10 Deserts Solo Cycle Epic

Just in... Russ has been sharing his story with the nation on Sunrise. You can watch the video at http://au.lifestyle.yahoo.com/sunrise/video/?autoplay_id=13245765#embedded-video-top
and then select 10 Desert Bike Trek

Russ has been busy trying out all the gear - here is his updated comments and a few training photos.

The bike went great in the soft river bed sand with 40kg load with about 10 PSI in the rear tyre, 15 in the front. Most of my load will be spread over my rear and trailer tyres. The corrugations are hard work on both me and the bike. .... 500 or so per km, and how many km's???? I don't want to do that maths!!!

Added 30 April
FYI my Extrawheel trailer fork has arrived. The skewer is being modified slightly to accommodate my non-standard 165mm rear spacing, but this is not complicated. Fortunately I had a chance to test the trailer on my original Extrawheel fork on my conventional MTB back in Brisbane.

It's getting very busy close to Friday. I've just done a radio interview with Alice Springs ABC radio; to be aired Saturday - TBC. I've got an interview lined up with the Advocate (newspaper) tomorrow afternoon, and then Channel 7 Sunrise. We'll get some photage tomorrow afternoon, and then as I set off Friday morning. Unfortunately I have to leave a couple hours later than preferred to accommodate their working hours. My next communication might be from out on the track. Along the Tanami, I think I can get net access in one location. We'll see. Thanks again, Russell.

What do a 7 local news camera man, interviewer, and adventure cyclist have in common? .... Well, this morning we all met up on the sunshine coast for a short question and answer session, and small demonstration of what this great Fatback bike can do.

Tomorrow morning I'll be joining Phil Smith on 612ABC radio for an on-air chat about what I'm getting myself in for (in only two weeks time now).

Update: Here is the link for the radio interview. We'll be following up this interview with live updates from the trail on a regular basis. Stay tuned for updates.

This media coverage is all in aid of raising the profile of this event, and helping to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Feel free to track my progress on this long and daunting ride. Keep abreast of regular post and gallery updates, and check where I'm presently at on the SPOT tracker tab. If you can, please make a donation to the very worthy Royal Flying Doctor Service by clicking on the Donate Here icon on the side-bar.

Thanks for the support and any donations for the RFDS.

Cheers, Russell.