Which Superhero Cycling Personality do you have?

There are a lot of distinct personalities in the sport of cycling. From BMX to MTB to Road to Cyclocross, I've noticed some archetypes that show up over and over. Since it can be hard to break down the specifics without a good metaphorical basis, I decided to use Marvel Comics characters. Below are several superheros with easily recognizable traits. You probably know people from your local group ride, at the races or at the track who match these descriptions. Who knows, maybe you have a superhero personality as well?

Daredevil

Matt Murdock, a young lawyer, was blinded by radioactive cargo during a truck accident. His other senses were enhanced and further aided by a blind martial arts master named Stick. Matt became a formidable fighter and the avenging angel of Hells Kitchen. He is known as the man without fear.

Red tights and a baton are not pre-requisites for this type of cyclist. In fact, you don't even have to be blind but you must have uncanny reflexes, a complete lack of fear and be a genuinely decent person. Winning is nice but you take on challenges for the thrill of it. The Daredevil personality is most commonly found in BMX doing tricks or flying high on a slopestype course. However, they can also be found doing trials on a mountain or road bike.

Examples:

Danny MacAskill (MTB Trials), Matt Hunter (MTB Freeride)

Wolverine

Born with animal like senses and fast healing from almost any wound, Logan was captured by a secret Canadian organization and given an unbreakable skeleton and claws. Treated like an animal, it took years for him to control himself but sometimes he breaks loose to become the Wolverine.

Got a tough guy attitude, Bub? Maybe you ride an indestructible Adamantium bike? The Wolverine personality will crash terribly, wipe off the blood, hop back on the bike and still contend for the podium. Defined by raging tenacity, the Wolverine personality can be slowed down but cannot be stopped. They are most commonly found in the thick of battle often racing Cyclocross.

Examples: 

 Sven Nys (CX), Katie Compton (CX)

Rogue

Anna Marie's mutant ability makes her unable to touch someone without absorbing their essence, personality, and in some cases, their powers. Rogue attacked Carol Danvers and permanently absorbed her tough skin, superhuman strength, and flight. Rogue tries to be part of a team but often goes solo because she fears the consequences of human intimacy.

The bigger the event, the better you are. You feed off the crowd, off your opponents, off the energy and anticipation of enormity. When everyone else is shivering in their boots, trying to keep their breakfast down, you are bristling with readiness. A little cockiness is expected and acceptable because you respect your own abilities and that of your rivals. The Rogue personality can be found in any discipline but they are easy to spot due to their tendency go it alone and go big.

Examples:

Brandon Semenuk (MTB Slopestyle), Rachel Atherton (MTB DH)

Quicksilver

Quicksilver is a mutant who can move at speeds far beyond the average human. He is the son of Magneto and twin brother of the Scarlet Witch. Although Quicksilver's loyalties and reliability have long been erratic, his love for his sister is very sincere. His velocity is such that he can practically move through time as the world appears in slow motion around him.

Fast and arrogant, no one is quicker than Quicksilver. Nimble, explosive and perhaps even ambidextrous, the Quicksilver personality couldn't slow down if he or she wanted to. While they appear to be the beneficiary of a never ending tailwind, they can suffer for their arrogance. When you crash at those speeds, you don't get back up.

Examples:

Mark Cavendish (Road), Connor Fields (BMX SX)

Shadowcat

Kitty Pryde's life was changed when she learned that she had the mutant power to phase through solid materials. She is the girl who can walk through walls. Eventually she was possessed by Ogun and learned the dark art of ninjitsu, that is when she settled on the codename Shadowcat.

Sweet, kind and soft spoken that's how people describe you. That is also why they underestimate you. Shadowcat is elusive and ethereal in a way that makes people ask, "Where did she come from?" You are the master of going unnoticed in a pack, squeezing through a tight fit and taking that come from behind win. The Shadowcat personality can be found in any cycling sport but there is a truck load of them in BMX racing.

Examples:

Mariana Pajon (BMX SX), Anne-Caroline Chausson (MTB)

Taskmaster

Tony Masters has an ability known as "photographic reflexes." This enables him to watch another person's physical movements and duplicate them without any practice, no matter how complex. It was only limited by the fact that the memories he gained by watching others overwrote his personal memories. Taskmaster is driven by knowledge but tortured by a disappearing past.

You can ride anything! From BMX bikes to Road to Mountain, it doesn't matter the wheel size or terrain because you have got mad skillz! Better yet, you keep right on learning. You love to study the masters, copy their form and training techniques then hit the races. Adaptability is your middle name and you have no prejudices. So long as you are expanding your cycling knowledge, you are happy.

Examples:

Brian Lopes (BMX, MTB), Caroline Buchanan (BMX, MTB)

Mystique

Raven Darkholme is a shapeshifter whose natural appearance includes blue skin and yellow eyes. For most of her childhood she is ashamed of her appearance and hides her true self. In later years she uses her talent to become an assassin in favor of the brotherhood of evil mutants. Many people who lose their lives to Mystique are often unaware of her identity until it is too late.

Cunning and guile are your weapons of choice. The other riders give up their secrets to you, they admit their plans, they tell you their tactics. That misplaced trust is tucked in your back pocket for a moment when you can use it to your advantage. The Mystique personality is strategic and bold on the bike. They don't tell anyone what they are up to and often hide their best tricks until the last moment.

Examples:

Marla Streb (MTB), Alejandro Valverde (Road)

Iron Man

Wounded, captured and forced to build a weapon by terrorists, billionaire industrialist Tony Stark instead created an advanced suit of armor to save his life and escape captivity. With technological skills second to none, Tony uses his money and intelligence to make the world a safer place.

When you are not riding bikes, you are building them, perhaps even improving them with your own unique genius. You know more about your tech than the team mechanic. When a newbie breaks down on a group ride, they all turn to you and like MacGyver you whip out a paper clip and twist it into a modified derailleur. The Iron Man personality often works in or runs a bike shop and races on the weekends. His results are only stunted by the long hours he spends with his Allen wrench.

Examples:

Tom Ritchey (MTB, Road), Joe Breeze (MTB, Road)

Pheonix

Jean Grey was 10 years old when her telepathic powers first manifested. Her parents took her to be treated by Professor Charles Xavier who used her to fine tune his Cerebro machine. When Xavier introduced young Jean to the astral plane a part of her mind manifested as a Phoenix. Later, Xavier erected psychic shields in Jean’s mind to prevent her from using her telepathic powers until she was mature enough to control them. Eventually those walls were broken down and the full might of Pheonix shined through.

Some people are born with overwhelming talent and one day they learn how to control their magnificent abilities. Those riders reach a point in their careers where they appear to be virtually unbeatable. Even when the odds turn against them, they find a way to win. You start to question if they are even human? Do they have engines in their bikes? How are they performing at such an astounding level? These are the cyclists who make history.

Examples:
Alberto Contador (Road), Marianna Vos (Road, CX)