Eventually I made it past that self-imposed limitation and realized that a bike would be a great way to explore the desert. After a bit of study, I chose the Mojave National Preserve over other desert locales as my destination. The air was dry and comfortable and I happily did not get rained on. The only thing I could have asked for was some moonlight on one dark night that I found myself riding a dirt road alone in total darkness. I did this tour solo.
Some planning is required to gain familiarity with the area before going.
As I analyzed the situation, camping proved to be the only option. This meant that I would need to carry a tent, sleeping bag and other supplies, which in turn obligated me to deck my bike with racks and panniers. Finding a front rack that would fit my mountain bike turned out to be a little more difficult than I expected. I ended up mail-ordering one at the last minute from Old Man Mountain . A few main, paved roads traverse the Preserve and these are in good condition.