September 2008 - Update

Back in September 1999, following years of knee problems, I had just started mountain biking as a means of getting getting me back onto the hills. There were very few web sites for mountain biking routes then, so I decided it would be a good subject to use while learning how to build web sites. I already had a good knowledge of the the moors, dales and lake district so it was not such a big problem for me, but I thought some route information might be useful to others. And so I created muddybums!

Since then the web site was redeveloped in 2004 to incorporate an online shop. However, following the start of my Fanatic Sport & Leisure business I began to find it difficult to run two web site shops and removed the one from Muddybums, hence the links to Fanatic.

A lot of the route information currently on the web site was written in 1999 - 2002 but is still relevant, though some do need updating. A lot of single track has since been lost on the moors, and there have been a number of changes and upgrading to tracks in the Dales. I don't get over to the Lake District very much now, but there are plenty of web sites out there now with Lake District route information.

Although there are numerous sources of MTB cross country route information available on the internet, I still aim to redevelop Muddybums to maintain its popularity and remain the leading source of cross country mountain biking information for the North York Moors.

I have met many new friends through the web site and still meet most weekends to ride. If you would like to join us, just send a message.

The routes follow legal rights of way but where there may be some uncertainty I have made notes. If you do follow the routes on this site, I hope you enjoy them and ride safely, with consideration for the environment and others.