Carters Road Bike Track
A couple of years ago "The Pines" were uninspiring trails that were passed up for better offerings elsewhere and had been scratched out for the fledgling Cape to Cape MTB race.
A couple of years ago “The Pines” were uninspiring trails that were passed up for better offerings elsewhere and had been scratched out for the fledgling Cape to Cape MTB race.
Fast-forward a handful of years and it’s hard to believe it’s the same place. Great work by key players in the local club working with DEC and funded by the Cape to Cape organisers have transformed a commercial pine plantation into many rider’s favourite trails in the state!
Drive down nearby Caves Road and you’ll find stunning bush but unfortunately the trails aren’t there. But at Carters Road it’s the trails that are the real star.
Reworked and tweaked yet again for the 2013 Cape to Cape they have propelled themselves to a must visit in the south-west.
With news of $200,000 for an additional 12km of trail coming its way sometime in 2014, if you’re packing for Margs leave your surfboard at home and bring the bike!
Drinking Water No
Parking Yes, turn onto McQueen Rd (Carters Rd) parking just off the road by the sign to the Discovery centre
Trails signposted Yes, But better ones are on their way
Mobile Reception Usual WA story. Telstra good, everything else dodgy
Shelter No
BBQ Facilities No
Accommodation Margaret River is very accommodating. From tent to 5 star luxury it’s ther.
Regular Events October each year is the Cape to Cape MTB race and the trails are groomed to perfection. Otherwise hit up the club (MrOrca) on Facebook for weekly trundle
Local Bike Shops Margaret River Cycles and Repairs, 08 9758 7671
MTB Tours Dirty Detours, dirtydetours.com, 0422 343 341
While in the area Caving, Surfing, Hiking, Canoeing, Rock climbing and we hear some places are even trying to make wine!
Getting There
Leaving Perth is easy. Head south to Bunbury and follow the signs to Busselton and then Margaret River. As you enter town go down a hill with a park on your left (with a steamtrain in it). Opposite this park and before the bridge is McQueen Road (also known as Carters Road). Turn right and head down for a couple of kilometres. Turn into the dirt road for the Discovery centre but the carpark is just next to the bitumen road. Park here, ride along the road across the bridge and the Pines are up to your right.
Technical Nature
It would be fair to say that some of the trails have been made by frustrated downhillers. So think fast aggressive trails with bigger obstacles (berms bumps and jumps) rather than smaller obstacles (tight rocks, roots and trees). With very little vertical height to play with holding speed is the key.
The trail experience is very manufactured with lots of work having gone into them so it’s more about the ride than absorbing the ambience (a commercial pine forest). Slot into a shapely berm on “Aunt Lou”, G out on the “Noodle bowl” (and my what a big bowl of noodles), get some air on “Whoop Whoop”, get jittery on “Double Espresso” or simply surf “G-Land”. There are some big jumps to practice on the DJ line and we’d go as far to say with the flow on “Big Pine” you’re guaranteed to get wood but don’t overcook a jump or come in too fast to the end of “The End” and it will be!
You may have ridden these trails before but many have had more facelifts that Joan Rivers. There are new trails as well such as Rock and Root and Bullant. The majority of these trails had been designed to be ridden downhill and, rather than a network with a logical flow, you ride down a section and back up a fireroad which has always frustrated us. A lot of the work in 2013 sought to link the trails together in a logical loop which is great.
The pines is still somewhere where people session a section of track which makes it great for little kids as there is bite size chunks. We find it hard to put together that one hour non-top singletrack session without following a local who can knit them all together. People enjoy this area because on XC bikes they push into bigger berms and jumps than they normally experience. Downhillers like it because there are some meaty jumps and, lets face it, WA is pretty flat so they appreciate what they can get.
You’ll Need
A playful nature. These tracks are to have fun on, not for setting a personal best on Strava. Aggressive, largish tyres for the WA terrain will keep you smiling. A dropper seatpost will allow you to climb up the fireroad with ease and bomb the descents like local pro-downhiller Mitch Delfs.
Distances
It’s not really a distance ride kinda place. It’s a go out and play until you get tired but after an hour and a half you’ve probably had enough. With certain sections easily sessionable you can sit a lap out while your mate finally trys to clear the gap on Whoop Whoop.
Local Knowledge
Margaret River Offroad Cycling Association has one of the most happening Facebook pages in the WA MTB scene. Always friendly and with lots of social rides, the boys should be payed a commission by the tourism centre for all the out of towners who come to town to hang and ride with the locals.
The Red Bull Sundown special stage of the Cape to Cape held in the pines should not be missed especially for the locals race which is fancy dress and always a laugh.
Best Time of Year
Spring. Trails have been groomed to perfection for the Cape to Cape.
