30 Mar 2017

Not every day you open your mailbox to find you've struck it big time winning a flipping amazing prize. This prize, in particular, was so incredibly good - a long weekend of riding in Derby, all expenses paid, riding a brand new Canyon Strive. And you could bring a mate too, how could this be real?

In conjunction with Canyon Bikes Australia, we ran a competition last year, we drew the winners, booked it all in and here is how it went down. Garth from Rockhampton, QLD, got real lucky and his name came out of the hat. His mate Joel was the lucky bugger that got the invite to come along, and joining us all the way from New Zealand was National Enduro Champion, Justin Leov from the Canyon Factory Racing Team.

Canyon Australia’s Darryll Moliere had to be there to supervise, of course, and pick up the bar tab. So we had a great crew, ready to descend on the tiny town of Derby in Tasmania’s North East for a dream weekend of riding sweet trails on sweet bikes.

They see us rollin, the stealth Canyon van dripping with Canyon carbon mountain bikes.
They see us rollin into Derby, the stealth Canyon van dripping with Canyon carbon mountain bikes.
Canyon Dream Weekender, Derby-003-_LOW2901
Froth levels beginning to get very high.
Canyon Dream Weekender, Derby-014-_LOW2946
Prize winner Garth, checking out the iconic Devil Wolf trail which crosses the bare rock canyon (get it…) created after the huge dam burst upstream in 1929 sending a raging torrent into town, wiping out anything in its path.
Joel, stoked he's mates with Garth right now, scoring the invite to Derby.
Joel, stoked he’s mates with Garth right now, scoring the invite to Derby.
Justin Leov, en-route from NZ to France for his pre-season team camp was keen to punch out loads of trails.
Justin Leov, en-route from NZ to France for his pre-season team camp was keen to punch out loads of trail time.
Turns out Joel and Garth are complete shredders, coming from Rockhampton their technical trail game is strong!
Turns out Joel and Garth are complete shredders, coming from Rockhampton their technical trail game is strong!
Boosting big kickers on the new trail - Return to Sender.
Boosting big kickers on the new trail – Return to Sender.
Back to town for a sundowner debrief from a great first day riding.
Back to town for a sundowner debrief from a great first day riding.

Fresh out of the box was a pair of new Canyon Strives for the guys to ride, these things are amazing to ride with excellent suspension and versatility. We have one on long term test.

And Darryll had his Canyon Spectral with him, the smaller 140mm travel brother of the Strive. We got along with that bike quite well too, take a look here.

Branxholm pub, the epitome of home cooked pub grub and hospitality.

There is no trip to Derby without a meal at one of the iconic small town pubs like the Weldborough Hotel or Branxholm Hotel, serving up a good dose of classic Tasmanian atmosphere and a chance to meet some locals over a Little Rivers beer or two.

Carbon bikes from Germany outside a classic Tassie pub, who would have thought this would happen?
Carbon bikes from Germany outside a classic Tassie pub, who would have thought this would happen?
No shirt, no shoes, no service, nobody's watching.
No shirt, no shoes, no service, nobody’s watching.
Now that is what you call a home cooked style meal!
Now that is what you call a home cooked style meal!

Blue Tier, Weldborough Pub, Atlas with shuttles. Best day eveeeeeeeerrrr!

