DIRT ISSUE 145 – MARCH 2014
Words by Mike Rose. Photo by Sam Needham
Who is Rachael Walker?A 20–something YOLO enthusiast working and playing with bikes.
Where do you live?Clitheroe, Lancashire. There’s an award winning sausage shop and a castle.
What’s your job title?I don’t really know. I’ve got a few different hats.
What do you do?In–house lawyer and team manager who also looks after anything sponsorship, events or marketing related.
How long have you been working for Hope?Just under two years.
What’s the worst job you’ve ever had?In my student days cleaning cell’s in the York Courts.
Where’s your favourite place?Keswick.
Where’s your favourite place to ride?Maribor, Slovenia.
When are you happiest?Having a flat out day riding with Adam Brayton and the Worlds Fastest Bus Driver, Bense. XC followed by DH runs, followed by a quick time trial on the road bike.
What makes you angry?Walkers who don’t share the trails.
What makes you happy?Making bike edits with some with the best riders and people in the industry. Watching Alex Rankin filming Adam Brayton and Nico Vink riding flat out was a privilege. Filming Hope’s alternative factory tour with Peaty, Warner, Brayton, Dougie Lampkin, Guy Martin, Donny, Akrigg, Martin Ashton and Rob Jarman – was an experience!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?“Don’t take riding your bike too seriously, it’s supposed to be fun” Woody Hole.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given?You only live once.
What are your extravagances?Bling bikes… I’m lucky to have a few.
Who do you admire?Riders like Nico Vink who sacrifice making money to ride day in, day out. The bike industry needs riders like him to keep moving forward.
What’s the most important thing in your life?The usual… family. But seriously, it would be Yorkshire tea and my bikes, I couldn’t live without them.
What would you never throw away?Lindt chocolate.
What’s your greatest fear?Wet northshore.
What’s the first thing you do in the morning?Check the Hope Insta, Facebook and Twitter. #loser.
What’s the last thing you do at night?Check the Hope Insta, Facebook and Twitter. #loser.
What would be your dream meal?A pizza at the bottom of the Maribor DH track – the pizzas are legendary and the track is wild.
What things do you always carry with you?Phone, bankcard, Garmin watch – never know when you might get a QOM.
Do you have any regrets?That I didn’t start racing as a junior.
What’s the most important lesson that you’ve learnt?Trust your fuel gauge. When it says you have 10 miles left in the tank, it’s not lying.
If you could have dinner with three famous people (dead or alive) who would they be?Shaun White, Lance Armstrong and Sherlock Holmes.
Who is your favourite rider?Martin Ashton, one of the most skilled riders I’ve seen on a bike. Adam Brayton, flat out, 100% committed, and Andreu Lacondeguy, don’t really need to explain that one.
What’s your favourite bike product of all time?Hope Pro 2 Evo hub – just because it’s awesome.
What’s your least favourite bike product of all time?Ebikes, they shouldn’t be legal.
What’s your favourite motto or saying?Hard work gets results.
What saying do you use too much?“That’s the thing…”
What bike are you riding at the moment?Specialized Demo 8, it’s amazing. There might also be a nice Yeti SB66C and Giant TCR lurking around…
What was the last magazine you read?TMX News – we have a lot of trials riders at Hope.
What are you listening to at the moment?Roger Sanchez.
What one thing would you change about yourself?Try to get less stressed about race runs.
What are your weaknesses?Getting psyched–out by tracks that I’ve nailed myself on.
What does the future hold for you?More of the same, life is pretty good. More riding, racing and filming with some of the best riders in the world.
What does the future hold for mountain biking?The future’s bright, the future’s green!
How would you like to be remembered?As a bit of a risk taker – I’ve taken a few life changing ones.
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