September Ride?
No Idea if I'm posting this in the right place but here goes!
Having repaired to a local purveyor of 'cool sociable liquids' after the family ride this evening I wondered out loud if anyone fancied a longer/more challenging ride. After definite positive noises I decided to post here and see what a wider audience thought.
Having done a couple of longer trips out and about mostly pinched from the Arnold Robinson booklet on our tandem & triple I would like to propose a longer group ride. All the Robinson routes can been done at sensible speeds & getting off to walk up stuff we don't want to do (such a shame to rush up the Cat-Hole Valley I feel - such lovely views) & we could make a day of it (picnic/pub lunch etc). There are roads involved in many of the routes I have looked at although I guess we could get to Hardwick mostly off road using the five pits trail.
Very happy to be led by route suggestions/times etc by someone with better local knowledge (which shouldn't be too hard).
Thinking vaguely of a September Sunday.
Just a thought.
S.
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Date & possible routes
Ok 4 positives via email - sounds like enough to be starting with.
I suggest the 13th September. This gives us a couple of weekends options should the weather on that day be really unspeakable.
There are 2 'rides' I have in mind (in no particular order):
a. 23.5 From St Mary's Gate To Hardwick Hall returning on the 5 pits Trail (Arnold Robinson Number 3). One proper get off and enjoy the view climb either up to Ault Hucknall from Stainsby Mill or the alternative which is up the driveway to the Hall. It would be possible to split the ride for non climbers at the Mill and meet up at the Pub for lunch. There are a number of options to shorten this ride if desired.
b. From Chesterfield somewhere (Town Hall/Station?) Up the canal to The Rother Valley Park Cafe and then on the Sheffield Train Station returning to Chesterfield by Train (the brave could turn round and cycle back). This route is almost entirely off road on cycle routes. May take a bit of organising in terms of trains - have not thought about that bit yet but I know Virgin do not like Tandems. I need to measure this to see how far it is but no nasty climbs from memory.
S.
more on routes & dates
Thanks for the responses. Please bear in mind that Alastair is forwarding these messages on on my behalf & so is in no way responsible for any bad route decisions! (or indeed my spelling).
Firstly I have made a mistake (sorry Jessie) on the date front as we are opening our house up as part of the Transition Chesterfield Heritage Open Days project which is on the 12 & 13th September so the ride date will have to be the 20th SEPTEMBER. Sorry about that.
To summarise:
a. Lots of people up for the proposed ride (assuming that those who have responded are a proportion of those who may attend) which is great.
b. To discuss the points/question on Route B (Chesterfield-Sheffield):
i) Simon R makes a good point about the A57 at Park Square roundabout; I thought this could be avoided in part by going along the canal (I'm sure that is what I did), fortunately past a rather nice cafe, and the doing the Sheaf Street bit on foot. Please correct me if I am Wrong. Whilst this section is a bit of an adventure I'm sure we could do it safely.
ii) Simon R also mentions the canal path 'diversion' at Staveley, probably too much to hope that this will be improved by September, I haven't been down there for a while is it still a complete dogs breakfast? As long as it is sensibly navigable It shouldn't stop us I feel.
iii) Mike Curley ask about my vague suggestion of getting from the Rother Valley Park to the middle of Sheffield. On re-reading this I appreciate that I appear to have glossed over a white knuckle trip down the A57! FEAR NOT. NCN route 67 (the Trans Pennine Trail) runs pretty much off road from the country park to the Park Square Roundabout (discussed above).
iv) Karl suggests this route in reverse which is logical and an excellent suggestion. Has anyone any steer to give on booking a guards van for a particular train (Alastair?).
If any one has input on the above it would be most welcome.
c. Route A is generally more of a road route & will require a deal more concentration but there are less 'barriers' to us getting round.
I am leaning towards suggesting that we go for Route B as I think it will be a sensible challenge both in terms of logistics & distance, may provide 'Campaign' opportunities and also much more inclusive as it is nearly all off road. Starting at Chesterfield Station. Get train to Sheffield & cycle back. It is about 9 miles (very roughly) from Sheffield Station to The Rother Valley Cafe/park for a lunch break/picnic & then back to Chesterfield which I think is about another 12 miles or so (very glad if someone could provide a more accurate distance).
Mapping the Five Pits
Well it was a great ride on the 20th, thanks everyone, and especially Simon G & Paul.
I've input the mapping data collected on the day.
You can see it at http://www.opencyclemap.org/?zoom=14&lat=53.18686&lon=-1.3757&layers=B000 and can test out cycle "satnav" routing at http://chesterfield.cyclestreets.net/journey/81639/ - have a look at the difference between the "quickest" road route and the "quietest" newly mapped FivePits route.
I met the guy who runs opencyclemap yesterday, and he's given me some advice on producing quality paper cartography from all of the collected data - I'm going to give that a go as soon as I finish fixing the mapping for the TPT.
Cheers
Simon
Sheffield return trip off I fear.
I have just spoken to the train operators and it would appear that there is no chance of getting a group of bikes onto the train making the Sheffield run a no go (unless anyone has better info). Very frustrating; almost makes me want to write to my MP except that the last time I did that he completely ignored my letter and kept on sending me letters telling what a jolly good chap he was getting lots of questions asked in parliament.
All anyone will grudgingly carry is two bikes & definitely not any tandems (didn't even get started on the Triple!).
Hardwick Hall or a there & back Rother Valley then?
Although if we clubbed our train fares together we could probably hire a large van/3.5 ton truck for a day!
Starts to feel like too much effort.
Shame on the train!
That Sheffield run is really good fun - the Rother Valley to Staveley section is flat railway with some good views, and I have twice seen foxes in the middle of the day there.
We could of course go to Sheffield through Unstone and Graves Park, and come back along route 67. Around 22 miles round trip.
Another suggestion might be down the Five Pits and back up the Stockley trail to Bolsover, and then back through Sutton Scarsdale.
Generally though I'm up for any old ride, and will pencil in the 20th Sept... We can map it as we go too!
Cheers
Simon R