson’s, Yamaha R6’s, Honda Fireblades all the way down to Vespa’s and scooters. They were all there. I was lucky enough to see the change of the guard take place and then I was able to pin down Rupert Hackman, AKA Gene to his pals, a Staff Corporal on the Riding Staff of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment.

 

Rupert rides a Yamaha R6 into work, and then rides a beautiful Cavalry Black horse standing at around 16.5 hands high on his day job.

 

AABikes: Q: How long have you been riding?

 

Gene: 2 years.

 

AABikes: Tell me about the commute how long and where from?

 

Gene: I come in from where the majority of the lads come from, Windsor down the M4, about 25 miles away. It’s about a 40 minute drive in a car at around 6am, however, in the evening it can take anywhere up to 3 hours depending on the traffic. That’s why I ride a bike. I can do it in no time.

 

AABikes: Why does a bike differ here in the U.K from a car commute?

 

Gene: Well, firstly we can filter through the traffic here. I can miss every single traffic jam from here to home. Also, we don’t have to pay the £8.00 (depending on the exchange rate can total $16.00) congestion charge on a bike, and I save a fortune on petrol. The only thing is I get wet when it rains every other day.

 

AABikes: Have you seen a relief in the traffic since the congestion charge was put in place?

 

Gene: No absolutely not. All it has done is pushed the rush hour to before 7am. It comes into place at 7am and people stay later at work until after 6pm when it is finished. It has made travelling home on a Friday afternoon more enjoyable because I think more people are cramming in more hours in the week and working from home on a Friday.

 

AABikes: Why did you choose to commute on an R6?

 

Gene: Recommendation from the Farrier I bought my original bike off. I did a direct access test which enabled me to ride any size of motorcycle after passing my test, so I jumped straight onto the R6 and loved everything about it.

 

AABikes: Is there any similarities between your motorbike and your work mode of transport - a horse?

 

Gene: Believe it or not yes! I only passed my test 2 years ago and balance and direction from the horse passed over directly to my bike riding. You direct a horse with your legs and use your legs, knees and body to direct a motorcycle too. The amount of riding I did helped me learn to ride the bike, I also thought I had nothing to worry about as I could ride a horse, but a horse does have a brain and can sometimes disagree with where you would like it to go, I don’t have that hassle with the bike. On the other hand, a horse has four legs and can’t low side in a corner either.

 

AABikes: Have you taken your R6 onto a track?

 

Gene: No but I do know if I did I would get addicted, I was in the Musical Ride for the horses though does that count?

 

So as you can see, Gene believes he did benefit from his riding skills when he went for his motorcycle test!

 

I would like to thank Regimental Corporal Major Spencer B Taylor for the invitation, and Rupert Hackman for giving me his time while sitting in the NCO’s mess hall.  The changing of the guards is one of the most impressive traditions in the British Army.

 

For more information about the Household Cavalry go to "Motorcycle News - AllAboutBikes.com"

 

 

 

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1st Cavalry Division Vietnam 1967