Establishing the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges Region as an international mountain bike destination - July 2015
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Establishing the
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges Region as
an international mountain bike
destination
July 2015
1
Acknowledgements
The report Establishing the Adelaide Mount Lofty
Ranges region as an international mountain bike
destination has been prepared by TRC Tourism
(www.trctourism.com), Earthcheck and World
Trails for:
Department of Environment, Water and Natural
Resources
Disclaimer
Any representation, statement, opinion or advice,
expressed or implied in this document is made in
good faith but on the basis that TRC Tourism,
Earthcheck and World Trails are not liable to any
person for any damage or loss whatsoever which
has occurred or may occur in relation to that
person taking or not taking action in respect of
any representation, statement or advice referred
to in this document.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 1
Executive Summary Introduction The Adelaide Mount Lofty Region (AMLR) is an emerging mountain biking destination with some high profile trail networks and many high quality but less known formal mountain bike trails. In many parts of the world mountain biking trail networks have become significant visitor destinations which attract international visitors and contribute to economic sustainability and recreational opportunities for local and regional communities. The South Australian Government has recognised the importance of the AMLR, and its future potential to contribute to the development of Adelaide and the region as a thriving nationally and internationally competitive place to live, invest and visit. The Government has committed resources to build the AMLR as an international- level mountain biking destination that they would like to see become an important driver of tourism and economic sustainability in the region. This AMLR Mountain Biking Destination Implementation Plan (the Plan) provides the framework for building the destination over time through an integrated approach and collaboration between government agencies, local councils, the tourism industry, mountain biking organisations and the community. The current situation The AMLR already features an extensive network of trails suited to different markets including two quality, high profile mountain bike trail networks– Eagle Mountain Bike Park and Fox Creek (also known as Cudlee Creek) that offer downhill and cross-country riding across a range of difficulty ratings. Both networks also host large competitive events which have contributed to building their reputation as places to ride. The AMLR region also has many lesser known, high quality, formalised mountain bike trails in places like Lynton, Belair NP, Sturt Gorge RP (Craigburn Farm), Cobbler Creek RP and Kuitpo Forest. Touring by mountain bike also occurs on shared trails throughout the AMLR. The region includes a number of popular long distance riding routes that the local community and visitors ride including the Mawson Trail (which extends to the Finders Ranges), the Amy Gillett track and the Coast to Vines. It is estimated that the AMLR receives as high as 950,000 mountain bike visits each year consisting of: » approximately 26,200 residents (estimated from the population within a 40km radius) who participate in mountain bike-related activities approximately 930,000 times a year. » a visitor market of 13,300 (including domestic day, overnight and international visitors) who make nearly 18,000 MTB trips per year. The potential Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges will be an international mountain bike destination offering world class experiences for a range of cycling markets AMLR offer an excellent opportunity for the development of a world class network of mountain bike trails building on the existing well developed and popular trails. Their popularity with the local community is expected to increase significantly through higher participation in mountain biking as an activity. Experience elsewhere in Australia suggests that interstate visitor numbers to the mountain bike trails are likely to grow with the development of ‘hero rides’, promotion amongst mountain bike networks, and the development of new events including a range of technical and mass participation events suited to different riders. New visitors encouraged to visit will promote the trails through their own networks and social media. Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 2
Achieving international recognition that converts into visitation to Adelaide specifically for mountain bike riding
will be slower. It will rely on strong exposure through a range of channels and events as well as a collaborative
approach with other Australian mountain bike destinations to grow awareness of the opportunities that exist for
world class mountain bike riding in Australia. Achieving IMBA status for part of the network as an IMBA Ride
Centre or an Epic Ride would grow positioning within the international mountain bike community. Getting the
trails to the standard where they can attract one of the word class events has the greatest potential to leverage
the international mountain bike market. Collaboration with successful New Zealand destinations (such as hosting
an event in AMLR to coincide with major events such as Cranworxk in NZ) may also be worthwhile to position
Australasia as a destination worthy of the visit for the long haul markets.
The greatest short term growth in international visitors using the trails is likely to be the ‘non-core riders’ that are
attracted to SA for other reasons such as Tour down Under, other non-cycling events, or food and wine. With
appropriate facilities, services and promotion, visitors may well be interested in one or two days of riding as part
of their holiday. Promotion of riding as part of the broader tourism offering and a way to experience the different
parts of the AMLR and nearby areas will be important to leverage this broader tourism market as will the use of
images that portray the iconic nature of riding from the top of the AMLR to the city.
As show in the table below, based on a mid-range growth scenario, it is estimated that developing and promoting
the AMLR as a world class mountain bike destination could achieve total overall expenditure of $18.1 million in
the region by 2020. This would be achieved through implementation of priority actions in this document including
some infrastructure development, attracting a range of events, and effective promotion.
