Ride Sheffield

Author: Si Bowns

  • North America Bridleway works

    North America Bridleway works

    As part of our involvement on the Cut Gate Mend our Mountains project, we’ve been included by Moors for the Future in site meetings and discussions around repair works to the North America bridleway. Apologies for not getting updates out sooner, things haven’t quite gone to plan…

    North America

    Tool envy.

    The works on North America should have run concurrently with the planned drainage work on Cut Gate, but landowner permissions didn’t happen in time for Cut Gate works to begin. We’ll update on that when we know more.

    Weather delayed the start of the North America works, setting a precedent for what would prove to be a battle against both weather and time. The landowner/estate insisted on the contractor being off site mid March, so it was a bit of a battle to get done what they could.

    We were invited to a couple of site visits, both early on and towards the end of the works. It may take some remembering, but back in February and March the weather was much much wetter. It didn’t make for the most pleasant site visits – I was envious of the machinery and tools, but I didn’t envy them working on a cold exposed hilltop in Winter!

    Wellies required.

    The work on North America is much more intrusive than that planned for Cut Gate – with new build track for much of the section. This has been made by digging alongside the bridleway route for material, making sure that no materials need to be imported to site.

    Terra Firma began work at the North end of the track, knowing that this was likely where the poorer quality material would be. Their suspicions were proved correct, with high clay content. The contrast between this first section and the next bit they worked on was quite stark – the second section had dried and begun to bed in, while the clay stayed soft. The plan was to return to the lower section with material from further up the hill, where the higher mineral content was obvious.

    Firmer material, almost immediately after being laid.
    The softer clay further down the hill

    Further up the track towards Cut Gate, the bigger work has been on drainage – with stone lined gulleys taking water off and down the hill. Water management is absolutely vital in path repairs, so we see this making a huge difference over time. The crossings have been sensibly designed, without too much gradient either side, rather a wider/smoother dip.


    Much of the reason for the repairs is moorland restoration – bringing back the natural habitat. Now we have a narrower, sustainable track, the heather should recover and hide the braiding and erosion from before. Terra Firma also spread heather brash and seed to encourage this and hide the tracks from their machinery.

    The new track winding its way up the hill

    Wet weather and even snow meant several missed days for the contractor, on top of the delayed start. This means that the works aren’t yet complete, so are likely to be rolled in with the start of the drainage work on Cut Gate.

    The works may come as something of a shock to people, but as we mentioned before – given time for the vegatation to grow back, the track to weather a little and at least a few freeze/thaw cycles – we’ll soon have another year round option to include in our Langsett/Cut Gate rides. We now see North America as a climb option too, opening out different choices for a loop at the end of an out and back ride of Cut Gate.

    The clay section in particular will need more work, we’re discussing this with Moors for the Future. Once we have more news on this and Cut Gate, we’ll update you all again.

    As ever, any questions to info@ridesheffield.org.uk

  • Redmires – what’s been going on?

    Suffice to say, our Redmires project hasn’t gone as smoothly as some of our other works. We’ve not been the best at updating you guys, but that’s partly been down to not having firm answers on everything.

    So, to bring you all up to date.

    Redmires has funds in place, that’s sat in our account waiting – there’s been no change there. Where we and Sheffield City Council have had issues is with planning permission and surrounding issues.

    With ground nesting birds on site, specifically Nightjars, we discussed the idea of a partial trail closure on the top section of the track during ground nesting bird season. That’s an option, but expensive to do the works to close/open the section each time. Within 2-4 years, the Nightjars are likely to move on, away from the bike trail and into new felled areas. This is something for us to bear in mind as the project progresses, but isn’t the main reason for the delays – it’s really down to Planning Permission.

    Peak District National Park Authority have advised Sheffield City Council to withdraw the current application and submit a full application instead. This is more work for the Council staff and should be submitted around Spring time. Peak Park want more details and information, which means more ecological studies and checks – therefore more time.

