Who’s got more style, more gear, better excuses, and fewer fails on camera? We asked the same set of questions to two riders from our Horsefeathers office crew and two team riders to find out who cares about what—what they wear, what they forget, and what they (don’t) post. We were curious whether the ride itself matters most, the gear, or maybe just the post-ride beer. Get ready for a bunch of honest answers from both camps. Find out if you’re more of an office warrior or a core shredder!
1. Do you always grab a post-ride beer... or maybe even two?
Michal: Back in the day, when I was younger, a post-ride beer – and usually not just one – was a regular part of every ride with the crew. Some of those returns after the final pit stop were... pretty interesting. These days, there’s not as much time, so riding usually goes without it. But there are still bike trips where beer is a must. Like the traditional season-enders with the Přerov crew.
Tomáš: I was off alcohol for a long time, so now I occasionally have a beer after riding – but usually only after the kids are bathed and asleep.
2. Do you pack up and head home as soon as it starts raining?
Michal: It depends on the ride. If I’m out with the family on a local trail, we usually call it off when it rains—or don’t even head out. But if it’s a weekend trip that I’ve struggled to squeeze into the calendar, then I ride in any weather. I throw on the Peyton jacket and make the most of that planned time.
Tomáš: It depends where and what I’m riding. At the skatepark, I usually call it a day, but on trails or in the bikepark, we ride no matter the conditions. Riding in the wet is part of the training too.
3. Do you think e-bikes shouldn’t count as “real” riding?
Michal: On the contrary, it’s a new sport and opens up new possibilities. And definitely not just for retirees. I’m not a die-hard e-bike fan who ditched their regular bike, but for the occasional ride around the neighborhood, it’s great. Less time, more trails.
Tomáš: On the contrary, e-bikes are the best thing ever. I ride with a kid trailer, and thanks to the climbs on an e-bike, I get way more riding done. And yes—tricks work on it too!
4. Have you ever come home from a ride so dirty that even your dog wouldn’t recognize you?
Michal: So many times! :-D I don’t really mind it during the ride, but afterwards… cleaning the bike and all the gear? That’s the real pain.
Tomáš: I don’t even make it home and my dog already knows I’m on the way—waiting by the door. So yeah, no chance of hiding from the dog. :-D
5. Do you always carry a multitool, or do you rely on “someone else”?
Michal: I always have one. But whether I can actually do anything with it is another story. My friends know I’m more of a rider than a mechanic. :-D
Tomáš: I wish I were the type who always has everything ready, but unfortunately, I am not. Tubes, multitool, patches – none of that is really my thing.
6. Have you ever hyped up a buddy to hit a new jump… and then avoided it yourself?
Pepe: For me, it’s usually the other way around. :-)
Vojta: Oh yeah, it happened once—I convinced a buddy to hit a jump, went for it myself too… and ended up in the hospital. :-D Loyal followers will definitely remember the Gap Brothers!
7. Can you stretch an afterbike party till morning and still head out for a ride the next day?
Pepe: These days, not even close—but I used to be pretty good at it back in the day! :-D
Vojta: Oh, for sure! I vividly remember some Blinduro races where we definitely didn’t go to bed early—or sober—and still raced for the win the next day! The key is to get your opponent just as drunk as you. :-D
8. Have you ever taken a “rest day” just because you didn’t feel like getting out of bed?
Pepe: Isn’t that the whole point of a rest day? :-D
Vojta: Definitely not. Sure, I’ve skipped a workout before, but probably never just because I couldn’t get out of bed! More like the opposite—I struggle to take a rest day, even when my coach tells me to.
9. Do you consider tight-fitting clothing a must-have for gravel riding?
Pepe: I’ve lived through the era of skin-tight downhill gear, so nothing really fazes me. Everyone should just ride in whatever works for them.
Vojta: It’s not a must-have for me, but I definitely like wearing lycra for tougher training sessions. At the same time, I enjoy heading out on an easy gravel ride in something more relaxed and loose. After all, a solid FTP is what really matters.
10. Do you believe in the rule: “Better gear = better rider”?
Pepe: Not really, but better gear can definitely help push the limits further sometimes.
Vojta: Honestly, it’s often been the opposite for me! But HF is obviously the exception. :-) Once you’ve got our gear on, you’re at least 3 seconds faster on the RZ!
1. Have you ever brought something totally random on a bike ride?
Terka: Unfortunately, it’s happened to me more than once that I only realized after heading out that I looked like a frog—completely dressed in green, including the socks.
Pavla: At most, flat shoes on SPD pedals.
2. Have you ever posted a video where you had to cut out a fail?
Terka: Nope, I’m not really into filming—let alone editing. :-D
Pavla: People usually enjoy a good fail more than a clean run—so why bother cutting it out? :-D
3. Do you say you ride “just for fun,” but still get annoyed when someone lands a better trick, jump, or trail?
Terka: Of course it’s annoying—every hobby rider wants to have a good run too!
Pavla: Rather than getting annoyed, it motivates me to ride it too or learn how—if it feels at least somewhat doable. But I have to admit, it's slowly shifting into a phase where I’d rather just applaud from the sidelines… for the sake of staying in one piece. :-D
4. Do you own more bike gear than you actually need?
Terka: Yes, but I’m trying to cut it down and stop testing how much my closet can handle.
Pavla: Backup gear for my backup gear? Yep, got plenty of that. :-D
5. Can you fix your bike yourself when something goes wrong?
Terka: I can handle the usual stuff—like tightening a loose brake or changing a tube. But if I snap something off or something breaks completely, that’s when I start asking for help. :-D
Pavla: Yes, I fix most things myself. But I leave suspension and wheel truing to the pros.
6. Do you care more about style on the bike than the ride itself?
Božka: I care less about style and more about having things that are functional, comfortable, and practical. Then it’s just about picking a route and riding.
Adéla: I focus more on the ride itself—my style is all or nothing.
7. Could you survive a weekend in the woods without signal and without a shower?
Božka: A weekend in the woods by the lake without a shower? That’s the best kind of weekend!
Adéla: I can definitely survive without a shower—without signal? That depends.
8. Do you complain about the conditions more often than you probably should?
Božka: I’d say not really—I usually just adapt to the conditions.
Adéla: I don’t complain about the conditions.
9. Do you have more bike photos or videos on Instagram than actual kilometers in your legs?
Božka: My Instagram is a ghost town.
Adéla: I definitely have more kilometers than posts.
10. Have you ever forgotten something really important for a ride?
Božka: I regularly forget everything possible. The usual? Uncharged Garmin, pump, spare tube, topping up sealant, lubing the chain, swapping brake pads… I’m still surprised by the new things I manage to miss on my bike. :-D
Adéla: I once forgot my helmet.