MEDIUM 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
SCENARIO
VISITORS
Locals 27,181 27,489 27,752 28,017 28,285 28,555
Day 11,933 12,161 12,375 12,594 12,816 13,041
O/N 2,851 2,897 2,942 2,988 3,034 3,080
Domestic
International 1,088 1,125 1,162 1,199 1,234 1,269
Events 1,924 1,587 3,309 3,180 4,231
(Nat/Int)
TOTAL 43,053 45,595 45,818 48,107 48,549 50,176
VISITS
Locals 942,103 980,834 994,475 1,008,287 1,022,272 1,036,432
Day 11,933 12,161 12,375 12,594 12,816 13,041
O/N 7,168 7,446 7,723 7,998 8,274 8,551
Domestic
International 7,212 7,455 7,702 7,945 8,181 8,414
Events 4,879 3,953 8,690 7,923 10,814
(Nat/Int)
TOTAL 968,417 1,012,776 1,026,228 1,045,514 1,059,466 1,077,252
SPEND
Locals $9,581,189 $10,160,623 $10,510,027 $10,888,297 $11,297,637 $11,740,482
Day $901,465 $961,626 $1,023,280 $1,085,701 $1,146,187 $1,205,962
O/N $977,953 $1,063,413 $1,153,214 $1,245,279 $1,336,426 $1,428,196
Domestic
International $543,279 $587,816 $634,994 $682,934 $729,531 $775,895
Events $1,215,871 $1,011,928 $2,228,031 $2,120,817 $2,938,051
(Nat/Int)
TOTAL $12,003,885 $13,989,348 $14,333,444 $16,130,241 $16,630,599 $18,088,586
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 3
What will it require? While a destination may have world class trails within it, it is the combination of trails plus the overall visitor experience of the destination that combine to create a world class destination. When AMLR is compared with other international destinations and Australian competitors, the following observations can be made: » Like Whistler, Queenstown and Rotorua, AMLR has the potential to have a strong mix of trail infrastructure including opportunities for core and non-core markets combined with close proximity to accommodation for events and visitors » The AMLR destination can offer a suite of trail hubs and linkages between them which can be promoted in a similar way to 7Stanes » Long downhill flow trails, linkages between hubs and upgrading of trailhead infrastructure could enable an IMBA Epic Ride to be created with the associated international recognition by the mountain bike community » One of the hubs (such as Fox Creek) could also be planned as an IMBA Ride Centre » Whilst the close proximity of AMLR to Adelaide is comparable with Mount Stromlo to Canberra, the extent of trail infrastructure, number of hubs, and supporting tourism destination offerings will make AMLR a much more attractive mountain bike destination than Canberra » The extent of trail infrastructure, and number of hubs currently offered, together with improvements that can be made at AMLR, will create a much stronger mountain bike destination than other Australian hubs such as Forrest and You Yangs » While Mount Buller has a strong trail offering and Epic status, it is three hours from Melbourne and its international airport » The proximity of AMLR to Adelaide and its accommodation, plus the pre-existing awareness of the Tour down Under provides a solid base for events and their promotion. Weaknesses of the AMLR region compared with other major domestic and international mountain biking destinations are: » The scale of Adelaide as a major population centre is small compared with those in close proximity and easy access to other international destinations (like USA to Whistler and UK to 7STanes) » there is currently virtually no means of uphill transport with the exception of a small number of roads where vehicle self-shuttles can occur » trailhead facilities are extremely poor and unattractive for visitors » to date Adelaide is not positioned as an adventure sports or highly popular tourism destination (like Whistler, Queenstown and Rotorua) and is hence starting from a low base Approach and Priority actions There is already considerable investment in trail infrastructure in AMLR and there is a good range of levels of difficulty across several hubs. Priority needs to be given to consolidating the trail hubs that offer the greatest potential to achieve the vision, and creating longer rides through appropriate linkages. To facilitate this, the trails in the region have been recommended as lead, supporting and local trails. » Lead trails - a small number of outstanding trail experiences that have the pulling power to persuade a visitor to come to the AMLR and generate the greatest economic benefit. » Supporting trails - a less prominent visitor offering but provide a quality visitor experience to support leading trails and hub and important recreational opportunities for local communities. » Local trails - important to the local community, and often have developed through local action. Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 4
The following four guidelines form the basis for decisions about priorities in investment.
Lead trail experiences – give priority to those hubs and trail experiences that can attract new markets
Strategic development– a small number of high quality experiences at the highest standard is better than multiple
hubs and poorly maintained trails
Consolidate before expanding – get the current trail network to the highest standard before expanding
Value adding linkages – prioritise links that will be meaningful for markets and encourage access.
Priority projects are as follows:
Governance and funding
» Establish and resource a Governance model that provides for coordinated implementation of this plan by
multiple stakeholders and identification and implementation of sustainable funding mechanisms for long term
development, promotion and maintenance of the network.
Community and partnerships
» Develop a communications plan and engage with the community in a range of ways to encourage support and
participation in the trail network
» Implement a range of partnerships with recreational user groups, the private sector and tourism industry to
progress the plan.
Trails and trailhead infrastructure
» Refine and improve the lead trails networks and hubs to create a strong world class network including
prioritising infrastructure that will enable an IMBA ride centre and/or Epic Ride to be created
» Undertake feasibility assessment to determine the best hero descending trail as an experience that will be
attractive to a range of markets
» Implement high quality trailhead facilities befitting a world class trail network
» Develop a world-class example ‘urban bike park’
Tourism and marketing
» Work with the private sector to ensure appropriate consumer focused support services and new businesses as
the visitor numbers grow
» Develop a strategy to attract world class events to the region
» Work with SATC and the regional tourism organisations to embed mountain biking into the brand essence of
the region and implement collaborative marketing
» Establish a brand identity for the mountain bike network and use this as the basis for new on line and other
appropriate collateral.
What will success look like?
We will know we have been successful if, by 2020,
» we have a vibrant tourism economy with new and expanded bike friendly businesses servicing our visitors
» we are known elsewhere in Australia and internationally for our excellent network of sustainable trails and we
have grown our visitor numbers
» we are hosting events that attract mountain bike riders from interstate and overseas.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 5
Table of Contents
1 INTRODUCTION 7
2 REGIONAL CONTEXT 8
2.1 The Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges region 8
2.2 The region’s visitors 10
2.3 Mountain biking in the region 11
2.4 Planning Context 11
3 MOUNTAIN BIKING TRENDS AND MARKETS 13
3.1 Trends 13
3.2 The global MTB market 13
3.3 Economic impacts of other MTB destinations and events 14
3.4 Types of mountain biking 16
3.5 The Australian MTB market 17
4 BUILDING AN INTERNATIONAL MTB DESTINATION 20
4.1 What makes a world class mountain bike destination? 20
4.2 WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL OF THE AMLR REGION AS AN INTERNATIONAL DESTINATION? 22
4.3 Moving towards an international mountain bike destination 25
5 ECONOMIC IMPACTS 34
5.1 What is the potential growth for AMLR mountain biking? 34
6 OUR VISION 38
6.1 GUIDING PRINCIPLES 38
7 ACHIEVING THE VISION 39
7.1 Governance and funding 39
7.2 Community and Partnerships 40
7.3 Trails and trailhead infrastructure 41
7.4 Tourism and marketing 43
7.5 Implementing the Infrastructure recommendations 45
8 MAPS 51
APPENDIX 57
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 6
1 Introduction
The Adelaide Mount Lofty Region (AMLR), which Critical factors in the development of the destination
extends from the Barossa Valley to the tip of Fleurieu are:
Peninsula, is a significant natural, cultural, recreational
» the protection of the region’s significant
and economic resource for the people of the region
biodiversity, natural resources and natural and
and its domestic and international visitors. The South
cultural values
Australian Government recognises the region’s
current importance and future potential to contribute » development of experiences that appeal to the
to the development of Adelaide and the region as a range of local, domestic and international
thriving nationally and internationally competitive mountain biking markets
place to live, invest and visit. » the delivery of benefits to local and regional
communities and contribution to the tourism
Mountain biking has become an increasingly popular
experiences available in the Adelaide and the
way for people to enjoy and appreciate natural areas.
region
In many parts of the world mountain biking trail
networks have become significant visitor destinations » an integrated, cross tenure approach to
which attract international visitors and contribute to destination development and management among
economic sustainability and recreational opportunities the region’s numerous land management, tourism,
for local and regional communities. The AMLR is an recreational and community stakeholders
emerging mountain biking destination with some high » development of stakeholder and community
profile trail networks and many high quality but less support and stewardship for an international-level
known formal mountain bike trails. mountain biking destination.
