Derby’s main street is a completely
different experience to Maydena’s main
street. It feels like Derby has been
the beating heart of mountain biking
in Tasmania for ages, and while there
have been events and adventure rides
here for a long time, thanks in part to
Ben Mather, the Blue Derby network
has really only reached its level of
success since around the EWS in 2017.
And it’s just snowballed since then.
Each time we come back to visit there
are more services and more trails.
With at least four options to shuttle the
trails, a vast range of accommodation
options, and a development in the works for more shops
and places to eat, Blue Derby will continue to set the pace
for just how good a mountain bike destination can be.
While the vast majority of riders were in Blue Derby to gaze
amazed at the best of the best putting it all on the line for
race glory, most of them were there to ride as well. And not
all of them (myself certainly included) have the tool kit of skills
and confidence to ride the trails that the big kids in the EWS
were riding. But that’s ok, as Blue Derby is about a lot
more than that.
There are the friendly green trails around the lake, and a
little climb up to a lookout back over the lake and Derby, with
a slightly harder descent back down. Trails like Blue Tier are a
long ride but something that is achievable for a wide range ofVANLIFE62 AMB