Leeds Urban Mountain Bike Park prepares to open

Work on the first phase of the Leeds Urban Bike Park is nearing completion and we can reveal that the centre will be opened on Friday 1st December 2017.

Jeremy Hayes from Cycle Pathways CIC, who will run the £1.2m facility, explain what you can expect.

“We are all about helping people develop their cycling skills, no matter what level they are at” he said. “If you’ve never ridden a bike we can help. If you want to compete in the Olympics we can help. Whatever stage on the journey you are, we can help.”

On the site of the former Middleton Park Golf Course, once the golf clubhouse is now converted into a swish café and shop. Phase one of the project includes a pump track and beyond this is the larger BMX skills track, which has been fitted with the latest technology 4 man electric start gate from France, for BMX & 4X racers to practice their starts.

Then it’s on to the southern section of the mountain bike trail. In phases two and three, which are due to be completed by Easter 2018, the trail will be extended to the north and through the woods creating a 6km cross country loop.  Routes are graded from Green - the current asphalt path/road around the park; Blue – requiring a bit more skill; through to Red, through the woods on newly constructed routes segregated from walking paths.

“We have designed this to be accessible” Jeremy explains. “You don’t need a £6,000 bike to ride here and to improve your skills. In fact you don’t even need to cycle at all. Come and enjoy the café or use the new accessible path to the Rose Garden.

“To start with we aim to get back to the level of activity we had before the work started. So that’s evening and weekend rides, running groups, cycle maintenance. We will be looking to develop the activity programme and our work with schools and community groups as we progress through the Spring.”

You can follow developments on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/pg/leedsurbanbikepark