The South Australian Government is committed to The Plan is based on a structure that includes:
building the AMLR as an international-level mountain » Background information on the Adelaide Mountain
biking destination that will be an important driver of Lofty Ranges
tourism and economic sustainability in the region.
» A review of mountain biking and trends over
The attributes of the AMLR make it well suited for recent years
development as a mountain biking destination. The
» An assessment of the likely potential growth in the
region’s scenic landscapes, varied terrain, existing
AMLR and the economic potential this could
natural and cultural tourism attractions and existing
generate
trail and transport infrastructure close to a major city
provide a strong basis for building mountain biking » A review of what makes an international mountain
experiences attractive to a range of visitors. bike destination and how AMLR performs against
this
This AMLR Mountain Biking Destination
Implementation Plan (the Plan) provides the » Recommendations for moving towards a world
class destination.
framework for building the destination over time
through an integrated approach and collaboration The preparation of the Plan was guided by a Project
between government agencies, local councils, the Reference Group of senior Government officials.
tourism industry, mountain biking organisations and Input was also provided by a DEWNR project team and
the community. operational representatives from various land
management agencies, the tourism industry, cycling
and mountain bike user groups, NGO and survey data.
As a first step a Strategic Directions Paper was
distributed to the Project Reference Group for
consideration of a suggested vision, guiding principles
and strategic directions for implementing the concept
of an international mountain bike destination. The
feedback received guided the refinement of the core
elements of this plan.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 7
2 Regional Context
2.1 THE ADELAIDE MOUNT LOFTY RANGES REGION
For the purposes of this project, the AMLR region The region is regarded as one of South Australia’s
encompasses an area that extends from the Barossa most biologically diverse areas.1 It is a mosaic of
Valley in the north and along the Mount Lofty remnant bushland and agricultural land supporting
Ranges which flank the Adelaide metropolitan area a diverse range of wildlife, native plants, rivers,
to Cape Jervis at the tip of the Fleurieu Peninsula in swamps, wetlands and spectacular scenery. Half of
the south (see map in Figure 1). The region covers the State’s native plant species and three-quarters
6,581 square kilometres of land and includes the of its native bird species occur in the region. About
Adelaide metropolitan area. A population of 1.2 60% of the water needs of metropolitan Adelaide
million people (or 80% of South Australia’s are sourced from the region and it also contains
population) live within the region. some of the State’s most productive primary
industries which supply local and international
The AMLR region (see Figure 1) includes the
markets.
following local government areas (LGAs) - Adelaide
Hills, City of Mitcham, City of Playford, City of Tea The area’s agricultural landscapes and associated
Tree Gully, Campbelltown City Council, City of world-renowned food and wine production have
Burnside, City of Onkaparinga, District Council of Mt high cultural significance linked to the colonial
Barker, Alexandrina Council and Barossa Council. settlement of the area and are being considered for
Yankalilla and Victor Harbor are also in the region nomination as an agrarian landscape World
but not involved in the project. Freehold land within Heritage site under UNESCO’s cultural landscape
the region includes residential and commercial criteria.2
properties and some larger tracts of land held by
organisations such as universities.
As well as land managed by the LGAs, the region
includes 2 National Parks, 44 Conservation Parks
and 11 Recreation Parks administered by the
Department of Environment, Water and Natural
Resources as well as extensive tracts of
undeveloped land managed by Forestry SA and SA
Water.
In addition to the community in the region, other
stakeholders also have a significant interest in the
project including SATC, the three regional tourism
associations (Barossa, Adelaide Hills and Fleurieu
Peninsula), Bike SA and other recreational user
groups and commercial businesses.
The AMLR region lies within the Barossa, Adelaide
Hills and Fleurieu Peninsula tourism regions. While
outside the region, Kangaroo Island is a significant
tourism destination adjacent to the AMLR region
that attracts considerable international visitor
numbers and may, in the future, be able to assist in 1
Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges NRM Board (Nov 2013),
growing awareness of the nearby mountain bike Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources
opportunities. Management Plan, Volume 1 – Strategic Plan, 2014-15 to
2023-24
2
www.mountloftyranges.org; Mount Lofty Ranges Working
Group and EconSearch Pty Ltd (June 2012), Exploring
UNESCO World heritage Site listing for the Mount Lofty
Ranges agrarian landscape. Prepared for the Adelaide Hills
Council, Barossa Council, District Council of Mount Barker
and City of Onkaparinga.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 8
Figure 1: Map of the AMLR region Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 9
2.2 THE REGION’S VISITORS
The AMLR region provides a wide range of visitor This reflects the proximity of the AMLR region to
attractions and activities within a short drive from Adelaide metropolitan area. In the year ending
Adelaide. The visitor offer includes: September 2014, based on the National and
» nature and wildlife experiences in the numerous International Visitor Surveys (see Table 1):
conservation and recreation reserves in the hills
» intrastate overnight visitors comprise about 72% of
and coastal experiences and marine wildlife (Little
total overnight visitation
Penguins, whales) on the Fleurieu Peninsula
» interstate overnight visitors comprise 23%
» trail networks for walking, cycling and horse riding
» there is a small international visitor component –
» quaint historic villages (such as Hahndorf in the
about 5%
Adelaide Hills) and other heritage sites
» a very large day visitation – a total of 3.884 million
» world class wineries and local produce throughout
visitors or about 4 times the overnight visitation.
the region
Holiday and leisure and visiting friends and relatives
» art and culture – the Adelaide Hills is a centre for
artists are the major purposes of domestic overnight and day
visitation. Holiday and leisure visitation forms 53% of
» a wide range of character accommodation and Barossa domestic overnight visits, 37% of Adelaide
other accommodation. Hills visits and 23% of Fleurieu Peninsula visits. The
Visitation to the AMLR region is predominantly from visiting friends and relatives market is especially
residents of South Australia, with Adelaide forming a important in the Adelaide Hills, where it forms 48% of
major source of both overnight intrastate visitors and domestic overnight visitation. Visiting friends and
domestic day visitors. relatives is 29% of Barossa and 23% of Fleurieu
Peninsula domestic overnight visitation respectively.
