Mountains to the Sea – Postponed for 2020
It is with a heavy heart that we are postponing the 2020 Ride for Fuel road ride until there is more certainty around the COVID situation.
After a mindblowing first off-road mountain bike ride, we’ve decided to hit the trails again in 2020! Join us for an epic 4-day ride through Launceston, Tasmania – one of Australia’s most highly regarded MTB destinations.
Day 0
Launceston MTB Parks
That’s right, with flights coming in at all hours most of us will have a good chunk of time on our hands. Why not take the opportunity to get your bike set up and hit a few of the great trails around Launceston. With two parks (Kate Reed and Trevallyn) within a stone’s throw of our accommodation, Day 0 will give you the chance to meet up with the crew, hit a few trails and get psyched for the challenge that lies ahead!
Day 1
Launceston to Ben Lomond
63km
2000m approx
Starting off on the Tarmac we head south-east of Launceston through beautiful rolling farmland and bushland. With the city behind us, we hit the gravel and start making our way towards the Ben Lomond Massif. After a lazy brunch in Blessington, we wind our way towards one of the most iconic gravel climbs in Australia, Ben Lomond feat. Jacob’s Ladder (Cat 1 15.5km @ 6.3%). From the top of the ladder it’s just a short drag up to our accommodation in the Tassie ski fields.
Day 2
Ben Lomond to Mt Barrow
90km
2000m approx
It’s likely to be a chilly start as we drop off the Ben Lomond Escarpment down Jacob’s Ladder. The legs will warm up soon enough as we bail off the gravel and hit the first real single track of the tour with the 12 km Ben Lomond Single Descent.
After a regroup and morning tea, depending on how the legs feel at the bottom, you can either ride or drive the 30km to lunch in Targa. After a refuel, it’s time to tick off Ben Lomond’s less famous but just as awesome gravely brother, Mt Barrow (HC 13.8km @ 6.6%). We ride a few kilometres beyond the top of the climb to check out South Barrow then make a U-turn and head back to the bottom for an uplift to Derby and a pub meal you’ll remember for years to come.
Day 3
Derby Classic
Day 3 is all about the single track! Derby has quickly become the must-ride Australian MTB destination amongst those in the know. We’ve got lots of options for you with trails for all levels of rider and the option of riding or being lifted up to the drop off point. With rave reviews from anyone who has been lucky enough to sample its epic trails, this will no doubt be a day you savour for some time.
Day 4
Derby to the Sea
75km approx
2000m approx
Heading west from Branxholm we get the legs moving before we get off-road at the 8km mark following the Ringarooma River for 10km down the valley. We stop for a quick refuel at the 20km mark before taking on our last big climb of the tour, Blue Tier Up (Cat 2 15.8 @ 4%) which sounds friendly enough but is more of a series of steep pinches and long drags that will test sore legs. The reward, however, is spectacular with the newly opened Bay of Fires Trail taking us all the way from Blue Tier to one of the most spectacular beaches in the world.
We start with 15kms of awesome downhill single track that takes us out of the temperate rainforest, past the biggest trees in Australia and into the drier coastal bushland. We continue along a 10km stretch of the undulating single track, then we have one last climb before we descend the last 7km into the Bay of Fires and a dip in the Binalong Bay to mark the end of the ride.
From there it’s a bus trip back to Launceston for our celebration dinner and a well-deserved beverage or two.
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