| Author | Message | ||
     Peter |
Plan is to keep a bit of a journal going here as well as on the Pete2 Dakar site about one Buellers attempt to Do the Dakar! Now if there are actually people on this planet that still don't know what the Dakar is, I'll ask them to click here and read about the biggest, toughest motorsport in the world. For me, the best place to start would be when some dirtbag/s decided they wanted my R1150GS Adventure more than I did! It had been parked overnight at a friend's place in Amsterdam, chained outside the window to a streetlight. Figured that would be pretty safe. Damn. Never had a bike stolen before! At first I was confused and figured I was looking at the wrong lamp post or something. It took a few minutes but eventually it kicked in that it was gone. Not a very nice feeling, but hopefully I'll get to meet whoever took it one day..... Waited a month for the insurance money, and then went looking for something to replace it. In December 2004 I bought an immaculate BMW F650GS Dakar. The idea was to use it for everyday needs, and then take it on the Alto Turia ride in Spain. The bike has heaps of Touratech parts and I realised that it only needed the big tank kit, to make it a full spec Rallye bike........  Cool! That's when it all began. | ||
| Road_thing |
Pete: There's a big write-up on the P-D in this month's Cycle World. Next year, I hope to see your smiling face in there... rt | ||
| Peter |
Armed with the latest Touratech catalogue, I proceeded to work out my budget requirements to have a go at the Dakar. Initially the plan was to just do the Alto Turia ride in Spain, but a little seed had been sown in my head. For about twenty five years I've wanted to ride this, the biggest, toughest motorsport event in the world. Some say it's the last real adventure left, but I think climbing Mt Everest is still up there. The BMW was starting to take shape in my mind as I talked to other people that have done the race. A few of them started to tell me that although the BMW is fine as a bike (they've won the Dakar a couple of times on the 650), the KTM was better to use as an unsupported privateer, as KTM has an excellent support package available for people doing it on their own. The benefit from using it, is that no spares need to be bought and carried before the race. KTM have a truck and any parts can be bought as needed. It also saves having to pay another team to carry stuff you might not need. The bottom line was that the race is hard enough without making it even more difficult and if there's an easier way, DO IT. I started checking out KTM's for sale. These KTM's are not that thick on the ground though. KTM only make them to order, and you won't find them for sale in most shops. I spotted one for sale on the internet by the Spanish Correos team. It was new for the 2005 Dakar, and only completed four stages before the rider did some damage to himself in a fall and had to stop. I booked the cheapest flight I could find to Spain, and went down to have a look. The bloke that owned it, started the bike and handed me a helmet and gloves. "Follow me. I'm in the car," he said. I've never ridden one before and quickly realised these suckers are BIG! I'm pretty tall, but I can't touch both feet on the ground at the same time. As I rode through the streets of this Spanish town, I figured that I was possibly an interesting sight. The bike still had it's sponsor stickers and Dakar numbers on it, and it's loud! People were watching wherever I went. Sorta cool though.... We arrived at a dirt area and he pointed and said "See what you think of it". I understood then why these bikes win at Dakar. It just floated over bumps and had a serious amount of power for a dirt bike. I decided it needed to be in my life or I was going to be miserable for a long time. I went back to Holland to get things organised. Luckily I know some people that drive trucks for a living, so a couple of bottles of good single malt secured a place on one of them for the bike's trip up to it's new home. It's here now so unfortunately, although I really like the BMW, I need to sell it to help finance this Dakar attempt. For Sale | ||
| Peter |
It's official! I just found this in the mailbox...  Pete2 Dakar | ||
| Smokedaddy |
Cool ... Frame that puppy! Congrats', -SD: | ||
| Peter |
 Trials riding. Never done it before, but I was always really impressed with their bike control. A work colleague also wanted to learn, so we signed up together for a one day course in January 2005 with Alex van de Broek. When we went, we saw enough cool trials bikes to bring a smile to my face. Always wanted to try this. Started riding around a flat area, in between cones etc to get a feel of the bikes. Alex rode over and said "You've done this before." I said yes, as I had tried it at the MotorRai where he had a demonstration area setup a few months earlier. "No. I mean you've ridden trials before." I hadn't, so I got a swollen head when he told me I had a natural ability, and to follow him into the proper riding area. We rode with him leading and me trying to follow. It worked for a while until we got to a rise that had a chunk of concrete sticking out. Alex went over it without blinking, but I managed to get my rear wheel caught and went over backwards. My left foot landed sideways on a rock, and the bike landed on my ankle. I stood up and figured I'd better go back to the canteen and look at it as it didn't feel too good. The foot started to swell, so we packed it in ice. I sat like that for about 1/2 an hour feeling very frustrated and stupid. At least my swollen head had gone