3
Table 1: Visitor numbers and nights to the AMLR region, year ending September 2014
Region Intrastate Overnight Interstate Overnight International Domestic
Day Trips
Visits Nights Visits Nights Visits Nights
Barossa 144,000 231,000 74,000 363,000 12,000 61,000 690,000
Adelaide 72,000 215,000 51,000 225,000 10,000 128,000 902,000
Hills
Fleurieu 488,000 1,268,000 101,000 427,000 23,000 159,000 2,292,000
Peninsula
TOTAL 704,000 1,714,000 226,000 1,015,000 45,000 348,000 3,884,000
AMLR
3
South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC) (2014), Visits to South Australian Regions: Year Ending September 2014.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 102.3 MOUNTAIN BIKING IN THE REGION Appendix A and Map 1 identify the majority of
mountain biking opportunities in and around the
The AMLR region is currently an emerging mountain region.
biking destination which is supported by strong local
participation and advocacy from the mountain biking
community and organisations. How local people view the proposal for an
international-level MTB destination
Across the region there are three Mountain Bike
Australia affiliated mountain biking clubs each with a DEWNR invited the South Australian
different focus and with a total membership of over community to take part in an online survey to
500 people. There are frequent mountain bike collect ideas on how to establish the Adelaide
competitions particularly during the cooler months Hills as an international MTB destination.
from April to December. Adelaide based industry More than 370 people responded, with an
bodies such as BikeSA and the South Australian overwhelming majority supporting the project.
Mountain Biking Association have been instrumental They considered Adelaide’s proximity to the
in rolling out a number of mountain bike projects in trails was a positive feature, as were the other
the region and other parts of the State and in nature-based and cultural experiences such as
lobbying for improved trail access and infrastructure. quality food and wine products.
There are at least two successful mountain bike tour They believed development of quality
operators in the AMLR region who offer a range of mountain biking experiences would be
services to visitors and the mountain bike assisted by:
community, including skill development classes and o a trail linking existing tracks with additional
guiding. loop trails to provide an ‘epic’ or ‘hero’
There are two quality, high profile mountain bike product
trail networks in the region – Eagle Mountain Bike o a trail linking the coast and the hills
Park and Fox Creek (also known as Cudlee Creek). o a trail through metropolitan Adelaide
Both networks provide trails for downhill and cross- which also provides off road access to the
country riding across a range of difficulty ratings and trails
were designed, built and are maintained with input o trails from towns adjacent to the AMLR
to core mountain biking enthusiasts and the local region
riding community. Both networks also host large o improved transport options (trains, buses,
competitive events which have contributed to shuttle services)
building their reputation as places to ride. Eagle o world class events
Mountain Bike Park hosted the Australian National o improved trailhead facilities.
Mountain Bike Championship from 2010 to 2012. 2.4 PLANNING CONTEXT
The AMLR region also has many lesser known, high The development of the AMLR region as an
quality, formalised mountain bike trails. These international mountain biking destination will take
include trails in places like Lynton, Belair NP, Sturt place within the existing land uses and land
Gorge RP (Craigburn Farm), Cobbler Creek RP and management regimes. Mountain biking
Kuitpo Forest. Touring by mountain bike also occurs development will need to be compatible with, and
on shared trails throughout the AMLR. able to be coordinated through, the legislative,
policy, planning and land management requirements
The region includes a number of popular long
that apply in the region. The details of the planning
distance riding routes that the local community and
requirements are provided in Appendix B.
visitors ride including the Mawson Trail (which
extends to the Finders Ranges), the Amy Gillett track Improved tourism and recreation opportunities and
and the Coast to Vines. the development of supporting infrastructure and
services in the AMLR region are supported by the
There are many other commonly used trails where
broad goals in South Australia’s Strategic Plan 2011
mountain biking has not been formally approved or
and the South Australian Tourism Plan 2020. Those
endorsed by the responsible land manager. Many of
Plans envision the development of Adelaide and
these informal trails have been built by the local
environs as a vibrant place to live and visit that
riding community without approval of the land
competes nationally and internationally for people
manager.
and investment. The Linking Adelaide with Nature
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 11Strategy guides development of an improved and sustainable trail network between Adelaide and the Mount Lofty Ranges. The development of mountain biking in the Mount Lofty area is an aim of the state-wide People and Parks Strategy and is identified in the (Draft) State Wide Trails Master Plan 2015 as a medium term priority. The State Wide Trails Master Plan provides guidelines for planning, design, project delivery and management of sustainable trails that will apply to how mountain bike trails are developed in the region. There is a range of local council bike plans that apply to parts of the region. Opportunities and constraints for mountain biking development in the region’s parks and reserves are contained in the relevant statutory management plans adopted under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972. Some management plans identify recreation zones suitable for mountain biking and conservation zones where mountain biking is prohibited. The National Parks and Wildlife (National Parks) Regulations 2001 govern approvals and licences for commercial tours, competitions, selling and hiring goods and conducting events that might be associated with mountain biking. Other legislation that may apply to the development and management of mountain biking includes legislation for cultural heritage protection, Crown Land management and local council development plans. A nomination to UNESCO for declaration of part of the AMLR region as a World Heritage Area has been proposed by the region’s local government councils, Regional Development Australia, community stakeholders and the University of Adelaide for the Adelaide Hills, the Barossa Valley and the Mount Barker and Maclaren Vale areas. One of the aims of the World Heritage bid is to increase the attraction of the region for tourism and investment, with a flow on to improved tourism products and local employment and business opportunities. Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015 12
3 Mountain biking trends and
markets
3.1 TRENDS
Mountain biking is a growing recreation activity Long distance mountain bike trails include the
that has increased in popularity in recent decades. 1,030 km Munda Biddi Trail between Mundaring
It has developed from a fringe sport to a and Albany in Western Australia and the 900 km
mainstream activity with several different sporting Mawson Trail between the Adelaide Hills and the
genres, organised competitions and events and Flinders Ranges in South Australia.
popularity as a way to tour through natural Mountain biking clubs and organisations have
environments. Cross-country mountain biking is emerged at the local, national and international
now an Olympic Games and Commonwealth Games level to advocate for the sport, assist in building
sport. and managing trail networks and organise events.
