Melrose

Melrose is a small town nestled at the base of Mount Remarkable in the southern Flinders Ranges. We were drawn to stop there as there was some single track mountain biking that you could get to from the town. So Em and the kids went to the local park and I hit the trails. 

I’m suffering from some sort of chest infection, so the drag up to the trailhead and the short pinches throughout the ride were a bit of a test. In no way did I have time to check out all the well marked trail, but what I did get to was a lot of fun. Some sweeping single track, cut into the hillside, and with some off camber stuff, at times you had to lean into the hill to avoid sliding down the side.

All this set in a beautiful setting, on a beautiful day.

Of real interest to me was the local bike shop, Over the Edge. Unfortunately they were closed for what looked like some renovations, which could be a really good thing as it means they are doing well! I read about this venture a few years back in a magazine. the shop was opened to take advantage of the local trails, and the Mawson Trail which winds it’s way through on the way to Adelaide. What I thought was great when reading the article was that they in a sense, had taken the gamble of setting up the shop, with top line brands in the hope that people primarily from Adelaide would make the three hour plus journey to sample the trails and their merchandise. A bit of a case of ‘build it and they will come’. I like the idea and I also like the idea that they are actively engaging the community into this mountain bike caper and bringing business into the town through the organising of events throughout the year, and of course, the work on the single track.

Much to learn from doers like this.

 Singletrack

 The well signposted trails of Melrose

Over the Edge bike shop on the main street.