Sunny February Wednesday

Over 30 of us turned up at Hassop for this ride – which is very impressive when you think how cold its been. Some of us made it far enough along the route through the tunnels to get to the next café … only to find it was closed! Luckily, an ice cream van in the car park offered just what the kids said they needed to warm up (brrr). Once most of us got back to Hassop, the sun was shining enough to make sitting out side the café an option and we watched as children who – only a few minutes previously had been claiming that they couldn’t cycle another any further - ran around at full pelt for at least another half an hour. The chance to have a cup of tea in peace = good result for parents … and almost made the hassle of packing all those bikes onto the car earlier in the day worth it.

Plans for the next ride will be posted here ... as soon as we have some! Maybe something in March, perhaps a cycle round Derwent Water? Open to suggestions...

Half term family ride from Hassop

After a bit of a break family cycle rides are due to start up again in 2012 this half term!

Our first one will be on Wednesday 15th February and everyone's welcome. We'll start at Hassop Bookshop and Cycle Hire (click on link to visit their website for map and directions) and join The Monsal Trail which, after £2.25m of government investment, now runs through the newly re-opened former railway tunnels. If you haven't cycled through them yet, they are quite an experience - so long they need internal lighting to light the way! They have also installed 'interpretation' points along the route where you can push buttons and hear people telling stories about what it was like when the railway line still ran.

The trail is traffic free and level so ideal for all types of cyclists. We will do a there-and-back ride so you can go as far (or not!) as you like and the cafe at Hassop is warm and welcoming in case its freezing and some of us feel we don't want to spend too long out on our bikes!

We'll meet at 10 (for pre-cycle ride coffee & cake) and then aim to start at 10.30 and plan to cycle for a couple of hours up to lunch time, returning to the cafe around lunch time. Near the cafe there are picnic benches on the trail for anyone that would prefer to bring their own lunch.

Look forward to seeing you there - any questions do get in touch. If anyone needs to hire a bike check out the Hassop cafe website where they have details of their (very popular) bike hire.

Sophy - 07967 144230 sophyhallam@gmail.com