MOVED: Long Way Round: Not a Resource at All
 

So I in the last couple days I started watching the "Long Way Round" for the first time, and frankly I find it disgusting. It should be retitled "How Not to Ride Round the World Unless you are a Multimillionaire"

For certain things there truly is a right and wrong way to do things. These two made a mockery of such an experience, and it truly angers me that they are probably the most well know ambassadors for the endeavor I hold so dear.


Just a bit of how retarded Ewen and Charlie were

Ewan Mcgregor on the BMW R1200GS:
“it is the only bike for the trip, it was the only bike made for this kind of thing” Are you kidding me, Transalp, Tenere, F650GS, KLR650, R100GS, XR650


6 weeks before departure they haven’t even gotten their bikes yet… You guys are millionaires, just go buy them!!! Oh and Charlie Borman, why should a motorcycle company give bikes to you, casue your dad made some good movies and your friend is a movie star. Instead of having a conniption fit, and cussing and swearing at KTM… GO BUY YOUR OWN FREAKING BIKE, just like all of us have to.

They have three secretaries and they can’t get their shit together and get visas for Russia. I got my own visa in an hour on the Internet by paying some travel agency like $150, mailed my passport to Washington DC and two weeks later I had my visa.

What is up with “Country Consultants”, are you kidding me. You need to hire a guy to tell you to be careful about bears in Canada? You needed to hire some Russian ladies to tell you Russia is big? WTF


If I ran KTM, I sure as hell would not give free sponsorship bikes to a scrawny Bscottish movie star who admittedly has no offroad experience, and a fat goofy guy whose father is a famous director!!!

Oh and because we are goofing around the whole time learning how to avoid AK-47 fire, and some hilariously phony check point bribing scheme, instead of actually learning real first aide we decide… ah we’ll just bring a doctor along WTF. This is just ludicrous. This isn’t a motorcycle trip around the world. This is just like English Nobility going on a hunting trip to Africa and bringing their servants and furniture, and cooks from home. It is totally bogus

They go to the offroad school and Ewen, who actually starts out on the bike he should use for the trip the F650gs, is complaining how he has never done this and doesn’t want to let anyone down, and then the next scene is him dropping a bike he can’t even lift up on his own without any luggage on it. WTF are you thinking.

I also guess when you are going to have a support vehicle(s) following you, and you are millionaires, you can afford to not care about maintenance and just **** around when BMW techs are giving you one on one instruction about how to repair and maintain your bike.

These guys are like little kids. They get Carnets. The most important Document after their passorts and they have no idea what it is for. They have no idea what to do with it!!!

It saddens me to watch this. These two guys are about as good ambassadors for motorcycling as two middle aged orthodontists riding turquoise Harleys.


The producer says “they are going through borders that only people with local passports have” like somehow they are doing something Novel and unique!

At the border crossing with the Ukraine they didn’t bring their original documents. What is wrong with these guys. THEY HAD A STAFF OF A HALF DOZEN PEOPLE!!! Then the only reason they end up getting in is because they are actors. Well Ewan, I guess it does pay to be famous.

The guys on the Bikes aren’t carrying their own paper work? WTF

At least they went an visited a UNICEF project, which they couldn’t bother showing up to on time!!!!


(Let the flaming begin)

I am shocked--SHOCKED!--to hear such deep and abiding disrespect directed at my personal role model/heros.

Do I get the impression you didn't like it then?

We are all entitled to our own role models. I respect that you choose your very differently than mine

If you want to true motorcycle Role Model. I suggest

Mike Mattison

No I actually find it quite entertaining. It just isn't really a motorcycle trip. It is more like a Top Gear Challenge

Ever read this?

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...long-way-41829


Sit down, open a beer and enjoy! :biggrin3:

Is it even meant to be a resource (and not just entertainment)?

When a famous actor, who has no previous experience of something like this does it with a film crew, what do you expect?

