The time has come... Neduro DID Dakar!

[beechum1]

Vid's please. other than just doing it, dunes are my final frontier that I'd really like to study up on before really going out. Those vids you did Hilslamer, were great, thanks so much.

[hilslamer]

Originally Posted by beechum1

Vid's please. other than just doing it, dunes are my final frontier that I'd really like to study up on before really going out. Those vids you did Hilslamer, were great, thanks so much.

Cheers!

[hardroadking]

Been out of the loop for awhile and thought I'd try to find out if Ned is planning on another Dakar. Anyone know.
thanks
Tim

[Yellow Pig]

Nope, he's checked that block.

[Pantah]

Hey I just wanted to post up that Ned did a great column in the latest American Motorcyclist magazine called LESSONS FROM DAKAR.

It is quite philosophical, and in many ways more about life than motorcycle racing. The first lesson he learned was about expanding his horizons; "realizing that I could do anything if I was willing to work and sacrifice".

I found his last lesson most telling:

"The last lesson of Dakar was maybe the hardest. When it was over- after finishing a dream that had been building for years and totally consuming for months- I felt adrift, like I had run my train off the end of the tracks. I was expecting an ecstatic feeling of satisfaction. Instead, I felt let down.

The lesson wasn't clear for awhile, but now I understand that it's one I've learned over and over again: The goal is the journey, not the destination. The point of the race isn't the finish line, but it's all the fun (and lessons learned) along the way."

You'll have to join AMA to read the full list of lessons he learned, but they were very impressive to me... Not unlike the progress of the Neduro Dakar saga as it played out from the beginning of this thread. Awesome stuff.

PS: Is it just me or is the content being published in American Motorcyclist improving significantly? I find myself reading every issue nearly cover to cover.

[header]

Originally Posted by Pantah

PS: Is it just me or is the content being published in American Motorcyclist improving significantly? I find myself reading every issue nearly cover to cover.

It's not just you

I saw Ned's article too. Always a good read from him.

[guymanbro]

Originally Posted by Pantah

Hey I just wanted to post up that Ned did a great column in the latest American Motorcyclist magazine called LESSONS FROM DAKAR.

. . .

PS: Is it just me or is the content being published in American Motorcyclist improving significantly? I find myself reading every issue nearly cover to cover.

I enjoyed the article as well. My favorite part of Ned's philosophy is taking small bites of the challenges ahead of you. Sometimes the hardest part of any scenario is just starting. Once you get things rolling, you forget how far away the "finish" is and just focus on keeping momentum.

As for the content, things have been getting much better since they started printing articles written by AMA members. Probably saves them a bunch of money too.

[neduro]

Thanks, all. I was flattered they asked me to write it.

FWIW, I think it's really important for all of us to support the AMA. There are so many threats to our sport- not only the off-road access issues, but also Ethanol, health insurance laws, etc. The AMA has its flaws, but they are what we have, and they are working hard on our behalf in Washington.

[skibum69]

Hey Guymanbro, do you want to mail me your copy od the rag so I can read Ned's article?

[Brodovitch]

I really enjoyed that snippet of The article, Ned has a way of phrasing things that I just can't when trying to explain the thrill of multiday racing to friends / other racers

Is there any way to find the whole article online for us non-US riders?

The lesson above reminds me of one of my favourite poems by CP Cavafy:

As you set out for Ithaka
hope the voyage is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians and Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
*
Hope the voyage is a long one.
May there be many a summer morning when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you come into harbors seen for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to gather stores of knowledge from their scholars.
*
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you are destined for.
But do not hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you are old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you have gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
*
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you would not have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
*
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you will have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.


Translated by Edmund Keeley/Philip Sherrard

(C.P. Cavafy, Collected Poems. Translated by Edmund Keeley and Philip Sherrard. Edited by George Savidis. Revised Edition. Princeton University Press, 1992)

[guymanbro]

Originally Posted by skibum69

Hey Guymanbro, do you want to mail me your copy od the rag so I can read Ned's article?

Sure thing. Or I could scan it and email it and you could read it today . . . PM me and we'll sort out the details.

[Boondoggle]

I was already glad to have been able (in a small way) to support Neduro's effort.

After reading the piece in AMA, I'm even happier and prouder to have done so.

Well done, sir.

[ER70S-2]

Hi Ned:
I was handing John tools tonight when you called.

[Stagehand]

Nice column, Ned!

[skibum69]

Ditto! Glad I too could contribute a wee bit to your effort. The only problem is now that Jonah has retired from competition and you and Bill have been there who am I going to throw a few $$ at this year?