Trail Bike Adventure Magazine

Backin' one out. 26 July, 2009

Sunday, 26 July 2009 16:24

Issue #29 is all but done, and, better still, I've had a sneak peek at E-dog's material for the next DVD (on issue #30), and it looks great. E-dog - Dave - was the guy who tackled Stockton Beach on big KTMs with his mates a couple of DVDs ago. I think he's a real talent in video. His first segment was a little rough around the edges, but had great content. There's no bullshit with Dave. He tackles the serious shit and does it for real. For this DVD he's upgraded his equipment and refined his camera work and voice-over technique. The big adventure-bike guys should be rapt.

Guy Streeter (Out Of Bounds Films) was here at home late last week to shoot a couple of Shed segments, and that'll be my only involvement (thank goodness). Except, Guy will tag along to capture the Seven Hills ride in a couple of weeks. The ride sold out fast, but everyone who signed up was a frigging gun. I have no idea how I'm supposed keep up. No doubt Guy will make sure I feature heavily as I flail away on the hills. I hope youse appreciate the lengths I go to, and understand I'm not TRYING to ride like piglet just to get on the DVD.

Three places have opened up on that ride in the last couple of days, by the way, so if you're still keen, click on the banner on the front page and find out what's going on.

Speaking of flailing, last week I blogged from a campsite outside Canberra, where I was to ride a Sherco.

I rode the 510 - a very nice bike as it turns out - and was enjoying some fabulous terrain with DSMRA National President Peter Daley and a few of his friends when I caught my toe under a tree root. It wasn't a big deal, except it screwed my back around fairly hard and I've been unable to do much since.

The twist aggravated an old injury. It's a bugger of a thing, and driving stirs it up something fearful. After the incident I had to drive back from the ACT, so I knew I was in trouble. I'd love to tell you how I manned up and just hacked it, but I didn't. I got about halfway and checked into a motel to chow down on Panadol and lay on the floor a few hours. I couldn't get my frigging shoes on in the morning. What a knob.

Not to bang on about it, I was in bad shape by the time I finally made it home, and I haven't been able to go anywhere or do anything since, so I have no real news for this week. I'm recovering now, and I'm desperately hoping I'll be at least mobile enough to make it to the Lakes circuit to ride the 2010 YZ250F on Wednesday. If I can do it, I'll probably try for a slow lap, or maybe two, just to get a feel for the bike so's I can tell youse about it, but it'll be touch and go. Right now I can walk short distances with minimal discomfort and I'm improving fast. 24 hours ago walking was major challenge.

There's a heap of info on 2010 models in #29, as well a yarn from Steve Crombie from his early ride through South America (I love his stories from that time). We've finally run our WR450F over the dyno, and Phil Hodgens has been out to Lake Eyre. Most of all is another "ride guide" with tour operators and ride parks. It went huge last year, and this year's looking fairly robust as well.

So the issue's looking good.

For anyone who might have an interest, I think I've finished the track I used on the KTM690 video a couple of weeks ago. It's called Headless, and I like it. I might fool around a little with the mix, but I think it's essentially done. I think my bass playing's improving (I know: "It could hardly have got worse!" Upya). I'm hoping to get it a run on the next DVD.

Don't forget I'll be blogging from Coolum next weekend. Check in Saturday. I'm not sure If I'll be up there for qualifying, because this is another deadline week for the mag - a serious one this time - but I'll try. If not, I'll update youse on Saturday night, and blog as it happens on Sunday. Two weeks after that I'll blog from the Warwick round of the AORC, where we're set for a Cross Country format on Saturday! Yee-hah!

More then.

TF