What they did manage to do was give overlanding on a motorcycle a huge lift. It´s become so much more popular, and probably not only because of Ewan&Charlie, certainly not, but I believe they really might have something to do with that. Many people started dreaming of it after they saw LWR & others.

Anyone with a brain knows, that it´ll be very very different, if you go out and do it yourself.

Seriously! Not sure if this should even be in the Route Planning section.

There have been several discussions about their movies/trips over the last few years on this forum as well as several other forums. We really didn't need another thread about it. If you had done your research prior to buying the DVD set, you could have saved some $.
Daryll

Never mind Mark, some people just have no taste, you're still my role model.
Still drunk, still in Africa.

It's about time someone started a E&C thread.. I can't believe no ones mentioned them in all these years since the LWR.
:innocent:


We all know how you feel roadrider. You just have to take it as a bit of "Celebrity entertainment"...

Tell me it ain't so!

:thumbup1:


As for new E&C threads -> :ban:

I concur. Not wanting to sensor debate in any way, but please read the above mentioned thread and if you have anything new to add, please do.

I don't believe even Ewen and Thingy intended on it being a planning resource. Possibly for the flat earth people it helps to show the world is round. I will bear this in mind for my future plans.

C

Ewan and Charley rock ...:thumbup: all y'all jealous folks ...:tt2:

Good on them for having the resources and publicity to make some money out of it. I hope they'll do a Long Way Up and Long Way Diagonal for what it's worth... Geeez folks, get a grip on yourselves doh

If I can say my opinion, I really don't understand where all this anger against McGregor and Boorman comes from.
I agree with the ones who say that all of this circus that travelled with them is sometimes ridiculous but I really cannot share all this hatred that I read against them.

I myself travel overland, and I'd never request a class for dealing with customs, I always obtained my Visas by myslef or with the assistance of my local travel agency, I spend months reading HUBB / ADV searching for the info I need and I'd never want that other would choose the route for me, BUT... if those two guys needed or wanted to do like this, what do you care?

Who are you to judge the way a motorcycle rider acts?

I enjoyed watching the entire LWR and LWD with my girlfriend, everytime with a couple of beers and some chips, and I took it under my point of view: a good and well built show that has nothing to do with the REAL adventure motorcycling but that maybe had the merit to show me some places I'll never reach astride my bike and (who knows) might have pushed somebody to leave the idea of motorcycling around home only and extend his own mental horizons to some other places.

Live and let live, guys!

I call for the hubb to have its very category JUST for LWR/LWD, Ewan & Charlie threads and topics...

That way anyone who actually gives a crap can argue all day and night about it without clogging up the Hubb with it..

What say thee admin ???

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

Magically, in their wisdom, they already have a category - it's called..... a thread. You don't have to read a thread if you don't want to. And if you read it, you don't have to comment on it. Neat, huh? This is a sophisticated site, catering for all needs, y'know? Why do you want others (mods/admin) to have special categories for you, and more work?

But TT, thou do readeth such threads, so thou "give a crap". No worries there. Go for it, Tour@Ted. :thumbup1:

I can't deny I have a punt now and then......

Must try harder....1/10:thumbup1:

Why do I care what other motorcyclists do?
1) Because of certain Harley riders (and sport-bike riders) California is now enforcing a strict Exhaust Ordinance.

2) Because of the Billy Lane and Jesse James many people think motorcyclists are drunk neanderthals that have no civic conscience

3) Ppeople go out and Buy 100,000 plus R1200GS because they have a hard on for E&C, and so Yamaha, and Honda, A Triumph build theses useless off road, Gigantic motorcycles instead of making an actually great bike.

Imagine if Kawasaki put its parallel twin from the Versys in a KLR type frame
Imagine if Honda kept making a real dual sport version of the transalp.
How great would it be if yamaha made an 800 tenere in a 660xt chasis. Or if suzuki made the Wee-Strom actually offroad availabe.

