Simpsons Gap Bike Path meanders for seventeen kilometres beneath the ridges of the West MacDonnell ranges to Simpsons Gap, the first of many stunning gaps in the ranges heading west from Alice Springs.
We were holidaying with friends who liked to sleep late so there was plenty of time for a ride. The weather was cloudy and there were a few drops of rain, but it was cool. Derek wanted a sleep-in too so we had arranged that I would ride early from the caravan park to the start of the bike path at John Flynn’s grave and that he would pick me up from the end at Simpsons Gap.
Larapinta Drive
There are lots of safe, off-road sealed paths in Alice Springs. My ride started out alongside the dry, sandy Todd River, through the gap in the West MacDonnell ranges heading towards town. Then I turned left towards Larapinta Drive and after nine kilometres of easy, almost flat riding I came to the official start of the Simpsons Gap Bike Path.
I crossed Larapinta Drive and was immediately out in the bush. The sealed surface and gentle slopes of the path made riding easier than I had anticipated.
There had been a lot of rain in recent weeks so the vegetation was much more lush than you would expect.
It was a Saturday and quite a few road-bike riders passed me.
Eventually I could see Simpsons Gap in the distance. When I arrived, I had to lock my bike at the car park and walk the last few hundred metres into the gorge.
I was surprised to discover that I had arrived almost two hours early for our meet-up. Luckily I was able to use my mobile by standing in front of a wi-fi signal-focussing shell. Derek agreed to meet me at the same time back at John Flynn’s Grave instead.
Riding back
Seeing the ranges from the other direction on the way back made the path seem like a whole different ride. Just to top things off, the sun came out and shone on the escarpments.
By the time I got back to our meeting point I had cycled 44 kilometres and climbed 186 metres.
Another great ride in Central Australia is cycling around Uluru.
