Another Busy Week

First off, the Green Drinks visit to the Ecclesall Woods sawmill on tuesday. Sheffield Cycle Campaign has linked up with Green Drinks to provide sustainable transport for their series of visits to green initiatives around the city - followed by a social in a nearby pub of course...
























This house, made from local materials as far as possible, will be used as a showroom for products made of wood from Ecclesall.
















A useful piece of equipment parked outside Cole Bros Sheffield, last Tuesday.

Went to the YHTAR AGM on Saturday - http://www.yhtar.org.uk

Used the 09:29 Northern service to York via Pontefract. This used to be a regular service linking
South, North and West Yorkshire communities together (at one time the lunchtime train extended to Chesterfield, giving the opportunity for a quick lunchtime trip to Dronfield - handy for visiting GB cycles, now sadly closed) but is now pretty much much a rump service, with only two trains a day in each direction. However, if you want to get to York with your bike, it's a good service to choose, with no reservations required and generally light loadings. More on Pontefract later.















Cycle Rescue stall in York - more sustainable than Northern Rock?

We continue to plug away for better public transport, walking and cycling across Yorkshire (with some success). Our co-chairs, Anthony Rae and John Hoare go to YH Assembly meetings and try to bang some sense into them. The latest round of approved schemes aren't too bad - here's a quick list:-

• Yorcard, £28m
• Leeds Station Southern Access, £10.798m
• White Rose Way, Doncaster, £15m
• A61 Penistone Road Quality Bus Corridor, Sheffield, £9.959m
• East Leeds Parkway, Micklefield, Leeds, £19.4m
• York Park and Ride - Askham Bar, £5.241m
• York Park and Ride - A59, £10.401m
• York Park and Ride - Clifton Moor, £5.212m
• Rotherham to Sheffield Bus Rapid Transit Northern Route, £36.059m
• A684 Bedale, Aiskew, Leeming Bar Bypass, North Yorkshire £ 31.388m

As you can see only two of the ten schemes are new roads. However, there is concern that the Assembly is not fully taking into account Climate Change in its approval process, and we are going to press for this to be fully integrated in future.















Ray Wilkes holds forth at the YHTAR meeting


Last time I went to meeting in York, I took the train to Garforth, and cycled down the greenway to Castleford, which made me realise that the West Yorkshire rustbelt was really not that far from the capital of Elmet. This time, I started off thinking I'd try to follow the Pedal Pushers Recommended Route from Sheffield to York in reverse, then I just decided to throw away the guide book and make up my own route. Things started well as I powered away out of York through Copmanthorpe, then as I threaded the lanes I realised that there were really not that many crossings of the Ouse and the Aire, and if I was going to make progress I was going to have to either go to Tadcaster or head back to the York to Selby cycle route. This is an area with many railway lines (but not many stations) and I followed some yellow jackets in front of me
along a bridleway that cut many miles of the detour. I had the advantage of a North-Easterly wind that was certainly pushing me along.

Tadcaster offered water in the form of a bottle of Vittel and a bridge over the Wharfe, not far from Wharfe's mouth where this river that has taken its course from the high areas of the Dales, through Kettlewell where my family have had many enjoyable times, to Bolton Abbey where the tourist likes to wade in the brown waters, avoiding Leeds to retain the water's purity until it can be delivered to the Ouse and subsequently the Humber.

From here the logical thing was to take the A162 straight down to Castleford and Pontefract. This being around 5, I wanted to be back in Sheffield for 8 so my only hope was the 18:09 from Pontefract (told you I'd get back to that place) The signs said Pf was 15 miles so I figured I'd have to make an average of 15pmh (duh) . This being a pretty flat part of the world that seemed feasible. Things went well with a good stretch of A road with not too much traffic.

At Sherburn-in Elmet the A621 takes a bypass so the obvious thing was to go through the village. Elmet is a concept that interests me, the ancient Celtic kingdom of Yorkshire. Previously I was aware of Ted Hughes 'Remains of Elmet' photo-poem - researching for the blog leads me to some interesting web sites which I will have to explore. Certainly the idea of Yorkshire as a Celtic kingdom is intriguing.

The road I was following was clearly part of the old A1, or Ermine St; something that fascinated my father, and he passed on his enthusiasm for the old roads of England, although I prefer to cycle them whilst he was enamoured by the newly ubiquitous internal combustion engine, in the days when it was still a means of freedom rather than an entrapment.

