Advice: Tips for Finke first-timers

The Tatts Finke Desert Race is heralded as Australia’s greatest desert race and its status is legendary. The race format is quite simple – you race from Alice Springs 230km south to the community of Apatula on the ancient Finke River, camp the night then race back again the following day.

It sounds straight forward but the race is brutal. The track is rough, unpredictable, unforgiving, remote, demanding on bike and body, and it’s quite an achievement just to complete it.

The Finke is on the bucket list of thousands of Australian riders who just want to give it a go. However, the unique demands of this race require some very specific preparation for any rider to safely survive the Finke. There’s a reason every finisher is awarded a survivor’s railway spike…

Related Reading:
Finke Desert Race set to run in 2021 despite latest outbreak
Racing Finke for mental health awareness
Slick Walsh wins his first Finke crown
PREVIEW: Who will win the 2021 Finke Desert Race?

For the past few years, 50 per cent of the 600-rider field at Finke has been first-time competitors. Alarmingly, many of these riders were lining up for their first race. This is not recommended. If you have not competed in an off-road race before, do not think Finke is the right place to pop your racing cherry.

Get some competition experience at a local level where you can experience race-day nerves, time pressures and bar-to-bar proximity with other riders. You will never practice-ride at an intensity anywhere near the levels you will experience at Finke.

The bike setup required for a comfortable and safe riding experience at Finke is not like anything else required for any other ride anywhere. That may sound dramatic but the first time you ride the Finke track you will understand.

The number-one adjustment you can make to your bike for Finke is suspension. Most dirt bikes offer plenty of adjustment in the suspension but if you don’t know what to do, seek the services of a specialized suspension tuner. There are dozens of suspension tuners out there, but it is recommended you seek out a desert expert for Finke.

The second-most recommended modification you can do to your bike is to install a steering damper. The high-speed and incredibly rough conditions of the Finke track can cause your bike to kick and buck and twitch which is scary and very dangerous. A steering damper will help immensely.

Fit hard-terrain tires with ultra-heavy-duty tubes and do not run air-pressure below 18psi. There are a lot of rocks and hard-pack sections on the race track and a puncture will ruin your ride.

Finke is a high-speed race in comparison to general off-road riding so you may want to consider altering the gearing of your bike. Average riders may experience top speeds of 140kmh or more at Finke.

Install soft compound grips to your handlebars to help prevent blisters. Even the best riders suffer from blisters at Finke so do what you can to prevent them. Soft grips help.

Off-road riding gear is essentially the same for all codes of dirt bike racing, however there are few things recommended for Finke. Wearing body armour offers protection from rocks being roosted at you from other riders. There is are a lot of rocks on the Finke track. Amour will also protect you in the event of a fall or crash.

Wear gloves that fit correctly to prevent them bunching in the palm of your hand which will cause blisters. Also wear a hydration pack that can hold a minimum of two liters. While fast riders can complete the track in around two-hours each way, most riders are out there for three or four hours. It can be a long ride. It’s a good idea to pack a small snack and some cash in case you break down.

Invest in some quality desert goggles to maintain clear vision. Desert goggles have thicker foam between the face foam and goggle frame to keep dust out. You will have never ridden in dust like the Finke track. Clear vision is vital. Fit a rose-tinted lens to minimize glare in the desert.

Racing Finke can be dangerous so make it as safe as possible. Do not think you need to ride fast. You need to ride safe. If you are practice riding on the race track it is extremely important to remember the track direction before midday on any day is south. Between midday and 12:30pm stay off the track. From 12:30pm onwards, the track direction is north. If in doubt, stay off the track.