Road trip


Lach's picture

By Lach - Posted on 24 May 2011

NB: Originally posted elsewhere on the Global Riders Network and appears via syndication.

Not much more than idle speculation at this stage, but the idea of a road trip to Alice Springs next May for the Red Centre Enduro is starting to exercise my mind.

Have a 4WD and camping gear, so any route is possible, but I'd like to include some mtb riding to gain / maintain a bit of fitness along the way and explore new areas as well. Spots that come to mind at this stage include Orange (Kinross), Forbes (Back Yamma) and the Flinders (Melrose, Mawson Trail, Bendelby Ranges).

However, I'm not aware of anything between Forbes and the Flinders (except maybe Lake Mungo NP - which I seem to remember as being pretty sandy?) and not much between the Flinders and Alice (maybe a couple of side trips off the Oodnadatta Track for some more sand practice?).

Anybody got any suggestions?

Tags
......'s picture

ride to the race

Floydo's picture

The Simpson Desert. They do run a mountain bike race throught here every year.
I crossed again last year, and going up and down the sand dunes, I thought these riders were completely nuts. Still alot of water around and Cooper creek ? still cuts the Birdesville track my about 4km's. Not really mountain biking, but to ride parts of the Ooonnadatta and Birdesville tracks would of been great.I regrett not taking my bike.

Lach's picture

not quite what I had in mind Smiling

Not sure I could afford the three months it'd probably take me to ride to Alice and I'd probably need something like a Surly Pugsley to tackle the Simpson, plus some Percy Cerutty type sandhill training.

Logan's picture

After the week long stage race your gonna be pretty buggered and then having to drive back to Sydney is gonna be pretty helish.

Lach's picture

and spend a day soaking in the hot springs before tackling the rest of the drive back Smiling
Probably need three weeks all up.

Johnn's picture

I'm sure they can offer some advice on how to plan the trip so all it will take is only a week. (and have some fun on the way)
Might cost you a few beers. (but don't encourage them to come along)

Lach's picture

If it's this mob:

http://barossacharitybikeride.blogspot.com/

They took 20 days to get from the Barossa to Tamworth. My sort of pace though...

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