Mountain bike club puts safety first

The club received $500 to help it fund first-aid courses.

Angelo Krizmanic was one of the club’s founding members when the Surf Coast Trail Group decided to officially formalise themselves as a club under Mountain Bike Australia.

He said the first aid courses were vital to help the club achieve its ambitions.

“As a club we promote health through cycling and want to get people in the community involved and out on the trails cycling with us.

“We want to make sure we’ve got first-aiders with us in the event someone falls off or there’s a snake bite or something happens.”

The club has achieved a lot in its short existence, with about 150 members.

As a group they are also committed to improving the areas it enjoys.

This has largely been done through them collaborating with Parks Victoria. The club frequently asks the government organisation which mountain bike tracks in the area need some maintenance, and happily volunteers to improve the areas for other bikers.

Mr Krazmanic said it was a mutually beneficial relationship.

“We liaise with them to do working bees – whether it’s just general pruning to keep the trail free of any hazards for cyclists and walkers, or if there needs to be any closure of trails because of cinnamon fungus spreading.

“Working with Parks Victoria helps us maintain these trails and ensure that they’re authorised.”