There is not hate, just frustration that these guys are, and want to be, ambassadors for the endeavor I love so much.

BTW, when a group is such a minority as we are, and one that is not overwhelmingly respected by the majority out there, everything that a fellow motorcyclist does effects all of us (at least in the developed world).

That being said I can't wait to watch Long way down

[quote

That being said I can't wait to watch Long way down[/quote]



Why ?

You have a point there with point 3. I'm still waiting for a 300 pound adventure bike for after the one that I'm building dies.

But really people. Get it right. It's Charlie and Ewan. Better rider always comes first.

I can't decide which one I love best. Got to admit, all that intimacy makes me a bit jealous of Ewan. I mean, Charlie has something special about him. And it's not that rug muffin he used to have below his bottom lip. Can't put my finger on it.
I do know that when I saw it the first time I went straight on ebay to buy a Touratech catalogue. Jeez they got some good stuff in there. Even for small bikes like the F650 and Transalp.

Anyway, I think you'z all are a bit disrespectfull calling them by their first name. Just because their friends and I do so doesn't mean you all can.

Never heard of 'em, maybe we could have a thread or twelve to discuss?

:rofl:

Andy

So what?
If you are a good person with civic conscience, what do you care?

Over the past years here in north Italy we had some fights between Hell's Angels and Bandidos with use of fireweapons, and many people began to think that ALL Harley riders are criminals, drug dealers and hooligans.
Do you think that I traded my Harley in for this? No.

Everytime I was pulled over by police for some document controls I have been always let go with a smile and "have a good trip".
And this is enough for me.

I thinks we digress
 

Going back to the OP.

To make a series that people, anyone not just overlanders or adventure riders or motorcyclists, (after all there are other people out there, lest we forget) will watch, it has to be appealing to the masses.:smartass:

I don't think they did a bad job of making the LWD and LWR entertaining, even if you don't like the characters. I mean strictly speaking it wasn't a documentary and it wasn't a TV Soap so it's at best a bit of a hack. :thumbdown:

Let me put it another way, if you were creating a TV Series would you bogg it down with heavy facts about where and when to get visas, who can ship parts to Usbekistan or Mongolia within 2days or other diplomatic/administrative headaches?? Well if you did then you wouldn't keep your audience for very long. doh

LWD & LWR are what they are, that is to say it's not real life. It's what a producer and his buddies wanted people to see and a lot of people have watched them dispite their obvious flaws and illusions. The simple fact is that they succeeded (with a full camera crew and 5 tonnes of parts they never used), the proof is that people are still talking (read posting) about them!!! :oops2:

I quote every single word! :thumbup1:

We may well be having a documentary about 'Team Half Baked Pizza', which is partially designed as the anti-thesis to the Long Way x series'. The show will follow us as we get a few hundred quids worth of old step-through bikes from Domino's pizza, scab together some equipment and sell off everything we own to go desert racing in January 2012 (we have ended up in the 'racing' category of the Budapest to Bamako Rally......).

This should have it all, race-pace off-road stages, a shoestring budget and a team of people that have been described as everything from 'clueless' to 'demented'. It should be the opposite of the LWR in terms of factory backing/support/budget but it certainly wouldn't be getting any interest from the TV networks if it wasn't for Charlie and Ewans massive success with this subject matter.

I might not like the amount of A-road warriors that are now fully decked out in a Rally II suit and everything they could buy from Touratech, but I thank C&E for bringing adventure motorcycling to a point in the public perception where it has some mass appeal.

If you don't like the perception the public now has of 'us' following the adventures of C&E then there's only one option - get on the telly yourself and redress the balance!

Oh the show is incredibly entertaining, it is just that neither of these guys, especially Ewen. should be advising anybody about anything that has to do with motorcycles. He knows virtually nothing about them and yet proselytizes a lot. That being said he seems to be a genuinely good man who loves his family and takes care of them.

