Si King of the Hairy Bikers shares lessons the duo have learned the hard way

Along with best bud Dave Myers, Si has seen just about everything they touch turn to gold. Stage shows sell out, books fly off the shelves and TV series pull in millions of viewers.

Their latest telly outing, Old School With The Hairy Bikers, sees them pair up youngsters from a struggling school with pensioners to see if they can help transform each other’s lives.

It starts on BBC2 Scotland on Tues at 11.45pm (repeated Wed, 7pm) and 9pm in England.

Geordie Si, 48, who survived a brain aneurysm two years ago, is dad to Alex, 26, James, 24, and Dylan, 16.

Si told iN10 the lessons the hairy duo have learned along the way.

You gotta roll with it

Accepting change is always difficult but it’s a challenge that’s worth taking.

That’s been the case with most things in my life. Certainly with Dave and I, our career is always changing and that’s a really positive thing.

You have to roll with it. Not out of control, but just accepting both what you can do something about and what you have no power over.

 

Grab every opportunity

There’s a particular skill to that and it’s one that I sincerely hope that I’ve passed on to my children.

You have to have the foresight and focus to spot an opportunity and take it. It doesn’t have to be some huge life decision.

I’ve done loads of things over the years. I’ve dug roads, stacked shelves and I’ve always managed to notice as things have presented themselves.

I was a locations manager for 20-odd years but work dried up after 9/11 because all the film money stayed in the US.

Dave and I had to reinvent ourselves and we did that as the Hairy Bikers.

The idea came from us but when the opportunity came to make the programmes – it took three years – we grabbed it.

Patience is a virtue I don’t have

It’s something I have to guard against. I see a problem and I want to fix it. I’ve spent most of my life doing that for myself and other people.

I want it fixed and put to bed. Sometimes that’s not possible. You have to wait to see how circumstances unfold and I’m really bad at that.

Dave and I are both men of action who just get on with stuff.

We were used to not being able to mess about in the film industry as time is money and you need to crack on somehow.

That’s definitely transferred into our private lives – sometimes for good and sometimes for ill.

Always have a travel survival kit

Mine includes a jar of Marmite, a Bluetooth speaker, a black bin liner and a shower cap. The Marmite – if you like it of course – is great for snacking on.

The mobile speaker is invaluable as you never know when a party’s going to happen.

The bin liner is great for sticking your head in as a cheap way of keeping yourself dry under the helmet when you’re on the road on the motorbike.

And I’ve learned that the shower cap is perfect for proving bread and helping it rise in the middle of nowhere.

Treat the world you live in with a gentle hand

That’s something I learned from my mam. She taught me to look after the people you love and care about as you can make a difference.

My mam was a massive influence on me. My dad died when I was eight so mam and I were a great team. She didn’t just look after her family but the wider community too and I’ve always tried to remember that.

Finding out what you truly want takes time and effort

What I’ve found in my life is that happiness and contentment is a gift rather than a right. I’ve learned that through all the twists and turns of life and certainly through my personal relationships.

Celebrate the difference in others

Even if you don’t really understand it, it’s a wonderful way to learn. Dave and I have been celebrating other cultures and food as we’ve ridden all over the world. It’s an incredibly important mantra to the pair of us.

You really broaden your horizons.

We continue to have an amazing career and we thank the gods every day that we get to do what we do and that we still like it.

Everybody has preconceived ideas but I can honestly say that right through my travels most of them have been totally blown away.

Music is the pathway to your soul

It’s always an expression of emotion and mood. Ever since I can remember, music has been one of the most important things in my life. I always have music with me. I wouldn’t hit the road without it.

I’m a rocker, there’s no two ways about that. But I also love jazz and blues and I’m just a massive music fan. There is nothing better.

There was one occasion where I was sat in a crater in Namibia watching the sunset over a mountain.

As the night sky came over I was listening to a Bob Dylan album when Blowin’ In The Wind came on. I just thought: “This is complete and utter heaven.”

Never ever leave the house without salt and pepper

You never know when something is going to be under-seasoned.

I’ve always got salt and pepper on my person in some shape or form, sachets or whatever.

It’s not particularly good for you but I can’t help it. I keep them in the car just in case I get fish and chips and they haven’t put enough salt on. It’s kinda sad, but it’s true.

There is nothing better than cooking for the people you love

Expressing your love and creativity in the food you put in front of people means everything to us. Dave and I never ever get bored with trying to create great food, especially for family and friends.

We absolutely love it.

We feel incredibly privileged to still be able to share that with people. Despite all the travelling and all the cooking, it’s still such a buzz for us both to see loved ones delight in what we make.

Wherever we go round the world we bring the influences back home. So my boys as well as Dave’s stepchildren have international palates as they eat what we’ve had on our travels. We think that’s pretty cool.

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