Book: Two Wheels Through Terror

[Mike in Clear Lake]

Two Wheels Through Terror is written by Glen Heggstad. Hardback. I started it a few years ago, but only finished it recently. What a chore!

This may be shocking to some, but I found the book of marginal value. His narrative of his capture by Colombian rebels was only mildly interesting. I am not sure whether it was his writing style that I didn't like, or just him. Others love this book, so I am the odd man out - as usual.

In any case, I am prepared to give the book away. No, I will not send it to you and pay the shipping. I live in Clear Lake, you can ride for it to one of the Clear Lake area bike nights (Houston area). Let me know well in advance, as I am often out of the country. When you finish the book, you give it to another rider. Pass it on.

You can learn more about the author at http://www.strikingviking.net/

Mike

[Squeaky]

I've got a DVD copy of his National Georgraphic special, and it is absolutely riveting. Maybe it's the fact that he's an ADV "celebrity" of sorts, but I got chills a few times while watching it.

I'd like to take a stab at the book sometime. Any chance you'll be at one of the Sugar Land events?

Oh, and I got to meet him:
http://sparkyphotog.smugmug.com/photos/208269349-M.jpg

[Mike in Clear Lake]

I'm not sure if I will make it to SL, when is your next bike night there? Or I could drop it to you during the week (there's a cigar store in the area I visit occasionally near Ruth Chris).

I think another part of the problem I had with the author is that I have been to all those countries also, so I didn't exactly share his perspectives. Also, I am a dual national US/Costa Rica, so I kinda took a look at this through my Latino eyes.

I'm also a 1st Dan in Kuk Sool Won, so his Judo stuff I kinda found to be grandstanding.

Okay, you got 1st dibbs on the book. You can PM me to coordinate delivery.

Mike (Miguel Angel)

[Tourmeister]

:tab Sometimes his prose seems a little forced. Overall though, I enjoyed his marathon ride report on Advrider of the round the world trip that came after the period covered in the book. He is a pretty good speaker. We saw him recently at the BMW dealership in the Woodlands. Yeah, he's got a big ego, but he is not obnoxious at all. I found him to be very personable and approachable. He does have quite a few stories to tell and I am sure he embellishes them like any of us would ;-)

[Mike in Clear Lake]

...Yeah, he's got a big ego...He does have quite a few stories to tell and I am sure he embellishes them like any of us would ;-)

Yes, the ego was omnipresent in his writing. As for the embellishment, in a published work of non-friction I am not too sure any us would actually embellish. It detracts from the professionalism of the delivery. Fooling around on the internet is one thing, but writing a published piece of work is another.

Nevertheless, quite an accomplishment making that journey.

I may read about the global journey that actor did. I forget his name.

Mike

[John Bennett]

I enjoyed his view of the south American communist FARC "rebels". It's a view we never see in the mainstream media.

Basically they are a collection of ignorant thugs who use a failed ideology to extort money from poor farmers, rich businessmen, and any target of opportunity.

He's a Judoka, so that makes him cool in my book. You can't be a Judo school owner without having good morals and personal habits. You goal of Judo is not to become good at personal combat. That's an ancilliary effect. From its beginning 100 years ago the purpose of Judo has always been perfection of one's character.

[Mike in Clear Lake]

...[The] goal of Judo is not to become good at personal combat. That's an ancilliary effect. From its beginning 100 years ago the purpose of Judo has always been perfection of one's character.

That is not true. Judo is synthetic martial art. By that I mean it was created to be a sport, and only a sport. It's genesis comes from other martial arts, mainly Jiu-Jitsu and Sumo. Perhaps now it is taught as a martial art, but that is certainly not its genesis. Because it was created to be a sport, its main goal was exactly to be good at personal combat, specifically to win tournaments.

Mike

[Mike in Clear Lake]

... [Squeaky]Okay, you got 1st dibbs on the book. You can PM me to coordinate delivery.

Mike (Miguel Angel)

Okay, no PM from Squeaky on this, and she has posted plenty since (must think I'm some internet Norman Bates type of dude :trust: )

So, next up. Who else wants the book? See post #1 for ground rules. Speak up soon or it gets chucked to the public library or to Half-Price Books. I'm cleaning out stuff over the holidays, so it will be gone by 1 Jan if nobody wants it.

