Over the next few weeks we’ll be exploring Sheffield: The Outdoor City with stories from our cyclists, climbers, runners and walkers. This week, Gary, Paul and Graz tell us about their experiences of cycling around Sheffield and the surrounding areas.
If their stories inspire you to dig your old bike out of the shed/basement you might like to sign up to the Sheffield City Ride, which starts at Endcliffe Park on Sunday 16 July. As an added incentive to register, the first 500 people to turn up on the day will get a free slice of cake! If you’d prefer to ease your way in to cycling and want to see what all the fuss is about you can instead register to be a volunteer for the City Ride.
If you’d prefer a different Ride, the Let’s Ride website is a great resource for discovering group rides that are taking place across the country. Or, if you’d like to join a club, or set up your own you can do so through Strava.
Check out The Outdoor City: Ride to find out more about riding around Sheffield and the Peak District. The Alpacas and Ale Houses 50 mile route looks good!
Gary Allen
Until the Sheffield Sky Ride (now the City Ride) a couple of years ago, I didn’t ride a bike. I owned one, but it had sat looking sad and forlorn in the garage ever since we moved to Sheffield 10 years before.
We were deep into the GCC step challenge at the time, and Philip Severs had made several pointed comments about cheating by cycling. The Sky Ride seemed a great way to get on a bike and “cheat” without the usual concerns about cars and buses as the roads are completely closed to all other traffic. It was brilliant – there was a great atmosphere with lots of stands and stalls, interviews with famous cyclists, and even free bike check-ups. There were lots of families riding together, so you quickly relax and just roll along at whatever pace suits you. The route is pretty easy going, and it is a great feeling to pootle along Sheffield’s roads without the noise, fumes and fear generated by motorists.
I didn’t actually do much cycling that day, but still ended up with lots of steps so resolved that one day the following week I was going to try and ride into work. I was a bit nervous about rush hour traffic, but it was actually fine – one of the real benefits of living in Sheffield is that there are a lot of cyclists, so most car drivers seem to be really aware and considerate of them. I’ve even had cars stopping to let me out of a side turn! I slowly built up my commuting, to the point where I cycle in three or four days a week now.
I can’t write this without mentioning the Cycle to Work Scheme – most of us would struggle to find the money to buy a new bicycle, but the scheme not only saves you a big chunk of the cost but lets you pay the rest over a year interest free, and you can even get all the clothing and equipment you need in the same deal. My £400 bike only cost me £20 per month! When you consider that it is cheaper than either driving or public transport, it is quicker, it is good for you, and most of the time it is actually enjoyable (I really don’t enjoy going up hills!) there is every reason to give it a go.
You can even do loads of cycling near Sheffield without having to go on roads at all – there are several long distance cycle paths (usually along old railway lines, and usually with plenty of cafés along the route), and cycling around Rother Valley Country Park is really nice too. All of these are flat and family friendly and have plenty of parking so you don’t have to cycle there and back.
So, give it a go – who knows where you will end up.
Paul Manchester
I started cycling mainly due to my love of skin tight lycra. Well that and the fact the cycle to work scheme made it rude not to give it a try. It was a bit daunting cycling on the busy steep roads of Sheffield at first, but also massively rewarding and addictive. I have gone from taking 3 rest stops just to manage the 4 mile cycle home, to now cycling 50+ mile rides on a weekly basis and riding sportives of up to 100 miles. It’s a great way to keep myself healthy and enable me to each as much cake as I like!
My favourite route is hard to pin down – living so close to the Peak District I am spoilt for choice. I like to get up at 6am on a Saturday morning to beat the crowds and make my way through the likes of Hathersage, Bakewell, Buxton and Chatsworth and if I feel energetic maybe a quick detour up Winnats Pass (not for the faint hearted). Of course I could also choose to turn left out of my drive and head to Bradfield and beyond for the rollercoaster hills and stunning views out towards Emley Moor. I am hoping to take my bike to the alps soon and tackle the famous tour climbs such as the Alpe d’Huez.
I would highly recommend for anyone wanting a more gentle amble through the countryside to hire (or take their own suitable off-road/hybrid bike) along the trails at Monsal or Tissington. A great day out and suitable for all ages and abilities. The advantage of these old train lines is the fact they are pretty much flat with the added bonus of plenty of ice-cream stops! Hassop Junction is a great place to start and finish the ride with its café offering a nice cold pint of Thornbridge ale to reward your efforts.
Anyone feeling fearless or reckless, can grab a mountain bike and take on the tracks at Grenoside or Lady Cannings. These thrilling trails will test your nerve and are proving to be a huge success the locals. I will always try to fit a quick blast in at the end of any ride when venturing out on my mountain bike around Stanage and Burbage edges.
Damflask Reservoir, perfect excuse for a quick stop and picture:
Burbage Edge, a nice rest stop on the way back from Hathersage:
Bradfield – Kirk Edge Road, following in the footsteps of the world’s best riders:
It’s always worth getting up early to take in the most spectacular views (and get them all to yourself!)
Cycling is not just for Summer! Stanage Edge in the snow.
Dealing with the morning congestion:
Grazina Manchester
I’ve always enjoyed cycling, from following my Dad round the greenways and canals of sunny Stoke on Trent as a kid, to taking my own kids for rides on the Monsal Trail and Sky Rides but had never tried proper road cycling.
A few years ago my husband took up the sport and whilst I was tempted to join him I was still nervous of Sheffield roads; all those pot holes and hills! Last summer I joined Paul on a few rides, me trundling behind on my mountain bike, then did a few routes on his road bike and loved it.
In August I bit the bullet and bought my own road bike and have since clocked up over 1000 miles in the saddle. It’s not always easy to fit rides in around the juggle of childcare and work, but cycling to work, longer detours home, taking turns at the weekend and helpful parents all help.
Although the terrain in Sheffield and neighbouring Derbyshire is obviously hilly, its strangely one of the reasons I enjoy riding so much. For one, you actually get a bit of a break on the descent, but the sense of achievement is amazing. Plus the scenery is gorgeous, so sometimes it is nice to just coast and admire the view.
Living really close to the Peaks, one of my favourite routes is riding up to Burbage, down through Hathersage, Grindleford and Calver to Bakewell, round to Beeley, through Chatsworth and back up to Froggatt and home. If I leave early enough I can miss traffic and be back for breakfast with the kids!
Aside from the physical impact cycling has had on my fitness and endurance this year, it’s really benefited me mentally; I’m able to push myself to maintain speeds, get up hills and keep going even when I really want to give up. I recently rode in my first 100 mile sportive; 6 hours on a saddle was physically tough but it was also really tough mentally as the roads were so flat and seemingly endless, especially the last ten miles. I did it though and for that I feel really proud.
The next big challenge is in Ripon, doing the same route of the 2014 Grand Depart; at 75 miles and nearly 6000ft of climbing I may really regret saying I prefer hills!
