Emma Pritchard

The wheels were in motion as the Grafton Cycle Club welcomed more than 50 attendees to their community day on August 6.

A celebration of the official reopening of a network of mountain bike trails and riding tracks across 400 hectares in the Bom Bom State Forest following a $120,000 upgrade of the site, the event also gave riders the opportunity to put their pedal power into practice in a ‘come ‘n’ try ride’, which offered participants the chance to experience a preview of the course set to be used in the GBomb 2023, a major regional race the club will host on September 30 and October 1.

As riders left their first tyre marks atop the newly resurfaced areas, and commented on the quality and enhanced safety features of the mountain bike trails and riding tracks, Coordinator for the Grafton Cycle Club, Grant Hodgins, said the event was a great success, adding it was pleasing to receive so much positive feedback on the day.

“Everyone was pretty rapt with the upgrades and said the tracks are riding really well compared to how they used to be,” he revealed.

“People of all ages attended, and it was also good to see a number of school aged kids come along too.

“We’re really grateful to have these facilities available to the community.”

Mr Hodgins said the recent upgrades have also enticed new members to join the Grafton Cycle Club.

“A lot of people at the community day said they’d sign up, which is great,” he confirmed.

“We have a series of mountain bike trails and riding tracks for riders of different ages and abilities, so we have something for everyone.

“The club is really pleased with the work that’s been done as part of the upgrade, and it’s great to see riders back out on all of the tracks and trails again.”

Member for Clarence Richie Williamson and councillor Peter Johnstone also attended the community day on the weekend, and congratulated the Grafton Cycle Club on a job well done.

Following the completion of the upgrades, the Grafton Cycle Club is looking forward to hosting the GBomb 2023, a major event to be held on the October long weekend, which is expected to attract a high number of competitors to the Clarence Valley.

For more information about the event, please visit www.graftoncycleclub.com.au