The next Friday night ride (bike week 2012) is a little bit different
from the normal city based fair as it’s a trip out to Stanedge Pole where
Sheffield meets the edge of the Peak, and leads directly to nearby Stanage Edge
(why the different spelling?).
Micks away for the actual night of the ride, so together with
Richard, Mick & I arranged a recce ride. I’m no stranger to heading out to
Stanage (or Stanedge) but we were interested to try a route more in keeping
with the gentler FNR approach and give Richard and myself some pointers for
leading the route on the night.
We certainly wanted to avoid the main drag though Lodge Moor
out to Redmires as the outbound carriageway is in an appalling state, all the
way from Lodge Moor. We know this section well as it features on our regular Thursday
evening circular route.
We set of from Devonshire Green, after just managing to stop
Richard from heading off down West St, clearly on autopilot to Rotherham at
that point.
Luckily we had picked a break in the rain (so we thought).
From Devonshire Green we took the Peak District Anniversary
route out, except for a slight diversion from Broomspring Lane down Gloucester
St, through the woods at the back of the Francis Newton pub (Aunt Sally’s as
was). It just avoids a short section of busy road, and awkward junction by the
Hallamshire Hospital.
From there it was along Clarkhouse rd. and up Endcliffe
Vale. A Sheffield commuty transport bus did its best to wipe Mick out while he
was waiting in the bike lane to turn right.
Onto Bingham park and a quick stop to look at the newly refurbished Shepherd Wheel. At this point it seemed to be raining quite heavily, although
we weren’t sure if this was just the overnight rain still being blown down from
the trees (it wasn’t!). Half term kids were enjoying jumping in the puddles.
Off onto the non-tarmaced sections through the woods, Mick and I walking across the stepping stones,
Richard took the plunge at the ford instead, brave man (now always known as Gordon Selway’s stepping stones
to me, having seen the man negotiate them complete with briefcase, umbrella,
walking stick and Dawes galaxy at the Sheffield CCN way back when )
Onwards up past Forge Dam and onto tarmac again at Clough
Lane. From here a neat little switch of lanes that Richard and I discussed over
a pint of Lord Maples in the Hallamshire House the previous evening. Double
back along Mark Lane, Mayfield Road, onto Gorse Lane and Brown Hills Lane and
you achieve the reservoirs at Redmires with a minimum of hill climbing. By now the
rain was coming down hard, but we pushed on up to the Long Causeway cycled to
the gate to the open moors and then cycled / walked the last 50m to the Pole.
I’m not mentioning any other points of interest along the
route as we need to save them for the ride night.
Photos at the Pole then a swift ride back through the rain
to Crosspool. The whole ride was highly enjoyable. It’s a short but invigorating
ride and a pleasant way to get from the City Centre to the Peak. It rained hard
up on the moors, but it was mild. Our only concession to the weather was not stopping
for a pint at the 3 merry lads on the way back. We didn’t really feel like sitting
in a pub in wet gear then setting off again. Total distance (Walkley to Walkley) a little
over 15 miles.
Now looking forward to doing it all again on the evening of
Friday June 22nd, all the details are over on SNFR.org.uk
My Pompetamine worked beautifully for the whole ride. I seem
to have got the 8 speed Alfine hub dialled in to a suitable range for gentle
off road stuff, still able to spin up to 22mph on tarmac. My cyclocross tyres
were ideal for the mixed surface conditions and Id final got my rear avid 7
disk brake set up nicely. The Pompetamine has proved itself so accomplished as
a cyclocross / commuter / tourer / gentle off roader that my brand newly built Cotic
X hasn’t had a look in yet this year.
Ian
