Kampala, Uganda
Posted by: Ewan McGregor | Date posted: 11/07/2007
Pictures
Passing locals on the road ©
Road conditions have continued to be troublesome for the guys as they ride through Uganda. And as you can see in the first video clip, coming off looks very painful...ouch!
'It's horrible, I hate it,' says Ewan. 'As soon as you come off on a corner, then every time you come to a corner, you think, am I going to come off this time? It's just soul destroying. So my confidence was really down, I was really slow.
'So we got a taste of the tarmac yesterday all day and then we got back on the dirt today. Then I had that big crash and it really, you know, at the time you don't really feel any of the pain because you're full of adrenaline and then as we started to go along my neck's stiff and my back. The pleasure I get is getting there, you know, the sense of satisfaction looking back having done it, but at the time, riding on the dirt on those, you know, blind, really tight right hand bends on the mountains with the sheer drops, I don't have any pleasure from it at all.'
Talking to Claudio, Ewan adds, 'Nice, right in front of the camera, though, eh, as usual?'
'It's always on purpose', claims Claudio, 'I know - you do it for me.'
'Just to get a good bit of drama', agrees Ewan.
Charley adds, 'I thought I was off as well actually, I must say.'
'Did you?' asks Ewan
'Yeah I was quite close' Charley confirms.
'I see', says Ewan, 'so you came into the back of me.'
Looking at his bike, he's concerned. 'Oh dear, this crash part doesn't look very good.'
'Oh yes, there's a dent here, but it's pushed back a little bit,' explains Charley. 'That's alright, we can undo it and straighten it out. It's not a problem at all.'
In the next clip, Ewan tells us more about how the road conditions are taking their toll, on him and his bike.
'It's not as bad as I thought, I mean it's horrible to ride on, it's so bumpy and rocky, and I just... it's more horrible for the bike than me, I mean I can just feel the whole bike shaking apart. It's not, but it feels like that.
'And every now and again you just kind of unavoidably hit a big rock, and it's like, it's the kind of clunk that would turn your front wheel from round to square, you know, you just think my wheel can't possibly be round anymore. But it is.
'I was expecting this, like, I think I was expecting what the desert looks like, like that, but it's not, it's nothing like that, but it's not very nice to ride on. I find it very sore on my hands, because I grip on for dear life, while the other boys just let the handlebars dance beneath their fingers, you know.'
That was a tough day at camp Long Way Down, but you sent in some great messages to lift the team's spirits. See them below.
Comments
Comments 1 - 10 of 83
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At 04:48:07 PM on 11/07/2007, Michael Lobodzinski (Toronto, Ontario - CANADA) wrote:
Thank you!!
Ewan and Charlie, if you get a chance to read this one... it's because of you guys I got into Enduro bikes!!!! I sold my street bike and retraced my motocross roots with the purchase of a KTM 640. I know I know... don't shun me!!!! Now I'm thinking about selling that and buying a 950 Adventure.... in a bid to prepare for cross Canadian ride. Who knows... maybe I'll keep going and ride around the world. Thank you for the inspiration! And thank you for introducing me to Jupiter! ;)
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At 04:52:47 PM on 11/07/2007, Richard AW Tortorella (Langley, BC Canada) wrote:
Highs and Lows ...
Remember, you don't have your 'highs' without your 'lows' ... You are after all on some of the worst terrain for riding out there, you have done a great job keeping the "shiny side up" ! Don't despair, you'll soon be flying on a long ribbon of tarmac, and these bumps will be just fond memories. A cold pint awaits you at the end! Richard T.
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At 04:57:00 PM on 11/07/2007, Paul Roberts (Pontypridd) wrote:
Falling off is a pain in the neck
Hello Guys Saw the fall - i think anyone who has ridden on the soft stuff will sympathise with you. However three things may have helped i - should have got yourself a KTM, ii - should have taken a chiropractor with you and iii - i'm a chiropractor and i've got me own KTM!! - In the meantime chin up - you ain't trying hard enough if you don't come off!!
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At 05:11:13 PM on 11/07/2007, Brad Britton (Port Moody , Canada) wrote:
Be careful
Glad you are ok after that spill on the corner. When I saw the fall on the video, I felt my stomach tighten and was relieved that excpet for a bruise to your confidence you were fine. Latcho Drom
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At 05:13:23 PM on 11/07/2007, liz o keeffe (Laois, Ireland) wrote:
An Irish Man to meet
My husband is doing a charity bike ride from cape town to Cairo at the moment on his own, he is in Malawi at the moment then heading to Tanzania and Kenya, any chance the lads might be able to meet him enroute. He is doing it for Fighting Blindness.
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At 05:20:54 PM on 11/07/2007, Jedi (Liverpool) wrote:
Wish I was with you!
I loved the long way round and race to dakar and i met charley at the nec motorbike show last year!! I cant wait for this adventure and i hope you are planning another one after this! Your adventures have inspired me to want to do my own! Good luck on the remainder of the trip oh and will you be appering at the nec motorbike show this year?? If you can please do because it would be great to meet the people who inspired my passion for motorbikes! Best of luck Jedi
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At 05:40:43 PM on 11/07/2007, David Gray (Malvern) wrote:
Ooph!
That was a nasty step-off Ewan - have you seen the playback of your head whacking the road? Glad you've got a decent lid - not an open-face (chin-scraper). Charlie - you're a kind, supportive friend to Ewan and it does you credit.
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At 05:58:26 PM on 11/07/2007, Ben Gibson (West Midlands) wrote:
Hey Guys!
You guys are amazing! You continue to inspire me to learn to ride a bike before I even learn to drive a car. And then take road trips with my friends around Scotland and everywhere beautiful. Cheer up guys, it looks like your meeting some amazing people and keeping each others spirits up. Ride safe! Ben.
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At 06:02:34 PM on 11/07/2007, Ricline (S.A. TX.) wrote:
weight distribution
Those get-offs look painful... I don't think you're front tire is hooking up as well as it should. Try moving some of your packed weight forward, increase pre-load on the rear and decrease it in the front. It's amazing what a little suspension tweaking can do for your confidence! And as I said before, Relax your hands! Those are big machines you're not gonna beat it in a wrestling match. Soldier on, you have the entire adventure biking community behind you!
At 04:50:20 PM on 11/07/2007, Andrew Murray (Wishaw) wrote:
good luck
good luck on long down.Wish i could join you on my pw 80!
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