They’re taking their time with this one.
One kilometre at a time, west coast mountain bike enthusiasts are focused on a master plan to create an international riding destination.
The master plan, through the leadership of the West Coast Cycling Association, is to build a 50-km single track mountain bike trail system throughout the Humber Valley and western Newfoundland.
Volunteers have been busy for the past month or so working on a new trail near Harvey Road at the base of Massey Drive that would extend to the rock cut west of Corner Brook that brings with it a spectacular view overlooking Corner Brook.
Association president Peter Ollerhead said development of the trail system is an extensive project that requires a lot of volunteer hours but it’s all worth the effort when he sees hundreds of mountain bikers looking for places to ride and confident the numbers of riders will continue to grow.
The trail system will only expand, and riders feel more free if people lend a helping hand in developing the route. As an avid cyclist who promotes riding to the public every chance he gets, Ollerhead is among those who join the group on Wednesdays at 5 p.m. to tackle the work that needs to be done to get the trail completed.
“If you ride it, you should help build it,” Ollerhead said. “It will certainly help you feel better about the trail system if you know that you’ve actually lent a hand to help produce it.”
The west coast is a prime spot for mountain bike trails and Ollerhead believes development of the trail network will help attract more mountain bikers to the area, both from around the province and from around the world as people become more aware of what the west coast has to offer.
“Our terrain is fantastic for it, but it takes some initiative to get the trails built,” he said.
