Even a Postie Bike needs a bit of preparation for a trip like this.

The Aussie Outback is some of the toughest, most inhospitable country in the world, and its not somewhere you want to get stuck - not that a Postie Bike makes a habit of breaking down mind you.

But in the interests of avoiding a long, miserable, dehydrated death, I decided to make a few updates to the Postie.

1: New Tyres - a new set of on/off road tyres and heavy duty tubes to try and avoid any punctures - I'll also fill the tubes with puncture resisting and auto sealing goo - the tubes are heavy duty, and 4mm thick, so hopefully that will help me avoid any punctures.

2: Tool Compartment - got rid of the tindy little standard Postie Bike Tool holder and rplaced it with a self made 3 inch bit of conduit with screw caps each end. Bolted it on at the same spot as the original one - allows me to carry socket set, screw driver, chain lub, spark plug and pliers

3: Service - cleaned Air Filter, new engine oil - Penrite MC-4ST 10W-50 Semi-Synthetic, new chain and sprockets

4: New Panier Bags

5: Cigarette Lighter socket with USB connector - this will enable me to charge all my gadgets - GPS, Helmet Cam, Nikon Camera, iPhone,

Other than that - plain old Postie Bike - they are hard to improve on :)