Bike riders without the tracks to get high

DOWNHILL and cross country bike riders are improvising as they continue to wait for a much needed track in Tweed.

Riders need tracks in the area. Picture: Tom Huntley

DOWNHILL and cross country bike riders are improvising as they continue to wait for a much needed track in Tweed.

Private property has become a go zone for riders keen to practice tricky jumps, tricks and lightning fast speed runs.

Travelling to rider created runs at Nerang state forest is an option for some, but others continue to break the law to practice the sport they love.

My Daily News discovered downhill riders riding illegally in various areas of West Tweed Heads and Piggabeen so they could enjoy themselves closer to home, instead of travelling up the coast to push the pedals.

These trails were steep, slippery and all built painstakingly by hand, allowing the riders to push their expensive and specialised bikes to the limit.

The Tweed does have a BMX track at Murwillumbah, but it doesn't have the steep declines or tricky tracks needed to satisfy even the least experienced downhill or cross country riders.

Border Bikes employee Darren Martin said riders in the area had a continuing crusade for a track.

"I've been on the case for 25 years trying to start things up," he said.

Mr Martin said that the council did not want to deal with liability for riders.

"Council don't want people making money, but they don't want to deal with liability either," he said.

"Everything is zoned environmental so you just can't make any tracks."

"As a result you get people building tracks on other's private property," he said.

Tweed Shire Councillor Gary Bagnall said he hadn't heard anything about liability or monetary issues, but asserted that there were groups in the area pushing for a track.

"I do understand there is a group that has gone before council in the last week to push the issue," he said.

"Another group involving Destination Tweed has done some strategic planning too and located all potential tracks in the shire."

"They're definitely leading a charge."

Do you think we need bike tracks? Let us know in the comments below.