Is it just me, or has it been awhile?
OK, it's been awhile (although I have been keeping the Events Calendar up to date, and have been working on a new Major Events page).
Anyway, let's put that behind us, and look forward ... now you'd think as we head into winter that things would be quieting down, but it seems to me that quite the opposite is true with lots of new event dates being set.  We've got the Corporate Multisport Challenge in Hobart and the Kellevie 4 Hour Enduro coming up this month (both on the 14th) and there's a 200km (and 150km) Dark Bikefo audax ride on offer on 20 June to celebrate the solstice.

Exciting news - the City of Hobart Bushcare program has a new Bushcare group dedicated to developing and maintaining a sustainable mountain bike track network in Hobart. 

The Wellington Park Management Trust have approved the conversion of Old Farm Track to a single use (bike only) and single direction (downhill only) track. This is an exciting project for the City, which will contribute to the development of a cohesive mountain bike track network within Wellington Park.

The section of Pipeline Track temporarily closed to undertake work to the Twin Bridges will now be closed until 5pm Thursday 2 April 2015.
The change from the original time is required due to the time required to undertake variations in scope and lost time due to inclement weather.

Land Manager Update March 2015 - Greater Hobart Mountain Bike Plan

The Tasmanian Trail Associations latest newsletter has just been released, and I think it's great to see that their membership is now up to 124, with most of those being cyclists (which is interesting as the main volunteers and managers of the trail seem to be horse riders).

Last year, the City of Hobart Bushcare program trialled a Trackcare activity at Tip Top and it was a huge success.  The new Bushcare Coordinator at the Hobart City Council is now looking to extend this program by setting up a "Trackcare" group.  Full details are below.

The highlighted (black line) on the attached map is a slight variation of the Butlers Gorge - Lake King William Ride that I got sent this week which allows you to avoid the climb up the hill back under the powerline just south of Derwent Bridge.  

The Blue Derby Trails are open (and awesome).  If you didn't get up there, then my advice is to change that as soon as you can.  In the meantime attached is Vol 1, issue 3 of the Blue Derby Newsletter which basically celebrates the opening of this first section of trails ...

The Clarence Tracks and Trails Action Plan identifies future trails to complete gaps and to create an integrated network of tracks through bushland and coastal areas. One of the projects identified is a track between Rokeby and Lauderdale.

A section of the Pipeline Track in Neika will be closed from 8am Monday 2 March to 5pm Saturday 28 March 2015 whilst construction works are undertaken to upgrade the Twin Bridges (see attached map).

A new feasibility study looking at the economic opportunities of the Ben Lomond Ski village area looks like it got the go ahead at a recent Northern Midlands Council meeting (See 19 January 2015 council minutes, P197 onwards).

Did you say free access to download (and keep) Mountain Biking Australia and Australian Mountain Biking (AMB) magazines?

Yep - this isn't one of those tricky false adverts that get you to click on the link only to find out there's a catch (OK, there is one small catch - you have to be Tasmanian and go get a library card), it's just something cool I stumbled across this week which I thought worth sharing.

Juggernaut riders at Hollybank are advised that a forest harvesting operation has resumed nearby.

The harvest plan for the coupe was staggered to allow for construction of the trail through a corridor, before being temporarily halted last year.

The Tasmanian Trail Association have just finished updating the maps on their website to include more information on services to be found in towns along the Trail including a better description of all the campsites and some advice on attractions on or adjacent to the Trail.

Maybe everyone is out riding their bikes (or building trails), but December was a fairly quiet month for event updates with only one new event added (and that was for the Tas Mud Run in April) to the Tassie Trails Events Calendar.

That's not to say there's nothing coming up.  For those wanting to race the Cranky Penguin on 1 February, you've only got until 8am on January 5 to get that entry in, which means do it now (or it may already be too late).

Our friend at ridetassie.com sent us this link to the new (and I think official) Ride Blue Derby website which is worth checking out while you're waiting for the trails to open on February 7.  It looks like it will be a great resource for those looking to go and ride the area, and let's just hope that the site is maintained and kept up to date.

The Chair of the West Coast Economic Working Group, Adam Brooks, has released more detail on proposed upgrades to mountain bike tracks in the region.

The Tasmanian Trail Association has released Edition 4 of the essential Tasmanian Trail Guide, just in time for those thinking of riding some or all of the trail this summer.

Glenorchy City Council have contracted track maintenance to be undertaken over the next month in the Glenorchy Mountain Bike Park and sections of the North South Track, starting December 1st 2014. All affected trails will remain open to the public and caution signage, relevant bunting and detours will be used as necessary to ensure public safety during the maintenance activities.