At South Milford there were vestiges of a cycle route, although as is so often the case it was on the wrong side of the road, so any safety advantages it many have given me were negated by the potential hazards of crossing a major road twice. After rejoining the A621 another off-road route was available to me, but with the same problem. this one had clearly been constructed to enable cycles to access some local lanes -all well and good, but longer-distance cyclists then had to rejoin the main road for another mile, where there was a roundabout for the A1 - could the off-road cycle route not have been extended for that paltry distance?

After that obstacle had been negotiated, one got the ominous feeling that something nasty was approaching - this would be Ferrybridge, where an enormous power station once fed with British coal, but now I suspect from Eastern Europe, just to add to the carbon footprint, lurks by the river. The A-road turned into a dual carriageway with nowhere for cyclists to go other than a stone-covered hard shoulder - the potential for punctures was high. I took the first available exit which took me through Ferrybridge village - not someone you would want to linger despite the riverside vista - and the road took me under where the A1 meets the M62, a modern river of steel and plastic quite different from Wharfe's Mouth.

Here I was was struck between the difference between this country and our European partners - a civilised country would ensure that our vulnerable road users were protected as they passed beneath busy motorway intersections, but somehow the Brits can't quite bring themselves to do that. Somehow I survived that experience, and soon found a road that would take me to Pontefract Monkhill with every chance that I would catch that vital 18:09 train. Sure enough I made it to that station, waiting in company with the original Fat Slags who were off for an evening of debauchery in Wakefield. I was able to drown out their raucous howling by turning up my ipod touch to the max, At Kirkgate things looked up as the Leeds-Sheffield 'Fast' Service turned up and got me back to Sheffield an hour earlier than expected. That's how public transport is supposed to work!

So was in good time for 'Happy-go-lucky', the new Mike Leigh film at the Showroom which I really enjoyed.

Gwyneth Dunwoody

Sad to hear of the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody. She was the scourge of New
Labour's transport policy when it was really at its nadir - thankfully
things seems to have improved, and I am sure that is at least in part
due to the work she did as chair of the transport select committee.
People like her are hard to find, but I hope there will be more in the pipeline
that are prepared to tell it like it is and not just stick to the 'party line'.

New Concept in Zebra Crossing

From Namibia where the term "Zebra crossing" has a slightly different meaning.
Note: pic taken from 4wd with bull bars (those zebras are mean) Me? With my reputation?

Only fools & cyclists

Where Del Boy ended up.

Cycle parking installed at Dore

Not! If this is your bike please let us know what you think about the cycle parking and access at Dore. Incidentally the timetables are from Deutsche Bahn - someone showing a lot of confidence in National Rail!

Separated at birth?

Cycle-squashing traffic island on Leopold St





















The remote control for my telly. Spooks anyone?
(That's my CAMRA membership card on the right)

Just picking up some DIY...

Bad morning

Yesterday, had a meet with asst. director at 10 so made sure I set off in good time to prepare myself. Pumped up tyres before leaving -big mistake. Got to Chesterfield and the rear tyre was flat. Strong winds, raining. Decided to replace inner tube -first one failed, fortunately I had two. Set off again only to have gear cable break whilst trying to maneouvre round motorists who was trying to cut me up so he could get to the bus lane. Limped on on first gear, covered with dirt, not too late for meeting but not in good shape for it either. Quick wash and brush up, just about presentable by 10. Phew.

Comfort testing the bike lane

Aarhus...

Moonrise over burbage

About 3:30, Dec 23rd. Taken with phone.

quick trip

Got to work on time, for once, and realised that although I had brought the works laptop in with me had neglected to bring power supply & mouse. Team leader needed it for high-level meeting so only option was to leap back on bike, go home and get it. Did the trip in under 30 mins (it's 2.2 miles each way) and am sitting nonchalantly at desk when TL wanders in at 9:35 to pick up the machine. It could only be done by bike! Only casualty was my shirt that was soaked and needed an airing.

Busted p.s.

Further to my earlier post would like to say that an LBS whose name begins with L did a perfectly good job on my rear hub. It took them a while because they didn't have a campag hub in stock, but otherwise it was fine.