Tourism involving mountain biking is considered to The International Mountain Bicycling Association
be growing globally. A 2014 global benchmark (IMBA) has guidelines for trail design and
survey of cycle tour companies conducted by the construction. The peak body for mountain biking in
Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)4 Australia is Mountain Bike Australia (MTBA), which
estimated that mountain bike tours form 20 per is affiliated with IMBA. MBTA is linked to Cycling
cent of total cycle tours – 13 per cent on dirt Australia and the Union Cycliste Internationale
tracks/roads and 7 per cent on single track. It found (UCI), the international governing body for cycling.
that mountain bikes are provided by 57% of the Membership of MBTA provides insurance, and
surveyed tour companies – suggesting there are allows members to compete in MTBA
unsealed road/track components in non-mountain affiliated/organised events and to earn points that
bike specific tours. are recognised by the UCI.
Mountain bike trail networks and bike parks 3.2 THE GLOBAL MTB MARKET
offering a range of trails and events attracting local,
Mountain biking occurs throughout the world. As
domestic and international visitors have been
an indication, IMBA has individual members who
developed in many locations. These include iconic
live in over 30 countries5. The countries with the
international destinations such as Whistler (British
highest mountain biking participation rates are
Columbia, Canada), 7Stanes (Scotland) and Rotorua
thought to be Canada, the US, European countries,
(New Zealand). In Australia, popular mountain bike
Australia and New Zealand.
destinations include the trail networks and
associated facilities at Melrose (South Australia); Data on participation in mountain biking is
Mount Buller, Forrest and the You Yangs (Victoria); incomplete due to limitations in national survey
Thredbo (NSW); Stromlo Forest Park (ACT) and data. Like other outdoor activities (such as hiking,
Atherton and Smithfield near Cairns (Queensland). climbing, surfing) mountain biking is predominantly
New networks are being established in Tasmania. unstructured and geographically diverse. Only a
percentage of participants focus on competitions
Numerous other small and large-scale mountain
(which is where it is easiest to collect participation
bike networks and facilities exist around Australia
data).
and are being developed for local and wider
tourism usage. Mountain biking also occurs on Mountain biking participation rate estimates for
back roads and management trails in many natural various countries were reported in a 2010 study for
areas. Parks Canada to range between 2 per cent and 8
per cent of the population6.
5
6
IMBA website – www.imba.com
Corporate Research Associates (March 2010), Secondary Research
4
ATTA (2014), Bicycle Tourism – 2014 Survey, – Mountain Biking Market Profiles. Report prepared for Parks
www.adventuretravel.biz Canada.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015
13Table 2: Estimated size of mountain biking study estimated just under 400,000 visits
7
markets in selected countries annually to the total 7stanes network. Most
trail users come from the UK, with an
Country Number of Mountain % of estimated 8% international visitors10
Biking Participants Population
» Rotorua, New Zealand – A network of trails
Canada 1 million 3% through 50 hectares of the Whakarewarewa
Forest caters for a wide range of riders from
United 6 million to 45 million 2% to 15%
beginners and family groups to experts. In
States The latter estimate is 2007, mountain biking accounted for 85,000
likely high. A 2009 of the 282,000 recreational visits. Over half
Outdoor Participation of mountain bike visitors to Rotorua came
Report (based on a specifically to go mountain biking
Sporting Goods
Manufacturers » Taupo, New Zealand – A network of over
Association Survey) 200km of trails spread around Lake Taupo,
estimated 6 to 7 the Waikato River, Wairakei Thermal Resort
million US mountain and Craters of the Moon Reserve. Over
bikers.
50,000 riders are using the Great Lake Trail
after only 3 years since opening
United 5.5 million (2003 IMBA 8%
» Queenstown, New Zealand – Over 50,000
Kingdom survey)
riders per annum are estimated to be using
8
New Almost 200,000 6% the Queenstown Trails Network (in excess of
Zealand 100 km). The Skyline Gondola alone attracts
over 75,000 rides (descents) per annum.
Estimates of participation at iconic international
mountain biking destinations are: 3.3 ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF OTHER
» Whistler, British Columbia, Canada – MTB DESTINATIONS AND EVENTS
Whistler Mountain Bike Park is an iconic The economic impact from mountain biking has
mountain biking destination, particularly for been measured at a small number of
downhill and cross country MTB. It offers
destinations. In New Zealand, the direct output
200 kms of trails and 1,200 metres of vertical
(expenditure) from mountain biking in Rotorua
drop together with extensive service facilities
and competitions. A summer destination (as was estimated at $10.2 million per annum. At
it is a ski resort in winter), bike park visits Lake Taupo (less than an hour drive from
grew from 18,583 in the 2000 season and Rotorua), cycling activity is worth in excess of
reached 100,000 in 20089. Over 60% of $8.3 million per annum of which mountain
riders come from outside Canada biking accounts for approximately $3 million. In
a town of 25,000 residents there are five bike
» Squamish, British Columbia, Canada - This shops and over 200km of trails. In Queenstown,
region (ranked among the top 25 MTB
destinations by Mountain Bike Magazine) mountain biking is anecdotally considered to
has about 200 kms of varied MTB trails which generate in excess of $5 million per annum in
are used by both local residents and visitors. direct expenditure. The benefits to
Traffic counts and visitor surveys show that communities from mountain biking include
trail use quadrupled from an estimated 591 employment, transport, retail, bike hire, food
riders a week in 2006 to 2600 riders a week and accommodation businesses.
in 2013[1]. 40% of visitors stayed overnight
The following table provides some indication of
and stayed an average of 2.5 nights
the economic contribution events may have in a
» 7stanes, Scotland –7stanes is a network of 7 region. In addition to direct and indirect impact,
mountain bike locations spread throughout events also have a strong impact in terms of
the south of Scotland and providing a wide growing awareness of a destination and the trail
range of MTB trails and facilities. A 2007 offering.
7
Corporate Research Associates (March 2010), Secondary
Research – Mountain Biking Market Profiles. Report prepared
for Parks Canada.
8
NZ Ministry of Tourism (Sept. 2009), Tourist Activity – Cycle
Tourism, Tourism Sector Profile, Series B5.
