Derby in Tassi

[Cheka]

Take your bikes. Check out Budget Truck Hire at Launceston airport, they do pretty good prices for either a van or ute. Pick up some supplies on the way through Launceston.

 

[dancaseyimages]

Island Adventure Shuttles if he is still around. Done a few photo tours where he drops you at Cradle Mtn and Picks you up at the other side, was getting a trailer done for MTB last time I was there.
0413487644

Edit: Its also a van and he has had bikes in it before.

 

[Jabubu]

I'd be doing everything possible to bring my own bikes, set up how I like them rather than faffing about with a rental which might not fit right or have the suspension dialled how you like it.

My thoughts too.

 

[Jabubu]

Thanks for the advice, I'll start digging in early next year. If I can go sooner I will, otherwise I'll wait until later next year when it dries up again - May and June appear to be a terrible time to visit!

 

[ozzybmx]

Thanks for the advice, I'll start digging in early next year. If I can go sooner I will, otherwise I'll wait until later next year when it dries up again - May and June appear to be a terrible time to visit!

Probably the best advice you have given yourself.

We've been there 5 times, usually staying in Derby for 7-10 days at the start of the trip and then come back for week at the end before the boat.

Its usually great but we have had a couple of days of rain in the past over x-mas and NY, last year we did a charter trip in mid November from Adelaide for 7 days, it pissed down for the whole 4 days in Derby, then the sun came out as we did the BoF trail and St Helens.

Weathers always hit and miss but you have a better chance of a hit, closer to the Summer.

 

[dancaseyimages]

Thanks for the advice, I'll start digging in early next year. If I can go sooner I will, otherwise I'll wait until later next year when it dries up again - May and June appear to be a terrible time to visit!

If your hiring bikes take into account school holidays

 

[PJO]

May and June

I'd avoid July and August too if you want to maximise your enjoyment. Not saying there won't be good days in all those months but unlike locals you have to plan well in advance and can't just make an opportune trip.

Blue Tier trail is usually shut over the winter months anyway and if you're coming down all the way from Cairns it is a trail that should be on your riding list.

 

[ozzybmx]

Whats going on in Derby ?

Missus just headed out of Launceston to do a drive, have lunch in Derby and show her mum around some of the places we have stayed and show her how the town has transformed, she ended up going to Bridport as nothing was open. Reckons the place was completely dead, beautiful weather and only seen 2 people on bikes.

Dorset not doing meals, Derby Pit-Stop for sale, garage for sale, MadMTB building for sale, the Hub pizza joint for sale, Derby Lodge for sale and the new place called the Main Street closed for good a few days ago. Pinocchio's in Branxholm is also for sale. She says quite a few houses are up too

Still looking big bucks though.

 

[Mattyp]

Whats going on in Derby ?

Missus just headed out of Launceston to do a drive, have lunch in Derby and show her mum around some of the places we have stayed and show her how the town has transformed, she ended up going to Bridport as nothing was open. Reckons the place was completely dead, beautiful weather and only seen 2 people on bikes.

Dorset not doing meals, Derby Pit-Stop for sale, garage for sale, MadMTB building for sale, the Hub pizza joint for sale, Derby Lodge for sale and the new place called the Main Street closed for good a few days ago. Pinocchio's in Branxholm is also for sale. She says quite a few houses are up too

Still looking big bucks though.

View attachment 406977

The party is over...

 

[ozzybmx]

The party is over...

Still looking party prices, the big brick house beside the Dorset is up for 1.7mill.

Everywhere has taken a hit on tourist dollars. Spoke to a bloke at the TDU and he said the numbers of interstate visitors were massively down, I suppose paying the mortgage, insurance, power bills etc... has taken precedence over a riding trip.

 

[PJO]

Still looking party prices, the big brick house beside the Dorset is up for 1.7mill.

Everywhere has taken a hit on tourist dollars. Spoke to a bloke at the TDU and he said the numbers of interstate visitors were massively down, I suppose paying the mortgage, insurance, power bills etc... has taken precedence over a riding trip.

Derby has always been boom and bust town, whether it's tin mining or mtb mining.
Things will turn around again, the question is when.

