Tasmania is getting a reputation. If you consistently do something well, people hear about it. The word spreads. Mountain bikes are taking off in the island state. It turns out natural features that frustrated and crushed the spirits of colonists for years – the endless hills, the thick forests, even the soil and rocks – are perfectly suited for mountain bike trails.
Blue Derby really is the start of Tasmania’s mountain bike story. It’s the pinnacle of Tassie trails so far and its success culminated in an Enduro World Series event held on the trails in early 2017.
Derby is a small, once forgotten, town in north-east Tassie. Early on in the Derby mountain bike story accommodation and other services were pretty hard to find. Now Airbnb’s are popping up everywhere: bunk rooms and bike rooms perfectly suited for MTB adventurers. Today there are even cafés and a bike shop in the township at the start of the trails. After a long day burning your fat reserves on the trails I suggest an authentic Tasmanian pub meal and Boags Draught (carb the f up) at the Branxholm pub down the road from Derby. If you’re at the bar on a Friday or Saturday evening you might even get the chance to mingle with actual locals - flannel wearing farmers and the pub dog, a pudgy staffie cross, that frenetically runs under the tables searching for morsels of food fallen to the floor.
The hills and forests around Derby are mountain bike heaven. The tracks roll through rainforests, past lakes and over large granite outcrops. There are trails to suit all levels and if you like pain there are plenty of climbs. If you prefer 100% downhill there are daily shuttles offered by a variety of operators: Vertigo Shuttles, Crank it Café Shuttles, Bus to Berms, Sainty’s North East Bus Service, Mountain Bike Tasmania and Rob’s Tours. Check the individual operators for times and pricing (expect to pay around $25 for a shuttle from Derby to the Atlas trailhead).
Because I’m a sucker for pain and punishment, I decided to ride to the top of the Atlas trailhead. I started along the Dambusters trail and then turned off onto Carnac Rd (this is well signposted on the trail). Carnac Rd is a fire trail that gradually climbs. The early sections are simple riding, however, towards the end it gets steep and rough and there is a creek crossing – be prepared for rock hopping.
Atlas is a beautifully crafted trail that rolls through the classic Derby terrain. The top section is relatively flat and there are some small uphills. Throughout the trail there are more challenging B lines if you enjoy taking flight. The lower section, incorporating the Dambusters descent, is fast and flowing with nice berms and drops.
The complete Atlas loop is 31kms with about 800m of climbing. It’s a solid 3 hours in the saddle, but at the end of the day Boags Draught never tasted better and the locals in the pub wax lyrical like poets, and the tales of Derby, from the distant past to the present, the tales of the trails, are nurtured and grow. Three feet of air becomes ten, the gentle stack becomes a death defying stunt, and the climb becomes a Tour de France HC battle for the polka dot jersey. Derby: this is why we ride.
Blue Derby really is the start of Tasmania’s mountain bike story. It’s the pinnacle of Tassie trails so far and its success culminated in an Enduro World Series event held on the trails in early 2017.
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| The signature Blue Derby shot |
Derby is a small, once forgotten, town in north-east Tassie. Early on in the Derby mountain bike story accommodation and other services were pretty hard to find. Now Airbnb’s are popping up everywhere: bunk rooms and bike rooms perfectly suited for MTB adventurers. Today there are even cafés and a bike shop in the township at the start of the trails. After a long day burning your fat reserves on the trails I suggest an authentic Tasmanian pub meal and Boags Draught (carb the f up) at the Branxholm pub down the road from Derby. If you’re at the bar on a Friday or Saturday evening you might even get the chance to mingle with actual locals - flannel wearing farmers and the pub dog, a pudgy staffie cross, that frenetically runs under the tables searching for morsels of food fallen to the floor.
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| The road to Derby |
The hills and forests around Derby are mountain bike heaven. The tracks roll through rainforests, past lakes and over large granite outcrops. There are trails to suit all levels and if you like pain there are plenty of climbs. If you prefer 100% downhill there are daily shuttles offered by a variety of operators: Vertigo Shuttles, Crank it Café Shuttles, Bus to Berms, Sainty’s North East Bus Service, Mountain Bike Tasmania and Rob’s Tours. Check the individual operators for times and pricing (expect to pay around $25 for a shuttle from Derby to the Atlas trailhead).
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| Yes. You must ride Blue Derby. |
Because I’m a sucker for pain and punishment, I decided to ride to the top of the Atlas trailhead. I started along the Dambusters trail and then turned off onto Carnac Rd (this is well signposted on the trail). Carnac Rd is a fire trail that gradually climbs. The early sections are simple riding, however, towards the end it gets steep and rough and there is a creek crossing – be prepared for rock hopping.
Atlas is a beautifully crafted trail that rolls through the classic Derby terrain. The top section is relatively flat and there are some small uphills. Throughout the trail there are more challenging B lines if you enjoy taking flight. The lower section, incorporating the Dambusters descent, is fast and flowing with nice berms and drops.
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| The Strava route and profile |
The complete Atlas loop is 31kms with about 800m of climbing. It’s a solid 3 hours in the saddle, but at the end of the day Boags Draught never tasted better and the locals in the pub wax lyrical like poets, and the tales of Derby, from the distant past to the present, the tales of the trails, are nurtured and grow. Three feet of air becomes ten, the gentle stack becomes a death defying stunt, and the climb becomes a Tour de France HC battle for the polka dot jersey. Derby: this is why we ride.
The Pros - Destination Trail Video:
Me - amateur hour:
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