9
www.whistler2020.ca
[1] 10
Squamish Off-Road Cycling Association (2014), Economic EKOS Limited (October 2007), 7 Stanes Phase 2 Evaluation,
Impact of Mountain Biking in Squamish.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015
Report for Forestry Commission Scotland.
14Table 3: Examples of economic contributions of events
Event No. of No. of Economic contribution to the region
Competitors Spectators
AUSTRALIA
Bike Buller MTB Festival 691 1,300 Total economic impact of $2.3 million on Mt
11
2013 Buller.
3 day event with a range of Generated 7,800 bed nights at Mt Buller over
races for different skill levels the event period.
held at Mt Buller, Victoria
Bike Buller MTB Festival 439 1,201 Total direct economic impact of $1.146
12
2014 million on Mt Buller.
Includes pre-race and race visitor expenditure
and local race-related expenditure by the
organisers.
Generated 3,443 bed nights at Mt Buller over
the event period and 639 pre-race bed nights.
Bike Buller MTB Festival 491 1,146 Total direct economic impact of $1.668
13
2015 (492 MTB, 19 million on Mt Buller.
trail runners) Includes pre-race and race visitor
expenditure.
Generated 4,364 bed nights at Mt Buller
during the event and 1,201 bed nights pre-
event.
14
Giant Odyssey 2014 1,249 2,062 Total direct economic impact of $3.417
One day 100 km MTB million on the Forrest area.
marathon (with lesser Generated 6,513 bed nights in the Forrest
distance options) held at area over the race weekend and 2,158 pre-
Forrest MTB trail network, race bed nights.
Victoria
NEW ZEALAND
World Single Speed 850 + Not Estimated average expenditure of NZ$788 per
15
Championship Event 2010 provided competitor in Rotorua.
40 kms course at
Whakarewarewa Forest,
Rotorua
World Mountain Bike and 666+ 11,371 Total expenditure over the period of the
Trials Championships, tickets sold event estimated at NZ$12.2 million or NZ$2.7
16
2006 for the million a day.
A week long event with a week. An additional NZ$4.2 million in expenditure is
range of riding events held estimated to be derived from pre-event
at Whakarewarewa Forest, expenditure by competitors and their teams
Rotorua who stayed in Rotorua an average of 2 wks.
11
Rapid Ascent, Bike Buller 2013 Event Report.
12
Rapid Ascent, Bike Buller MTB Festival 2014 – Post Event Report 2014.
13
Rapid Ascent, Bike Buller MTB Festival- Post Event Report 2015.
14
Rapid Ascent, Giant Odyssey 2014 – Post Event Report 2014.
15
APR Consultants (November 2010), World Single Speed Championship Event Survey 2010 – Event Impact Analysis. Prepared for Events &
Venues Rotorua
16
Hogh L (November 2006), Perceptions of the World Mountain Bike and Trials Championships, Rotorua, 22-27 August 2006. Waiariki
Institute of Technology.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015
153.4 TYPES OF MOUNTAIN BIKING
Mountain bike riders can be broadly divided into Cross-country mountain biking (the oldest type of
core and non-core riders: mountain biking) remains the most popular type of
mountain biking activity. It can be undertaken in a
» Core mountain bikers tend to be more variety of places and terrain, from management
experienced riders who may differentiate into
trails to shared trails to purpose-built single track.
one or more different genres. They tend to have
high levels of mountain bike participation, are The next most popular activity that has emerged
high spenders on gear and equipment, are willing more recently is All Mountain / Gravity Enduro. This
to travel to mountain biking destinations and type of riding is characterised by long, moderately
have a high likelihood of participating in steep (5-15% grades on average) descents, with
competitive events some short uphills along the way. On well-designed
trails, this type of riding can appeal to both
» Non-core mountain bikers who include novices,
experienced riders and inexperienced riders. It is
families seeking safe enjoyable places to ride
currently attracting a lot of attention from riders and
away from cars, school groups (often guided by
tour operators), off-road bike tourers (from rail in social media. While competitions are held, many
trails to trails in steeper and more difficult enthusiasts have little aspiration to participate in
terrain) and people seeking a different outdoor races.
experience or adventure (such as undertaking a A survey conducted by World Trail of 1,306 people in
guided experience or hiring a bike while on Victoria in 2013 provides an insight into the
holiday).
popularity of different types of mountain biking17
Anecdotal observations and profiles of core or (see Figure 1). In the survey, respondents were
experienced mountain bikers compiled in Tasmania asked to indicate the types of cycling in which they
suggest that the majority of experienced mountain participated. Respondents could nominate multiple
bikers (excluding the younger group of dirt jump forms of cycling.
riders and extreme downhill riders) in Australia (and
likely in other countries) are primarily male, aged Figure 1: Relative popularity of different mountain
between 20 and 40 years, tend to have above biking genres (Victoria, 2013 survey)18
average incomes and are willing to travel for quality
mountain biking experiences.
Activities undertaken by core mountain bikers have
evolved into a range of mountain biking types or
genres, each with different characteristics,
trail/facility requirements, bicycle equipment and
competitive circuits. Currently, the core mountain
biking types or genres can be described as:
» Cross-country
» Downhill / Freeriding
» All Mountain / Gravity Enduro
» Dirt Jump / Pump Track
» Trials
17
World Trail (2013),
16
18
World Trail 2014
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015Trail Grades Further details on these segments are provided in
IMBA international standards for mountains the draft SA Trails Master Plan. Once the draft
bike trails: strategy is endorsed across Government it may be
useful to use these categories to assist in tactical
o Green Circle approaches to marketing to different segments.
Wide single track (~1m) ideal for beginners
3.5 THE AUSTRALIAN MTB MARKET
and riders looking for an easy mountain
biking experience. The size of the Australian mountain biking market
o Blue Square
has been estimated based on existing data on cycling
participation and tourism. There is no consistent
More challenging rides for intermediate
Australia-wide reporting that distinguishes MTB
mountain bikers. from cycling in general.
o Black Diamond
The size, activity patterns and needs of the
For the experienced riders with the skills Australian MTB market fall into two broad
and experience to negotiate tough trails. categories:
o Double Black Diamond
» local mountain bikers – residents who regularly
For experienced riders with good MTB ride a mountain bike within a 40 km radius of
skills and experience and a general their home. This is the definition of day visitors
acknowledgement that they will not get it used in the National Visitor Survey (NVS)
conducted by Tourism Research Australia
right every time, and that this usually
results in some pain. » mountain bike tourists – overnight visitors who
rode a mountain bike during their holiday. This is
based on a proportion of all visitors who went
cycling as estimated in the NVS.