One pro, two temporary.
One pro, two temporary.
Yeoooo, Jussoooo!
Yeoooo, Jussoooo!
Darryll had a moment in the blissful greenery of Blue Tier, almost saw a tier on his cheek (get it...) this place does that to anyone.
Darryll had a moment in the blissful greenery of Blue Tier, almost saw a tier on his cheek (get it…) this place does that to anyone.
Thinking tree. Look at this place!!
Thinking tree. Look at this place!!
Young Matt Staggs ride a bike damn well, here he makes us feel old with his casual care-free approach to the bigger jumps on Blue Tier descent.
Young Matt Staggs our video/photo freelancer squid ride a bike damn well, here he makes us feel old with his casual care-free approach to the bigger jumps on Blue Tier descent.
This is what it's all about. A complete mind explosion of green and lush Tassie wilderness.
This is what it’s all about. A complete mind explosion of green and lush Tassie wilderness.
Yes, this is real.
Yes, this is real.
Dreamy Tasmania.
Dreamy Tasmania.
There was big tree down on the Big Chook descent. Lucky nobody got squashed. We wondered what it sounded like?
There was big old tree down on the Big Chook descent covering a big chunk of trail. Lucky nobody got squashed. But we did wonder what noise it made when it fell?
No ride down the Blue Tier is complete without a beer at the Weldborough Pub, best beer garden in the world!
No ride down the Blue Tier is complete without a beer at the Weldborough Pub, best beer garden in the world!
It was particularly hard to find a park that day too.
It was particularly hard to find a park that day too.
Craft beer from all over Tasmania on tap, now you're talking!
Craft beer from all over Tasmania on tap, now you’re talking!
Friendly legends Sam and Siofra the new-ish managers at Weldborough Hotel are there for the thirst quenching good times.
Friendly legends Sam and Siofra the new-ish managers at Weldborough Hotel are there for the thirst quenching good times.
Joel at the top of Atlas Trail, the highest point in the Derby trail network. An AMAZING descent to come.
Joel at the top of Atlas Trail, the highest point in the Derby trail network. An AMAZING descent to come.
Atlas has trail features like nowhere else, amazing rock features and really flowing yet quite challenging descents.
Atlas has trail features like nowhere else, amazing rock features and really flowing yet quite challenging descents.
Darryll squeezes his Canyon Spectral through a big leafy boulder.
Darryll squeezes his Canyon Spectral through a big leafy boulder.
Garth on the hunt for speed on the lower section.
Garth on the hunt for speed on the lower section.

One last shred, please don’t send us home!

After a run down the Bule Tier, lunch at the pub and back up the other side to Atlas you’d think the guys would have had their fill, but no. With Justin foaming for more it was time to squeeze in another shuttle up to Black Stump for one more run down Return To Sender, the unanimous favourite of the local loops.

Miles, Vertigo MTB's bike washing elf keeping the Vertigo business running efficiently.
Miles, Vertigo MTB’s bike washing elf keeping the Vertigo business running efficiently.
Berms from your dreams.
Berms from your dreams.
Matt Staggs nose-tapping away.
Matt Staggs nose-tapping away.
Getting the jumps dialled, if only the trip was for a whole week.
Getting the jumps dialled, if only the trip was for a whole week.
Dusty drifts back to town.
Dusty drifts back to town.
Traffic watch in busy Derby.
Traffic watch in busy Derby.
The gang! Joel. Garth, Justin, Mick, Buck the Shuttle Commander, and Razzle Dazzle from Canyon.
The gang! Joel. Garth, Justin, Mick, Buck the Shuttle Commander, and Razzle Dazzle from Canyon.

Now if that is not a dream weekender, we don’t know what is. Cheers to Joel and Garth for being complete legends, awesome company and great riders too. Justin Leov for taking the time out his busy pre-season schedule to join us punters on the trails, Buck and Jude, Darren and Josh, Minnie Jessop and Reuben at Vertigo MTB for the laughs, riding itinerary, and uplift shuttles. And a huge cheers to Darryll at Canyon for pulling it all together like a guru, bringing great new bikes to ride, cold beers, a rad Canyon van to cruise about it, and keeping the stoke levels high.

It sure pays to enter in a prize competition, lucky buggers!

Want more Derby?

Blue Tier:

Blue Derby’s New Trails: The Blue Tier & Big Chook

Shear Pin & 23 Stitches:

Blue Derby’s New Trail: Shear Pin & 23 Stitches

Return To Sender:

Blue Derby’s New Trails: Return to Sender & Flickety Sticks Upper

Atlas:

Must-Ride: Blue Derby, Stage 3 – World Class Tassie Trails

More more more Derby!

Must-Ride: Derby, Tasmania

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