Mike

[Squeaky]

I didn't know what to say in the PM because I don't have a plan yet.
That's fine. I'll read it some other time.

[Mike in Clear Lake]

I didn't know what to say in the PM because I don't have a plan yet.
That's fine. I'll read it some other time.

That's okay. Next?

Norman :trust:

[John Bennett]

By that I mean it was created to be a sport, and only a sport. ...Because it was created to be a sport, its main goal was exactly to be good at personal combat, specifically to win tournaments.

Judo can be played as a sport and sadly, many Judo schools teach it as nothing more than a sport, but it's a lot more.

The guy who created it did not intend for it to be "just a sport". That's why he called it a "do" or way of life.

"Judo is a study and training in mind and body as well as in the regulation of one's life and affairs. "

From: http://judoinfo.com/kano.htm

[Mike in Clear Lake]

Judo can be played as a sport and sadly, many Judo schools teach it as nothing more than a sport, but it's a lot more.

The guy who created it did not intend for it to be "just a sport". That's why he called it a "do" or way of life.

"Judo is a study and training in mind and body as well as in the regulation of one's life and affairs. "

From: http://judoinfo.com/kano.htm

John,

Are you a judoka? If so, you are the first one I have ever met to describe it like this. All judoka I have met have always regarded Judo as a sport. It's been in the Olympics since the early 60's. An extracted quote from somewhere doesn't negate that it is a sport. Nevertheless, if it is now taught more as a martial art, then this is good. Personally I haven't been in a judo class since I was a child. I have been a Kuk Sool Won (KSW) martial artist (1st Dan) for quite a while, though I slowed down quite a bit in these endeavors when I turned 40. There are a lot of ex-judoka in KSW, especially in Texas and California.

Nevertheless, your original point is well taken. It is not an easy task to run a martial arts school, much less run a martial arts organization.

Mike

[klrno2]

Mike in Clear Lake...I would give reading the book a shot, but we live too far apart for me to get the book. I've got to admit though, I've tried more than once to follow the StrikingViking round the world thread on ADV, and just can't seem to get any interest in it.

Maybe it's just my female perspective, but yeah, his ego is waaaay large, larger than his writing on ADV anyway.

[John Bennett]

John, Are you a judoka? If so, you are the first one I have ever met to describe it like this. All judoka I have met have always regarded Judo as a sport.

I'm not a Judoka anymore. I've accumulated so many injuries over the years the pain of training outweighs the benefits.

Judo can be played as a sport. Most schools and university clubs do in fact only teach it only that way. This is why you thought it was only a sport.

It's more.

[TexasShadow]

Mike in Clear Lake...I would give reading the book a shot, but we live too far apart for me to get the book. I've got to admit though, I've tried more than once to follow the StrikingViking round the world thread on ADV, and just can't seem to get any interest in it.

Maybe it's just my female perspective, but yeah, his ego is waaaay large, larger than his writing on ADV anyway. Meet me for lunch some time and I'll loan you the book :mrgreen:

I just finished reading it. It was riveting. But in many ways it was sterile. In other words, although he may be passionate about riding and traveling, he really didn't convey it from the heart. He's very observational, but a sense of personal intimacy with himself, his travels, his interactions with the people he met, even as a hostage, is lacking. There's a lack of intimacy; it doesn't evoke empathy. It's 'sterile'.

But then, I am comparing his writing and recounting to Dan Walsh who is so raw, open, frank and poetic that you are with him, almost inside him, as he rides through the same country, meets some of he same people. You get to know the other people as well as Dan. Glen pales compared to Dan's travel writing. Nor did Dan have the support that Glen had. None of us 'nomal' people could have fallen back on what he did, or funded such an adventure.

No doubt, his capture and time as a hostage was more than just frightening; it's downright fearful. I can't help but be compelled to give him kudos for what he was subjected to, and survived. Ego or no ego. He survived and returned to the road to complete his planned trip. That takes balls.

The book is worth reading; I enjoyed it. But Dan's book and adventures were so much better. Dan had me giggling while reading it on the train, Glen had me nodding my head. Dan had me nearly in tears a few times, Glen had me shaking my head. Dan's book had me immersed, almost living it with him; Glen's book was a travelogue.