The changes are due to the upgrading of several local tracks from footpath to bridleway status. Its been a gradual (and lengthy!) process to get that sorted but the route now takes in Curbar/Frogatt edges, Totley Moor, Burbage Valley and the short section of purpose built trail at Lady Cannings - a few years ago non of these were, erm, officially accessible by bike.
Ride Sheffield, an MTB advocacy group, have worked really hard with the landowners to make it happen and I was keen to make sure the route uses the trails, the natural ones aren't particularly techy, but they take you to some of my favourite places.
There is a few other tweak to the route too, mainly as I think they are improvements:
through castleton and up the broken road,
a 'better' descent to the Edale valley,
reinstating the link to the TPT at Thurlston Moor, after cut gate - assuming that it finished now, I've not been over that way for a while. If not use the A616 instead
a change to the route over Shatton to include a bit of single track,
a different route on the other side of monks dale, avoids the cow-sub standard farm and muddy push up to Wormhill
then the 'upgrades' as described above.
The group start will be from Edale village at 10am. I will be there but how much I ride will depend on how I'm feeling after the HT550. It would be good to see a bigger turnout than last year - just mje and I. Also remember that no one has ever finished from a group start! Kudos awaits the victor
I'll get the GPX on the website, well hopefully Composite will as I haven't a clue, but if anyone wants it in the meantime PM me your email address.
