LWU - Patagonia to alaska
 

I have it from the horses mouth ( well Ewan) this is happening in 2011. Thats all he would tell me.

Steven

After LWR, Ewan and his wife went back to Mongolia and adopted a little orphan girl. That tells me all I need to know about the man.

And I'd ride or get drunk with Charley given the chance - he seems close enough to a "regular guy" for me.

There's a lot worse things than two guys promoting motorcycling in a positive light, however they choose to do it.

S'Reet Way Up
 

bah Gum, if the next one is as Ewanised as Long Way Down, CB might as well stay at home. The McGregors Do SA, I doubt Charlie would put up with all the cr^p these days. I have Twittered VonPlanta and he has not given any indications for 2010 and CB is doing a UK tour.

:thumbup1:

Are we counting? Who cares. I've been on trips and half in jest said it was hardcore, extreme, carnage but in reality it wasn't I was just having a laugh and a joke. Some of it is on video. I hope I wont get any comeback from people counting how many "extreme carnage" references I make.

The E+C shows were just that. They were put on the telly for the masses who will never get on a bike but will enjoy the spectacle on their 42" plasma screens.

We are the converted. The TV viewing masses don't give a shit if there was a Ted, an Austin or Ghengis Khan who did the trip previously. They want good entertainment and all the fill in stuff such as the SAS training and prep was part of it. They knew it was not for real and the whole thing was stage managed but that is the TV industry. E&C are a bankable commodity and you don't send your Hollywood star off into the wilds without protecting that investment.

You can be hardcore all you like and die doing it because nobody other than your family gives a damn.

For good or bad the TV viewing masses are now more aware of Adventure Motorcycling thanks to E&C. Not the names we know like Ted or Chris and it doesn't matter because if people look upon us favourably then it matters not who the messenger was.

Just what he said..... :thumbup1:

Well its official!
 

Well its official, on wikipedia anyway. Theres a dry link to 'Long Way To Go' at the bottom of this page

Long Way Down - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Its in for 2010. Im quite looking forward to it. Beats most of the s***e on tv these days.

Charlie must be taking a bit of a back seat at the moment as he's doing a series of one man shows around the country. I'm seeing him in Aylesbury in the middle of March.

They must be into the planing bit at the moment. Perhaps we could make some suggestions about what kit they should be using - like dump the BM's, get a couple of (insert favorite bike here) or those of you with SA experience could suggest some routes they really must take.

We could probably end up a virtual LWTG scheme based on everyone collective wisdom that we can compare with what they actually do.

Still no cheap GS´s or KTM´s!! (Brand-swap theory)
Hurry up and bring it to the people Ewan and Charlie..

Get on a KLR, actually no, Kawasaki will make you pay for that (:

This is awesome and needs another bump

I've been watching LWR as I am recovering from hip surgery, so far in the extended version I'm up to episode 8. Enjoying it. As far as "hard core" goes its been mentioned 3 time thus far. Once with regards to the medica/kidnap training, once when euan was taking the piss and another time when Charlie found ice on his tent. He's a big jessie aint he, fancy not camping till they got to Krygistan and considering they are staying in Motels accross US/Canada just what the **** have they got those bikes loaded up wth?

sponsors kit :mchappy:. If sponsored they would have been under obligation to "be seen" using the gear. Of course in Siberia the sheer weight of it became a drag and they binned a lot of it.

I think it's true of any sponsored event where sponsorship comes by way of kit instead of money.

A couple of times you see the top box open, and it's full of coms and recording equipment, so I reckon that's why they look so loaded up.By LWD they're carrying less even though they're probably camping more. No doubt the support vehicles carried more, and the electronics have all got smaller.

I know im going to start an argument with this but i've never been much good at being diplomatic, so here goes...

Motorcycle traveller meetings pre LWR/LWD used to be small friendly events with interesting open minded people riding old trail bikes. Sitting around a camp fire talking of far away foreign lands, exciting wild places, sharing future dreams hidden gems on the road and so forth. Generally feeling comfortable in your own wierdness that you love to travel, feel adventure and never really fit into the normal 9-5 Joe bloggs lifestyle (if that makes sense)..

Can I blame E&C that the post LWR/LWD meetings have been full of (invaded maybe ?) middle aged stockbrokers on shiney £15,000 BMW's quoffing Marks & Spencers ready meals out of their £800 mobile home tents ??????

Converation around the campfires these days tends to be on "Whats the best overprices titanium electric toothbrush with built in GPS", " Who watched Topgear" or "What are the best excuses never to travel after spending a small fortune on all the gear because I got caught up in the DVD my wife got me for Christmas"

Ewan and Charlie piss me off... A lot. I feel they have commercialised and in some cases ruined what was a little club of like minded people. Seeing an overloaded bike used to make me excited at the thought that the person riding it was heading out on a grand adventure. Riding around these days, every second bike has £1000 panniers and titanium touratwat coffee warmer. Those boxes are empty !!! They just look "cool".

I don't hate E&C. I don't know them.. From their series, I don't think they're people I would want to share a pint with, but thats not my issue. I just wish they hadn't turned my passion into a media circus.

If one more person says "Oh you're doing that Ewan Mcgreggor thing", i'm gonna slap them.



Will you see me at Ripley this year ?? ... Naaaah !!! I havn't got an electric toothbrush, a shiney new bike and an offshore account. I won't fit in. :innocent:


Back in the day when the HUB was yellow (some of you will know what I mean), their was a great poem about swapping dreams for colour tv's or something. I wish I had copied it because it is very fitting for this thread.

In my experience you rarely ever meet these people outside of bigger cities. I see them all the time riding up and down the local strip. And while I admit that a certain inflation in wannabe adventurer is noticeable it doesn't mean that everybody riding an expensive bike is a wannabe adventurer. I bought a new bike last November, way too expensive for my taste and only because it's the most comfortable bike for two-up riding (basically, it was my wife's decision, I only had to agree...). Coming from an '89 XT600Z Tenere, which was an awesome motorcycle and which I know I'll miss a lot, it's big step forward, and you'd have a hard time pegging me as wannabe adventurer ;)

What I'm trying to say is that I do understand what you're trying to say and I partly agree. I would not, however, judge people based on their bike or the price of their equipment but based on their attitude and behavior. Money should not be an issue, and you'll notice that real adventurers usually stay away from the wannabe specimen.

Trust me on this one: like every single fad it'll blow over. It's just a matter of time until the wannabes find something new.

