pod!! That meant that the fares again covered the tram hire cost with an extra £9 to go into our buffer fund in case of a shortfall another time. The date again coincided with the grand legal event in the Cutlers Hall and Cathedral that we witnessed last year! but this time we missed the parade across the road as there were plenty of us so we didn't cancel the tram!!! The horses and police provided plenty of interest for not just the children while we waited though! The day was glorious of course and everyone happy, anticipating a good ride. We made pick-ups at Granville Square and Gleadless so that the last few fares had to be collected and passed over a mass of bikes as (even with my slender frame!) I couldn't get through.
We worked out a provisional plan of rides on the tram, with 17 heading for Langold under Barry's care; 5 heading home under Simon's care; a family of 4 planning to stay in Rother Valley as 3 year old Matilda wouldn't be going very far on her balance bike but definitely wanted to ride as well as be transported in the pod, and the rest of us planning to head south along the TPT and maybe as far as Pools Brook Country Park. We knew some others might be joining at Rother Valley though. So we split into 3 groups on the platform at Waterthorpe and Simon's report thereafter is added below. It was amazing how the pod could be coaxed through all the barriers on the estate but the kids had to jump out and it lifted over the final hurdle as we entered the Park (we need to request that this barrier is replaced to match the others - Simon can you do this?). At Rother Valley cafe 3 more riders were waiting for us - 8 year old Kaitlin and her Dad, plus Sarah who lives at Swallownest. Here we split again; Matilda, Charlie and their Mum and Dad looking forward to biking through mud and checking out the playground!
The rest of us (13 plus Eli in his baby seat) set off round the lake again - to the south this time - and back to the TPT. Just before we turned up from the lake Lindsey's deraillieur decided to ping round into her spokes and was beyond use. After a little discussion, Phil stayed with Lindsey planning to detach things so that she could ride in a fixed gear. Unfortunately Lindsey
didn't have a chain tool (as she'd thought she had, because we had one she could have used) so ended up walking back to the tram and Phil caught the rest of us up. Kaitlin was doing really well but was ready for a rest by this time and Eli quite fancied his picnic already saying "I'm always VERY hungry!" so we split again, Tony staying with the little ones and me leading the now 8 of us to Pools Brook. (Sorry little group guys, I should have had the flapjack break then, rather than 20 minutes or so later, and you would have got some too.) Our ride was very pleasant with plenty of time for our picnic watching teenage swans, great crested grebes and others on the lake. Just as we got back to the trail, Phil realised his pump had sprung off so turned back; he got a bit lost on his return and then met up with Lindsey waiting for the tram. Why is it that returns are always quicker? (Although Barry's group's return speed was more enforced as they stayed too long in the cafe at Langold where they'd met up with 21 CTCers from Rotherham!) We reached Rother Valley - returning down the little track to the mud under the TPT bridge! rather than taking the longer route round - at 2pm. Pam decided she'd cycle home as there was plenty of time and she met us at the Cathedral just as we got off the tram! The rest of us went round to the cafe - some indulging in ice creams in the warm sun! - where we met all our grubby, happy little ones again, before cycling back together.
What a lovely day. Hooray for BIKES ON TRAMS!!!
Polly
Simon, Patrice, Martin Judith & Rachel stayed with the group as far as the TPT at Rother Valley, Rachel set off to cycle home along the TPT, armed only with the Sheffield Cycle Map - we think she made it but we haven't heard yet!
The remaining 4 set off in a southerly direction along the TPT. The surface is very rough between Rother Valley CP & Killamarsh, but improved once we got to Derbyshire - funny how that happens. Off-road motorbikers are using the woods between the trail and the CP but we didn't see any on the trail. We noticed that some connect2 work is in progress at Killamarsh, with a new ramp being put in between Station Rd & the TPT. The bypass at Staveley is complete, but the TPT works aren't - one reason for this being that the canal is being rebuilt underneath the flyover. We were able to get through to Hall Lane by walking our bikes but it was pretty muddy!
When everything is complete it will make a big difference to the environment at Staveley.
We climbed through the Handleys to Upperknowle, then dropped down to Unstone - a quick spin on the main rd took us to Dronfield and we skirted around the town using a compination of the urban roads and some unadopted tracks which were very pleasant We found the bridge over the bypass and then we were in the Peak District, with a pleasant run up through Millthorpe and that stiff climb up to Owler Bar, where we had the pleasure of watching someone try to drive the wrong way round the roundabout.M&J peeled off her for the run down Abbeydale Rd back to Meersbrook.
It only remained to spin over to Fox House and down via Ringinglow to Greystones Heights, arriving home a little later than planned - I had scheduled to be home around 12:30 but actually it was more like 3! Too late to head back to Waterthorpe for another tram ride home.
--
Simon
"The Sheffield CTC group were the first group to leave Waterthorpe, a total of seventeen riders with myself taking the front and Mark Kay as tail end Charlie. We reached the entrance to Rother Valley Country Park and were stopped by a cyclist out with his daughter who thought we were the Family group, we advised him to ride round the lake and wait at the Cafe for Polly and Tony's group.
There was some kind of sport relief activity going on with people dressed up carrying balloons and walking anti- clockwise around the lake, we thought it safer to go round the lake clockwise so e could be seen. Despite please from Reg for a tea stop at the Country Park cafe we carried on, time was limited, to leave the Park by the long road with the toll entrance.
Riding through Wales we managed to avoid the main road and headed to Wales Comprehensive School to pick up a trail leading us to Todwick, thereby avoiding Kiveton Park.
Crossing Todwick crossroads we turned right to North Anston past Bluebell Wood. We enjoyed a lovely descent from the Butterfly Farm down to Woodsetts in delightful sunshine.
Gildingwells and the beautiful village of Letwell followed before we picked up the very muddy trail from Letwell leading directly to Langold Park. The cafe was already busy, but a few people kindly saw seventeen cyclists arrive and decided to vacate their seats for us. Approximately half sat inside whilst the rest sat outside in the warm sunshine. After ordering our food, Bill, Theresa, Elizabeth and David (The Rotherham group) arrived to join us at the cafe.
We arrived at Langold at 12:15 and I was hoping to leave at 13:15 but many people had ordered a second hot drink around this time so we had to wait an extra 15 minutes whilst drinks were finished, this proved to make quite a difference.
The route back to Waterthorpe followed the same route, Reg was struggling slightly and needed the odd push to help speed him up the inclines. When we arrived at Wales it was 14:45 the tram was due to leave in 15 minutes. I decided to miss out Rother Valley and instead go back on the road through Killamarsh, had we not done so, I am sure we wouldn't have made it in time.
We arrived back at Waterthorpe bang on 15:00 (goodness knows how we did it) and Polly supervised the loading of the bikes.
A great day out, a good turn out, nice company, a descent cafe and a sunny day. What more could you want?
I am looking for an alternative destination for the next cycle/tram event, hopefully without a photo finish for the tram dash."
A big thanks to Polly and Cycle Sheffield for organising the event.
Barry Raynor
Asst Secretary
Sheffield District CTC
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