The ROCKWHEELERS with a record membership of 230 riders, in the last 12 months completed a $20,000 trail building programme with club funds accrued over several years from event profits. These easier to ride trails, are especially suited to the novice Mountain bikers expected at this years Hotrock 8 Hour event.  Previously, trails were built by hand, and it could take several months to complete 1 km of 1mtre wide bench. Consequently they were more technical and not as smooth or suited to beginners.

It is interesting to note the progression of singletrack construction in Townsville, from the very early fall-line trails like Keelback, which require annual attention after the big wets; to the full-bench, hand dug, contour alignment of Beefwood; a huge effort to build, but requires minimal maintenance. We are now moving onto machine-made singletrack ; gentle grades, smooth wide bench and completed in days and weeks with minimal maintenance again.

Prior to 2009 the biggest issue facing the club was acquisition of land to use as a club base. Townsville Water provided a permit to occupy at Lake Ross in 2008 (a huge boost to club morale)an excellent venue for competition; but with some limited access and its distance from the demographic centre of Townsville it was not the convenient fix the club needed.

In June 2009 after years of paperwork and phone calls, club Land Access Co-ordinator Peter (Mozzy) Mclean was thrilled to announce the State Gov. had granted a 12 month permit to occupy at Douglas, the Rockwheelers traditional XC playground. Finally funds could be allocated to build new easier trails and improve the surrounding infrastructure. The club Exec approved the formation of the TBC (Trail Building Committee) to develop a strategy for achieving the Rockwheelers trail building goals.

As many are aware, Mountain Bikers are two different camps: the Downhillers with their long travel bikes and short steep fast DH courses; especially attractive to gen X and Y. Whilst Cross Country riders are more fitness and nature lovers, looking for the “Long Ride,” and are just as interested in the uphill challenge, as the downhill thrill.

Rockwheelers DH had already been granted access to 2 parcels of the road easement on Mt Stuart after much negotiation by Mozzy. This is being extended on the other side of the road in the near future. More funds will be required to extend this course.

The short term goals of the Rockwheelers TBC include the MT Stuart extension, and at Douglas: parking, signage, water supply and completion of the easier trails. Lake Ross is still Townsville’s premier XC competition venue and as such there are still some new extensions to the trails to make for a more flexible race course.

All of these goals require more funding, and whilst the club is exploring other (dirt) avenues; the profits from events, is still the most fruitful and satisfying. 

Interestingly the Rockwheelers 2 major events (Paluma Push and theHotrock 8 hour) are what is driving the growth in the sport in TSV. This has meant record participation numbers, record club membership and from this base, hopefully more volunteers to assist run the events.

So remember if you volunteer to assist the executive in running any club functions/events, you are effectively helping to build more singletrack.

THE SINGLETRACK SECRET: more participants at events means: more funds, more members, more volunteers, and most importantly…….more singletrack.