It wasn't a race, but it was ace ...

A report by Polly ... Sunday 20th June dawned warm and sunny for the Bike Week Family Ride. We hadn't heard that anyone was definitely going to join us but had quite a bit of interest in it from families talking to us at the Cycle Sheffield stall at the Cycling Festival on Devonshire Green the day before so Tony and I, plus my sister Sue who was staying for the weekend, set out full of optimism. Passing Devonshire Green a 3 generation family were unloading bikes from cars and soon joined us in Barkers Pool. There were Grandad Bill, his son Steve and wife Catherine plus young Jack on a tagalong behind his Mum. They had read about the ride in the paper and then checked the details on EventSheffield.

By 10 past 10 no one else had appeared so we set off at a gentle pace back along Division Street, down the Green and over the road to pass Springfield School and the new Gell Street playground, which Jack thought looked very exciting. We crossed the ring road and climbed steadily up Broomspring Lane, turning left down Gloucester Street to wend our way throught Lynwood Gardens (Catherine pointed out another new playground to Jack, planning to visit it soon with one of his friends who lives in Broomhall). Another short climb up Park Lane brought us to Clarkehouse Road, which was fairly busy, but there was a fortunately long gap in the traffic for us to cross comfortably to Endcliffe Vale Road and a quieter cycle to Bingham Park. Here we were joined by Cath and her son Edward who is nearly 8 and rides proficiently on his own. Cath had seen a Bike Week leaflet at her work at the Northern General and had come all the way from Midhopestones to join us. We were just about to set off again when a very impressive triple tandem with rear luggage basket as well appeared riden by Scott but aided by 2 of his daughters. His wife and older daughter, Lindy, were riding solo. The family had also seem the ride advertised on EventSheffield. Now we were 14 and all enjoyed the off-road route up to Forge Dam. We carefully stopped the traffic at the road crossings but everyone managed the stepping stones or ford ably without help.

We had just (about 11:20) settled down with our picnics plus lots of Bike Week balloons, stickers and holographic spoke decorations when Sophy, Karl and family appeared. They had been waiting by Endcliffe Park cafe although did remember that I'd given Rustlings Road entrance to Bingham Park as a pick-up point. The children romped in the undergrowth, played in the park and had lots of fun with their balloons. Sophy and Carl didn't wish to lose the hard-won height they'd gained so set off to return home via Bents Green while the rest of us retraced our route; Scott's daughters anticipating ice-cream reward at Endcliffe Park cafe (they had come all the way from Dore/Totley). Everyone had really enjoyed the ride and it was great to have 3 new families with us. I must make a big apology though, as I have mislaid the piece of paper on which I collected everyone's email addresses. I do hope you're reading this though and please email me if you are so that you can be added into the families' rides list (polytone@doctors.org.uk).

A ride for families on 20th ... part of bike week!

Date:	20th June 2010
Start:	10:00
Finish:	13:30
Location:	Start point: Barkers Pool, Sheffield city Centre Pick-up points: Devonshire Green and entrance to Bingham Park Venue for picnic: Forge Dam Barkers Pool, S1 Sheffield S1
Description:	Joint Cycle Sheffield and CTC Family Ride from Barkers Pool in Sheffield City Centre, with additional pick-up points at Devonshire Green and the entrance to Bingham Park on Rustlings Road to Forge Dam. Slow pace on cycle tracks and quiet roads, then off-road cycle track from Bingham Park to Forge Dam. Bring picnic but food and drinks (and toilets) also available at Forge Dam cafe.
Contact Name:	Polly Blacker
Contact Number:	(0114) 2721814

Email: polytone@doctors.org.uk

Boxing Day Family Walk

Fancy joining us for a family walk on Boxing Day? For any parents who think they may be feeling a bit too delicate to face loading up all the bikes and paraphanalia, we're planning a gentle walk starting from The Druid Inn at Birchover to go and look at the standing stones on Stanton Moor. Meet at 10 for 10.30 am outside the Druid. The walk is about 3.5 miles, has 'glorious views' across the Derwent valley and on the way there are standing stones, caves and burial chambers to see - some prehistoric and some done by an eccentric 18th C clergyman apparently. More info. As ever might be good to bring picnic/snacks to eat on the way; there are also two pubs in the village as another lunch option. If the weather is dodgy and you want to check if we're going you can phone Sophy on 07967 144230 or check the blog. Normal cycling services will be resumed in 2010.

No news

No posts recently as there have not been any rides over the winter. Feel free to post on the blog if you would like to meet up for one though!

Last year we did a Christmas ride ... it was freezing, but the mince pies were good.

Tram assisted ride reminder ...

The Tour de France route has been announced for 2010, but if you can't wait then meet at the Catherdral in Sheffield at 9.45 oro 1045 at the Rother valley Cafe for a 10 mile picnic ride on Sunday 1th.

leader is Tony Cornah - 0114 272114

£5 rtn with a bike

£10 for a tandem

£2 for a child plus bike

Tram back from Waterthorpe stop at 3.00, back in town for 3.30 .... will also pick up and drop off at Gleadless Town End.

It's a great experience and impressive that it happens at all.

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 ...