LETTERS FROM FRIENDS

These are some letters from some friends of mine.

FROM GooRoo in Hungary - an editor for BikeMag.

Hi, Dave!

It's been a long time since I have heard from you. I looked through your web-page again and I like it really much. I do not know if you have got the article I wrote about our last meeting. I still work on it so it is not ready yet but some time I'll send the ultiamate version.

So I'd like to publish the article in November issue I think but I'll need a lot of pics. The photos you took at Sea Otter Classic are great - the jump contest is my favourite page. However it's high time for you to come to Hungary again, isn't it? And when you come, please bring a load of pics for me. I'll also need some pics about you for the article in november issue. Please do not tell me that you have not any about you riding. All the other pics I'll publish later - will tell you what way at our next meeting.

You know what? I'll tell you about my best ride this summer.

There is a place about 90 kms away from my home. It is an arboretum. I've been there twice. Once in my holiday time when some 74 people (73 others & me) were doing a 9-day bike tour. We made a rest at the arboretum. I saw a tree there that I wanted to have picture of anyway for any price. I did not have my camera there the first time, and there was no one who could have taken the photo - bad weather in a forest makes a difficult situation for any photographer.

So I went back about two weeks later but the park was closed. It was only opened on weekends and of course I went there on Monday. There was a sign on the main entrance: "Territory guarded by dogs." Very interesting. Well I found my way into the park at a point where the fence was a bit destructed. I thought: if the guards catch me I won't flee anyway. But the guards were only some people sitting in a Trabant driving around and they did not notice me at all. It was a good joke: "Guarded by dogs". I took my photos and within 15 minutes I was already on my way home.

180 km-s (110 miles) in 6,5 hours. It took me a week to recover myself but it was quite an adventure. Almost like riding around rattlesnakes.

Now it's school and terrible weather so I'm not well. Okay it's a joke
I'm doing well like always.

From Hungary,
GooRoo

FROM Frank Drummer in Hungary - long time CC rider.

Hello Dave,

We are fine. I had some good races. The Duna Marathon was fine. It was very hot and I was the 47th out of 200 on the 100km course.

Then we had a 24 hour race. It was a team competition. We had a team, but we did not know each other. We did not have any supporting team (mechanic, cook,....) with us. But we finished 11th overall. There were 19 teams and 6 gave up because the bad weather. It was raining in the first 12-14 hours of the race. Was muddy and dark during the night (what a surprise). I almost gave up, but I managed with the support of the team. Finally it was a fun ride. Dry and sunny, but not too warm.

There was a marathon in the Bukk. Start/finish area was in Eger. It was
100km and I was around 48th place from around 300 participants.
We had rain again from 65km. And from Eged to Felsotarkany it was muddy. We had to push down and up even in the flat places.

I almost bought my friend's Specialized Stumpjumper FSR. But Demeter Zoli checked it (You know the wheel king of Hungary) and found too many parts, which should have been changed. It has nice parts Rock shox SID XC '00, xtr, xt, Avid), but these are really used. He wanted 300.000Huf($1000), then he would heavy sell it for 235.000HUf
(around 830$)
But I should have change: rear suspension, front and rear wheels, cassette, chain, seat post.

It is really a disadvantage to be here in Hungary even in Europe. A brand new Stumpjumper M4 Comp is 999$ ( I saw it on www.supergo.com) The Hungarian dealer would give the plain SJ M4 for 1500$. I say it sucks.

My colleague will be on training in the USA, but I think it would be a bit hectic to fly back with a bike (not mentioned the duty and tax, plus 40% to pay :-(()

I may check the shops here in winter to get some discount.

Regards,
Ferenc