Passes & Canyons Blog

Along with a lot of other people I was surprised a few months ago to open the latest issue of Cycle World magazine and find that Mark Hoyer was suddenly the editor. What happened to David Edwards? Edwards had been the editor for years and now, without a word, he was gone.

That latter fact suggested that there were issues and conflicts. Usually when a long-time editor leaves a magazine he or she does a farewell column and introduces their successor. Not so in this case. Even when I was Senior Editor for the Sentinel newspapers and left unexpectedly in a hurry–my decision, but not a happy one–I had the chance to run a farewell column. Not so David Edwards.

Figuring that the folks at the big motorcycle magazines must know each other, I asked Donya Carlson, the Senior Managing Editor for Rider magazine, what she knew about Edwards’ departure. (Donya and I were among the group who spent four days riding California on the EagleRider media tour in October.) She said she didn’t know anything, and that they were as curious as anyone else.

Of course I also wondered where he would go. It’s got to be damn hard to find a job anywhere comparable to being the editorial honcho at one of the country’s premier moto mags. On that last question, and the reason for this post, is that there is now at least a kernel of an answer.

I’m not sure if this is in the magazine, but yesterday on the Motorcyclist magazine website I discovered an article, “The Bob Dylan Motorcycle Crash,” written by none other than David Edwards. So presumably Edwards is doing some freelancing. Good for him for getting a piece published; I know how tough that can be. He at least has better contacts than I do.

So anyway, it’s none of my business or of yours, but we can’t help but be curious. What in the world happened that he was gone that suddenly? I don’t suppose we’ll ever know.

And good luck David on making your comeback. For your sake, I hope to see your byline again somewhere on at least a semi-regular basis.

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Biker Quote for Today

Sometimes it takes a whole tank of gas to leave your troubles behind.

Reading the May issue of Cycle World magazine I came across a column by Peter Egan where he talks about how the best two days of boat ownership are the day you buy it and the day you sell it. He goes on to talk about a conversation he and his buddies had about why motorcycles are better than just about anything you could name. The list includes items such as “When the engine stops, you can pull over and put your foot down, instead of doing a dead-stick landing in a cornfield. Or getting towed to port.” Another is “During a big storm, you don’t have to lie awake at night and picture your motorcycle bashing itself to pieces on some rocks.” You get the picture.

I totally identify with what he’s talking about. In fact, that’s exactly how I came to buy my first motorcycle, back in 1987. I had been flying a hang glider but there were way too many days when I’d get up early, load the glider on the car, and drive a couple hours to the flying site, then set it up and haul it up to launch, only to sit there all day and never get good flying conditions. Then after sitting all day I’d break it down, load it back on the car, drive home, and the whole day was shot for nothing.

Finally I decided I would sell my hang glider and use the money to buy a motorcycle, because at least with a motorcycle, when I threw my leg over the bike I’d be doing what I came to do, right now. That was one of the best decisions of my life. And I still have that bike.