The theory is simple, you hit the dune at a shallow angle, full throttle to keep the right momentum, and if your bike is reasonably light, you've got room to play with your speed. As you near the top, you flatten the angle, check the shape of the dune, pick your line, shift the bike from side to side, and off you go down. Easy, right?
Well… absolutely not. Not even close. Not in Tunisia. On the 27 km past Rjim Maatoug, in the middle of this massive erg, I was sitting next to my bike, trying to catch my breath. Tunisian dunes aren't anything like the ones in Morocco. Comparing them is like camparing making a jam sandwich and baking a Linzer torte. Sure, both have flour… but that's about it.
The dunes in Tunisia are pretty small. And that makes them tricky. Often they're soft on three sides, and your bike get stuck instantly. You've got a fraction of a second to react and pick the right line, every second you have to make 2 or 3 decisions. There's no riding here without instinctive reflexes, you gotta have trained them beforehand.
We hit the Erg loaded with supplies, about 25 liters of fuel, 7–8 liters of water, and some food. Only 4 bikes, all EXCs. Our plan is over 220 km with one amazing oasis halfway through, with a fresh spring and possibility to grab fuel and water. After almost 3 days, we finally emerged on the other side at Ksar Ghilane. My respect for the desert? Raised up, definitely.
Track: https://loc.wiki/t/243457352?wa=sc
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