+1

I did my first out of europe trip to Morocco in 1986 on a Honda CD200 Benly.

I did not have a clue what to expect,and all my kit was from the army and navy store's

I only meet 2 other biker's on that trip both from Holland ,none of us on so called Adventure Bike's :D

We had a fantastic time and the Honda never missed a beat even in the heat of june :oops2:


Now if you try riding around the Yorkshire Dales on any weekend in summer it's full of Adventure bike's with alloy panniers on ,even though they are just having a sunday ride out :confused1::cool4:

each to their own and live and let live,and all that.

Buy when you get these wanttobe's taking the pi55 out of your bike because you have all sorts of home made usefull shit on it .:sleeping:

Sadly the overland image is now like that of Harley Davidson Rider's :blushing: you can buy and look the part of a world rider.


So for me.........Does anyone have a 1980 Honda cd200 benly for sale :innocent:

Hi Dazzer & Ted,

I know what you mean. It's as though whatever interest you've had for years now appears to be overtaken by the wannabes.

Three subjects that I'm passionate about have all, repeat all gone in this direction.

Firstly we have 'Adventure Riding' which has been invaded by those with much deeper pockets than myself. As I trundle along on my Serow, I still acknowledge the riders (apart from those who choose ignore the rider of such a basic machine) but I'm happy to continue along in my own little World.

Secondly we have 'Gliding'. I used to fly a lot and we mainly used very basic construction and cheap airframes to get our jolleys, however the deeper pocket brigade came along and invaded our hobby with Carbon Fibre and GRP (or Tuppawear as we called it) aircraft, with costs that made us cringe and they've had a massive effect on the sport. Many of the traditionalists have now left the sport due to the effects that this evolution's had.

Lastly we have photography. I must admit that the digital revolution's affected the whole market. Anyone who can afford a high spec digital camera and a couple of lens reckon they're photographers! Again the deep pocket brigade's invaded the market. Not long ago you could save up, buy a good camera, use it for a couple of years then part ex it against a better camera, whilst still retaining a good residual value. These days you buy a digital SLR and within 2 years it's worth bugger all.

I don't blame the individuals themselves, it's the bloody marketing people that do their utmost in getting the public to spend, spend, spend, promising them that their lives will change! In the real World it's not the toys that change the World, it's the people themselves.

I reckon that E & C have been good ambassadors to the motorcycle industry, on the whole, and have transformed the image of bikers to the Joe Public but this is at the expense of those of us who've been riding for years.

It's a sign of the times!

That's exactly my point... I have almost bitten my lower lip clean off from the amount of times that these "wannabee knownothings" tell me that my little DRZ is the wrong bike for the job..

"oooo you wanna get yourself a real bike son" Look at my GS1200 Adventure covered in Touratwat, thats what you need.. I'm doing a trip to Yorkshire next weekend once I've got my metal mules powder coated" - Actual quote from Ripley 2009

Hi Ted,

if it keeps 'em happy and leaves the ferry places open for us then we should be happy they're sticking to Yorkshire. Afterall the powder coating of the panniers is essential before heading to Yorkshire!

Thoughts from a wanna be.

I first thought about doing a motorbike trip when i was in Chile and i met an american chap that was doing Alaska to TDF. I thought that the trip he was on was amazing.

It was always going to be a long term project because I didn't know anything about bikes and i had never even sat on one. The thought about taking a long trip on a bike was much more intimidating than pottering around with a rucksack.

A couple of years ago i bought my bike and i have been riding every day (bar snow) since then.

In the time between having the idea and getting the bike LWR happened and it did spur me on - i hadn't heard of mondo then. LWR looked like a huge amount of fun and i wanted some of it.

Last year i went to Ripley - I thought that it was inspiring - the trips that people had been on were fantastic.

Since then I have taken my bike on a 2 week jaunt though europe. It was a huge adventure for me - i had never ridden abroad, never riden on a long journey with a loaded bike, never ridden in mountains, never done customs, etc - from my point of view an adventure is doing something outside of your comfort zone - my 2 weeks in europe with my bike was more of an adventure than 2 weeks in bolivia with my back pack.

I am going back to Ripley this year (booked) and hopefully the year after i won't be able to go because i will be somewhere in Mexico - according to my theory this will be a Huge adventure.

The point about LWD is that when i say to people about wanting to do a moto trip they say "wow, that will be amazing" rather than "don't do it" (except for my mum) and i don't think that is a bad thing.

Ripley from my point of view is partly about taking to the guys and gals that have done it - that have done the things that i want to do - that i am going to do - and it would be a shame if people didn't go because of people with "limited adventures".

It does upset me though when people say it was so much better in the old days - for one things change, new people get involved in and technologies move on but two and more importantly - I wasn't there in the old days, I am doing my adventure and i am doing it in my time - and it will still be an adventure because i am going into the unknown.

Just a few thoughts

Which, again, doesn't mean the 1200GSA is the wrong bike for the job. For some it's the perfect bike for doing extensive trips around Europe/Africa/America/Asia/Australia/the World. Others make sure to clean, wash, ans polish it every time they've taken it out of the garage and exposed it to sunlight and, god forbid, dirt or dust. Don't get me wrong I'm not trying to defend anyone here. I'm just curious: where do you draw the line? Is it adventurous to do an extensive one or two month trip through Eastern Europe, two-up on an '89 Yamaha XT600Z Tenere with full camping gear? Certainly so. But is it also adventurous to do the same, two-up on a brand-new 1200GSA with full camping gear?

But maybe I'm just misunderstanding something here. Maybe this is a specifically British phenomenon because I can tell you one thing for sure: over here in Germany the wannabes stick to their city and the local strip, because god forbid they could get their brand-new motorcycle and equipment dirty or, even worse, noone would see them prancing around showing off what they can afford. I have yet to see a wannabe adventurer outside the city, on a campsite or wild camping somewhere off the beaten track. What I have seen are 1150GSAs, several years old with less than 10,000kms. However, I have also seen plently BMWs off the beaten track and, until recently, despised them myself when I still had my Tenere. Now that I have one myself I have learned to differentiate because there is a small portion of BMW riders who actually are not like all the others. I despise the ones that try to solve everything with money - I'm registered on a big BMW forum and whatever question I ask there, the solution is almost always "go to TT/Wunderlich/BMW and buy abcdefg, then have your mechanic do the job for you". There's way too many wannabes out there, I give you that. But there's also a solid core of those who have chosen the bike according to the purpose and not vice versa.

