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

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 ...

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.

Super sunny tram assisted ride

A super sunny ride to Renishaw Hall on the TPT, with picnic, tram-assists for many and only one broken chain, but plenty of home made brownies and flapjack.

A great turn out of kids on their own bikes, on seats, tag alongs, tandems all very excited by chocolate coin hunts, jet skiing show offs and the opportunity to whizz along in a wonderfully wack races-like fashion along a great traffic-free route. They all coped very well with a few hundred metres of busy road too and the adults all tolerated the moving feast that was the picnic. How could anyone ever say a bunch of feasting cycling gannets could make somewhere look untidy ...

Next ride on the 17th May from Grassmoor .... more details in the coming weeks

April Ride - with tram option ...

The next Sheffield Family Ride has the option of a tram assisted start on Sunday April 19th. Meet at 09:45 @ Sheffield Cathedral to catch the tram or meet us at 11.00am Rother Valley CP Cafe.

The destination for the ride is Renishaw Hall whether you catch the tram, cycle out to the Park or park there.

The tram option is great fun for kids - putting your bike on trams is not allowed on everyday trams. The costs for the chartered tram are:
Adult + bike return £5
Child + bike return £2

The ride from the tram stop to the Park is mainly on off-road through housing, but there are bits of on-road. The route from the Park is on traffic-free routes, apart from the last bit to the Hall.

Pic-nic at the halfway stage as usual. Look forward to seeing you all.

Next ride - Sunday 15th - Rother Valley

The next Sheffield family ride is on the 15th March at Rother Valley Country Park. 10am meet for 10.30 departure. Around 10 gently rolling miles, the majority of which are traffic-free.

Everyone welcome ... we've get a mixture of tandems, tag alongs, trailers, child seats and of course kids on solo bikes. All under 16s accompanied by an adult.

More details nearer the date.

CANCELLED - Sunday 15th ride ... too icy still

Apologies to everyone for late notice, but an inspection of the trails in the woods today suggested it would not be any fun cycling in there with families.

The snow has lingered, compacted and outstayed its welcome.

We are sure it will be gone soon and the normal light drizel and low cloud we all love will be back for the March ride ....

Snow much fun? 10am Sunday 15th ...

This months family cycle ride is planned for this Sunday, 15th February. Meeting at Millhouses Park Café at 10 am ish for a 10.30 start, then cycle through Ecclesall woods to Whirlowbrook Hall for a lunch stop (space to picnic in garden, or café) and back to the start.

This ride has got nice stretches of off-road cycling in the woods and is not too long or challenging, although can be a bit muddy if the tracks in the wood are very boggy or wet.

We will need the snow to have melted a bit more though before we can do it – the tracks are not very cycleable at the moment – so check this blog the day before and we’ll post an update on whether its going ahead or not.

Other planned rides for 2009 are (every third Sunday, 10 for 10.30 am):

15 March – meet at Rother Valley Country Park Visitor Centre
19 April – bikes on tram ride – meet at Cathedral tram stop at 10 am (nb note this ride starts a bit earlier than our normal rides)
17 May – meet at Grassmoor Country Park
21 June – meet at Old Moor Wetlands Centre car park
19 July – meet at Endcliffe Park Café
16 August – trip to Clumber Park

We’ll post directions and route descriptions on the blog - plus email them out the week before the ride.

Happy riding.

Sunday 18th ride from Endcliffe Park Cafe

Sunday 18th ride from Endcliffe Park Cafe - meet 10am for 10.30 departure ... all families are welcome for a ride up to Forge Dam up the Porter Valley.

This is the 3rd time we've done this ride and every time lots of new people have come and enjoyed it, even though it was raining.

We've also been planning rides for the rest of the year, including a Youth Hostel weekend in September. More details soon.

You don't have to be a Knight to enjoy riding your bike ...