With names like The Bitch is Dead, Dog Face Blender and Upper Medivac, popular mountain bike trails in Perth’s east come with ominous appellations.
Many of the rocky and steep trails in the Kalamunda National Park are rated black diamond for their ability to scare, or injure even the most experienced rider.
On Saturday, a 45-year-old mountain bike rider was found dead days after he crashed his mountain bike in Piesse Brook.
WAtoday understands the man was riding alone on the Blitzkrieg, a 772 metre double black diamond single track.
It is understood a woman walking her dog the area made the gruesome discovery and called 000 around 8am.
According to St John the man, aged in his 40s, had ‘catastrophic’ injuries. It took police and paramedics several hours to find the man along the steep and isolated bush track.
He was found with his bike nearby.
Westcycle chief executive Wayne Bradshaw said little was known about the circumstances of the fatality but the bushland contained trails that were rated as extremely difficult.
“Riders need to know and understand the difficulties of the trail and ride to your ability which should be standard practice for everyone,” he said.
“Black diamond trails require a whole level of skill to ride, there could be rocks, elevation, drop offs or jumps.”
A mountain bike rider, who asked that his name not be published, said the death was terrible news and a reminder that the trails in the valley could be notoriously dangerous.
“Most are black trails minimum, but there is no signage so you wouldn’t just go riding there not knowing your way around as it is very easy to get lost or hurt yourself, especially if you haven’t seen some technical trail features before riding them,” he said.
“I usually wear full face helmet and knee pads when riding there as I have fallen a few times. We all know risks, but enjoy riding difficult trails, it’s all part of progressing your skills on your bike and fun to do.“
Police will prepare a report for the coroner.
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