Again, maybe I'm just not getting this. Maybe it's a British phenomenon that outsiders cannot understand. Maybe it has to do with the fact that neither LWR nor LWD were shown in TV over here, and that adventure motorcycling is not the fad in certain circles. I think it's still SUVs right now, with mud in cans and pseudo offroad capabilities. Because you never know when the jungle might hit you. Downtown of course.

:censored:My first post!
I cant stand those guys and it's because with all their money they're not prepared to really do it themselves, they try to tell you it was a struggle and I for one wasnt convinced.

And if you were daft enough to make them more money by buying their DVD's then I'm almost lost for words

you have us wrong.
you don't have to go to the other side of the world to have a Adventure.

the camerman and I have had great Adventure's in Scotland over a long weekend.


remember...you can buy the Adventure look.

but it's more fun to ....go get the Adventure look.


stay safe

Dazzer

Well said Dazzer.

You are no wannabe.. You're not all talk !

You misunderstand...

Like you say, not everyone on a 1200GS is a wannabe rich dude who has a can of "spray on mud" and a pocket book full of excuses. But..... Pretty much every idiot who has "All the gear and no idea" will have a 1200GS parked up in their central heated garage. It goes with the territory.

I guess it's just like the people who buy huge desert prepped landrovers to pick up their kids from school. :innocent:

I'm more hardcore, no, I'm more hardcore...
 

Hee hee - wasn't this thread originally about a bunch of guys who are making another television programme about riding motorcycles through different countries?

J xx

I think I get it now. Turns out it was a misunderstanding, I assumed that you were reasoning wannabe follows bike but instead it's more of a bike follows wannabe thing.

Either way I'm still convinced that it'll eventually blow over. Money's a very fluid substance and follows wherever the wind blows. Right now it's adventure bikes, prior to that it was SUVs. Who knows what the next fad is going to be.

I think people are being a bit harsh here,

People buy suvs because they make them feel safe and before the mpv market it was the only thing with more than 4 spare seats in it.

You could apply teh wanabee logic to any type of vehicle, sports bike riders that dont compete, trail bike riders that dont go offroad[alot of people learn on 125 trail bikes on the road].Ompreza drivers that dont rally, db7 drivers that are not spys.

I very much doubt that BMW built these bikes just so a few people in the market want to ride around the world.

Very few people buy vehicles for their "intended purpose" and due to marketing and cross over vehicles some vehicles are not fit for what they are advertised for.

IF someone wants to buy the best gear and has the cash thats hardly a reason for anyone to complain, it is their money. Its these people that ensure the companies producing the gear or the bikes keep going or put more into research.

This thread just shows how daft these wannabees are .
Metal Mules don't need powder coating ,they are already gold plated .
I thought everybody knew that !:nono:

Hapens to my poor old TTR all the time, homemade plate for the sidestand, re-modled GS screen, home made rack carrier, home made front rack-thingy, yad yada yada.

(actually Dazzer, I can't believe anyone would take this p!$$ out of you. Do you lift them up first? :rofl:)

To be honest it doesn't bother me one way or the other, there are always "wannabies" in every part of life (I work in IT, jeasus it's full of them, everywhere you turn!). You see them ripping up Green Lanes in the new 4x4's , this does bother me alot, not because they are trying to be someone, but because they are destroying what I and many other enjoy by thier antics.

Adventure: (n) 1) an unusual, exciting, and daringexperience. 2) excitement which is the result of danger or risk. ORIGIN: Latin adventurus 'about to happen'

As the dictionary goes, I'm an adventurer everytime I go shopping with my wife!!

I do find it a little 'odd' though that anyone would like to protect their little club from people coming along that just have different ideas about things. A GS1200 loaded with TT stuff shouldn't stop anyone from being friendly, some people just don't have the mechanical ability to make things themselves and buying it is the only option. Having said that, if the person on the GS is a Cock, then it's fine to castigate them.

I'm happy to talk experiences with anyone, Ewan and Charlie included, I don't know them so I can only form an opinion after meeting them. I think my open-ness to people makes me a better person, I've not always been like that though. In the end, I go home to a fantastic wife and a small selection of good mates, so who I meet while out and about can only enrich my life, and the cocks get forgotten about.

It's not about bikes, it's about the people on them.:thumbup1:

I confess, I'm a wanabee. Years ago I commuted round town on an old CG125, then I gave up biking. My adventures were car based, usually clapped out 2CVs and deserts in my 20's.

I bought my bike having caught LWR on the TV, it looked fun, I liked the look of the bikes, and I liked the fact they weren't covered in figure hugging leather, and XTGirl told me to. Sure it's only a 125 but it's a Terra Adventure, it looks bigger, a bit like a Tenere, and it came with ali boxes so I was

:clap:

And then I went and splurged on kevlar reinforced goretex gear, and a helmet with a peak on it. So far on my little 125 I've never been more than a few hundred miles from home, and never for more than a week. And yes I ride around on it with the boxes on ALL the time. I like them, I like how they look, I like how people wonder where I've come from, I'm shallow like that.

Occasionally I fill the boxes up with my briefcase and my laptop, and maybe some clothes which don't look so biker-like, sometimes I use the bike for work and don't want to wander into a client's office looking like I've come to pick up a parcel. When I'm in the mood I ride down the road and buy my ciggies and a baguette, and I put those in my empty panniers to rattle around. But a lot of the time they're empty. Once I took them off, but I kept tripping over them in my garage and the cat peed on them, so I put them back on. I'm shallow like that.

So I probably wont come to Ripley because you hard-core lot will laugh at me, and I'm a bit insecure being as I'm shallow and haven't experienced hardcore like it was back when you did it, and because my gear's a bit new and a bit shiney, and because I have a Touratech catalogue because they were the first name I'd heard of.

But I'll still enjoy my riding, because when I ride I can get away from everything, and everyone's expectations of how I should be, and what bike I should ride, and what I should do, and I don't have to listen to anyone but my own thoughts. And I'll still dream of further adventures that I know I'll continue to have on my little 125, and I'll still be glad that the reason I've got a bike in my life and the freedom it gives me is because I sat and watched some Alex Guinness wannabee and his out of work, kitchen fitter, mate.

@Alexlebrit

+1

I too got into biking becasue of LWR/LWD and race to dakar (or RTD). I too have yet to go more then 50 miles away from my home for longer then 3 days and I too wanted the Derbi Terra with Alu boxes becasue it looked like a GS 1200.