back to normal! Others there told me to sit and rest my foot, so I ignored them, hopped out to the car, and strapped my MX boots on. That helped and I was able to ride for the rest of the day. When we finished, I took off the boot and realised a trip to the hospital might be wise as I could no longer stand on it. They took x-rays and said, "Nothing broken, but maybe some ligament damage. You'll have to wait a few days until the swelling goes down..." Five months later, and it still wasn't feeling good enough to run on, so I went to our work physio. He took one look and said "Your knee is stuck." How do they do that? I'd landed on my foot, the bike had landed on my ankle, yet he found the problem in my knee? I guess he's right though, because after a few crunches and cracks, my ankle feels much better! I hope motorcycles never get that complicated that I need to replace a wheel bearing to fix a spark plug though. I'm just not smart enough for that..... | ||
| Vr1203 |
Peter, No way!!! So cool, better start training!!! You're gonna hurt.And it will be worth it. | ||
| Blake |
Remember to wear a cup. Better a dented fuel tank than mashed potatoes. Like Thang said, great write-up in Cycle World about privateer effort in the Dakar. You ought to check it out if possible. | ||
| Peter |
I'll have a look for it in the American book shop next time I go to Amsterdam. Which issue was it in, and who was the privateer? Anyone like to send me a copy if I PayPal them the money to cover it? | ||
| Peter |
I know I'm in for a world of hurt before I even leave. I've enlisted this lunatic as my trainer....   | ||
| Peter |
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| Henrik |
I'll see if I can find you a copy Pete. Henrik | ||
| Road_thing |
Pete, ping me your address, I'll send you mine. rt | ||
| Peter |
Henrik, Thank you Sir. You are indeed a man among men Tom, You have mail. | ||
| Firemanjim |
Pete,it has some about the Red Bull Team guys,and then Charlie and Dave Rauseo get some good ink.These are the boys that have come and given presentations at our A.S.B.N. meetings. | ||
| Blake |
Yeah with that lunatic as your trainer, your potatoes are guaranteed to be mashed. I hear he uses tasers to motivate his lagard subjects. Enjoy. | ||
| Doncasto |
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| Peter |
 We'll see how fast he is on his *old* BMW on Sunday against the KTM   | ||
| Henrik |
I know you're a good rider Pete, but knowing Grizzly, I'm afraid you may get your ••• handed to you despite the KTM advantage... Take pictures. Henrik | ||
| Firemanjim |
P.S.--he's got a gun!!!And a sadistic gleam in his eye-- I did say you were fuqued.(said with a suitable Irish accent) | ||
| Peter |
Henrik, We'll see FMJ, Doubly fuqued. Before I go and during the race.... On another note, I'm trying Google ads on the website. Really interested in hearing whether you think they should stay, or should go. http://www.pete2dakar.com | ||
| Chainsaw |
After seeing Grizzly riding up Aaron Wilson's driveway leaving a rooster tail of gravel in the wake of his rented Beemer...I have to say you have quite the instructor Pete! this is also the same guy who was negotiating Colorado mountain twisties at a "brisk" pace, one handed, so he could hold the video camera duct-taped to his windscreen steady (for a better picture, of course) | ||
| Henrik |
Yep Chainsaw - he did indeed do that, as well as riding one handed so he could hold his still cam in one hand to take a very cool picture of the folks riding behind him as seen in his mirror Henrik | ||
| Pilot |
This also is the same guy that had Court negotiating with the police department who thought he may be a terrorist with no id on him.I think the quote by Court later in the evening went something like this"After embellishing for Buell for twenty years, I had to peak today" something about being an honoured guest of a motorcyle manufacturer and it would be appreciated if you could show somw leniency towards a fellow police officer it would be greatly appreciated.And if memory serves me right Henrik was also involved in this adventure. | ||
| Peter |
Grizzly actually rented a Triumph. Henrik and I rented the BMW's.... He's pretty quick on the tar though. We were going to play in the sand today, but we changed it tomorrow when it's not as crowded. I also didn't get home until 4:00 after watching Rammstein, Black Sabbath, Motorhead etc at the Fields of Rock festival yesterday. Bike is loaded ready to go in the morning.... | ||
| Henrik |
.And if memory serves me right Henrik was also involved in this adventure. Uh, well ... yeah, he was ... Ah, Rammstein - real germanic head-banger music Have you heard their version of the old Depeche Mode song "Stripped"? Puts a new spin on the term "love song"  I'm sure you had fun. Henrik | ||
| Peter |
Rammstein are COOL! Love to be the lighting bloke doing that show. He's got some cool toys to play with Went out with Grizzly today to the beach. Man, I thought I was a bit unfit, but had a rude lesson into just how unfit I really am. Ten minutes of playing in the dunes had me sweating and puffing as if I'd done a double marathon! Pffft! My arms pumped up and I stopped to find that my legs had turned to jelly. Needless to say, cardio training has just become #1 priority on my list of things to do before I go....    | ||
| Peter |
Grizzly has just put a short movie up from today. Thanks mate Movie | ||
| Grizzlyb |
Nope, I won't be gentle  ciao mate Grizzly (Message edited by grizzlyb on June 20, 2005) | ||
| Henrik |
Cool video. Thanks guys Yep - training, training, training .... Henrik |
