Ride Sheffield

Category: News Update

  • Ride, Chat and Feedback: The RADtax Social

    There are always a number of ideas and projects on the go at Ride Sheffield, big and small, long term and short term, but one that has been slowly building over the past eighteen months has been RADtax. This is an idea that is crucial to the long term prospects of successful, sustainable (and growing) mountain biking in Sheffield.

    While other ideas may be a bit more exciting or glamorous or have the outcome of a new trail, for example, this has the potential to make a very big positive impact on the riding in the area. However, it is still currently a work in progress and to make sure that it is done in a way that benefits local riders and means that more people want to be part of it, we want your thoughts and feedback on it. (more…)

  • July Trail Evening – Lady Cannings 

    Lady Cannings had been bedding in nicely over the past few months, but everywhere needs a little TLC to keep it running sweetly.

    We will be heading up to Lady Cannings next Tuesday evening (25th July) to do a little basic maintenance work. As the trail is in pretty good shape, we will be mainly clearing out drains, sweeping/raking any loose material and trimming back a few unruly bits of vegetation too.

    We will be meeting in the car park (off Sheephill Road) at 6.30pm.

    We will provide tools, but if you have brooms, rakes or secateurs please bring them with you (and dress appropriately for the work).

  • Wharncliffe Felling Works

    Following a post on the Facebook page we’ve been in touch with the Forestry Commission to get some more information about the felling work planned for Wharncliffe over the next 2-3 months. They’ll be thinning (not clear felling) large areas of the woods (shown in green on the maps) and while they do there will be various restrictions on access. If you’re riding in the woods please take notice of the closures as they are in place to keep everyone safe.

    The FC can’t give any more information about when they’ll be in which areas as it will depend on various factors and they may be in several sections at once.

  • Magic Rock Brewery Bike day – Cut Gate!

    Magic Rock, a brewery in Huddersfield have asked Ride Sheffield along to their Bike Day – this Sunday 9th July.

    The event is at their Tap House in Huddersfield, full details here.  Doors open around 12 and it’ll all wind down around 7pm.  There’s several talks and exhibits, plus top notch food and beers!

    Si will be presenting the Cut Gate project that he’s been involved with alongside Peak District MTB, Keeper of the Peak and many other groups.  He’ll explain how and why Cut Gate was selected as a project, how that project has progressed and the plans for the future regards sorting out the Bog of Doom.  With all this in mind, there’ll be several ways to help us kickstart the fundraising for Cut Gate, but more about that on the day!

    Helping with the Cut Gate presentation will be Dave and Sim from Radventure.  They’ve put some great work into photos to run as a background during the talk and will be helping to make sure Si doesn’t babble on to much. The photo background should help remind people of Cut Gate, or teach those who’ve not ridden there what it looks like on the ground.

    Magic Rock have put a great amount of effort into the day, which will also include photo slideshows, a decorated Giro helmet exhibition (which go as prizes in the raffle!) a talk from Richpips and Tom, plus plenty more from other exhibitors.  Click here to see the full programme.

    It’s an informal and social event, so please come by and support!

  • Money, Moola, Wonga, Wedge

    With the recent opening of the Cooking on Gas trail at Lady Canning’s Plantation and fundraising for the new Radmires trail nearing completion it’d be easy to think that the need to dig deep in to your pockets and down the back of the sofa to help Ride Sheffield create trails was coming to an end, but that is not the case.

    The work we have done across Lady Cannings and Radmires will cost a total of around £125k to build. We’ve crowdfunded around £30k of this with the rest coming from various sponsors. At this point massive thanks again go to Go Outdoors, Vulcan Engineering, Cotic Bikes, Norton Mayfield Architects and Avanti Conveyors for all their support. What we have managed to achieve is truly amazing, now the hard work begins.

    Now we have to look after all the amazing trails we have built, to keep them running well and to show that we can support them. There are already another couple of potential spots identified for further trail building (we’ll keep schtum about where for now) but the council, as responsible landowners, in these times of austerity have to be sure that not only can we build trails in partnership with them but also that we can maintain them and keep them safe. Unfortunately, the cash-strapped council can’t do a huge amount to help so it will fall to us to do that work.

    We will run dig days and volunteer sessions across the trails we build and manage (Lady C, Radmires and Greno) which will help to lessen the burden but with the huge use all of our trails get (to give you an idea an estimated 3,000 runs on Cooking on Gas in the first month alone) some of the work requires plant, manpower and expertise that we cannot provide with bodies alone. We will need to get contractors and plant in to do some of the works and this will cost money, lots of money. (more…)

  • Ride Sheffield Merchandise!

    We’ve been selling tees and stickers at various bike shops around the city for a while now, along with manning the merch stand at the Steel City race.

    Si at 18 Bikes has now listed tees, stickers and screenprints on the shop website, for folks who want to mail order.  We even have a few prints leftover from the Steel City race that are signed by Steve Peat himself!

    All proceeds go to Ride Sheffield funds, none of the shops involved are taking a penny for stocking this merchandise.

    You can order Ride Sheffield items using these links;

    Ride Sheffield screenprints

    Ride Sheffield Womens tees

    Ride Sheffield Mens tees

    Ride Sheffield Stickers

  • Peaty’s Steel City DH: A Spectators Guide

    Peaty’s Steel City DH is a perfectly formed rough diamond is Sheffield’s sporting crown and has been running every spring since 2011. Organised by Peaty (and friends), it takes all the best bits of MTB races that Steve has experienced around the world and puts them into a small woods in Grenoside.

    It has become know as ‘the biggest little race in the world’ and for good reason; It is massively popular with racers, selling out in a matter of minute. It allows rippers (aged 11-12) to race the same course as world champions such as Steve Peat and Tracy Moseley, it also boasts one of the biggest fields of female competitors nationally too.

    Beyond the racers, there is one aspect that has cemented the races reputation as a must do event nationally and that is the atmosphere. With crowds of over 3000 attending the event, the buzz is second to none.

    So if you have not been up to the event before here is all you need to know about planning a trip to the race…. (more…)

  • May Trail Days: Greno

    This month we will be heading up to Greno for our trail days. While the trails are pretty hardwearing and a little rougher than some, they still benefit from a little tic here and there. We will be starting in the Bombhole to make sure it is all looking good for Peaty’s Steel City DH and them working on the Steel City Track before doing a few jobs on the other trails (time permitting) (more…)

  • The Advocacy files!

    With a huge amount of help from Keeper of the Peak, we’ve worked with Peak District MTB to compile The Advocacy files – to highlight some of the great work the two groups have been involved with in the local area.

    (more…)

  • GO Outdoors Grand Opening of ‘Cooking on Gas’ trail at Lady Canning’s

    The trails in Lady Cannings exist because of a lot of hardwork by numerous people, Sheffield City Council’s massive support and your contributions which made it possible. However, nothing would have happened without Go Outdoors having the confidence and vision to get behind the project by funding the last part of the Blue Steel Trail and all of Cooking on Gas. To celebrate that success, they will be holding a grand opening on the trail this weekend. Ride Sheffield will be there to chat about this and other projects, but this is Go Outdoors’ big celebration of all things mountain biking as you can read below….. (more…)