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Anyone tried the new routes at Sutton Bank? Particularly the new red route as I'm thinking of heading up there this weekend.
Not tried the red as wasn't finished when we were there a few weeks ago, but don't ignore the blue as is worth doing. If you don't know the area ask in the bike shop as there are some nice natural stuff about as well.
I rode it on Monday as I was Working nearby. Did the paradise trail, lots of nettles,flies,Tarmac descent, gates and lots of field crossing and wide bridle ways. Some great views and bits of fun singletrack, but if expecting a trail centre experience you will be disappointed.
We went on Tuesday. Again, did the Paradise trail. Its nothing like Dalby. Some new bits of gravelly sections at the start and the finish. After that its signposted linking up existing bits of bridleways and I think new section of climb to get back to the top of Sutton Bank. There are some road sections, but I think it was unavoidable in planning the route.
Overall its good. Couple of nice descents at Boltby forest. Opinion was its good for a social chatty ride instead of hooning it around. Views were stunning as well. Watching the sunset over the Dales was awesome.
Would do it again, not sure its worth travelling a long distance to ride. Im only in NE of York so its 45 mins in the car.
Great views but a trail centre it is not.
Essentially a linked up route of existing bridleways along with a small twisty man made section in the land around the visitor centre. Considering the fanfare Pace have built up over the launch, I was expecting more.
I can see some potential for conflict looming once more riders start to visit - some sections run along the Cleveland Way and it's very popular with walkers. It'll only take a Strava Hero to come barrelling round the corner and into a group of Ramblers and then it'll get violent.
There's also a road section that runs beside a racehorse training gallop. On the day I visited a woman waved us down and asked us to ride our bikes on the WRONG side of the road so as not to disturb the horses! Don't know if she's a permanent fixture, but she'll be quite busy now the summer hols are in full swing.
On a positive note, the views are stunning. The use of trail centre way marking to build a loop out of the existing BW network might even encourage trail centre addicts to pick up an OS map and look at venturing out onto bridleways a little more.