I like the shows because I thought heading round the world with your mate on motorbikes was cool.

Ewan to hit the road with his dog?
 

from The Press Association: Ewan to hit the road with his dog?

Ewan McGregor is in for a ruff ride - after gearing up his pet to ride in a motorbike sidecar.The keen biker, who was accompanied by pal Charley Boorman for his adventure series Long Way Round and Long Way Down, reckons his family dog could be his next sidekick for a lengthy ride.
Ewan, star of the Star Wars prequels and Trainspotting, has even bought the animal a set of "doggles" - goggles for dogs.
The Hollywood star said he is aiming to bike across South America next, and may opt to shun human company.
"I might go on my own. I got a dog, Sid. I've trained him to ride in my side car and I thought we could do a trip together," he said.
Ewan was speaking as he publicised his latest film The Ghost, which received its premiere at the Berlin Film Festival at the weekend.
The political thriller is based on the book by Robert Harris and has been directed by Roman Polanski, who is still under house arrest in Switzerland facing possible extradition to the US.
Ewan said: "He's not afraid of saying, 'It looks really stupid when you do that like that' but it's just his way and it's never any way of an attack or whatever.
"Maybe it's being British but we're used to politeness in a way that your ego's slightly dented at first with his brusqueness, but once I saw that's him I knew it was never a personal thing. And his direction is unbelievably good," he added.

:funmeterno:

just for the record.
I don't have a problem with EM or CB. I have all 3 dvd's and enjoyed watching LWR.

I did not think LWD was as good, to many of them infront of the camera for my liking :blushing:


and yes if they asked me to ride through south america as a body guard for them I would...but behind the camera and on my AT with all the homemade shit on it ,ang not forgetting my fee of £18.76p

Remember these are TV show's and not 100% how it is when you go on your trip.

Also if it get's more people out on bike's or aware of bikers that's great.

ps anyone got Ewan's phone number....Woof Woof...
:oops2:

Dazzer

there is a Adventre on you door step if you live in leeds

in this area we are out almost every weekend.

we also do a lot of wild camping .keep a eye on the ride out's page.:mchappy:

Dazzer

@ dazzer

sweet, sounds interesting!

I shall keep my eyes peeled :thumbup1:

Not sure if this link has been put up anywhere else: Charley Boorman Live Tour Charley is on tour at a venue near (unless you live in London...) you soon

"All of this is being pulled together with one of the few people who’d dare to ask those ‘awkward’ questions, Billy Biketruck. Billy will be your host for the show - interviewing Charley and Simon and getting to the nitty gritty. Be shocked at the questions - and be doubly shocked at some of the answers!!!"

So it won't be scripted at all. :helpsmilie:Wonder if they'll have teleprompters? It would appear that there was no slot for him at Ripley in June.

Hey Dazzer:He's in Bradford on 18th March. Fancy going? :oops2: A bargain at 21 quid.

Hang on. Following is a reply by me to a comment by someone on advrider ( Ewan McGregor and Charley Boormans email - Page 2 - ADVrider ) that E and C were deserving of a break, that they are living the dream and some people resent them for being rich and famous:

QUOTE
I only resent Charlie, not Ewan.

Lots of people only dream it. It's not difficult to do a round the world or trans-Africa bike trip. You need time, money and a bit of organisation. I appreciate many of us struggle raising the money and having the time.

Before LWR, Charlie had lots of time (being an unemployed actor/carpet fitter), his mate Ewan bankrolled the whole trip and they had everything organised for them by a back office crew numbering about 10 (who leeched information from people like Austin Vince and others) in addition to all the logistical support they had on the road.

Then all Charlie can contribute is to complain because Arai (or was it Shoei?) and KTM won't give them free stuff, light his own farts and run into the back of their cameraman when pulling dangerous wheelies for the locals.
UNQUOTE

So I don't think I'll be going after all.

cheers
Chris

Living the dream: YouTube - 17012010009.mp4

I don't resent them for being rich and famous and using this to live the dream of riding round the world. I resent them for being rich, and squandering this over an obsession with fame and image where they'd prioritise making ropey television shows over seeing and understanding the places they're privildged enough to get to visit.

Their television shows don't give us an insight into the places they travel through, and they don't show how easy it is and that anyone can experience it for themselves. Instead it's all about shameless self glorification. Barely more valid than claiming you shagged Ashley Cole to get your face on the front page of the Sun.

£21....Now let me think :confused1:

thats a full tank of gas on my bike...or a night sat in front of CB and co...:cool4:

I bet Austin would do a Talk and Clean my bike for £21 :smartass:


Dazzer

Hi Dazzer,

Austin would talk about it but what's the chance of him cleaning your bike when you look at his own machines eh!

:oops2: :helpsmilie:

Well ol Charlie and Ewan might be planning a West Africa trip!! speaking with an overland truck driver on the way down he said there LW team contacted the head office for route info.

That could be an interesting one on an overloaded 1200!

long way up????????
 

I was at a land rover garage last week and saw 3 newish 09 plated 110s for sale with longway up logos all over them with the words for sale due to not being required by production company as cancelled contract yours for £26k

these defenders were fully kitted and prepped for RTW or long distance... were also advertised in autotrader.....

Maybe they have changed their minds on using british support vehcles ?

I bet they will still have bmws.... Bet they wont do a ted simons and use triumph (more reliable than a bmw.... you will always find your way home..

They could try to impress us and go unsupported with only what they can carry and a cheap video camara:thumbup1:

If they did ditch the support crews, fixers, armed guards, first aiders, mechanics, shoe lace repair specialist personal etc, they would earn a bit of respect in my eyes.

There's no reason it can't be just the three of them with Claudio doing all the film work. Stick Claudio in a beat up landie with maybe one kick ass ex SAS body guard for Ewan. Hell, they can even have a toolkit and beadbreaker on the landie.

I might even manage to sit through the first episode unlike the last one.

I think they have had a lot of stick from the non sunday biker motorcycle press. I remember Lois Pryces interview with Charlie in TBM which was hilarious. He was trying to pipe flowers up her arse and you could just see the expression on her face from the words in the magazine lol.

Maybe these experiences have persuaded them to stop being complete clueless tossers and see what the real deal is all about ! I'd have LOOOADS more fun watching them blast about Africa looking for a tyre shop or trying to organise DHL to ship in spare parts for their bikes !
I'd even watch a whole episode of "Ewan and Charlie try to fix their broken down BMW's"

THAT'S ADVENTURE !! Not "Today we're having a major problem in Africa today. One of the support crew stole my moisturiser"

Just saw this, made me laugh…:funmeteryes:

YouTube - EWAN AND THINGY (EPISODE 1 of 9) PREPARATIONS

heheheehehee

Yeah... That's been floated around here a bit. Still makes me laugh everytime I watch it :clap:

AH AH AH!

