Cycling enthusiasts from Ride WA are peddling their way through Nannup’s state forests and hope to make the South West town an international cycling mecca.
Ride WA founder Brendan Morrison and Rebecca Cotton have created an online cycling tourism hub for WA, giving cyclists a place to obtain information on where to ride.
While Mr Morrison said instead of promoting an individual town or individual event, Ride WA promoted all of the state as a cycling tourist destination, Nannup was the best place to ride naturally.
“We see Nannup as becoming the biggest bike park in the world, it has sheer kilometres of road, it could be something really sensational,” he said.
The team were also responsible for establishing cycling events in WA and were behind Tour of Margaret River and the 24-hour event Delirium in Busselton.
Tourism WA confirmed the Margaret River event, which is now held in Nannup, injected $1.1 million into the South West economy and attracted 1400 visitors.
In May, they will host a one-day cycling event Seven which will take place in and around Nannup to showcase the area.
Having relocated to Nannup, the team also take people on cycling tours through the pine plantations and state forests climbing heights of 150 metres.
Ms Cotton said they were approached by the Forest Product Commission who heard about their event and were keen to work with them.
“We go through the plantation areas and managed state forests, Ellis Creek State Forest is the main one we travel through,” she said.
“The FPC have been really supportive of what we are doing which has been really wonderful for us, if it was not for them the riding experience we offer people would not be there. It is a labyrinth out there for riding.”
A FPC spokesperson said WA’s state forests were open for community and industry groups to engage in many activities while supporting WA’s timber industry.
The spokesperson said the FPC was actively working with groups like Ride WA to promote and establish regional tourism opportunities and events.
A community grants program was launched by the FPC for local groups active in areas and towns connected to the WA’s forest industry.
Grants up to $2,000 are available for community groups that will contribute benefits to regional communities and promote the forest industry.