ROLLINSDAN
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+1well said
A lot are jealous, but they are doing what many here dream of doing.........
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A lot are jealous, but they are doing what many here dream of doing.........
Decster
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I think the answer to peoples cynical view is that this was sold as 2 'mates' going on a trip, the RTW came up later and then the whole thing snowballed into a hollywood extravaganza. But, they still sold it as 2 'mates' (not 3 and 2 4x4backups)out there on their own doing a once 1 in a lifetime trip. Turns out that they were not on their own and while it is still a very difficult trip to make they always had the back up. We know thanks to t'internet that there are quite a few 'real' people self funding similar trips without the fuss and without the publicity to make a load of money out of it. Probably most of them would not want the limelight that 'Long Way' has brought, but would like some of the kudos. It lessens the trip with this hollywood element, it does for me. I have never been interested in going RTW on my bike and praise those who do it in a certain way. There will definitley be an element of hardship and danger involved in the long way trips as the back up is a few days behind, well so we are led to believe and i dont, but i am sure it helps psycologically to know someone can come to the rescue quickly.
I think that a lot of the slagging is good natured and not too mean spirited, as it is human nature to knock those who can appear to big for their boots. What Boorman did in the Dakar is worthy of some praise. But Long Way stuff, well at the end of the day its TV in'it and we have to take that with a pinch of salt.
AIMHO
D
Now, that's a thinking man's comment on why Long Way Round was not great for other bikers and is much better thought out than the rich kids slander.
I leave on Monday for an overland trip to Australia (see www.planitearth.co.uk) and have found exactly these comments from others. The most common comment is the Borat in Kazakhstan one and the second most common is about the LWR guys.
But the bottom line is still that travelling overland on a bike entails hardship and adventure, so full credit to these guys. Despite the support, they are travelling well outside of the cosetted lives that they live around town, visiting premieres etc. Some of us find a 3 day ride around Wales to be an adventure. We all have different definitions of adventure, so do it however it turns you on.
I leave on Monday for an overland trip to Australia (see www.planitearth.co.uk) and have found exactly these comments from others. The most common comment is the Borat in Kazakhstan one and the second most common is about the LWR guys.
But the bottom line is still that travelling overland on a bike entails hardship and adventure, so full credit to these guys. Despite the support, they are travelling well outside of the cosetted lives that they live around town, visiting premieres etc. Some of us find a 3 day ride around Wales to be an adventure. We all have different definitions of adventure, so do it however it turns you on.
LiquidLAN
Registered user
Well I would just like to say fecking good luck to you! I've just had a look at the site, and it will be interesting to see how you do!
Also its interesting to see your comment, as I've always admired the unsupported traveller over the likes of the supported groups, but it is good to see such words of support for them from yourself.
good for them and good for those of you who own adv 12s
they are doing it on bikes and there is still a fair chance of injury/ death
and then there's the money raised for unicef, £85k for Ewans adv at auction
again good for them, I wish I had the time and money oh
and then there's the time away from their families
Rob
they are doing it on bikes and there is still a fair chance of injury/ death
and then there's the money raised for unicef, £85k for Ewans adv at auction
again good for them, I wish I had the time and money oh
and then there's the time away from their families
Rob
Roytonlad
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Well, it's obvious I have the minority opinion and I can live with that BUT, for the record, my original post never implied that a couple of rich or other guys riding their bikes wasn’t a great idea. The premise of my comments was related to the way they have sold this trip as their next “Epic Adventure” (their words). And how some people seem to fall at their feet, (not you tossers of course).
Most definitions of Adventure include the words risk and danger. And of course there are a range of levels for both. So this got me thinking about a bicycle trip me and four other kids from the estate did when we were about 12. We decided to ride our bikes from home (Royton) to Southport. That was a long-ass way for kids that had never ridden farther than school and back
Now there was a lot of risk, we had some danger, lots of adventure and some misadventure. But I wouldn’t be telling the tale now nor would it have been the same trip if our mammy’s were following us in the family station wagon with spare tyres and the family GP (not that we had any – station wagons that is).
Point is, if a couple of buddies want to do a bike trip down to the next town or next continent good for them. But this fuss over Celebs doing “epic adventures” smacks too much of Hilton and Richie’s The Good Life.
No abuse please I am now a Canadian
Rotonlad
Most definitions of Adventure include the words risk and danger. And of course there are a range of levels for both. So this got me thinking about a bicycle trip me and four other kids from the estate did when we were about 12. We decided to ride our bikes from home (Royton) to Southport. That was a long-ass way for kids that had never ridden farther than school and back
Now there was a lot of risk, we had some danger, lots of adventure and some misadventure. But I wouldn’t be telling the tale now nor would it have been the same trip if our mammy’s were following us in the family station wagon with spare tyres and the family GP (not that we had any – station wagons that is).
