The first question is, "What is a hard rider?" As I see it is a personal thing and depends on what you are used to.
I simply don't have the time with a young family to go out for epic +100 mile rides, or do I have the chance to round up stunning mountain passes. And for some being a hard rider might just be getting back on the bike for the first time in years.
To me it is about doing the commute, I know that it doesn't sound that hard, the distance is only 11 miles, or depending on how I am feeling anything up to 18 miles. Not far I know, but the hard thing is that it is every morning.
So rain or shine, wind or snow, hot or cold.... it just has to be done. There are mornings when I get to the office and everything is cold, and then the pain when you step in to the hot shower is not pleasant. And to cap it all you then have to do a day in the office before putting the kit back on and getting home again.
So being a hard rider is about just doing what you do, getting out there and enjoying your bike, on your own or with your friends.
Does my commute make me a hard rider? Probably not in the eyes of some, but to me I am just happy doing what I am doing.
