IF you have a passion for the outdoors and like the rush of adrenaline then Ararat's newest sports club might be for you.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Ararat Dirt Riders Mountain Bike Club was formed in late 2013 by a diverse group of people from different backgrounds, abilities, ages and walks of life who all to share a common love of mountain bike riding.
The group has worked closely with a number of organisations including Parks Victoria, Ararat Rural City Council and Central Grampians LLEN over the past 12 months to construct and maintain a number of trails in the McDonald Park/Ararat Hills region.
Ararat Dirt Riders club president Jamie Solomons said the idea had come about through he and some of his work colleagues riding together on a regular basis.
"Where it started for us was a big group of us from the jail were going out there riding all the time," he said.
"November last year Parks noticed there was a lot of tracks popping up in the Ararat Hills. They organised with LLEN to have a bit of a gathering, a barbecue and a ride to just gauge an interest and perhaps outline an idea for a project.
"So myself and a few others went out there and met with them and the idea was to make those tracks legal and sustainable trails that everyone in the community could use."
Since then the Ararat Dirt Riders have worked with several organisations on the Ararat Hills Mountain Bike project.
This has included a mountain bike trail workshop conducted by the International Mountain Biking Association which saw the Ararat Dirt Riders Club, 20 VCAL students from Ararat College and Marian College, as well as other community members learn the skills to construct and maintain sustainable mountain bike trails within the Ararat Hills Regional Park.
"At the moment we have about a dozen trails that have all been named and are on the internet," Solomons said.
"The idea is to get them all sign posted, because it is not all about us going out there, it is about new people getting on their bike and enjoying the tracks too.
"Even ones stopping in on their way through, whether they are heading to Halls Gap or South Australia, make it a recognised area."
Solomons said the club was in the process of getting the tracks assessed by Parks Victoria.
"We go out to the bush to ride because it is nice and quiet and we enjoy the environment, we aren't there to tear it up or destroy it," he said.
In August the Ararat Dirt Riders Club received its Mountain Bike Australia accreditation and it is affiliated with the Ararat and District Cycling Club.
"We are a fully accredited club with insurance, our own bank account, you can even join-up online," Solomons said.
"You can do that by visiting www.mtba.asn.au and that is a really big thing because it means we can hold events and we can attract new people.
"At the moment we have 12 official members that have signed on through Mountain Bike Australia, but I am aware of more people who are keen."
The club has two official rides each month.
On the last Sunday of the month the group leaves at 9.30am from the Ararat Rifle Club (top of Ford Street) and again on the second Monday of each month, which is a night ride.
Solomons said further information can be obtained by visiting the Ararat Dirt Riders' Facebook page.
"We have all done a lot of group rides before and they are done at the pace of the slowest rider, so anyone is welcome to come along," he said.
"It is a good social gathering and this is just another great option for kids or anyone for that matter to get active."