    Ok, so what about our trail then?


    Basically, it’s going to take time – but we’re confident that the planning permission will get through. Sheffield Council staff agree, which is great as it’s those guys doing the legwork here.

    In the meantime, we’re working on making sure that we work on the relationships with other users and stakeholders to make sure that we all understand the different points of view.

    The aim is for the new application to be submitted this Spring. We’ll then update you once there’s more news from PDNPA.

    As ever, any questions please feel free to discuss with us on info@ridesheffield.org.uk

  • Blacka Moor dig day – Devil’s Elbow

    Blacka Moor dig day – Devil’s Elbow

    What a winter! The deluge has barely stopped since October and it has resulted in some serious damage on Devil’s Elbow. On a number of occasions, it has become a stream and much of the work we’ve done over the last ten years has taken a hammering,

    However, lots of our good friends have stepped up to the plate to help us put it right. First up, the Sheffield City Council Rights of Way Team have provided suitable material to do the repairs. Deposited just below the stables on Shorts Lane, we need to move it to the foot of Devil’s Elbow and BikeTrack have offered to help with that using a mini-digger and dumper. The Alpkit Foundation have undertaken to cover the cost of the plant, proving that the outdoor community can really work together.

    The dig-day is going to be on the 14th March from 9.30am onwards and we’re going to need all the help we can get! So if you can help all day or just for an hour, please come along. Tools and food will be provided, (again thanks to SCC and BikeTrack respectively).

    More details can be found on our Facebook page here and event page here.

  • Ride Sheffield Winter Social 2019: 10 year special!

    This year’s Winter Social on the 25th of November is a bit of a special one, as we are celebrating our 10th Birthday! Yes, time flies when you are having fun on your bikes and riding in Sheffield can certainly be as fun as it gets! But what’s almost as good fun as riding your bikes is hanging out with your mates over a beer and chatting about bikes and good times. Add in some top-notch entertainment from the Shred Talk hosted by Downtime Podcast, some excellent prizes to be won in the quiz and the raffle, a little bit of merch from ourselves and Bolehills and some of Sheffield finest brands showing of their good too.

    A lot has happened in the past 10 years and we may have to toast a couple of our successes and just what an awesome place Sheffield is to ride a mountain bike. We will also be updating you on some of our key projects such as Redmires and Cut Gate and other exciting developments in the city, as well as looking forward at how we (and you) would like to see Ride Sheffield developing in the next 10 years. Finally, we will then give you a quick update on what we have done with Rad Tax this year, quickly rattle through our AGM and then we will be moving on to the more entertaining aspects of the evening….

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  • Cut Gate works map

    Cut Gate works map

    After this site visit last month, Moors for the Future have produced a map outlining the work that begins later in October.

    This should help to clarify what work is planned and where. Click the picture to view full size.

    Plenty of drainage, subtle works and flags where required – exactly as promised!

    Do you like what we do here at Ride Sheffield? Here’s a few things you might like to do;
    – Support us via Rad Tax
    – Read our previous news stories
    – Browse our merchandise
    – Sign up to our newsletter

  • “Be Nice, tread light” – the first meeting of many?

    “Be Nice, tread light” – the first meeting of many?

    As outdoors folks, we can all be a little guilty of pack mentality, sticking within our own little groups. We thought it was time to look a little further afield, discuss things more openly and try to work together with some different people. We wanted to talk about the impact we all have on the Peak District and what we could do together to help minimise this.

    On Wednesday 9th October, we arranged an open meeting at the Norfolk Arms, Ringinglow. Spurred on by the success of Cut Gate as a collaborative project, we invited land managers, conservation workers and rangers to join a variety of outdoor user groups to discuss what we could possibly look to do together to improve our collective enjoyment of Sheffield and the Peak District.