Non-core riders are a much broader market and can,
3.5.1 Local mountain biking market
by their activity, generally be assumed to overlap
with tourism markets in a destination. In practice The recently published Australia-wide Participation
the distinction between disciplines is often blurred in Sport and Physical Recreation by ABS for the
and a large proportion of people who ride mountain 2013-14 financial year reports that 2.2% of
bikes (non-core mountain bikers) do not identify with Australians participate in ‘cycling/BMXing’ with 0.2%
any particular genre. This includes off-road touring. in ‘trail bike riding’. This proportions mountain bike
participation to approximately 9% of the overall
The different types or genres of mountain biking are
‘cycling/BMXing’ category.
summarised in Appendix C. Off-road touring is
included at the end of the table as it is a potential In 2000, an ABS study on Leisure and Cultural
market for the AMLR region. Participation was conducted in Tasmania, which
cited a 4.2% participation rate in ‘off-road cycling or
Mountain bike trails are described using four grades
mountain bike riding’ by Tasmanians. If we apply this
as identified in the text box.
to Tasmania’s cycle participation value, it equates to
The (Draft) South Australian Trails Master Plan has mountain bike participation sitting at approximately
defined off road touring as follows: 73% of the overall category.
» Family and Leisure Cyclists For the purposes of this report, the following
» Enthusiast Mountain Bikers assumptions have been made to define the market:
» Sport Mountain Bike Riders » The true value of the mountain bike market likely
sits between the above estimates and therefore
» Mountain Bike Trail Riders an average value of the above values have been
» Gravity Focused Mountain Bikers adopted, with an estimated national average of
3.5% calculated using these adjusted averages
» Off Road Cycle Tourers (Table 1); and
» Cycle activity participation frequency rates
(Table 1) are uniform across all segments (i.e.
road and MTB rates are the same).
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015
17Table 4: Estimated local Australian MTB market per State
0 Cycling/BMX Participation Estimated MTB % from Estimated Frequency of
(ABS 2011/12) resident population Participation (times per year)
NSW 6.1% 2.5% 48.3
VIC 8.8% 3.6% 47.5
QLD 7.5% 3.1% 55.1
SA 6.8% 2.8% 45.7
WA 8.8% 3.6% 51.2
TAS 5.7% 2.4% 53.5
NT 9.0% 3.7% 48.5
ACT 15.3% 6.3% 54.6
AUS 3.5%
Local annual MTB participation for
AMLR is estimated to be around
26,200 local residents who
Cycle
conduct 930,000 MTB trips a year Visitors MTB MTB
80% 20% 20%
3.5.2 Mountain bike tourism market
As the NVS and the International Visitor Survey
(IVS) (the main sources of Australia-wide tourism
data) do not distinguish mountain biking from the
general category of cycling while on holiday it is The NVS and IVS results for the year ending
assumed for the purposes of this report that September 2014 indicate that 0.9% of all
mountain biking comprises 20 per cent of all Australian visitors participated in a cycling activity
cycling trips (see Table 5). This percentage is during their trip. The percentage of cycle tourists
derived from the 2014 ATTA bicycle tourism trends has steadily increased over the past five years
survey which found that mountain biking took (Figures 2 and 3), representing an increase in
place on 20 per cent of all bicycle tours globally. It visitor numbers and visitor nights of 25 per cent
is also assumed there is an even distribution of and 16 per cent respectively from 2009 to 2014.
mountain bike tourism across domestic overnight
and international visitors.
This is a broad estimate only. Cycle tourists are
defined as visitors who cycled at least once during
their trip – they may not have cycled in every
located they visited. The current Australian MTB
Table 5: Estimated Australian MTB tourist market
tourism market is estimated to be
nearly 500,000 visitors a year.
Total
Cycle Tourists (from NVS and IVS) 2,963,035
Estimated MTB Share of Cycle 20%
Tourists
Estimated MTB Tourists 492,607
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015
18Figure 3: Percentage share of total Australian visitors Figure 5: The estimated local market - 40km radius of
who participate in a cycling activity AMLR
1.4%
1.2%
% Share AUS Visitors
1.2% 1.1%
1.0%
1.0% 0.9% 0.9% 0.9%
0.8%
0.6%
0.4%
0.2%
0.0%
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
YE September
Figure 4
3,500,000 350,000
Cycle Table 6: Estimated AMLR MTB Market
3,000,000 300,000
MTB
2,500,000 250,000 Locals Domestic Domestic International TOTAL
Day Overnight
2,000,000 200,000
Visitors 26178 10,032 2,402 116 38729
1,500,000 150,000
Visits per 930049 10,032 7,049 899 948029
1,000,000 100,000 year
500,000 50,000 * Due to small sample size data on cycling
participation in the Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges
- - region, estimates on cycle tourist proportions (0.26%
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
of total visitors) have been used.
3.5.3 Estimated mountain bike visitation for the
AMLR
Using information about the local population and the
estimated visitor markets from sections 3.4.1 and
3.4.2 and Appendix D, it is estimated that the AMLR
receives as many as 950,000 mountain bike visits
each year (Table 7), comprised of:
» approximately 26,200 residents (estimated from
the population within a 40km radius – see Figure 5)
who participate in mountain bike-related activities
approximately 930,000 times a year.
» a visitor market of 13,300 (including domestic
day, overnight and international visitors) who
make nearly 18,000 MTB trips per year.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015
194 Building an International MTB
Destination
4.1 WHAT MAKES A WORLD CLASS providing a challenge for riders and improving
MOUNTAIN BIKE DESTINATION? walker safety19.
» Diversity of trail types and styles for a variety of
A range of factors combine to make world class
users. Providing a diversity of trail types
mountain biking destinations that attract both core
appealing to the range of mountain biking genres
and non-core mountain bikers and other visitors adds credibility to the trail network and ensures
who might undertake a casual mountain biking the broadest appeal to mountain bikers and
experience as part of their holiday. other visitors. For example, an average trail
gradient of 5% will appeal to a broad range of
While a destination may have world users while trails with higher gradients and
class trails within it, it is the technical challenges will be required for
Downhill/Freeride and All Mountain/Enduro
combination of trails plus the riding. At Mount Buller, Victoria the Copperhead
overall visitor experience of the Trail has been designed to be ridden on a
downhill or cross-country bike and is suitable for
destination that combine to create a beginner downhiller or an intermediate cross-
a world class destination. country rider.
