Race Dates & Entries
29th Sept to 3rd October 2009
Entries Open 1st Jan 2009
Join the Mailing List
Please use an email address that doesn't have a heavy anti-spam filter. We get some failures due to this. You can also get our latest Newsletter on this site Click Here
Royal Flying Doctor Service
Our fundraising efforts go to support the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
The Royal Flying Doctor Service provides critical aeromedical emergency and health care services across Australia, assisting more than 250,000 patients each year. Whilst assisted by Government, the RFDS relies on public support to purchase new aircraft - at a cost of $6 million each. Voted Australia's Most Trusted Charity.
Riders' Comments
Thank you for an amazing event. I have been lucky enough to be involved in a lot of racing events over several sports but this one takes the cake for sure. The committee and officials do a wonderful job and can't be praised enough.
For me it was a tough event both mentally and physically but one that has made me tougher on both fronts, the hills are already seeming a little easier. The sportsmanship and comradery was unbelievable and a pleasure to experience. On so many occasions when ready to give up there was someone there willing to help you through. There were many times (ok hundreds) where I said I was never coming back but riding over the line in Birdsville changed things quickly.
So with this I'll be back next year.....
Thanks again for a fantastic Challenge
Rick Neale #11 (2007)
I’ve been following this event for several years now thinking what a great challenge & when I finally entered in 2007 found it better than all expectations & some. I knew the riding would be tough & unpredictable, but what I was most impressed about was the professionalism & logistics of the whole show.
As far as I know there wasn’t a hitch with water stops, medical, sweeping riders & all the other things that go on behind the scenes when I was out riding or in bed. I know there is a whole crew of people that make this all possible & I personally thank them very much. In an event like this the buck stops with the race directors & you guys ran the most outstanding, best professional & fun event that I ever been involved with.
Keep up the excellent work & I hope to be there next year.
Mick Harvey. #10 (2007)
Team Axxis Cowboys.
In February of this year I made the decision to enter the Simpson Desert Bike Challenge. (a silly idea I know… but something that I've wanted to do since I first read about it in 1988)
I then had 8 months of on and (mostly) off, very sporadic "training" and suddenly I was standing at the start line at Purnie Bore on the western side of the Simpson Desert. What followed was far beyond anything that I could ever have imagined.
If someone had told me heading into this that some of the dunes were 17 meters high (days 2 and 3), that there would be a 100kph sandstorm/headwind (day 4), that the same day would hit a blistering 52degrees, and that the "average" riding temperature would be 38+ degrees...
I'd never have gone.
But now that I did... I'm heading back in 2009.
The level of friendship and comraderie that this events brings out in the riders, support crews and officials is amazing. (well... all the officials except Grim... grrrrrrrr)
See you all in 2009.
Wayne Chapman #12 (2008)
It's been called "Satan's Velodrome" and for many competitors it has certainly been hell. And yet they return, again and again, from throughout Australia and around the world, for those five days of the year when this unique location plays host to an extraordinary cycling event ......
......... The Simpson Desert Bike Challenge
2008 was arguably one of the toughest years so far! Read the full story...relive the pain and the glory
ABC Report 2008 (Alice Springs) Click Here
Race Overview
On 28th September 2009, competitors, support crew and officials will gather at Purnie Bore, South Australia, on the western edge of the Simpson Desert for the 22st Annual Bike Challenge.
At 6am on Tuesday 29th September the first of nine stages will commence. The riders will surge off into the heart of the Simpson Desert along the 'Rig Road'. This narrow clay capped track was originally constructed to facilitate oil exploration in the 60s, but it is fast deteriorating as time, weather and 4WD traffic takes its toll.
The first 4 days have an 80km morning stage followed by a 50km afternoon stage. The final 80km stage on day 5 ends outside a classic Aussie icon - the Birdsville Hotel in the tiny outback town of Birdsville in Queensland.
Our fundraising effort goes to supporting
the Royal Flying Doctor Service
The total distance of around 590 km takes in some 700 sand dunes, salt lakes, vast cattle stations, gibber plains and even a potential creek crossing. The course is weather dependent and subject to alteration.
For more race details Click Here
