[Closed] Riding in/around Colchester

Afternoon,

I'm moving to Colchester for work early next year, expecting to be down there for around 3 years. I have very little knowledge about the area in general, much less about the quality of riding. So:

1. Is there much in the way of decent riding? Open to all options. My usual riding is Lakes, Dales, and places like Hamsterley in the NE. I'm not naive enough to expect 800m peaks to ride down, but are there any decent spots for off piste, steep and techy style stuff? If not, what is the general style?

2. Do I need a new bike to get the most out of it? My bike is a fairly burly full sus (Airdrop Edit), which I'm keeping, but I'm open to buying something that will suit local conditions. Road riding isn't my bag but I'm open to a gravel bike or hardtail if that's what'll get the best out of the area.

Thanks for any advice, much appreciated.

Dan