Point is, if a couple of buddies want to do a bike trip down to the next town or next continent good for them. But this fuss over Celebs doing “epic adventures” smacks too much of Hilton and Richie’s The Good Life.
No abuse please I am now a Canadian
Rotonlad
There are people who just get stuck in and go off and have a whale of a time, some people by their good fortune can't do that. I'm guessing that Mr. Mcgregor is worth so much money to his agent and the studio, there's no way he can take a piss in the woods without someone keeping an eye on him.
As for Mr. Boorman not too sure about him but I again would guess his dad would have said "Son, your not all that I paid for your education and have tried to help you as much as I can. So now if you can make something for yourself do and stick with it!"
The trip is the trip by whatever means it was done, fair play they along with the other two blokes. Found a medium by which to start a film/doco franchise, that's not bad is it! Yes, they have affected how people are seen on GS's also they have affected how people look at Overlanding and any adventure sport.
However I don't care I had a GS before they did the trip and I swapped it for a newer GS after their trip. I've been involved in adventure sports and I enjoy and live my life according to my rules. I was in the scouts when a kid and still enjoy being outdoors, I don't want to be Ray Mears (I know people who do want to be! but living in the clouds will never get the job done in my humble opinion) So I start my conclusion it's their business good luck to'em I'm sure the production team will massage it into an award winner formula as even in defeat there can be found a golden nuggets of success "Race to Dakar" being a good example.
There's countless people who do something out of the ordinary and I try to take something from every book or doco I read or watch.
Finally as it's been said TV is TV and the truth would only spoil a good story...
also if you watch the any lifestyle program then you can see when the art of the edit is gone all to shit and the real story is just below the surface....
As for Mr. Boorman not too sure about him but I again would guess his dad would have said "Son, your not all that I paid for your education and have tried to help you as much as I can. So now if you can make something for yourself do and stick with it!"
The trip is the trip by whatever means it was done, fair play they along with the other two blokes. Found a medium by which to start a film/doco franchise, that's not bad is it! Yes, they have affected how people are seen on GS's also they have affected how people look at Overlanding and any adventure sport.
However I don't care I had a GS before they did the trip and I swapped it for a newer GS after their trip. I've been involved in adventure sports and I enjoy and live my life according to my rules. I was in the scouts when a kid and still enjoy being outdoors, I don't want to be Ray Mears (I know people who do want to be! but living in the clouds will never get the job done in my humble opinion) So I start my conclusion it's their business good luck to'em I'm sure the production team will massage it into an award winner formula as even in defeat there can be found a golden nuggets of success "Race to Dakar" being a good example.
There's countless people who do something out of the ordinary and I try to take something from every book or doco I read or watch.
Finally as it's been said TV is TV and the truth would only spoil a good story...
also if you watch the any lifestyle program then you can see when the art of the edit is gone all to shit and the real story is just below the surface....
rdover
Registered user
Well put.
Kilimanjaro
Guest
They were here....
...in Italy, two days ago,in Sicily.
Here the link:
http://clacon.smugmug.com/gallery/2889121/1
Now they're in North Africa.
...in Italy, two days ago,in Sicily.
Here the link:
http://clacon.smugmug.com/gallery/2889121/1
Now they're in North Africa.
They enjoy what they are doing and I enjoy watching it afterwards.... whats the problem.
Its good for us all to get good publicity, people may not like them too much but I expect there's people who don't like 'you' as well, that's life!
Good on them and where to next?
Its good for us all to get good publicity, people may not like them too much but I expect there's people who don't like 'you' as well, that's life!
Good on them and where to next?
HOGDAWG
Guest
Wake up and smell the coffee!
Can I also ask those who keep slagging LWR/LWD.. if asked to join in would you really turn it down on ethical grounds as it's not REAL GS'ing?... yeah right!
Decster
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Wake up and smell the coffee!
Can I also ask those who keep slagging LWR/LWD.. if asked to join in would you really turn it down on ethical grounds as it's not REAL GS'ing?... yeah right!
If charlie wasn't going and ewan promised to introduce me to all those hollywood babes.....i might go
the boxers
Registered user
Ride with Charley and Ewan
Listening to the commentary of the MOTOGP qualifying on Eurosport today I heard something of interest.
There will be an auction by http://www.riders.org/ to join the LWD for the last 2 days of the journey.
Anyone want to go?
The auction is currently not on any of the sites as far as I can see.
Listening to the commentary of the MOTOGP qualifying on Eurosport today I heard something of interest.
There will be an auction by http://www.riders.org/ to join the LWD for the last 2 days of the journey.
Anyone want to go?
The auction is currently not on any of the sites as far as I can see.
dragontest
Guest
A mate of mine, who just happens to be in Zambia at the mo, has just seen them about 80 miles south of Lusaka heading for Livingsone. I reckon thats pretty cool.
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