While it is no doubt a potentially dangerous sport, off-road biking is exciting and enjoyable, and a number of the routes will take you places not easily accessible in a 4WD. Riding in desert sand is a lot different to riding on a conventional motocross track, and it will be a long time before you can ‘read’ the desert and become familiar with the reaction of your bike in various sand types. Your first experience of riding in the desert can be a little scary as the sand grabs the tyres, which can feel very unstable, especially at low speeds. If you do come to a stop, be careful when pulling away as you could bog down, especially in soft sand.

Learning The Ropes

Not all sand will give the same ride, but you will learn to tell the difference between hard sand and soft, powdery sand, which is sometimes tricky to spot and can be quite dangerous if you are not expecting it. You’ll be able to identify hard-packed sand by ridges or grooves on either side of the dunes. Another clue to the texture of the sand is the colour.

One of the most important rules to remember when riding in the desert is never to ride hell-for-leather over a dune without knowing what is on the other side. There may be something unexpected, like a sudden drop, a quarry or a happy family enjoying a picnic. By the time you’ve shot over the top of the dune, there’s little you can do about it. Dunes should always be approached by going up at an angle, so that you can check what lies ahead and choose your descent based on any obstacles in your path.

Another hazard to watch out for is ‘camel grass’ – these are hard mounds of sand with bunches of grass growing through them – and while they should be dodged by inexperienced riders, they are good fun to jump over once mastered.

Routes

There are different routes to choose from when riding through the desert. Off-road biking is quite a social sport and there are large groups of riders who usually depart from fixed points and follow set routes, especially on weekends. When planning your route, the main thing you need to ensure is that you will have access to fuel and water at regular intervals.

Even if you’re a seasoned off-road biker, it is not recommended to ride out alone, and you can easily get lost, breakdown or get stuck, even if you are only a couple of kilometres away from the nearest road.

If you lose your group, try not to create any fresh tracks, but just get to the top of the nearest, tallest dune to work out your bearings and how to get back to your route.

Kit

The basic kit needed for off-road biking really varies on the safety needs of each rider and the amount of money they are prepared to spend. The following items, however, are highly recommended and should be seen as essentials for beginners: a good quality helmet, goggles, a chest protector (preferably with built-in back support), a hydration pack, boots and, as you usually land on your knees, a pair of knee guards. Elbow protection is also a good idea.

A note about hydration packs: these are backpacks, such as a Camelbak, containing a ‘bladder’ which you fill with water, connected to a pipe long enough to reach your mouth. They are very popular with cyclists, hikers and bikers, as you don’t need to stop to have a drink. Most riders use a 2-3 litre pack to ensure they carry sufficient water with them (particularly during summer when temperatures can soar to about 45°C).

Riding trousers and a shirt allow for better air circulation and can keep you cool in hot climates.

It is a good idea to have a GPS so you can enter the coordinates of the destinations available.

Spectator Sports

The Kingdom has hosted the international Dakar Rally (previously the Paris-Dakar Rally) every winter since 2020. One of the most extreme motorsports events in the world, participants travel thousands of kilometres through the desert with categories including motorbikes, quads, cars, trucks and other vehicles.

Hail International Rally is another annual event in which riders take on Al Nufud Desert in the Hail Region in rally cars, quadbikes and on off-road bikes.

SAFETY

There are several safety rules that you should follow when riding:

• Never ride alone. Riding out in a group is not only more sociable, it is essential for your safety
• If you lose your group, head for the nearest, tallest dune to work out your bearings and how to get back to your route. Make as few new tracks as possible, so that if your riding buddies try to find you they don’t embark on a wild goose chase along dead-end tracks
• Never speed up a dune and over the top unless you have checked what’s on the other side
• Don’t try and do too much too soon: it takes time to learn how your bike will cope with different types of sand, so wait until you can ‘read’ the sand before you go racing across the desert
• If you get lost, a GPS can mean the difference between being home before dark or spending a long, hot, miserable day (and night) in the desert. If you’re a regular rider, get one
• Keep your eyes peeled at all times for camels, goats, and of course, 4WDs
• Invest in safety kit to prevent the worst of any incident. As a minimum, this includes a helmet, goggles, chest, elbow and knee protection