Hi everyone...
As some of you may be aware, last year I bought a brand new Yamaha XT660Z Tenere, shipped it to the US, and spent six months riding more than 23,000 miles all over - from Badwater Basin to Pikes Peak, the Mohave Desert to the Florida Keys - coast to coast, then back again, including the Trans-Am Trail, the high peaks in Colorado, the slickrock in Moab, the forests in Oregon and the deserts in Arizona, Nevada and New Mexico...
Hell, I even had a go at the Rubicon Trail - on my own, in November, with luggage...
Suffice to say, both I and the bike survived, and on my return to the UK I have taken this perfectly good (if slightly used) adventure bike, and built it into what I now hope will be a competitive and reliable rally machine:
The reason for this is I am entered on the 2009 edition of the Heroes-Legend Paris-Dakar rally, which leaves Paris later this month (the 22nd October!), and arrives in Dakar two weeks and 6500 kms later... hopefully with me and the bike still in one piece!
Of course I'm certainly not the first British Woman to race from Paris to Dakar, but I am still a rarity in what is a very male dominated sport. As such, I would hope that what I am about to undertake is of particular interest, and feel there is an opportunity to do a lot of good out of what is essentially a selfish personal indulgence!
I have two close friends who’s families have been terribly affected by Bowel Cancer, and continue to be so. Likewise, my own family history is not without tragedy in that regard, so I feel particularly strongly that this is a cause I would like to support in whatever way I can.
My friend Ruth Turner has set up a JustGiving page as part of her London Marathon Campaign for 2010, and has asked me to join her in raising funds for Bowel Cancer UK.
Of course I am more than happy to answer any questions about the bike and the build here in this thread, but I'd also really appreciate it if you could take a minute and consider the following link to the fundraising page Ruth has set up...
Ruth Turner is fundraising for Bowel Cancer UK - JustGiving
Many thanks for taking the time to read this far, I look forward to answering any questions you may have,
Jenny Mo xxx
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