I don't care if you don't know much about motorcycles or riding, but then don't pretend that you do, and don't insult me by telling me how "perfect the BMWs were and they were the only bikes that would have made it, and that the KTMs would have fallen apart"

The truth is there is no way I could have made a TV series even watchable let alone as good as what these guys made. This is just a buddy series. Which again is fine

I'm pretty sure BMW are the only people that can make a machine even close to the perfect machine for the job. It needed a Rotax motor though. No other designers are smart enough to supply an early warning system for the cooling system. I mean, come on Kick The Motherf*****

Despite recent evidence to the contrary, the guy is an actor. When you do a product placement on a TV show it's up to you if you then get overheard saying that actually it's a pile of *** and you always use another brand. However, if you stick to the role or at least keep your mouth shut, the next product company (he's in a shower gel advert now, the bikes are kept blurry but look like Ducatis!) will sign you up a lot quicker.

Andy

Isn't this how every single person on here started out ? :innocent:


I hate to be the bearer of bad news to people, but Star Wars is just made up too......... :oops2:

Back to the OP, isn't someone showing you how it can be done (whether you agree with the methods or not) as good a resource as any? After all, there are lots of ways to do something (more than one way to skin a cat, as me old grandad used to say) but seeing how you don't want to do it is much more finite.

The fact remains - Ewan & Charlie did ride around the world (mostly), and they did ride from JOG to Cape Town. And just like anyone else, they used the resources available to them.

Lois did it (to Cape Town) on a XT 250 with sod all else, we all have different resources, it's how we use them that counts.

I think there is a vast amount here to do with expectations.

Back when I was a BMW riding Touratech advert the internet was too new to be any use. We had Chris Scotts book (rightly known as the overland bible), the TT catalogue (if you could get the lazy ***s to post you one), Ted Simon (a story not a manual) and the odd blurry copy of Mondo Enduro on VHS. No suprise then that we all picked a bike out of the AMHB and avoided Triumphs and home made leather panniers.

Now we have HUBB, ADVrider, peoples own websites etc. with a mass of serious and usable detail from more than one point of view. TV simply can't compete. Watch a History channel documentary about a battle, you can write the detail they put out on one page of the book on the same subject Amazon can now let you download in less time that it takes to watch the telly. You can't watch Top Gear and expect the detail of the Haynes book.

TV is an entertainment media and that's what LWD seems to be.

Andy

Amen!

As someone who has little desire to go the whole hog and ride on a global trip, I do enjoy reading horizons and live vicariously through others' adventures. Yet, even on the hallowed threads of horizons, I find it interesting at times to read into what I think the person who started this thread sees in "Long Way Down."

People are trying to 'one-up' each other in some way. Ewen is trying to show how adventurous he can be via the film, and some here, are the same. It's egos, people! doh

Examples are those who are trying to show off where they intend to go via the advisories section with posts such as "Should I ride into North Korea to meet Kim Jong-il" or "How dangerous is central Bagdad?" (disclaimer: some titles of posts were never actually on horizons :biggrin3:)

Like the original poster wrote regarding his disgust with LWD--we get it, you are oh so adventurous with your intentions to ride at, and laugh into, the face of danger! :helpsmilie:

Examples of people here trying to out-eccentric others via the "Which Bike" area: "Should I attempt to tour S. America riding a 33cc stand-up scooter?" or "what about touring the US on motorized roller skates?" (disclaimer--neither of these posts were ever seen on HU) :funmeteryes:

The point is, ride for the adventure, not the glory, or to complain about how others ride for glory. LWD is entertaining, no matter if they had a convoy of Mack trucks following them, or private jet as backup.

Like I said, I have not once complained about how others ride, or their reasons. What brought me to HU was reading Greg Frazier's various riding postings from different parts of the world. Reading them was like a good book that I couldn't put down. Should I complain that he makes money writing about his trips?