» Sufficient riding opportunities to fill 2 to 3 days.
The following characteristics have been drawn from
There need to be more trails in a location than an
successful international and Australian mountain
average mountain biker can ride in one day – this
bike destinations. They can be divided into: is referred to as the ‘tipping point’. It is hard to
» the trail infrastructure, design, support facilities define the total trail length that equates to the
and management tipping point as it depends on factors such as the
» the wider tourism/visitor experience offered, terrain and shape of the trail network. However,
both on and off trail. in most cases the tipping point for a successful
network is probably around 30 to 40 kms of
4.1.1 Trails and support facilities trails. For iconic locations, there would
The key attractant for the range of mountain bikers preferably be sufficient riding opportunities to fill
is the trail network. Its ability to attract visitors 2 to 3 days.
relies upon the quality and quantity of trails, its » Range of different difficulty levels. A range of
accessibility and the challenges and interest it poses. difficulty levels will attract a wider range of riders
Critical factors are summarised below. and cater for beginners, non-core mountain
bikers and tourists. The IMBA Trail Difficulty
» High quality, sustainable trail infrastructure.
Rating System is widely used to categorise the
Trails need to be designed and constructed to be
relative technical difficulty of trails.
durable, suitable for purpose and to minimize
environmental impacts. IMBA provides widely » IMBA recognition. Designation as an IMBA Ride
accepted guidelines for sustainable mountain Centre may be beneficial in attracting mountain
bike trail design in its publications Trail Solutions bike visitors through IMBA’s extensive global
and Managing Mountain Biking. Where network. Ride Centres are designated by IMBA
mountain biking trails are shared with other to recognize the range and variety of trails and
users (such as walkers), consideration needs to associated riding experiences under a 3-tiered
be given to the needs and safety of all trail users. system. Currently, Mount Buller in Victoria is a
For example, the W2k Track at Taupo, New bronze-rated Ride Centre and Bike Taupo in New
Zealand attracts 50% of its use from walkers. Off Zealand is rated at the silver level. Similarly
camber corners and other trail design features IMBA Epic Rides may form a draw for mountain
limit bike speed on downhill sections, while bikers. Epic Rides are demanding rides in a
natural setting, composed of more than 80%
19
TRC Tourism (March 2013), Potential for Mountain Biking in North
Eastern Tasmania – Market Demand and Economic Assessment.
20
Prepared for Northern Tasmania Development.
Adelaide Mount Lofty Ranges MTB Destination|Final Report| July 2015singletrack and at least 32 kilometres in length20. 4.1.2 Events
The only IMBA Epic Ride in Australia currently is
the Australian Alps Epic which is located at Mt Both competitive and recreational events can be
Buller and opened in December 2014. central drivers of a trail network, assisting to attract
visitors, position a trail network in the marketplace
» Provision of transport. Uphill transport (such as and stimulate business interest in developing linked
shuttle vehicles, chair lifts) provides access to the products.
beginning of downhill runs and other trails in hilly
terrain. For example, a regular shuttle bus » The tourism/visitor experience. The off-trail
service carrying both people and bikes operates experience will also be important to mountain
between various trails on the Whakarewarewa bikers who will spend a proportion of their time
Forest near Rotorua, New Zealand 21. and in at a destination doing other activities. They will
Queenstown there is a successful bike taxi help to bring the destination to life. A strong
service operating. overall destination experience is also needed to
attract non-core mountain bikers and other
» Accessibility. Trails that are easily accessible visitors to undertake mountain biking and
receive higher use. Trails need to be easily support commercial mountain biking products
accessible from population or tourism centres and services. Central aspects of a mountain
and transport hubs. Consideration needs to be biking tourism/visitor experience are summarised
given to ways in which different types of visitors below.
will wish to access trails and their points of origin.
In addition to access from roads, consideration » An attractive landscape, natural beauty and
should be given to the need for train and bus cultural attractions. Spectacular settings and
transport to facilitate one-way journeys or for places of interest on or near trails can be a
visitors to a region who do not have motor significant attraction for mountain bike visitors.
vehicles. Buses and trains need to have facilities Many iconic mountain biking destinations are in
for transporting bikes. Good accessibility will attractive natural settings. Natural and cultural
also make a trail network more attractive for attractions also provide activities for spectators
events. and family and friends accompanying
competitors at mountain biking events.
» High quality pre-trip information. Quality
websites, maps and apps are required to provide » Range of bike-friendly accommodation options.
prospective visitors to a trail destination with Several mountain bike and other cycling
reliable information on the trail network and destinations advertise accommodation operators
services. who cater for cyclists by offering bike-friendly
amenities and packages. Examples include Italy
» High standard trailhead or nearby facilities. Bike Hotels (www.italybikehotels.it)and
Important facilities include: Whistler’s accommodation listings provide
a) an appropriate level and standard of car information on accommodation which offers
parking for a particular trail or trail hub secure bike storage, cameras and motion
detectors, bike wash areas, ‘tuning stations’ and
b) adequate signage – orientation and way
laundries. Visit Scotland’s Cyclists Welcome
finding, trail information, trail Accommodation Scheme, for example, includes
standards/difficulty ratings over 1,000 establishments offering bike-friendly
c) water and toilets in convenient locations in services.
a trail hub (not necessarily at trailheads). » Cafes, food, beverage and retail businesses.
» Sustainable management of trails and » Supporting bike-related services. These include
infrastructure. Trails need to be managed in a bike hire, transport and shuttle services, bike
way that maintains their quality and usability and equipment and repair shops, car rental
protects the environment. Trail maintenance companies that provide bike racks, bike storage,
should be carried out by professionals or by and bike wash down facilities. Bike shops can
volunteers managed by experienced also be a centre for the local mountain biking
professionals. It is critical that a sufficient budget community (such as at Melrose, South Australia)
is allocated for ongoing trail management and and a source of trail information.
maintenance. One way to contribute to
maintenance budgets is to allocate a proportion » Quality commercial tours (guided and self-
of revenue gained from trail tourism to trail guided). Mountain bike tour products (whether
maintenance. specifically for mountain biking or part of a larger
tour package) can help attract non-core
mountain bikers and widen the appeal and
20
www.imba.com/epics/rides diversity of a destination.
21
21
www.southstaradventures.com
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