This is awesome, I did not know it!

Thanks for posting it!

Wow what a kettle of scorpions that was.
 

Did I know just what I was starting with this thread. Anyhow since then I have signed uo for a GSa and have had to lose a loy of 'treats' to keep it. I still 'plan' the big one, and after a visit to Rivington Barn (those in N/w UK will know) I am still getting over the looks received (look at him posing stockbroker type) Well no, I am a struggling bulder who just wants the same as many here. Mrs B still not convinced that RTW is better than ROG (round our garden) , but shes going for CBT next saturday, so the seed is planted. I wiuld of course sell the 09 GSa and get a battered old 1150 if RTW becons. Stay the REET WAY UP . 9-). PS: anyone else find that damn organ music irritating on the HU videos. ????:funmeteryes:

Meh, I like Ewan and Charlie, they seem like good blokes and I like their show too.

Warning! Rant ahead!
 

Ok, that's it, I've had enough!

I am a 38 year old guy who has been adventuring all of my life. I have spent hundreds of nights in a tent and sleeping bag, many a night in temperatures way way way below freezing (think Canadian Rockies in the winter) in 10 feet of snow. I've slept on dirt, rocks, sand, concrete, grass, asphalt, ice, in snow caves and under the stars. I set out on a solo backpack trip around the world when I was ten days out of high school. I ski tour, surf, rock climb, mountaineer, windsurf, and paraglide.

But guess what??? Up until two years ago, I hadn't sat on a bike in 23 years. Other than the dirt bike that I caused hell on when I was a teenager, I hadn't been near a bike until I bought my 2009 F800GS. Not exactly the resume of a gnarly biking adventurer. Here's what will really piss off some of you; it's covered from front to back in Touratech stuff.

But guess what else; I don't give a s*** if that offends some of you. You know why? Because I have seen the big picture. When I was 21, I had a bad snowboard accident which put me in hospital for a couple of weeks. While I was recovering from open-heart surgery, they discovered that my kidneys had sh** the bed too. So two years later I was the very fortunate recipient of a brand new (to me) kidney. After 30 or so days in the hospital looking outside at the beautiful snow capped peaks of Vancouver's North Shore, I realized that any day outside of a hospital is a good one. This has been further demonstrated to me now that my wife and I have had to go through 9 years of fertility issues just to start a family. Oh ya, and did I forget to mention the nice sized tumour I had carved out of my neck a couple of years back (benign thankfully).

The fact is, I had been thinking of buying a bike since 1999 when my university buddy and I began dreaming of a ride from East to West across Russia. That never happened but thankfully I picked up a DVD at the checkout one day called Long Way Round. For years I had dreams of getting a bike but guess who pushed me over the edge and got me back out on a bike? None other than Ewan and Charley.

So there you go; I drive a super shiny, Touratech farkled F800GS that cost almost as much as my wife's car. It only has 10,000 km's on it so far. I doubt I've been farther than 500 km's from my front door (we are incredibly fortunate to now have a four year old daughter and so I end up spending a lot more time with her than I do riding my bike). But that doesn't mean I couldn't go further if I chose to. I live for dirt roads and trails. I know for a fact that I could go around the world on my ride and have a hell of a good time doing so. Because of the fact that I've been shown just how bloody lucky some of us are to have the ability to even dream of such a trip I wouldn't take so much as one second to worry about what somebody thought of my GS. I'd just be riding along with a grin as wide as China knowing that I was privileged enough to have the ability to follow my dreams and see the world. I spend a great deal of time thinking about all those people who don't have the good health and fortune to consider a trip around the block on a bike let alone a trip around the world.

I feel I've earned the right to ride whatever the hell kind of bike I want. And I'll put whatever the hell I want on it too, regardless of whether or not that "dilutes" it for the hard core set that have had bikes since the earth was still round. Riding a "Brand X" 250 in nothing but a K-way jacket and a pair of worn out blunnies all the way from Oxford Street to Tunisia is not the only way to learn how to be an adventurer. Life has a way of teaching some of us the hard way... others just have to spend time worrying about how gnarly they are compared to that guy with the shiny new bike he bought after watching Long Way Round.

Ben

You have indeed.

No problem with that. The problem starts when some kid starts asking about how you get into this. If you hand him the TT book and tell him to go spend £30000 you are a muppet. If you tell him to get his CG125 into tip top condition and see how far he can get before his student loan runs out, that IMHO is more like it, especially if you help him build a rack to keep the ex-army panniers out of the back wheel. It's years, petrol and tyres that make for easy trips to interesting places, not a shopping trip. That's the problem with E&C and the dress up brigade they've spawned IMHO. If you are doing rather than playing and find the TT stuff works, go for it, but for every one like you we now have 9 stockbrokers who look the same but would get a nose bleed if they had a puncture in Islington and will just keep passing on the catalogue.

It's become very much like the difference between guys who took an ex-army Harley and lightened it and some of the current generation who bought a Dyna-super-extra-chop-glide from a place that called itself a boutique.

If you are a rider not a shopper you shouldn't worry about it.

Andy

Time to right a book? Sounds like you've had a pretty interesting life Ben.

Hi Ben
Maybe take a film crew with you on your next ride to K-Mart or Timboktou too: Get yourself on TV.
C

Why stop there, he could combine it with a cooking show, like these guys, Hairy Bikers :: Home jeiger


Just need the beard and the belly to go with it. :rofl:

I prefer Kirsty and Nigela
No bikes in sight, but no beards or bellies either....

If he's a real troll, he'll be back soon.
C

Playing a part
 

Interesting you should mention them. I thought the first series they did was OK (I like food porn almost as much as I like motorcycle porn), but from then on they seemed to be playing the characters they had created in that first series.

I personally believe this is inevitable when working for TV; you create a character, and then find yourself playing that character for ever. Sticking with TV in the UK, Gordon Ramsey, Nigella and even Miss(ing) personality herself, Delia have all done it. Even big name presenters like Schama or Starkey start overplaying themselves. So I was unsurprised E&C did it on Long way down, but then they are actors so that's what they do. I don't feel the Mondo enduro/terra circa guys did it though to give credit where it is richly deserved.