My future plans, irregardless of what anyone thinks (or if anyone has filmed it already while being followed by a luxury coach and an 18-wheeled Perterbuilt, or ridden it already on a Honda Z50 Monkey bike :scooter:), is to ride down to Costa Rica on a Qingqi 200 enduro and back. Why? I have been interested to see real Mexican culture (not the border culture that I see daily), and I have intrigued by the jungles found south of me from southern Mexico, into Honduras, and then into Costa Rica, and I have heard good things about Costa Rica. The Qingqi because it is reliable and cheap. :mchappy: A motorcycle in general for the trip vs. a 4 wheeler--I personally find it intriguing due to getting to places that a car/truck cannot get to.

Beyond that--maybe I'll watch Ewen and Charley, and re-read some of Greg Frazier's trip reports to see where I would like to go next....

Long Way Round, not a resource at all

I'm fairly sure it never claimed to be a 'how to' guide to round the world travel.

It's just entertainment so please view it as such. If it had all gone smoothly and they were competent then it wouldn't have been very entertaining - would it.

They were, however, a bit surprised at how popular it was but managed to cash in on the Long Way Down which is entertainment but with a strong marketing message.

long way around
 

Hi every one,

Didn't read all your contributions. Never really liked the few shows of them, I watched on TV. Despite all off that, they created a lot of motorbike riding interest worldwide. Also lifted the image of the game, we are not all crooks and drug dealers. Many people decided, that's the real thing for me, got to have a go, it's so easy doing armchair adventures. Bought my latest bike of on of them.
Reality is setting in and sorting them all out. Anyway, good for the bike industry, the ones who stick to motorbike riding, got the motivation in their heads. There is a generation after us. We may meet them somewhere on day on the road.
Sure they will become as enthusiastic as we all are.

Cheers

Helgo

I don't think any of us can criticise E&C because they had access to better resources.

We are all very privileged to do what we do, whether it be with multiple endorsements and a back-up team, or an understanding employer and an EU passport. Adventure motorcycling is just a holiday. Try explaining the difference between us and E&C to someone working for pennies every day of the year.

Ewan McGregor is an A-list celebrity, if he had tried going round the world without security and support that would be fake.

Race to Dakar, which stars Charley Boorman, is pretty good!

You have (had) to be nails to even attempt that rally!

entertainment
 

haters have found this one I hope:

YouTube - EWAN AND THINGY (Ep 6 of 9) LOVE AND HATE IT

The fact that the above even exists, the fact that this and other posts on the topic will go on and on and on, surely is a testament to the impact the two have had. Good or bad, 'love it or hate it', entertainment or not, you can't deny that.

I personally really enjoyed them (Round, Down, Dakar), and found them entertaining. I did find the original post (and the above video) very funny, however!

For informative I come here . . . .:thumbup1:

I wish they would hurry up and do Long Way Up,
at least then the Kid's could get me that for Christmas instead of more socks:thumbup1:

:clap:

The book
 

Like many I watched the series on telly and squirmed when Charlie threw his toys out of the pram and wailed we have nothing when surrounded by staff, donated tools and riding gear.
However Touring Ted lent me the book of the series and it made a lot of sense. I understood why they did what they did and the pressures on them, contracts to be somewhere else in the world at a certain time and things like personal insurance etc. For those who hated the series have a read of the book (you dont have to buy it check yout local library) it may just change your perception of the pair.
I still think Charlie is a tool BTW but if I had the opportunity to do what they did in the manner they did it I would.

Interesting. I read the book but never saw the series. Based on the book, I thought they both sounded like rich, spoiled, crybabies who also happened to be remarkably bad writers. I've been cutting them some slack because people keep telling me that watching the series is better than reading the book.

I find the phenomenon fascinating--the way so many of us get so wound up about these two. No more fascinating, of course, than the way people get equally wound up about their favorite movie stars, athletes, politicians or other celebrities. It sure seems like the same forces are at work here, whether turned towards the positive (adulation and wannabe-ism) or negative (deeply personal insult taken at their very existence).

