Today I put myself on the line and decided to conduct and experiment to get some realistic statistics on the crossing of Australian salt lakes.
the surface type we chose to test was the most common . STICKY MUD.
the experiment was to cross a known section of salt lake on a 18 gear 26" bicycle and record the following.
1. Distance travelled riding
2.Distance travelled pushing
3.Distance covered dragging
4.Time taken in total to run the experiment.
The location selected as the south west lagoon of Lake Lefroy
this inlet has no hard salt crust, has been known to be hard enough to be driven on at the bottom 2kms,and has large creeks draining in from the Widgiemooltha Ranges
The length of the trek is a simple 10km with opportunities to exit to the main highway at 6 and 8kms, mobile coverage throughout..
the plan was for my faithful companion Test Pilot 1 to follow by road and meet me at the other end.
I was to run from the railway crossing at the north end of the lagoon to the Widgiemooltha cemetery, wheer I have driven a landcruiser on the lake last year.
the lagoon is the route that is claimed by many original club members as being the way they used to sail down to widgie pub for a beer, so if they are to believed it can be done.
I used a bike rather than a yacht because the wind was light and the run was a straight downwinder, completely impractical for a landyacht. A bike was an obvious alternative as I could make good speed when I got on harder ground. the bike weighs in at 18kg,quite heavy due to the suspension and big fat trendy frame . The tread was about 50% on each tyre
Initially I walked onto the lake and didnt sink , or get sticky mud on my boots, so we started the clock and off I rode, TP1 planned to wait till I was out of sight the move down to the next get off point.
. So the comp is to guess the 4 statistics that we gained from the completed experiment
TP1 and crazy trav may not post or give hints as they have either witnessed or seen the tracks running off across the lake. The photos are great. and Im particularly happy with the very conclusive results. I feel that it was an afternoon well spent on Lake Lefroy.
the prize is simply the kudos of being the winner
let the best guess win