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  • North America Bridleway – an update

    North America Bridleway – an update

    Along with last week’s site visit to Cut Gate, Moors for the Future also arranged a site visit for user groups and stakeholders to discuss their works on the North America bridleway.

    To put this in context and clarify things;

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  • Cut Gate – work begins soon!

    Cut Gate – work begins soon!

    With the Cut Gate project funded and contractors confirmed, today was the day to head up for a site visit to discuss the planned works.  A sunny, blue skies day certainly helped!

    We met with Moors for the Future (who are managing the Cut Gate project), Peak District National Park Authority and a host of other trail users – mainly to meet Andy from Terra Firma who will be carrying out the work.

    It’s great to see users getting a proper consultation on repair works like this, but thankfully there was little disagreement anyhow.  The planned work is primarily drainage, to get the standing water off the hill and away from the route.  

    Moors for the Future should be following up with a map and notes, which we’ll share.  In the meantime, here’s a loose explanation of what’s going on.

    Bog of Doom

    The main boggy section of Cut Gate, which proves most difficult to pass when the weather’s been wet.  This area will have the most significant works, with new drainage and a slight detour of the trail to keep it higher.  This will be one of the longer sections of flags, around 70m – and a clapper bridge in one spot.

    In between the two boggy sections, a new drainage channel will help to keep water away from the trail.  No trail works as such in this area, but the drain will cross the trail at a couple of points – these will have stone pitching or flags as appropriate.

    Bog of mild peril.

    Further South towards the Cairn, this section has a split and significant amoutns of water gathering at the bottom.  The trail will be routed one side, with drainage the other. A small clapper bridge and flags will then allow the trail to cross this drain, with water draining away using the existing pipework.

    Between this bog and the Cairn, there’s a few setions of exposed peat that are being used as smoother route choices.  These will be tidied and a route through the rockier sections encouraged. Where possible, the route will be held to around 1m in width – to allow the moorland to recover.

    National Trust area

    Beyond the Cairn and heading towards Derwent, the land changes into National Trust ownership and management.  Although not directly part of this project, there is a little funding from the main project that’s being offered to the National Trust to carry out some trail work.

    This is yet to be confirmed, but conversations today suggested that the steep section between the cairn and the flagged section is priority, along with the very bottom of the trail between the stream crossing and Slippery Stones.

    We’ll keep you in the loop on this separate work, but it will once again be minimal and appropriate – mainly focussed on drainage.

    Timescale

    The work on the bogs begins in October, ending in March before nesting bird season.

    Thanks

    Huge thanks go to everyone we’ve worked with on this project, particularly Chris Maloney (Keeper of the Peak/Peak District MTB)

    It’s been a collaborative project in terms of the two local mountain bike groups working together, but also one of our more successful projects in working with other user groups and land managers.  We now have allies in the worlds of rambling, climbing, horse riding and conservation – people who are now singing our praises.

    Big thanks go to Magic Rock brewery and Radventure for their help in the early stages of the project.  Very much appreciated!

    But most importantly, thanks to each and every one of you who helped with the fundraiser.  The BMC and Moors for the Future headed it up, but every donation, sponsored event, raffle ticket and social media share has counted.

    We look forward to sharing the improved Cut Gate with you as soon as it’s finished – ideally enjoying this iconic trail more of the year round!

  • Cut Gate – a successful fundraiser!

    Cut Gate – a successful fundraiser!

    Between us, we’ve done it – the Cut Gate fundraiser has hit its total! Those of us who’ve plugged away behind the scenes, our countless partners in local organisations and each and every one of you who fundraised and donated have all helped to make this happen. Huge thanks!

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  • Rad Tax – where are we up to?

    When we announced Rad Tax, the whole idea was for Sheffield riders to pay into a pot that would give Ride Sheffield something of a pot to dip into , in contrast to our larger crowdfunded trail projects such as Lady Canning’s.

    So what have we spent it on so far? Here’s a few things we’ve done and have planned;

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