If he's a real troll, he'll be back soon.
C[/quote]


This is me I suppose?

Ye Gods!

This thread is still going ????

Yes, it is.
Welcome to the Hubb :thumbup1:

FWIW - I think Ben is right on, and good for him!

We all started out knowing nothing, and we all learned and moved on in different directions - as far as we're concerned, whatever works for you is cool with us!

Personally I feel sorry for Ewan and Charlie - they've taken a lot of stick for what was for them a big adventure - they had as little idea as ALL of us did when we first hit the road. By the time they'd done two of them, they were probably as sick of the hype and crap as I know I would have been. I have even more sympathy now for them now that we have done our DVD series - I know how hard it is to get a good "take" on video and how many times you have to do it - it sucks and I'd hate it on a trip.

Let's remember to be TOLERANT of each other and appreciate that all of us have something to give and something to learn, and we ALL have different ideas on the "right" way to to do ANYTHING! Actually having said that, I think there is no "right" way - there's only ways that work for whomever is doing it.

Chris, who are you accusing of trolling? It's unclear to me - I don't think anyone here is trolling particularly, just a lot of emotion thrown out! Amazing how E & C are probably THE most emotional topic here. Perhaps a lot of envy?

For me the Long Way Round was good TV.

I have been riding motorcycles a very long time,and I have met all types of biker's .

The way I see it is................................................ ..........................

It does not matter if you have ridden around the world or if you have only just started riding......... If your a Prat .your a prat, regardless of what bike you choose to ride.

Just because you may have ridden to every corner of the world does not make you a good rider, neither does it give you the right to judge other's who choose to do things differently.

It make's me laugh when I read these type of posts ...too many people full of self importance.



Live and Let Live.

Dazzer {The Prat that Never rode around the world } book and DVD to Follow.

ps, if there are any mistakes with my grammer .....Bite Me.:innocent:

Hi Ben
I think an apology is in order. I thought, it would appear wrongly, that such an emotional first post using some IMHO quite emotive language and telling complete strangers some pretty personal stuff was a wind up. The sarcastic responses by me were not helpful.

Speaking personally, I have a very dry wit (some might say no wit…) and very rarely share personal adversities I’ve encountered with anyone and definitely not with strangers. We’re all different which makes the world such an interesting place.

Peace
Chris

No "wind up" and no "taking the piss"; that really is my story.

Was it too much info than was required to make my point? Maybe. But to tell you the truth I don't have any problem who knows about my life experiences. It's not a bragging rights thing and it's certainly not a sympathy thing. I've stood up in the past and told my story to groups of complete strangers in order to raise awareness and money for various charities, so to me what's the difference? All I can hope is that when people read my words, they will not take the day for granted anymore (even if only for a little while). Maybe they'll stop a bit more to enjoy the view or breath a little deeper when out for Spring ride in the sunshine. Right, I'm probably losing you here again. But coming from where I am, I think I view the world outside my helmet in a different way than many if not most.

When you frame the whole "who sticks what on what bike and layer it on top of who gave them idea in the first place" argument into my terms, it all seems a little silly. To me anyway.

I get that peolpe don't want their passion high jacked by some Hollywood actor. And then to add insult to injury, having that same franchise spon a whole gaggle of adventure biker clones in the process. But I honestly feel deep down in my bones that E & C did not set out to do this when they planned LWR. It comes across to me as a couple of blokes following their genuine dream of riding around the world together.

For me, I feel incredibly lucky to have been introduced into this sport/lifestyle choice/activity in the first place. Ewan and Charley made me get off the proverbial couch and get after it. Now that I am on my way and I am hearing about other "more real-life" movies, like Mondo Enduro etc, I can't wait to get them into the DVD. We all have to start somewhere I guess.

So there you go, I guess that's why my "give a sh*t factor" is subterranean when it comes to whether or not someone approves of my bike and the way I have it set up.

Ben

Ben, how come your profile shows 0 posts when that's patently not correct! Are you a magician too??

Funny you ask that; I get the feeling some around here would like to see my disappearing act.

You never get posts added when its 'In the HU bar'

Ben, Its unfortunate that your first posts have got you into numerous flame rows, I too, have also been there in the past, and sometimes even now get close!
There is a guy who will remain 'nameless' but is English, and resides in France now, well him and I got into some really big flame wars to the point where the site owners and moderators were giving infraction notices, 'badboy' points and deleting posts.........ah, those were the days!. The point is, that guy and I often PM each other for friendly chat and when we finally see each other at some meet, we will have a drink together. Chris, is a Moderator, and I can vouch for him that he does have a dry wit, I consider him to be a friend, but that does not make me immune to being told if he considers I am out of order.
I am in fact envious of Chris, he can polish his head, where I can't because I still have hair!.
Welcome to HU and get involved in other threads and I am sure you will fit-in just fine.

:welcome:

Is this thread becoming territorial?
Canadians of the HUBB unite verses Yorkshire? Pleases don't include me in either of these 'groups'!

English ?

Not old :icon16:

:taz::cursing::2guns::gun_bandana::death:

:lol2::rofl:



Surely not !

When I were a lad we 'ad nowt but a C50 'wi bald tyres 'an an old paper bag full 'o pre-used petrol instead 'at carbueretter.........:rofl:

Possibly, I'll hazard a guess that the ratio of guys who look like E&C and ones who actually use their stuff is related to local bike culture for weekend riders (Cruisers in Canada? Sports bikes in Yorkshire but becoming impossible as the authorities crack down on speeding), the number of people per square mile (lots of space in Canada to use the stuff, you can cross Yorkshire in a day by pushbike so long as you can live with suicidal bus and truck drivers crammed onto roads designed for horses) and the weather (a road tyre equipped GS ridden by an ex-sport bike rider in Yorkshire will lose maybe eight Sundays a year, in Canada twenty?).

I think we have a problem with weekend riders who are making life hard for all riders. Having ruined sports bikes (we have a Police Hayabusa with cameras essencially to stop a Sunday morning run known as the Helmsley TT where these clowns crash their CBR600ZZZRZRRRRZ's around a small village) and having seen E&C on the telly this guys have turned to our kit and will muck that up too.

Oddly, I was looking at another site yesterday and was thinking that it might be interesting to try and get a bit more go out of the Bonneville as it main use right now is short rides as and when I fancy it. The result would no doubt be a poor copy of a '60's cafe racer. I'm sure real rockers would hate it, but copying the look wouldn't have been my aim. ?c?

