Indian summer

Bright sunshine, paddling in rivers, climbs to Thor's Cave (no bears ... this time), duck feeding, ice creams, blackberrying and 14 miles of cycling on the Manifold Trail from Hulme End.

2 children on solos, one chilback tandem, one tag along, one tailgator, one burley trailer, one child seat, one brompton ...

The intention is to carry on doing a family ride on the 3rd Sunday of each month, but make it more of a gathering of like minded families who meet and go for a ride, as oppose to their being any particular leader. We should meet at some stage and agree wehre we would like to ride and then details can be put on this blog. They won't be advertised in the newspaper.

Having said that; On 18th October there will be a family ride in conjunction with a CTC ride and a Women's ride, all Tram-Assisted. You can join the ride by meeting at the Cathedral tram stop for a 10:00 prompt departure (adults £5 return, children £2) to the Waterthorpe tram stop from where we'll cycle, traffic-free, to Rother Valley.

Alternatively you can meet the ride at Rother Valley cafe at 11:00. From there we'll ride north through the country park and Woodhouse Washlands, all on good off-road tracks, to Treeton Dyke for a picnic. The woods around the water are lovely and there are boardwalks we'll cycle on across parts of the reedbeds.

We'll get back to Rother Valley for about 2:00 and then ride back to Waterthorpe for a 3:00 tram pickup, arriving at the Cathedral at about 3:45. We can arrange to pickup/drop off at other tram stops between the Cathedral and Waterthorpe by prior arrangement - just let us know (polytone@doctors.org.uk) where you want to get on or off.

Hope you can join them: its fun taking your bikes on the tram!

It is back - Manifold Valley - not exhausting

Sunday sees the return of Sheffield Family Cycling on the Manifold Valley trail starting at Hulme End in the Staffordshire Moorlands ... just down the road from Hartington.

This is a great ride, with a cafe (but, bring lunch anyway) at half time and at the end and lovely scenery and wonderful weather (we hope).

Meet at 10 for a 10.30 grand depart ... hopefully the Tour of Britain has inspired you all, though bunch sprints are discouraged.

Here is a link to a route to the start from Sheffield on the wonderful gmap-pedometer.

Look forward to you joining us ...

10 for 10.30 at Endcliffe Park Cafe - 19th July

Inspired by the Tour de France? Got the next Mark Cavendish in your family? Or just fancy a trip out on the 1st Sunday of the long summer holidays?

Either way see you on Sunday for the Sheffield Family Cycling ride at 10am for 10.30 ride in the Porter Valley - from Endcliffe Park Cafe.

Great ride from Old Moor to Wosborough ...

Seven 6-8 year olds on their own bikes, a wheelchair duet bike, childback tandem, 18 month old on a bike seat, a 3 year old in a trailer, a 12 and 14 year old on a visit from Bristol and numrous adults on a variety of solo bikes.

Only one puncture and only 2 people who had a dip in the reservoir ... the kids enjoyed a break to watch some classic bike racing at Wombwell circuit and splashing through the puddles.

Old Moor ride on June 21st 10 for 10.30 ..

The longest day and the longest ride? Well, no it will be the usual 8-10 miles max from the car park at the Old Moor Wetland RSPB reserve near Barnsley. This is the first time the Sheffield family cycling collective has ridden from this venue and we hope that you all think it is worth effort to drag yourself out there for 10 o'clock for a 10.30 departure.

As always bring a picnic and waterproof layer ... and remember to keep good tempered when you are wrestling with your bike rack in your dressing gown (hopefully in bright sunshine).

The reserve is situated at grid reference SE422022 (View on OS), and directions by road from the M1:

Leave at junction 36 and take the A61 (Barnsley). At the small roundabout, continue straight ahead on the A6195 (Doncaster) for approximately four miles. After passing the Morrison's superstore, follow the brown RSPB Old Moor signs. From the A1: Leave at junction 37 (Doncaster), follow the A635 towards Barnsley, then follow the brown RSPB Old Moor signs.

We will be riding on the Sustrans National Cycle Network via the the Trans Pennine Trail which runs along the Southern edge of the reserve. Access to the reserve is via a bridge into the car park. View National Cycle Map. Look forward to seeing you there ...

5 Pits, 12 riders, 1 cloud burst, 0 complaints ....

A great loop on the 5 Pits Way made for a damp but, enjoyable May family ride. Proof if proof were needed that a bit of rain never hurt anyone.

The kids loved it, but so did the adults ... although to be quite so cold in May was a 1st for some.

June ride details soon - 21st June - a sunny one perhaps?

May ride - 17th May ... Grassmoor Country Park

Sunday 17th May for a ride along the 5 Pits Trail from Grassmoor Country Park near Chesterfield. 10am for 10.30 departure.

See car park on map here. Note there is another car park on the northern side, but you want to come to the south eastern one that is bigger.

Some people had trouble last year, so we have marked the route to take on gmap pedometer - an amazing site for route planning.

Take A61 to Chesterfield and the A617 towards M1 and then follow above.