Tales From The Bivouac, Dakar 2012

[Deadly99]

Permissions have been granted by Webventure to use some of their photos in the book

[Deco]

Great news. Those guys donanfantastic job.

[lastplace]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

what if Robb only listens to Disco...well no fucking way can I listen to disco for three weeks....

Robb and Niles generally enjoy show tunes.

Originally Posted by Deadly99

. I smoke a pack a day, drink coffee like it's heroine and live a pretty routine life.

You'll fit right in.

[papaduc]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

It's almost time to head down south

Weird thoughts keep popping into my head during the middle of the night, what if Robb only listens to Disco...well no fucking way can I listen to disco for three weeks....as I said...weird and random thoughts

I haven't even left yet and this trip is proving to be more stressful than others trips I've taken on the past. I suppose it's the worry of being a part of a team. The Dakar is a wheel that keeps spinning every day, keep up or get left behind. I'm not a noob to expeditions (mountaineering, ski touring, river trips, bike trips, etc) but the Dakar doesn't allow for a day of "crap I feel shitty and need t take a rest day".
I keep having moments where I wonder if I haven't bitten off a bit more than I can chew.....then I think about what Ned and Bill are probably thinking right now...and well.......

Three2TheFinish

Sounds normal for an adventure that you.....
A: Have little experience with.
B: Have limited knowldge of what to expect.
C: Have NO CONTROL over.
Try to relax, it will only hurt for a moment.

[ArthDuro]

Nice! Webventure support.
Relax Ted you are only going to the Dakar...

[Stagehand]

[$low-n-0ld Racing]

Deadly,

I feel your pain, anxiety, excitement, apprehension and loathing of disco. At the same time, I’m giddy like a little school girl, my flight departs on the 27th as well...and I'm just a spectator.

[vander]

I had not seen this before, Its from last year but antway, maybe sombady else didnt saw it before, like me.

[Bluebull2007]

Originally Posted by Deadly99

It's almost time to head down south

Weird thoughts keep popping into my head during the middle of the night, what if Robb only listens to Disco...well no fucking way can I listen to disco for three weeks....as I said...weird and random thoughts

I haven't even left yet and this trip is proving to be more stressful than others trips I've taken on the past.

Three2TheFinish

Don't worry Ted, Robb is a big disco fan!

+ 1 regarding earplugs, don't forget the EARPLUGS!!

You're going to love it, but its hard work. A few of the little things you might consider that the riders will appreciate big time:

- Make up their energy supplement drink at the end of the day while they take their boots off and add cubes of ice if you can find.
- A friendly word of encouragement in the morning might go unanswered, but believe me the pre-race nerves simply do not go away every day.
- A positive disposition with a bit of friendly banter - riders are so into staying focused and concentrating all day, so help them to de-stress and relax if you can.
- Take notes from the guys about their bikes for the mechanics and check the mechanics get through it all. Feedback to the riders in the morning on this will be another confidence booster.
- Be sure to attend the daily briefing (team manager normally does this) but go anyway and compare notes; sometimes one person misses out on important detail.
- Stop and buy bananas for the boys as they get off their bikes if you can find them
- Take ownership of the riders bags, make sure they know where they are at each biv and maybe suggest you hand onto their pens and markers for them. This saves about 5 minutes of scratching about when all the rider really wants to do is relax.
-Offer to drive - Scratch that- You'll probably be driving all the time.

Enjoy yourself. Take lots of photos for us.

You're not going to sleep much, so get it in while you still can !!

[Deadly99]

Originally Posted by Bluebull2007

Don't worry Ted, Robb is a big disco fan!

+ 1 regarding earplugs, don't forget the EARPLUGS!!

You're going to love it, but its hard work. A few of the little things you might consider that the riders will appreciate big time:

- Make up their energy supplement drink at the end of the day while they take their boots off and add cubes of ice if you can find.
- A friendly word of encouragement in the morning might go unanswered, but believe me the pre-race nerves simply do not go away every day.
- A positive disposition with a bit of friendly banter - riders are so into staying focused and concentrating all day, so help them to de-stress and relax if you can.
- Take notes from the guys about their bikes for the mechanics and check the mechanics get through it all. Feedback to the riders in the morning on this will be another confidence booster.
- Be sure to attend the daily briefing (team manager normally does this) but go anyway and compare notes; sometimes one person misses out on important detail.
- Stop and buy bananas for the boys as they get off their bikes if you can find them
- Take ownership of the riders bags, make sure they know where they are at each biv and maybe suggest you hand onto their pens and markers for them. This saves about 5 minutes of scratching about when all the rider really wants to do is relax.
-Offer to drive - Scratch that- You'll probably be driving all the time.

Enjoy yourself. Take lots of photos for us.

You're not going to sleep much, so get it in while you still can !!

Thanks for the tips Neil, much appreciated As for getting sleep now....work is exploding with getting all the year end stuff completed and prepping my work for a few weeks of being absent...throw Christmas into the mix and I leave on the 27th and have 23 hours of flights, etc before arriving the night before scrutineering starts and jeepers....wish I had a few days down south before the circus starts but it is what it is.

[c.vestal]

Posting hello to subscribe to this.
See ya soon Ted!!

[doyle]

Yamaha pushing for Dakar glory as 2012 edition nears

The months and weeks of preparation for some of the bravest off-road riders in the world will shortly come to a head when the 34th Dakar Rally sets off from Buenos Aires for the 9000km two week race, regularly dubbed as one of the toughest in the world. Yamaha will count on a fine representation of 40 riders from the 188 entrants of the motorcycle class and over half of the 32-strong Quad category once the clock starts on New Years day....More

[Deadly99]

[Dread Pendragon]

Originally Posted by Bluebull2007

+ 1 regarding earplugs, don't forget the EARPLUGS!!

Ted, these earplugs are seriously worth their weight in gold.



I have a difficult time sleeping, especially with any noise at all. When I go on rides with my friends they almost all snore (one guy makes the sounds of a calf being eaten alive, tail-first . . . true story!). I get terrible sleep, unless I remember to bring these. They darn near completely shut out the outside world.

If you don't have time to order some I might have a new pair I'd be happy to mail you.

Mike

[Bluebull2007]

Originally Posted by Dread Pendragon

Ted, these earplugs are seriously worth their weight in gold.



I have a difficult time sleeping, especially with any noise at all. When I go on rides with my friends they almost all snore (one guy makes the sounds of a calf being eaten alive, tail-first . . . true story!). I get terrible sleep, unless I remember to bring these. They darn near completely shut out the outside world.

If you don't have time to order some I might have a new pair I'd be happy to mail you.

Mike

That made me laugh. Go on- tell us the story!