What’s the difference between the Cinder track and a poorly maintained sustrans route?

[Captain Sensible]

Last Tuesday a friend and myself decided to have a go at the Scarborough to Whitby ‘Cinder‘ mixed use path and indulge in some fish and chips at Whitby.

We set off from Scalby due campsite location so perhaps missed off the first mile or so. In no rush so also took in Robin Hoods bay on the way back.

Caution bit of a whinge on the way…………

Anyhow off we set with pretty much an open mind and have to say a bit underwhelmed if I’m being honest. Don’t know why but was expecting a bit of a jewel in the crown re cycle routes given it’s largely traffic free and has the potential to offer some stunning views. Instead the majority of the route is just like riding through a bush or tree lined tunnel and apart from small sections around Ravenscar there’s not a lot to see. In some areas where one can maybe glimpse something you are too busy maintaining a line ie around the old brick works to really enjoy it.

We came across one guy from Belgium on his fully loaded touring bike making his way to Scotland following I guess Euro route 1. He didn’t say too much but somehow conveyed the message that this was not what he expected.

Am I expecting too much. I believe the land is owned by many different owners and as such can cause funding issues, but a lot of the track hasn’t or appears to have nor been maintained for years. Similarly with the vegetation growth, is it a policy to do nothing or stymied due budget and manpower.

I feel we (as a country) are missing a trick if we can’t maintain and market something like this similar to say the Tissington or High Peak trail.

Anybody done it lately or anyone with more information as to why it is the way it is?

But on the plus side the fish and chips from the Magpie cafe was very good.

 

[Drago]

Certainly down here Suckstrans used to slap their name on some of the most ridiculous and impassable (by bicycle) infrastructure. An utter waste of time and money.

Theyre now called Walk Wheel Cycle Trust, which at least is honest - youll end up walking and wheeling your cycle along some of the laughable routes they put their name to.

 

[Mike_P]

No complaint about the surface so that puts it well above some, formerly known as Sustrans, routes
Long thought the standard cycle route logo needs replacing in some locations with ones showing a MTB where that is the appropriate bike for the route.

 

[fossyant]

It's very variable on some routes. I'd say some push a gravel bike, never mind anything like a tourer or a hybrid. Did the KAW a couple of years ago, those surfaces were from great to absolutely awful (1/2/ mile of bike clogging concrete). Slippy chalk was to be expected.

That said the routes did link lots of areas together, and in some cases it was just a tyre track across a field.

The Trans Pennine is very variable - some right rough bits around where I live.

Just checked - 21 miles - you should try 10 times that 217 mile KAW - very similar in places, although more options to see good stuff too.

It's like the Pennine bridleway - it's far more advisable to do that on an MTB - glad we did as I turned my rear disk blue with heat on one descent (squirted water on it to cool it).

 

[PaulSB]

Am I expecting too much.

Yes. Where does the money come from to maintain what is probably a very little used route?

The harsh reality is outside of major urban areas cycle paths and routes are hardly used. It doesn't make sense to invest tens of thousands in the maintenance.

 

[simongt]

just like riding through a bush or tree lined tunnel and apart from small sections around Ravenscar there’s not a lot to see.

I've walked this from Ravenscar to the Bay a couple of times and have to agree.
Marriot's Way in Norfolk is similar; lots of tree lined sections and no a great deal to see apart from certain sections.
But on a hot or windy day, the trees do keep you sheletered, so look on it as a mixed blessing.

 

[teeonethousand]

Last Tuesday a friend and myself decided to have a go at the Scarborough to Whitby ‘Cinder‘ mixed use path and indulge in some fish and chips at Whitby.

We set off from Scalby due campsite location so perhaps missed off the first mile or so. In no rush so also took in Robin Hoods bay on the way back.

Caution bit of a whinge on the way…………

Anyhow off we set with pretty much an open mind and have to say a bit underwhelmed if I’m being honest. Don’t know why but was expecting a bit of a jewel in the crown re cycle routes given it’s largely traffic free and has the potential to offer some stunning views. Instead the majority of the route is just like riding through a bush or tree lined tunnel and apart from small sections around Ravenscar there’s not a lot to see. In some areas where one can maybe glimpse something you are too busy maintaining a line ie around the old brick works to really enjoy it.

We came across one guy from Belgium on his fully loaded touring bike making his way to Scotland following I guess Euro route 1. He didn’t say too much but somehow conveyed the message that this was not what he expected.

Am I expecting too much. I believe the land is owned by many different owners and as such can cause funding issues, but a lot of the track hasn’t or appears to have nor been maintained for years. Similarly with the vegetation growth, is it a policy to do nothing or stymied due budget and manpower.

I feel we (as a country) are missing a trick if we can’t maintain and market something like this similar to say the Tissington or High Peak trail.

Anybody done it lately or anyone with more information as to why it is the way it is?

But on the plus side the fish and chips from the Magpie cafe was very good.

My brother and I did it a month or so ago...we have done it a few times now. I have a gravel bike with 45mm tyres and some of it was a bit much plus I got quite battered going down from Robin Hoods near the brick works. Actually the downhill bit slightly scared me as the surface was rough and also loose so quite difficult to brake on.

