Although the course changes every year, the SDBC typically starts in South Australia and finishes in Birdsville, Queensland.

The route takes riders and support crews through the largest parallel sand dune desert in the world.

[1] Since 2008 the committee has donated the proceeds to the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia (RFDS) [14][15] Money is raised for the RFDS through online fundraising of riders, a post-race auction, as well as donations collected during the event for (fun) fines.

Riders must maintain a minimum average of 12 km (7.5 mi) per hour to stay ahead of the rear convoy – which is led by the sweep vehicle.

At the start and end of every stage, the weight of each rider is recorded to manage risks related to dehydration.

[28] Medical teams are present at each water stop to monitor the physical and mental status of the riders.

Regulations require each vehicle to have UHF radio and a high visibility safety flag.

[30] Source In 1988, Jack and Mary Mullins organised and directed the first Simpson Desert Cycle Classic In 1988.

During those years an association with the Paraplegic Benefit Fund was created as a recipient charity.

This committee established Desert Challenge Inc..[citation needed] In the early years of the SDBC, riders used non-suspension mountain bikes with skinny tyres.

With 4+ inch wide tyres, those bikes made it possible to ride on soft sand and cross even steep dunes without having to push.

[34] Due to flooding and well as bush fires,[35] there have also been years where the SDBC had to be held in alternative locations.

Stephan Vanderhee, #23, had several tyre punctures during the afternoon of day 3 until he ran out of spare tubes.

That night, Vanderhee worked until 11 pm on his bike rims with steel wool and a file and appeared at the start line the next morning with a new tube and his original tyre still intact.

Also participating was a blind rider, Chad Towns, who followed his son on a bike with “clickers” on the spokes plus a friend following him.

On day 2, only two riders got past the 40 km (25 mi) mark (Jack Oldfield and Ed Bourke).

The race did finish off with an out-and-back stage on the Birdsville Inside Track on the last day.

On the afternoon of day 4 riders traversed massive cracks in the claypan on the Goyder Lagoon.

One rider, Graham Butt, broke the seat on his bicycle during one of the stages He cycled the next 65 km (40 mi) standing up and eventually won a 100% medal.

Three riders completed the entire distance of 593 km (368 mi) Conditions were relatively cool with very little soft sand.. On day 1, there was heavy rainfall on the course.

The experienced 4x rider and head of the medical team Leon Malzinskas were selected to replace him.

Under normal conditions, stage 2 is a relatively easy run, but a headwind stopped many riders.

The convoy heading into the desert first got quickly under the pressure of being overtaken by the bikes - which caused the organisers to delay the start of the cyclists by 1/2 hour.

Around Poeppel's Corner, the course had to be diverted due to water in the (normally dry salt) lakes.

A storm on day 3 brought a very cool change and rain – turning the clay pans sticky and forcing some riders to carry their bikes.

The race featured the longest daily distance in SDBC history: 144.5 km (89.8 mi) on day 2.

Half the field was swept on the afternoon of day 1 and many vehicles - including the sweep – got seriously bogged.

As a result, several riders - instead of being swept - did ride into the evening and arrived at night camp in complete darkness.

First SDBC running from East to West, starting in Birdsville, Queensland and finishing at Mt Dare Hotel in South Australia.

It was the afternoon stage of day 3 which did the damage: The combination of fatigue, extreme heat and soft sand challenged all competitors with only a few managing to stay ahead of the sweep.