An avid off-road cyclist, Mr Colman started riding along Munda Biddi nearly 10 years ago ” when it was still in its first stage, stretching 332km from Mundaring to Collie.
In 2006 he joined the Munda Biddi Foundation, joining other supporters to get the trail extended to Jarrahwood, and then to its final point in Albany.
‘I had been riding the trail for a while and I took an interest in it and realised that it wasn’t progressing fast,’ Mr Colman said.
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READ NOW‘I went up to the foundation office one day and said: ‘what’s the deal, when’s the next section going to be open’? So I just got involved in the board, along with other people who were asking the same questions.
‘It’s been a long time coming ” the whole trail basically has been about 12 years in construction, from 2001 until now. It will certainly be the longest continuous purpose-built off road trail in the world, so it has its own place.’
Long-distance riding had its own challenges and rewards, Mr Colman said.
‘It’s really about kitting yourself out properly to be able to ride 40 to 50km off-road on a gravel surface for a day,’ he said.
‘You usually have different groups within a hut ” you roll up, and you’ll have people riding north to south, and others riding south to north, and they’ll talk about the sections they’ve ridden and they’ll give you advice, and share their riding history.’
The trail opens on April 7 and Mr Colman will lead cyclists on the first ride along the entire stretch.