Declan Kelly, groundsman at St Finian's School, Swords
Your bike? Suzuki Intruder 800
Why this bike? The cruiser type bikes always appealed to me because I'm not a speed merchant and this machine has plenty of poke when I need it.
When did you become a biker? Biking was a late vocation for me. I bought my first bike in 1991, a Suzuki Intruder 125cc and had it for nearly three years, it was a great yoke. When I bought the 800cc Intruder I had to have it restricted until I took the test, which I thought was a joke. The instructor never even checked if it was restricted.
Did you do any rider training? I did the Fingal County Council's Star Rider Training course and found it excellent.
How much is your insurance? It's as good as I'll get at €390.
What do you use your bike for? I use it to commute to work and I don't drive a car. I enjoy going to work on the bike so much I sometimes wish my job was further away!
Have you taken the bike on any trips? Not so far. I hope to head over to the Isle of Man TT next year with a few friends.
Had any accidents? No, never. I've been very lucky to avoid them so far by riding very sensibly.
Does your wife approve of your biking? She's not too keen. I've taken her as a pillion passenger a few times but she wasn't too impressed and I don't think she'll ever really come around to liking it. My daughter Erica likes bikes and she enjoys watching the road racing.
Are you a fan of motorcycle sports? I love pure road racing. I was brought up around it all my life and it's been a big part of my life from a very early age. The Skerries 100 and Killalane races are my favourites. I try to get to as many race meetings as I can. I'm not a big fan of the Moto GP because I think it's too safe, it's not as risky as the road racing which is very exciting to watch and I really admire the racers.
Who is your road racing hero? Richard Britton. His death was very tragic. He was such a normal laid-back and very talented rider. It's a dangerous sport and I can't condone the danger, it must be very hard on the rider's families.
What's your next upgrade? I'm hoping to get a Yamaha Dragster Classic 650 next. I'd like to stick to the cruisers and hopefully go for the Harley someday.
Any tips for safe riding? I think training is of the utmost importance. As you get older you become more safety conscious anyway, because you get past the fast boy racer stage. I think the speed boys give bikers a bad name. It's up to yourself to be seen on the roads because you're responsible for your own safety so you should wear all the right gear.
Any biking issues for the government? The transport minister should introduce the compulsory basic training and open up the bus lanes to bikers. It'd be far safer then filtering through the traffic.
What's that special bond bikers share? I think bikers are a breed apart. We share a certain danger aspect and a sheer love of two wheels.
What's your dream machine? A Harley Davidson Heritage Soft tail.