Andy

Dooh, sorry I need 5 posts to reply on PM. :cursing:

:thumbup1:

agree they started off good, i still like the lads but their programmes are all cooking and not enough biking these days.

That’s correct. Grant’s rule is that you only get “credit” if you post in the main body of the HUBB. The Bar is for “no useful content”.

I recon accusing your Scottish friend of being English is the ultimate insult for him and all Scots. :funmeteryes:

I may be able to use a sponge to wash my head, but at least I don’t look like one of the Village People

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/DSCN2199.jpg


All together now
Y
M
C
A


:blushing::taz::scared::hammer::angel::devil2:

I only came 2nd in the 'look alike'.....you won it! and you requested that pose in July09, I am flattered you kept the picture(on your bedroom wall maybe? doh
Are you sure the person we are talking about is a Scot?:confused1:

This is why the 'HU bar' don't score credits.....no useful content:thumbup1:

A M Y C for the dyslexic, this is why we do9n't get credits in the 'HU bar'...........NO useful content!

I am a big fan of Long "Way Round", "Long Way Down" and "Race to Dakar". I bought all three DVD's and thereby support those guys with $ (Just like I bought HU DVDs - Great stuff BTW :thumbup1:)

Why is it so hard to take the LWR series for what it is? ...entertainment (drama) with a motorcycle topic. In the process there is some fantastic travel footage and cultural interaction to see. What's so wrong with that...? So, they are "rich" and have sponsors. Great for them :thumbup1:.

The movies have given some folks the possibility to enjoy an adventure, which they will never do, from an armchair. It has inspired others to start riding motorcycles or, as in my case, inspire me to go on a RTW trip. That's why I ended up at HU in the first place...

Can it be all that bad...? Or, as previously posted, is there a lot of jealousy involved...? :confused1:


P.S.: Also, I do ride to Starbucks for a cup of joe on my GS... :tongue3:

Yeh, the pic is next to the one of Michael Jackson and Noddy (of Noddy and Bigears fame). They have pride of place in the alotment shed.

Yes, he is definitely from north of Hadrian's Wall.
:smiliex:

:thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

Turn your tele off
 

1. If you don't like the TV series turn your tele off.
2. Stop judging people by the bike they ride, the gear they wear, and just talk to them! There are w@nker bike riders and there are great bike riders, but you will not be able to tell this by the bike they ride, the gear they have or even where they have ridden!

Simple me thinks. This thread can now be closed :)

-sounds like a bloody good idea to me ,Triumph should have made the Bonnie a bit more powerful in the first place .Who gives a toss what it looks like ?Most 60's cafe racers were bodges anyway .

My son met a guy on the road who was riding "The Long Way Round" on a GS1150 ,following the same route that Ewan and Charlie took and wearing identical gear .The guy said that he wanted to do this ,so that he could tell the folks back home that he'd ridden the long way round !Sad ,very sad !

I don't see this as sad necessarily ........... not original, but still, might be worth considering more details of the trip. Also (and no disrespect to your son) but the embellishment he may have added to the story to make it fit the usual anti E_C rant.

Damn I wasn't going to get drawn in - I don't even ride a bike!

E and C were influential in getting me to take my bike test in the first place. I thoroughly enjoyed both trips (and have loved the Achievable Dream series); all of these have inspired me to travel by bike. The Hubb has been a great inspiration, and I'm looking forward to more Travel DVD's (Mondo enduro, et al). I've just met Sam Manicom at the NEC, and am looking forward to reading the book he signed for me (not to mention Jupiter's Travels I've also just bought). I enjoyed listening to and meeting Charlie and Sam Pavey on their Tour last year. On the back of all this, I've been to France, and I'm planning a wider tour of Europe this year and Africa next; who knows where in the future?

I suppose the point of this is that whatever we ride, however we (legally) ride them, where ever we ride and with whom (and wearing whatever we choose), we should celebrate riding in all its forms. It would appear that there's a decline in people taking their test here in Britain, and we should be grateful of anything that raises the profile of riding; we love it, and we like to share!

Whatever you're doing, have fun riding.

Why is it SAD ?

the chap is out riding a bike !

How many on here got into Bike's because they read Ted Simon's Book ?

same thing , something get's you into biking.

Do your own thing and don't worry about other's.


ps.. C and E did me a big favour, I had a old 1150 adventure with a sh1t load of miles on the clock and a old faded red Rally 2 jacket.

The TV show came out and the price of my bike went up a few grand so I sold it.
My 2 year old jacket went on ebay and sold for what I paid for it

I could do with them doing their next trip on XR400 and useing peugeot partners as a back up vehicle's.:biggrin3:

I found Ted Simons book an inspiration as needing a compromise use every day/go anywhere bike I'd given up on trail bikes (too tall with a pillion). Starting to think along the lines than old GS's weren't that tall I recalled Jupiter was a barely modified Triumph road bike. Lo and behold a Hinckley that occasionally sports M&S knobblies much to the shock of the majority of fellow owners (note the word isn't riders!) and has done some great trips between bouts of taking me and occasionally the wife to work. I guess with my open lid, wax jacket and battered TT panniers on a Bonneville I look like a Ted Simon wanabee :rofl: :mchappy: :rofl: :D:thumbup1:

The bloke following their route, on the same bike in the same gear gives me mixed thoughts. On one hand maybe he needs the knowledge that it can be done and once he gets over this little blockage he'll do his own thing? On the other hand one part of my head is screaming "stalker".

Does the rest of the world have 55 year old blokes crammed onto race replicas with their one peice leathers straining under the forces produced by 40 years of drinking beer, obviously thinking of Valentino Rossi as they wobble down the road? It's an odd phenomena IMHO, but each to their own and of course there are 55 year old real racers you'd only find out about if you got past the costume.

Andy

It is sad because it lacks originality , the guy had no thought other than to copy Ewan and Charlie .What did he get out of the trip ,other than bragging rights ?I doubt my son embellished the story .

Do a John Lennon
 

Dodger .... imagine the story was like this ......

John, who from the age of 7 was bullied because he never knew how to communicate with other children, spent his life crying and contemplating suicide, but was never brave enough to follow it through.

He worked in the local bank from the age of 16, and lived with his disabled father, who he looked after, for all his life. At work he continued to be bullied by the people who considered themselves cooler than others, but he continued to work because he knew no better.

When his dad died, clearing the house he found a copy of Long Way Round, and he watched it. From then he realised that his dad had dreamed of riding the world - he would follow.