Derby to Sheffield the long way round

Self & Spouse dragged ourselves out of bed on Sunday morning and headed down to the station. Having missed all the fast trains to Derby, we found ourselves on a very slow one, and 1 1/2 hous later we dragged ourselves & our bike off. The plan was to follow the Pennine Cycleway up as far as Parsley Hey and then head across to Sheffield - we would have liked to have got back before dark but with our late start this was going to be tricky, no matter, we set off on the bike route which bizarrely starts off heading south-west out of Derby - it's part of the route to Burton-on-Trent, which after threading through the houses finds a rail trail on the outskirts, and then splits off to head north.

The well-signed route takes you through pleasant countryside to Ashbourne, with its spectacular tunnel (complete with train sounds) taking you right to the start of the Tissington trail. 10 miles of steady climbing follows with the trail in good condition after the dry autumn we're having. We came off at Biggin, took to the main road for a mile or so before heading on thw back roads towards Bakewell. This takes you above Youlgreave and down to Lathkildale, with a stiff climb back out before the descent into puddingtown. By now it was dark and there was nothing for it but to grit the teeth and carry on to Sheffield, it being too late for the infrequent train from Grindleford.

The ride back was fine apart from the swine who won't dip for cyclists, and the chill factor you get from the long downhill from Fox House. Home around 7 and straight on to the next fireworks party. Endless fun!

The Good Ship William Wilberforce

On the way back to Sheffield from Rotherham I travelled on the Good Ship William Wilberforce. This is not really a ship but a train, in fact a Class 158, and I do like the cut of its jib. The point I wish to make about this fair vessel is the excellent cycle storage facilities, a cut above many of its marque.

Here you see the main storage area:
















Whilst opposite is a flexible space area, where you could fit another couple of bikes:-
















The reason I blog this is that Northern, our excellent local rail operator, has taken delivery of a quantity of these class 158 units. They are certainly a cut above the Pacer trains, up with us poor Northerners have had to put for many years, but some of them have inadequate facilities for cycles. prams large suitcases etc. On this train the problem looked to have been solved, partly by cutting out the cycle cubby-hole that these trains used to have, where even with one bike you had to remove all bags before you could get it in the space, and partly by getting rid of the second toilet, not really needed on the local services these trains will now operate.

Well done Northern! For further ID here is the carriage number of that train:-















(The cycle sticker could be a little bit bigger, but at least there is one)

The Tale of the Lost Boy

I was cycling along the Rotherham canal at dusk, (don't ask) when an elderly Glaswegian stopped me and asked whether I was looking for a boy. I assured him I was not, whereupon he explained that there was a lost boy wandering along the towpath just a but further ahead and enquired as whether I would be so kind as to look out for him. I assured him I would, and sure enough a little further ahead there was a little lad in a bit of a state. I asked him whether he was lost and he explained that he had been fishing with his da and somehow they had got separated (it did rather seem as though aforesaid Da had buggered off somewhere and left him.) So I called SY's finest and explained the situation. They had the usual problem that unless you are on a road with a name they can't locate you, but eventually they worked it out and we arranged that I would take him to the nearby road bridge and a police car would pick him up.

First though we had to look for his fishing gear, which seemed to have disappeared, so I gave him a lift on the back of the bike. Soon enough a young PC turned up, and I have never seen a kid get into the back of a cop car so fast! I hope he got back home OK, and that someone had words with his so-called Da.

Go east young man

What is it about the East? West of Sheffield we have the fabulous Peak District, an easy ride with just a little tussock of a hill betweeen us and there, or the Hope Valley train if you want to cheat. To the North lies the Rust Belt, forty miles of post-industrial wasteland before the Dales beckon. South lies the Promised Land, where the cycle routes are paved with gold or at least tarmac. But east? East lies an hours (at least) worth of suburbia before you so much as see a hint of countryside. If you take the trail it's a litany of broken glass, stolen cars, roaring motorbikes and rough surfaces. On the road, the man with the biggest 4x4 rules. You'd take the train, but on a Sunday morning that train don't run here anymore.

Still the east calls to me. There's something about that corridor of green running along the Parkway, those patches of ancient forest amongst the urban squalor, the shoots of renewed vigour in an exhausted and depleted scene.

