173 - PDF - The Rider's Digest

In The Saddle...
Dave,
Just finished reading TRD
172. You seem to be keen on
getting feedback so here goes.
I feel adventuretoured-out.
In fact, I feel a bit homesick.
I’ve never gone touring on a
bike, nor have I any particular
desire to do so. But, as with
many other activities which
I have never done and
don’t particularly want to,
this doesn’t mean I’m not
interested in reading about the
exploits of others. But there
is a limit and I got just about
there in the latest edition.
I’d quite like to see a bit
more of a balance of UK-based
stuff. I’d also like to see a bit
more about sportsbikes and
sportsbike riders. No, no, I’m
not asking you to turn TRD into
Performance Bikes, that’s the
point. PB suffers from all the
restrictions of having to feed
its audience the right message
to satisfy the advertisers. I
just think that TRD might be
able to write about the sector
from a different angle – the
angle of real sportsbike riders?
Normal people who enjoy fast
bikes but who don’t buy into
all the gotta-have BS. Which
is pretty close to the spirit of
the adventure touring stuff
but from a quite unconnected
demographic. The getting
there is still more important
than the arriving.
There must be some
frustrated sportsbike journos
out there who would love
the freedom that TRD would
provide? Let’s hear from them.
Just thinking aloud, in case
it’s helpful.
Regards
Andy Overton
Note to readers: I wrote
straight back to Andy and
suggested that as he had done
such a good job of articulating
both what have been missing
and the solution, he might be
just the ‘frustrated sportsbike
journo’ we need to provide our
readers with an insight into the
wonderful head-down arse-up
world of sportsbiking. And if you
turn to page 94 you can see for
yourself just how well he did! –
Ed
Hi Dave,
Just to let you know my
new Kindle, which my sons
got me for my birthday, is a
great way to read your mag
in full colour, in the canteen,
er sorry, ‘Staff Restaurant’ at
lunchtime. But that’s not really
why I’m writing. I read the first
few pages and then got to
the Heartbreak Hotel article
written by Lois. It was to say
the least the most compelling
writing I’ve read for some
time. My coffee hovered in my
hand, frozen in time as I read
this saddest of tales. If written
as a piece of fiction then she
has a calling as a writer. If it
was a true experience then she
is brave to air her innermost
feelings in this way and my
heart goes out to her. It was
truly touching.
Please pass on my best
wishes and congratulations on
an excellent piece.
There are a couple of other
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