 

[rowdyflat]

It must depend on mainland visitors and though it is the best place I have ever ridden, it is a bit of an epic to get to from NE Vic. just a bit shorter than heading OS.
Tracks on the mainland are really improving, though, dont quite have the combo of granite slab terrain , range of difficulty and the forest.
Going to check out Narooma and Mogo next fortnight.
Yack has the flow and adventure tracks ,Beechworth the granite and Falls everything and easy shuttles.

 

[frenchman]

Whats going on in Derby ?

Missus just headed out of Launceston to do a drive and have lunch in Derby and show her mum around some of the places we have stayed and show her how the town has transformed, she ended up going to Bridport as nothing was open. Reckons the place was completely dead, beautiful weather and only seen 2 people on bikes.

Dorset not doing meals, Derby Pit-Stop for sale, garage for sale, MadMTB building for sale, the Hub pizza joint for sale, Derby Lodge for sale and the new place called the Main Street closed for good a few days ago. Pinocchio's in Branxholm is also for sale. She says quite a few houses are up too

Still looking big bucks though.

View attachment 406977

All the endurbros came and schralped the flow trails and no new ones have been built since.
why would u go back? Is there much of a local scene there building pirate trails or club?

 

[ozzybmx]

All the endurbros came and schralped the flow trails and no new ones have been built since.
why would u go back? Is there much of a local scene there building pirate trails or club?

There's a few bokes employed by the council to maintain the trails, not sure how many these days. Cuddles is new since the last time I was there.

Pirate ? The trails there are closely monitored and there is enough good stuff that there is no need. A few years back I got a mouthful from a local shop 'guide' for riding up Rusty Crusty or Sawtooth, he was getting quite agro demanded I turn around and ride back down immediately, he got politely told to f#%k off as I was looking for a 10yr old who didn't make it down behind us. Good luck building some unsanctioned trails there

 

[Mattyp]

Pirate ? The trails there are closely monitored and there is enough good stuff that there is no need. Good luck building some unsanctioned trails there

There is always a need for pirate trails... Look at Queenstown NZ or Rotorua, more than enough sanctioned stuff for anyone, and yet there are new pirate trails getting built pretty much constantly...

 

[ozzybmx]

There is always a need for pirate trails... Look at Queenstown NZ or Rotorua, more than enough sanctioned stuff for anyone, and yet there are new pirate trails getting built pretty much constantly...

The difference between them is Derby as a town is nearly all AirBnB's and most still living there of trail building age are either employed by something related to bikes and swear by the 'strict code'. I would say the older people still there, either own, are looking after AirBnB's or own/run a business.

Think of the politics in that town, could you imagine a local scrubbing in his own trail. Such a small area too, apart from Atlas and Dam Busters going around the lake, the rest of the trails are crammed in to about a 6sq km area.

 

[Mattyp]

Could you imagine a local scrubbing in his own trail.

Yes but it sounds like they're all selling up and moving out.

 

[Cardy George]

It must depend on mainland visitors and though it is the best place I have ever ridden, it is a bit of an epic to get to from NE Vic. just a bit shorter than heading OS.
Tracks on the mainland are really improving, though, dont quite have the combo of granite slab terrain , range of difficulty and the forest.
Going to check out Narooma and Mogo next fortnight.
Yack has the flow and adventure tracks ,Beechworth the granite and Falls everything and easy shuttles.

You should try NW Vic!

Can't comment on the sell off, but right now would be pretty shit to be doing youth centred tourism down there. The occupants of the boat over and back last week were mainly motorbikes and 2 occupant caravans. End of the school holidays and all the kiddies and their parents have disappeared.

I did see one Vollie taking a lunch break on one of the lower trails.

 

[rangersac]

Trying to staff a business there would be a killer now. All of the affordable accommodation has been converted to AirBnB, and hospo wages come nowhere near to covering rental costs.

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[ozzybmx]

Yes but it sounds like they're all selling up and moving out.

They've put a price on them anyway. Looks like all early 2023 sales on RE for anything in the town, nothing in a while. Maybe a price adjustment coming up.

https://www.realestate.com.au/sold/in-derby,+tas+7264/list-1

Trying to staff a business there would be a killer now. All of the affordable accommodation has been converted to AirBnB, and hospo wages come nowhere near to covering rental costs.

Even Melrose struggles and its a fraction of the house price, though rental accommodation is hard to find. It would be a nightmare keeping staff in all businesses... pubs, kitchens, bakery, cafes, bike shops etc.. all staffed with people on hospitality wages away from their family in the city, made worse by seasonal up/downs.