It’s what we do

Adventure Rider Issue #36

• Fit Out
• Checkout
• Close To Home with Karen Ramsay
• 10-foot Tall And Bulletproof with Andy Strapz
• Cold Comfort with Miles Davis
• Best Job In The World
• BMW Rallye Suit
• The Doctors’ Convention
• Compass Expeditions Reunion Ride
• Both Sides
• Tenterfield Takeaways
• All About The Adventure
• Husky 701 Trek
• Nerriga
• Ducati Desert Sled 2019
• Great Desert Tracks
• Steering Dampers
• Seven Days In Northern Thailand
• The Flinders Ranges And The Corner Country
• Moto Guzzi V85TT
• It’s what we do

Of all the challenges faced by adventure riders, I reckon sand is the toughest.

I’ve written often enough about how much I hate riding sand, and it’s always worried me that I just can’t seem to get the hang of it. I can live with not being comfortable riding sand, but the idea of it being a serious barrier to completing a ride makes me a little angry.

I see so many other riders who make it look easy, I get frustrated that I find it so bloody difficult.

But since my big confrontation with sand in an attempt at a Simpson crossing, my perspective has shifted a little. I’m still uncomfortable about the idea of riding sand, but I feel it’s a challenge, not an obstacle. It sucks a huge amount of energy from me and takes a lot of concentration, but I believe I can cope.