The Route
There is a specific kind of quiet that exists only in the pine forests of North Yorkshire. It's a silence broken only by the hum of knobby tyres on soft needles and the distant, rhythmic ticking of a freehub.
Dalby Forest has always been a cornerstone of the Northern riding scene. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, and the trails were in that perfect state of hero dirt — sticky enough for confidence, but honest enough in the corners to keep you paying attention.
We started early, the mist still clinging to the valley floor as we climbed out of the visitor centre. The red loop beckoned: 40km of technical challenge and visual reward.
The Bosch CX on Forest Climbs
By the 20km mark the trails had made their character known. Yorkshire clay is a formidable opponent — it builds up on your frame, weighs down your shoes, and turns every technical climb into a game of traction management.
The Bosch CX motor proved its worth here. On the steep, root-infested sections that would usually have you gasping and pushing, the assist provided just enough punch to keep momentum going without ever feeling like it was doing the riding for you. By the end of 40km+ I still had battery to spare.
Gear Check
Canyon Spectral:ON AL 8: The Bosch CX motor kept the momentum on every steep, root-infested climb without ever feeling like it was doing the riding for you. Forty-plus kilometres in and the battery still had plenty left — more than enough for a second lap if the legs were willing.
The Best Bit
Honestly? The company and the conditions as much as the trails. There is something about a good day in a proper forest, riding with someone who is equally up for the distance, that makes the whole thing feel a bit special. Damian kept a strong pace throughout and we found a rhythm early that carried us through without it ever feeling like a slog.
The forest sections where the canopy closes in and the light drops to that particular green-filtered quiet are the kind of riding that reminds you why you do this.
Would I Go Back?
Without hesitation. Dalby earns a permanent spot on the rotation. Next time I would push into the higher moorland sections and see how the battery handles more elevation.
Distance: 42.5km | Trails: Blue and Red | Conditions: Excellent
Written by Dave
A rider from Northern England with a penchant for long moorland days and really good cake.
