Sunday, Jan 23, 2022 at 10:16
"I have been amased at the bikes that cross the Simpson."
From about 1992 to 2002 I ran 4wd and motorcycle tours in and around central Australia with dozens of
Simpson Desert crossings. On the bike trips across the Simpson I limited bike numbers to ten as any more made carrying fuel, water, spares, food, swags and liquid refreshments difficult. If any applicants said they had a BMW or similar adventure bike I politely said they are not suitable due to being too big and heavy and if they wanted to come along they needed an enduro style bike. We had supply vehicles usually consisting of two tray tops and two wagons.
One thing that stood out on all the bike trips was how some participants told me about their years of dirt bike riding and the desert would be a piece of pi$$ to do - but obviously some of them had spent little time in deep soft sand and struggled going up the dunes - other riders did it effortlessly ! One year we had the Flying Doctor recover a bloke that cracked a bone in his neck after a crash - he spent 9 hours lying on the ground in severe pain and stressing out he wouldn't walk again as he had little movement and feelings in his limbs. We got him as comfortable and stable as we could without too much movement and comforted him until an ambulance from
Oodnadatta along with the local
police officer as a guide arrived. He was an excellent rider but as we were about two minutes from pulling up for the day he briefly took his eyes off the track to enjoy the scenery and five seconds later he was on the ground after going over the bars - it can happen to the best of them. After the nurse checked him out we got him in the Troopy and it took the ambulance eleven hours to get to the nearest station where the RFDS plane with a spinal injury crew from
Adelaide could land. The chap made a full recovery but no longer rides dirt bikes.
On that particular trip with ten bikes starting we had three finish (
William Creek to
William Creek ) and the following trip with ten starting we had ten finish - funny how that goes.
Some of the guys would ask me what is the best way to train and prepare for the desert sand. I would tell them that the best way was to set up one of those kids little swimming pools at the end of their house, fill it up with sand then with all their riding gear on, boots and all, climb up on the roof then jump into the sand filled pool and repeat that at least ten times a day for three days and you're now ready for the desert lol
I have ridden the desert three times, twice on my Honda XR650 and once on my Yamaha WR 426 with only a couple occasions having to get back up on the bike ( insert smiley face )
Ah the good ol' days
Cheers
Gazz
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