I think at least a hardtail or maybe even full suss would make it more enjoyable. I thought the coastal views were good when they were there and I don't mind the woods look otherwise.

Last week we had a day in Dalby forest starting at Thornton le Dale and going in via the back lanes..that was a bit gravelly😂 and I got shaken to bits again. I think I need a suspension stem or fork.

 

[Gwylan]

Last Tuesday a friend and myself decided to have a go at the Scarborough to Whitby ‘Cinder‘ mixed use path and indulge in some fish and chips at Whitby.

We set off from Scalby due campsite location so perhaps missed off the first mile or so. In no rush so also took in Robin Hoods bay on the way back.

Caution bit of a whinge on the way…………

Anyhow off we set with pretty much an open mind and have to say a bit underwhelmed if I’m being honest. Don’t know why but was expecting a bit of a jewel in the crown re cycle routes given it’s largely traffic free and has the potential to offer some stunning views. Instead the majority of the route is just like riding through a bush or tree lined tunnel and apart from small sections around Ravenscar there’s not a lot to see. In some areas where one can maybe glimpse something you are too busy maintaining a line ie around the old brick works to really enjoy it.

We came across one guy from Belgium on his fully loaded touring bike making his way to Scotland following I guess Euro route 1. He didn’t say too much but somehow conveyed the message that this was not what he expected.

Am I expecting too much. I believe the land is owned by many different owners and as such can cause funding issues, but a lot of the track hasn’t or appears to have nor been maintained for years. Similarly with the vegetation growth, is it a policy to do nothing or stymied due budget and manpower.

I feel we (as a country) are missing a trick if we can’t maintain and market something like this similar to say the Tissington or High Peak trail.

Anybody done it lately or anyone with more information as to why it is the way it is?

But on the plus side the fish and chips from the Magpie cafe was very good.

Some dosser bumbled through getting it cobbled together. Some other tosser with a gold chain fetched up and opened it. May have a bit on TV or had a few photos for his next ejection material.

Then 17 others in high Viz with clip boards strung it into a 2 year project that got them through several appraisals. That probably generated achievement awards and top ups to the salary and hence their pension pit.

Then the emphasis was refocused by a consultant and the route got forgot.
We are stuck with "emphasis" and "focus" with a time span measured in scrounged lunches

 

[Mike_P]

Amother sign change needed is for NCN66 through the dark arch between Garforth and Aberford which needs a lamp adding. Tried it once on a bright afternoon without a front light and did a U turn. Wheeled the bike along the avoiding dirt path.

 

[Punkawallah]

The difference between the cycle route and a bridle-way is the money someone made off it?

The Cinder Track is a marvellous way of testing your bike (and you). It has just about every surface known to cyclists, and you get to practice opening and closing gates too! The ‘83 Galaxy managed it, but I had to get off and push up the cobble hill (generous) - at least there was an ice cream at the top!

 

[Windle]

On one of our weekends away back in 1990 (staying at Ravenscar) my club rode the old railway route, Ravenscar to Whitby, on road bikes!
I don't remember what it was like but we all survived. A couple of club members were fans of the 'Roughstuff Fellowship' and had a habit of taking us down places like that .
As regards maintenance of cycle routes, I'm tempted give a LOL as we can't even maintain the bloody roads anymore. The stretch of the W2W (715) between Evenwood Gate & Hummerbeck that I ride occasionally is barely passable for floods and mud in winter and vegetation in summer. It certainly doesn't look like it gets looked after. The bit after Hummerbeck down the lane isn't much good either, with massive potholes and rocks strewn about, although it is a farm access track.
Ultimately it all costs money and our country isn't exactly awash with it at present.

 

[Drago]

But imagine the money saved on health care alone if more pople indulged in active travel, not to mention reduced pollution, the need for less road building, etc ad nauseum?

The final sum is more than the mere spend, there are two sides to a ledger, and the problem is that too few appreciate that. Doing the same things over and over again with travel infrastructure and feigning surprise when nothing changes has brought us to where we are now. If we speculate the nation as a whole will accumulate when it comes to active travel.

 

[T4tomo]

The Cinder Track has been improved in quite a few places recently (albeit mainly at each town end), but yes it still has plenty of rough bits. I guess Scarborough council cant afford to resurface the whole 20 odd miles

re views @Captain Sensible one must remember it used to be railway line, which use embankments and cuttings to manage gradients across the contours of the land. Obviously embankments, which the Tissington & High Peak have plenty of, afford a better view! Those two, particularly the Tissington do have a consistently better surface too.

These things really need a "Friends of the XXXXX" group of volunteers to keep them in top nick and apply for funding / badger the council for the big stuff.

 

[annedonnelly]

These things really need a "Friends of the XXXXX" group of volunteers to keep them in top nick and apply for funding / badger the council for the big stuff.

Isn't that how Sustrans operates? With local groups of volunteers doing stuff like that? Obviously depending on number and commitment of volunteers you'll get different levels of support & maintenance in different areas.

 

[albion]

It has been moaned about for years.
The pitiful excuse is/was that the 'cinder' composition is heritage so has to be left alone!

Sustrans only spends others money so they cannot really be blamed.