Women's Tour of Britain comes to Derbyshire on 17 June

Stage 3 of the Women's Tour of Britain this year is from Ashbourne to Chesterfield, a distance of 112.6 km with a total ascent of 1999m. We will be staffing a Sustrans stand at Ashbourne similar to the one we operated during the 2015 Men's Tour last September in Hall Leys Park, Matlock. We had a good turnout then, so please come along and support this fantastic event. Meet at 08:30 on the Market Square.

The boardwalk has arrived!

I haven't posted anything on the new multi-user path since 9 March. This is an update. As I reported before, Phase 4 of the multi-user path consists of two stretches though a wood near the recycling plant at Rowsley South which had their final surface a few months ago, but between which there is a swamp. We were informed by Claire O'Reilly, DCC project manager, at a meeting in April that this swamp would be bridged by a section of boardwalk (I can hear the Drifters' 1964 hit as I write this ... "Under the boardwalk out of the sun, Under the boardwalk we'll be havin some fun ... ") Enough! I am pleased to announce that 50-odd metres of this has arrived (see pics above). Hopefully this whole section will be completed soon.

Phase 3 from Churchtown to Rowsley South is now complete and rideable, and is having some boundary fences erected.

Phase 1 from the level crossing near Arc Leisure towards Old Rd has had its base laid for several hundreds of metres but awaits its final surface. It still does not extend to Old Rd, although much of this has been dug out, and the final bit of this which is to pass through a field alongside Old Rd has not been started yet. We are advised not to ride this yet.

The section which shows the least progress is Phase 2, although a path is being constructed in a field adjacent to the Whitworth Institute park, which I presume is related to the greenway.

Don't forget to pencil in the ride on Thursday 30 June. No doubt more progress will have been made by then, and we will be able to see the latest developments and ride much of the path. Details later.

  

Signing day on Route 68 New Mills - Chisworth

REVISED WORKDAY!
There will be a signing day hosted by Joan Bennett, from New Mills to Chisworth, on Monday 6 June. Meet at New Mills bus station at 10:30. Bring whatever signage you have, particularly red 68 patches!

Some news on workdays

A welcome to Joan Bennett, the ranger for the Whaley Bridge to New Mills section of NCR68! Last Monday three of our group, Catherine and David and Paul W, were joined by Joan in renovating the signage on Route 68 from Buxton to Whaley Bridge. There was a lot to do as the previous signs were in a very dilapidated state, but they worked for some hours in gloriously sunny weather conditions, and eventually got the job done. Excellent! And well done that team! And Joan says she would like to join us whenever we are working in her area. She can be assured that her input will always be very much appreciated!  

Other news: the ride in the Hope Valley scheduled for Thursday 26 May has been postponed. It will happen either at some alternative date soon, or later in the year. Joan has suggested extending the signing of Route 68 from New Mills to Chisworth, so this could be the subject of the next workday. Watch this space - although I will also be emailing everyone as usual. 

More: you will recall that we helped out on a Sustrans stand in Hall Leys Park when the Tour of Britain passed through Matlock last year. We have been asked by Dan Robertson and by Ruth Taylor at DDDC if we would do the same in Ashbourne when the women's Tour of Britain passes through there on Friday 17 June. Please support this - it helps to raise the profile of our group! 

On the same weekend, on Sunday 19 June, some of our members will be helping in a led ride for the public in Derby organized by Rotary, to raise money for prostate cancer. Could we have some support for this too, please, although I realise it's on the same day as the Eroica Britannia event.

Later this year - some horticultural activities. I have said yes to planting bulbs alongside the tarmacked multi-user path which follows the A6 in Matlock. But we have also been asked by Rose Clarke to help their rangers pull out Himalayan Balsam in the Manifold Valley some time in June or July. Details to follow.  
Finally, Ian Dent of the Derwent Valley Cycleway Working Group is asking for helpers at a joint DVCWG/Derby Cycling Group joint stand at the Belper Goes Green event on Sat/Sun 4/5 June. This has been a very successful event in the past. Please help.      

  

Two workdays/rides in May

To replace the workday of 28 April, which was cancelled, an alternative has been planned, continuing the sterling work done in March between Earl Sterndale and Buxton. This will be on Monday 9 May and will consist of checking and replacing signage northwards to Whaley Bridge. Please give your support! Meet at 10:15 at the Buxton Opera House, for a prompt start at 10:30. If you have any Sustrans self-adhesive or rigid signage, especially red 68 patches, please bring it along.

Our next event will be a ride on Thursday 26 May in the Hope Valley. Meet at the village shop/church Grindleford at 09:45 for a prompt 10:00 start. 

April workday cancelled

Hi folks. 

For a variety of reasons, I have decided to cancel the workday on Thursday 28 April. Next workday will be 26 May 2016, in the Hope Valley. More details later. 
We have been asked to do something rather different in the autumn (date not known yet). You will recall that in 2014-2015 a short, tarmacked multi-user path was constructed alongside the A6, from the Derwent Way roundabout to opposite Arc Leisure in Matlock. Bulbs originally put in by 'Matlock in Bloom' volunteers were apparently dug up but not replaced. As a consequence, it seems that right now there are flowers blooming in the verges alongside the A6 into Darley Dale, but not on the Matlock side of the Darley Dale sign, which has created a rather ugly gap. Our mission, should we choose to accept it (and I've said Yes!), is to put bulbs in this autumn. I hope you all agree that this is a worthwhile job for us.

Clyde

First public ride of the season a total success!

We had an excellent turn-out at our first public ride of the season, in the Manifold Valley. Starting at Hulme End, we rode over the Manifold Valley Trail and a few other, minor roads as far as Beeston Tor. Although a bit chilly, the sun shone almost continuously and kept us warm. Clyde gave a few geological explanations at various points along the route and we had a stop for refreshments at the Wetton Mill tearooms. Everybody had an enjoyable day out! Pictures: (1) Robin in the car park at Hulme End explaining where we are going; (2) waiting for folk to catch up: (3) on the gated road alongside the River Manifold; (4) the view from the cave at Nan Tor above the tearooms (Thor's Cave in the distance). To see a video of a part of the ride (thank you, Les!) click here.

Next public ride is on 3 July 2016, on the Monsal Trail. Details to follow.