Personally, I'd find the whole elaborate deal more interesting if they'd just made an effort to keep it honest and humble....but I gather that doesn't play very well, nor pay the bills.

Mark

Possibly :offtopic:

Does anyone else see the change that took place in mass media is the late 80's and 90's? It could be rose tinted 20/20 hind sight, but my dad used to watch Top Gear when he was actually looking for a new car and William Woolard and a bloke called Geoff something or other would actually drive normal cars on the road and tell you the bits they didn't like. I picked the first bike I had a choice about (First one was almost given to me) based on a Ride article where they actually took a 300cc MZ on a short tour of France.

The telly now is just Clarkson and others playing the fool. I was bought a magazine subscription for Christmas and according to the guys who eat the buffet at the launch all bikes are equally fantastic the day they come out. The latest one comparing the W800 to the Bonneville rightly said it was an improvement over a ten year old design (No **** Sherlock) but skimmed over the looks-over-function drum brake and how Kawasaki's Sportsbike oriented dealer network will support them.

I'm afraid when I want information it's Google (and HUBB) where real people put their info. When I want entertainment I'll find a film or drama. I simply don't like the entertainment dressed up as information stuff. I think the only media I'll except from this is Radio where the better stations do seem to have maintained the mix, but even there it is obvious that when one side of the news it's the pop quiz and the other they are interviewing the Chancellor they've switched. LWR etc, seem dishonest which I think produces the split we see.

Andy

The Americans invented the word 'Infotainment'. I say blame 'them' for the hype and lack of journalistic content flooding us everyday everywhere we look.:innocent:

I have to agree with threewheelbonnie here .
Top Gear is a farce ,just 3 prats performing in front of a bunch of giggling sycophants . If one of them was my son ,I'd be ashamed - if it was an animal I'd euthanise it .

Charley and Ewan ; well that's entertainment too .But much better quality and partly educational for someone who knows nothing about bikes or travel .
If they can make money out of their hobby - good for them .
Who cares if they aren't hardcore ? Not me .
What is hardcore anyway ? And who is fit to judge ?
If I saw Charley or Ewan on the road ,I'd buy 'em a pint and I expect they would buy me one in return .:D

entertainment
 

I actually liked the shows too (but I still think that video is hilarious). Mostly because they helped solidify my notion of doing a long trip on a motorcycle. I thought, hell if these guys can do it, I surely can! I spent 5 years as a wandering surfer on buses, trains, and beater cars purchased here and there and never once remember meeting someone on a long distance motorcycle tour. So I am among those that the exposure of the whole idea affected.

Charlie and Ewan's job was to entertain us, right? The fact is that if they did a show that was low production quality and they were both tough as nails, but not particularly entertaining, no one would watch it.

Oh dear!..........
My son (30-ish) is besotted by it, watches repeats end-to-end. Advice please?? Is there a cure? I hope so! :helpsmilie:

(But I do like James May's occasional programmes on how you should really play with train sets).


BugsOnMyBoard:
"Charlie and Ewan's job was to entertain us, right? The fact is that if they did a show that was low production quality and they were both tough as nails, but not particularly entertaining, no one would watch it."
Can't say I'm a fan of their's, but this is one of the best summings-up here.

I saw Ewan at Ted Simon's Ace Cafe book signing. He seemed a friendly enough sort of fellow, despite having some family with him and a leg in plaster.
(He does, or did really ride a motorbike in London - had a fall and broke it.
Riding a motorbike in London - that would rightly qualify for Adventure Motorcycling for many people). :thumbup1:

Jeez. Some of those comments are pretty severe. Which category are we putting Austin Vince than? He's the reason I started travelling all together. And Chris Scott. He makes good books, but can't say I enjoyed his DVD's.