Years later, he finally managed to ride his dream, decked in the same gear as Ewan and Charlie, and for the first time in his life real confidence.

Then in the bar he meets Dodger Jnr, who looks at him, listens to his story of wanting to follow E+C route, and sneers at him that he's not original enough.

In this story (not the truth and of course not the real dodger junior) there is only one sad person............

And of course you could think of a million different scenarios that this story could follow with the same meaning. To me, judging someone on such a simple, one dimensional part of someones life is sadder than copying Ewan and Charlie. After all, we have all, at some point wanted to be our heroes.

This is by no means a snipe at you or your son Dodger, simply trying to get you and others to be slower in judging people by one story, or set of clothes or bike.

All our back stories are different!!

Hic!

Well said!

How much have you had to drink ?Draw up your own scenario if it pleases you ,but my son actually enjoyed speaking to him and his travelling companion and it wasn't in a bar .His companion was about to break company because the guy was obsessed with travelling the exact same route at the same pace and being in certain towns at the identical time as E and C .The companion wanted to enjoy his trip at leisure because he knew it was unlikely he would pass that way again and didn't appreciate being hastened ."Mr Long Way Round" also didn't like waiting for a slower bike .We make instant judgements the moment we clap eyes on people [whether we know it or not ].It's human nature .Whether we indulge our curiosity by asking questions of that person and whether we actually give a toss is the perogative of the individual and you'll never change that .You infer that I am a sad person from your comments , for that I thank you .I shall henceforth refrain from making judgement on any person untill I have heard every last detail of their life so far .But -wait a minute- you have judged me to be "sad" , we have never met ,or exchanged correspondence and I doubt you have ever seen my face .So how did you come by that conclusion ? Maybe it was from a one dimensional view of a small comment I made on this forum .As I am being non judgemental ,I shall try to understand .

Aaaah, this story has brought a lump to my throat, tears to my eyes, and images of violins, played by angels in the background, are you by any chance a Social worker?
After reading your post I see E & C in a different light now, they remind me of the charactors in the Rolf Harris song 'Two little boys'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdbVogOKjUw Did the original inspiration come from you?

Dave you're right ,the song is so poignant and fitting that I now feel awful about criticising the poor orphan wearing the BMW clown suit .
I shall carry this burden for the rest of my life .
I only hope that I can be forgiven .
I look to Rolf to give me inspiration and hope I can change my ways ;
YouTube - Stairway to Heaven Rolf Harris

OK Dodger - sorry to have upset you.

I'll leave this one to you, and get back to my social care .....

http://www.smokingtailpipes.com/Gall...ouverBC-01.JPG

ahhhhhh.. memories... (isn't that what this is realy about ?)

No sweat Ollie , just having a laugh .
I have been good for a whole day though .:D:innocent:

Be kind to those in your care .:clap:

Jealousy will get ya nowhere Roger!:nono:...............:rofl:

I agree it is a lil sad that so many folks have little imagination....but as it has been said before.." Imitation, is the sincerest form of flattery":thumbup1:


I just wish I could afford to "copy" Ewan n Charley!!

at least I don’t look like one of the Village People

http://i412.photobucket.com/albums/p...m/DSCN2199.jpg


We could almost be twins........or should that be "are we expecting twins?"
:innocent:
http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...tos/Martyn.jpg

I got the feeling the two of them fell out after the Africa trip. things seemed quite strained on that, especially with ewans wife elbowing her way in, then on by any means Charlie described Russ as his best mate, which used to be a position reserved for ewan.

maybe now he has made his money off the back of ewan he thinks russ will be of more use to him!

nearly laughed when I met charlie at the adventure show and he said he was going to do the dakar, but fair play, he had a fair bash, and riding 400 miles with broken hands, thats pretty hard in my book. had the same injury to one hand falling off my bike years ago and it really hurt just laying in the back of the ambulance, never mind riding with it!

Did anyone else catch Charlie's appearence on " Famous and Fearless"??
It was on last week on channel/e4 (i think!)
Hosted by Chris Evans it was a sort of Celebrity Generation Game meets Gladiators (the game show)
Only just caught the event where the male celeb's (!) had to race enduro bikes over a short farm track
Charlie was really sweating over that one,you could hear his ass twitching for miles!

Andy

I met Charlie at one of his talks last year and he seemed to be a lovely guy. We had a bit of a chat before the show, even though I had never met him before, and a little longer one with him and Si Pavey afterwards at the book signing. All I can say is that I warmed to him more than I expected and I suspect that if you could afford to go on one of his Africa trips with him, he would be good company. Listening to him talk warmly about both Ewan and Russ, I felt that the differences in the way he sees the two guys is more to do with him being far more of a petrol head and biker than Ewan, and therefore maybe wanting to spend more time than Ewan on trips, and Russ' 'greater willingness' and 'greater availability' over Ewan for doing stuff. They make a good team - simples. I'm a little disappointed to see the derogatory remarks about him, just because he isn't as hard core as some of our own contributors :(

nah, saw it advertised but 'celebrities' doing highly sanitised 'dangerous' stuff isn't really my bag.
I did watch 71 degrees north which I really enjoyed, despite the fact that you knew all that 'highly dangerous stuff' wasn't likely to be all that dangerous. it did look pretty tough (and unpleasant in places) the end result was a bit of a suprise too.

It is an interesting phenomena, how some individuals, hardcore or whatever they consider themselves, keep "benchmarking" against Charley & Ewan. ...isn't it? :biggrin:

This thread is due for it's old age pension about now! :(

Allow me to sumarise, and hopefully avoid this one hitting another 203 posts:

The actor and his mate did a couple of trips.
Some guys liked the **** jokes, others are more than 9 years old.
Some ignored the **** jokes and found it insprirational.
(some perhaps found the ****ing inspirational, but kept this to themselves).
Some found the camera team and BMW support truck a distraction.
Some guys bought the same kit to look like a Charlie.
Some guys looked like a Charlie already.
Some guys bought the same kit to ride places.
Some guys bought different kit and rode places.
Some guys did none of the above.
We had a nice long chat about it, applied the bandages, got most of the stains out of the electronic carpet and agreed we might have a point but some of us had lost it. doh :rofl:

You can't deny we've had out fun out it regardless of which position you take :rofl:

Andy

Some guy painted (Ewan and) Charlie's faces on the tank of his bike.

http://www.gsadventure.co.uk/wp-cont...2008%20057.jpg