Ewan and Charlie are wusses...

[guest18]

If a 60 year old woman can do it on her own, why are they poncing around with 4x4 backup and stupidly oversized bikes? 
http://www.haefale.de/linda/index.html

[guest40]

Thanks Smudge, I wonder if she is still in OZ, would be nice to meet up with her. I'll let you know what I can find out.

[Steffan]

Hey Kurt mate, you on the pull? You wild man!

Steffan

[Steve Lake]

Too young for you Kurt m8....and probably too quick !! 

[guest40]

Bummer!! my reputation precedes me....
Nah it would be nice to have her as a guest at on of our meetings.

[Hondapartsman]

Yeah but they're rich wusses and no doubt it made them even richer.

[guest18]

true, and in fairness:
1. If someone offered you the chance to do their trips, all sponsored, with that back-up would you turn it down (I wouldn't!)
2. They've done more than anyone else has for years to show bikes as something other than dagerous, excessively fast, antisocial or all three.
3. They have actually (I'm told) done quite a lot of charity work and publicity during their trips.

People seem to love them or hate them, personally not too bothered either way (despite the jokey topic heading) but I think they've done more good than harm.

[squirrelciv]

True enough Smudge, but you have to admit that Boorman is an arse though isn't he??

[Andy M]

They raised the value of Touratech boxes by a silly amount and made me feel like E-baying mine just to stop people calling me Ewan or Charlie    (or maybe that bloke wanted to sell me something when he called me Charlie  )

Now they are doing something with a sidecar, I think I'll take up chainsaw juggling and see if they copy that too   

Can't say I'm happy with the way they did the two long trips, it struck me as rich boys doing it the easy way so they can say they did it, but why should I care how they spend their money. I think if anything it makes people who've done real world long range trips even more special. I'm another neutral on the subject.

Wish I worked for Harley marketing though, those two would be doing Siberia on an Ultra-Heavy Glide with pink tassles and no support but a tanker full of chrome polish next

Andy

[Steffan]

not to worry Andy, I am sure we can make Morocco seem like a hardcore RTW if we try, like not taking enough jerry cans, filling the enfield with chip fat and sand in the airbox....

Steffan

[guest27]

Can't say I'm happy with the way they did the two long trips, it struck me as rich boys doing it the easy way so they can say they did it, but why should I care how they spend their money. I think if anything it makes people who've done real world long range trips even more special. I'm another neutral on the subject.

Andy

Mmmm rich boys....  I guess anything other than Mk1 feet is an aspect of 'richness', sandals are better than bare feet and cost more.  So they did what they did with a film crew, back-up etc, but what was the purpose of their trip, before we criticize the HOW should we not consider the WHAT and most importantly the WHY.

Yes it may have been an ego trip on their behalf, but I understand for the most part they did do the riding not like "Go With Nokes" all those years ago where they loaded his Moggie Minor on a trailer except for the parts they filmed.  But their ego - and probably they are where they are because they have this level of self belief - acts as a transport for many other things.  Yes they raise the profile of biking as something other than Hells Angels or Powerrangers on their plastic crotch-rockets in the mind of the great watching masses.  More importantly they - through entertainment brought some of the reality of Africa etc into the homes of our overly affluent and miserly country. The church they visited in Rwanda should be classed in the same world heratage as Aschwitz.

A bit like Sir Bob "Give us your F*****ing money" Geldolf, they may have done little directly - which I suspect is not true - but they sure have raised awarness where it can have a big impact - in the lounges and sitting rooms of the UK.

You need to ask Why? seven times before you have begun to ask the right question.

R

[squirrelciv]

Hmm? I see your thinking Rog but I fear you miss the point. Any good they have done (or not) is accidental. It was not their objective, they had not set out to educate, at least not on the first trip. When I look repeatedly at the "why" I can only see self gratification. I watched the first series (cos that's what they are now, a series, and bet on them doing another trip soon. My money will be on Alaska to tip of South America) and read the book (it was a pressie) The whole premise was "How can I use my contacts/name/reputation to do a trip of a lifetime?" Opportunities for promotions and ambassadorships then appeared which helped the funding, but it was all about their trip of a lifetime.

In a way, hats off to them. We all use our influences to get things we want and the higher up the tree you are the bigger the prizes you get. But lets see it for what it is and not guild it with any faint praise it might have picked up by accident.

Finally, I don't care if Charlie Boorman personally cooked for every starving child he met, he's an arse! Born an arse, educated as an arse, acting an arse, living the life of an arse and probably going to die an arse!

Feel better now

[Steffan]

you're getting a bit twisted and bitter in your old age Pat.

Pat is Mr Angry

Steffan

[themoudie]

Thumper Club?

More like the 'High Horse Club'!

However, the copyright has already been taken out on that title by a select band of foresters!

I couldn't possibly comment, as when I see the TV schedules or intimation of the immenent arrival of the two wandering millstones anywhere, the 'OFF' position is chosen. 

Cheery, Bill.

[squirrelciv]

you're getting a bit twisted and bitter in your old age Pat.

Pat is Mr Angry

Steffan

Got to be some payback for losing my hair Never bitter matey, but always twisted