If you manage to make it out of town, Rother Valley will offer you a cup of your favourite beverage, and once you've made it up that last hill, there is rolling countryside to enjoy. Worksop might not have too much to entice you, beyond an easy canal route through town, and you might not want to linger long in Manton town, but beyond this Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest await, with plenty of off-road to tire you out and greenery to sooth your aggravated brain. Lincolnshire and the Wolds await you further east, and if you head south through Nottinghamshire you might just find yourself in Nottamun Town, sampling the ales in the Trip to Jerusalem or the Lincolnshire Poacher.

So I say - head east young man! you won't regret it.

Different trains

Got a ride out to Gainsborough with my brother to look at the 'O' guage model railway. This is a quite amazing mythical re-creation of a muthical East Coast steam railway. There are a few anomalies like Hitchin being stuck between Leeds & Doncaster but it's great.

Then set off to cycle back towards Sheffield, since Alex was heading south. The National Byway runs alongside the A631 and takes you down towards West Burton before it heads off south, ;eaving you on the road to Retford which is quite reasonable. At the bottom of the hill there's a route avoiding a low bridge which takes you on a quiet road to Retford - particularly so at the moment since it's closed for sewer replacements. Then on through Retford towards Worksop, passing Ranby prison. At Worksop got on the canal which takes you through town, part of Route 6 . Stopped to replace some signs on the bridge. Onward to Shireoak, passing the Lock-Keeper where there is a spring ride next year. Stopped off at Shireoak station to see when the next train was, and it came in, so given that it's a two-hourly service I got on it! This is one of those free services that Northern like to run, no-one collecting fares although all the stations are unstaffed. It had just got dark (at 6:30) so it was just the right time to end the ride.

Enjoyed this video

Busted

Set off merrily for Huddersfield for the Northern Rail Cycle Forum yesterday morning. Having negotiated the City Centre I had the bike pointing north at Shalesmoor when I heard an ominous sproing from the back wheel. Had a quick look & thought "bust a spoke". Was not far from a bike shop who's name begins with L so thought I'd pop it in there for a quick repair - had booked it in when I realised that actually about a quarter of the spokes had come out of the hub. This sort of repair on my expensive touring bike is not normally something I would take to that particular shop, as I prefer a shop whose name begins with B. so it will be interesting to see what they do with it. Anyway, got the tram back to the station and and the next Pacer to H'field, so made the meeting in plenty of time.

Across the woodhead

Friday 28th took the afternoon off, due in Litton early evening for caravan close-down party , thought I'd cross the Pennines on the TPT and work my way down to the White Peak.

Did the 5WW out to Meadowhall & up to Ecclesfield - this was OK apart from the closed Cobweb Bridge & Thessco sections, and the very poor surfaces between Warren St and Thessco. The Chapletown Greenway was particularly good.

Thought it would be a good idea to check out the state of the TPT through Parsons Cross - this really is very poor and not suitable for road bikes. I knew Iwas approaching PX as I heard the sound of gunfire and off-road motorbikes gunning up. If we are to maintain a bike route through this area I think it should be on Deerlands Ave, Hartley Brook Ave & Butterthwaite Rd.

Up into Greno woods which was fine as ever, then the Woodhead Rd down to Wortley - conscious I had wasted some time in the suburbs I stayed on the road through Thurgoland, down to Oxspring where I rejoined the trail. Stopped in Penistone for some snap - cycling culture seems to have taken off in this area, saw quite a few kids cycling home from school, either by themselves or with an enterprising dad who had cycled down to collect them. Headed onwards in the drizzle towards Dunford Bridge.

Up the hill and onto the Woodhead itself, with time slipping away I decided to stay on the road
and avoid the trail this time. It was whilst thrashing down the road I heard the familiar hissing sound that indicates a puncture. I ground to a halt and got out my tools, to discover a spare inner tube, a pump, a multi-tool - damn! no tyre levers! Managed to pry the tyre off, probably detroying the old tube in the process, and get the new tube in and the tyre back on by hand - my thumbs still ache though! Luckily the whole thing held and I carried on into worsening weather continuing on the Woodhead Rd into Glossop. It was around 6 and it was apparent Iwasn't going to get to Litton for my 7:30 dinner date by cycling. A quick examination of my rail optionds reveled that if I went to Man Picc I could get to Hope by 7:35 and up the hill by around 8, so that's what I did. The trains worked and I emerged into heavy rain at Hope, put on all the waterproof gear I had on me, and struggled up the hill in the dark, with drivers more than willing to put full beam in in my face. My fellow diners had already ordered a steak for me and rarely was a meal more appreciated!