Chance to improve world-class bike netork (From The Northern Echo)

Chance to improve world-class bike netork

2:16pm Tuesday 31st January 2012 in Whitby News

PUSHBIKE enthusiasts are being given the chance to improve a mountain bike network that is already regarded as world-class.

For the past two years the network at Dalby Forest, on the North York Moors, has been venue for the UCI World Cup Cross Country Mountain Bike Championship.

Now forestry chiefs have teamed up with Singletraction, an independent voluntary biking organisation, to re-establish a trail building group at the 8,600 acre beauty spot, near Pickering.

And to recruit new members an open meeting is being held in Dalby on February 19 where people can find out more how to get involved in shaping the future of the 36-mile off-road network.

Forestry Commission bike ranger Stuart Startup said: “Over the years bikers have played a massive part in creating mountain routes in Dalby, building trail sections, advising on design and helping run events.

“We want to re-invigorate the grassroots by getting more people to sign up with Singletraction to claim a stake in Dalby’s development.”

Historically, local mountain bike enthusiasts worked with the Forestry Commission to pioneer a colour coding system to denote the difficulty of routes in Dalby which has since rolled out throughout the UK.

Trail-building days will be held on the third Sunday of every month and for those attending more than four a free Discovery Pass will be issued, allowing free all-year round access to Dalby Forest.

Free entry to Dalby will be granted to people attending the open meeting, which runs from 10am to 1pm in the Courtyard area at Low Dalby.

For more information contact Stuart Startup on 07909 880325, or email stuart.startup@forestry.gsi.gov.uk