Personally I love topgear. Haven't got much of an interest in cars. Feel free to watch Fifth gear if you want to see a road test of a Nissan Micra. I'll pass. After a day of trying to be serious I enjoy watching a few fools trash a few cars. beer

Looks like I'm a sycophant then.:rockon: Glad I'm not your son :hang:.

I think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone in the UK (except maybe the Mexican ambassador in London) who thinks that Clarkson/Hammond/May are doing anything other than deliberately taking the p!ss out of each other and the whole world. They aren't taking themselves seriously in any way. I definitely don't watch it to help me decide whether to buy a car that's made in Mexico or not.

The actor and ex carpet fitter are entertaining in other ways. When they were in Mongolia it reminded me of what it was like to have to ride a big fat bike with much too much sh!t strapped to it:
http://www.thebrightstuff.com/picsFo...25_Useless.jpg

C

Chris, I think you are the only person to have ever carried more crap and broken shocks and subframes faster that E and C. There should be some sort of award for this:mchappy:

Mark, another Top Gear fan.

:cool4:. In another thread some comedian was reconing I was trying to be like Dan Walsh. Now you're comparing me to E&C:helpsmilie:. I might start to develop some sort of identity crisis.beer... However I like the FASTER comment. Finally have a strapline for my website logo:

"FASTER THAN EWEN AND THINGY".
:funmeteryes:

Thanks for your thoughts (rant?) regarding this entertainment program that has been out for, what, five years now? Why on earth did you think it would be a resource?

:sleep1:

Please keep us posted if you have similarly strong feelings about the Spice
Girls, the threat posed by SARS, or for that matter, the original Star Wars movie.

they didn't make the show for us
 

people on this forum know about the real deal, but its a tiny tiny slice of the audience.

i know that star wars is fake too. but it's still fun to look at. and I'm not particularly impressed by someone who can point out the fake bits about it. except for jar-jar. really hate jar-jar. he's so fake.

Without LWR being produced, there'd be far less Adventure Riders. As much as everyone takes the piss out of EM and CB, you have to credit them for promoting the previous small sect of Overlanders.

Riders like Sam Manicom, the Mondo Enduro crew and Lois Pryce etc, would still be doing their day jobs full time if it wasn't for LWR. Instead they are now seen at every Adventuring Biking event milking their wares, years after it all happened. Austin Vince, as much as he slates the corporations off etc, would dream of doing a LWR for telly, self promotion is something that he is very good at, due to his great charisma.

The Adventure Film Festival i attended in Bideford was a pure cash cow. A nice weekend, but you had to pay for everything including some hour workshops at £20 each!

My two penneth worth!

Hmm. You want to go for a really long ride but your much loved other half isn't so sure. Sit 'em down and watch E&C do their stuff, might just persuade them to green light the whole thing.

Or if you're really lucky you get to go for a really long ride (and you really do the riding) but with backup, fixers and all that stuff so you just have to do the fun bit and then get the worlds best home movie of your travels which you can also sell to a slavering public and make millions of quids.

Sounds alright to me. Why get upset about something that makes any sort of biking look fun (and engages non bikers)?

I'm not buying the whole marketing argument. Since when has an adventure required marketing to increase the crowds? Who cares how many people do this kind of thing anyway? The old hippy trails became backpacking trails and then 5 star tourist trails without any 'doccos'. And I reckon you'll find most people do all the public speaking in their own time. There is no money to be made with it. Even doing touring guide thing isn't a honey pot. The only person that made reasonable money with it is Boorman himself. That's assumed off course based on his endeavours since.

Offcourse BMW sells more bikes that only seem to get worse. Yamaha brought back an overweight version of the Tenere. Metal Mule, TT and others made heaps of coin with selling crap that you don't need to give you that 'E&C Adventure feeling'.

I think it could be worse than that. The village kids don't start chucking stones at bikers until the weekly 90 mph dust cloud that is the "Desert Adventure Experience (only £700 per person, bike rental not included)" starts rolling through twice a week.


Andy