A Tale of Two Cycle Routes

Many of you reading this post will have received an email from me recently, informing you of consultation meetings on the proposed Bakewell to Matlock cycle route. Given the failure a couple of years ago of a planning application made by Peak Cycle Links and John Grimshaw to open precisely this path, mainly due to protests coming from certain quarters in our local area, it is imperative that you give your support to this project. Click here to do this now. As I’m sure you know, the extension of the White Peak Loop from Bakewell to Matlock is only part of the Pedal Peak project, led by Derbyshire CC, which last year succeeded in obtaining grants totalling £7.5 million. I think that we can expect to see more and more projects of this kind taking shape over the next few years, both here in the UK and across the Channel.

In south-west France, the River Isle runs through the middle of the département (county) of the Dordogne, flowing through the capital Périgueux and into the River Dordogne, over 100 km downstream. Périgueux already has a superb greenway, about 15 km long, which follows the river. In the near future, this is to be lengthened to 30 km. To the west, the département of the Gironde (capital Bordeaux) also has several wonderful greenways, mostly running over old railway track beds, some more than 50 km long. The latest news is that a number of communes (parishes) in the Dordogne have got together to build an 86-km long cycle route alongside the Isle. This will consist of present minor roads linked by new sections of greenway - and it is due to be finished by May 2015. It will link with the Périgueux greenway and hopefully with others in the Gironde. It includes no fewer than five substantial crossings of the river (I’m talking 75 metres or so). The cost of the whole véloroute is 12 million euros (£9.6m). Eventually, it will form part of an even longer véloroute all the way from Bordeaux to Limoges – that’s a long way! So make a note in your diaries to ride this one day! If you want to know more about this route, click here and scroll down to the bottom right, to open a pdf file of maps ("Véloroute voie verte de la Vallée de l'Isle"). I'm looking forward to the completion of both of these routes!

Sustrans Get Together - Derby – Thursday 14th August

Hopefully you will all have received an email invitation from Ian Keetley to this meeting at the new Park Bikeworks from 4 - 6.30pm.

If you haven’t yet been to the Bikeworks then have a look at their website: http://parkbikeworks.co.uk/index.php

The Derby group are organising a pre-meeting ride: 6 miles on the “Five Parks” route.

There is more information in the post by Les Sims at the Derby group blog: http://rangersderby.blogspot.co.uk/

Cycling in France

Maldwyn and I, and three other Sustrans rangers from Derby and South Derbyshire, have been doing a ride in May/June every year since 2009, when we pedalled the Lôn Las Cymru from Holyhead to Newport. Since then, each year we have been alternating between a region of the British Isles and France. This year, our third French ride, it was the Loire à Vélo from Orléans to Nantes - about 260 miles over 5 days. This is a fabulous cycle-route, forming part of Eurovelo 6 which runs from the Atlantic to the Black Sea. We followed for the most part the mighty River Loire, which the routes crosses several times, but also the rivers Cher, Indre and Vienne, passing by several famous châteaux (and visiting a couple) and stopping at many equally famous towns: Blois, Tours, Saumur, Bouchemaine (near Angers). We slept in 3 Formula 1 hotels, a youth hostel originally a tobacco factory, a mobile home on a campsite and, on our penultimate night, in bunk beds on a traditional Loire fishing boat! Most of the cities mentioned have modern tram systems, and in Tours in particular trams are the only vehicles allowed in a busy bike- and pedestrian-friendly area in the city center.  The Loire à Vélo is not unlike a Sustrans route, with some excellent stretches of purpose-built greenway, but it also uses minor and quiet roads. The weather was kind to us: mostly sunny intervals with a bit of rain on a couple of days, but less than was predicted before our ride started! Click here for a link to the Loire à Vélo website. Zoom in for very detailed maps. Pictures: (1) Europe Bridge, Orléans (2) the old bridge at Beaugency (3) château de Chambord (4) coffee pots on a wall (5) central Tours (6) Tours cathedral (7) useful bike shop and café at Bréhémont (8) château d'Ussé (9) tyre-pumping station at Bouchemaine (didn't actually work, as we were there out of the high season!) (10) our floating hotel - traditional Loire boat called a 'toue' at La Possonnière (11) official LàV signage - Eurovelo 6! 

Route 6 loop in the Dark Peak

I met new ranger, Andrew Battye, and Simon Geller of the Sheffield Sustrans Rangers this evening at the Norfolk Arms, Ringinglow, on the edge of Sheffield. The rain, which had been quite heavy earlier in the afternoon, had abated and our ride was blessed with blue skies, some sun and a very light westerly wind. Simon led us on a 12-mile loop which took in a stretch of the recently-signed Route 6 and other quiet lanes. We saw beautiful bluebell woods, the imposing Stanage Edge and some impressive views over Sheffield. Our group will be looking after this portion of Route 6 from now on and Andrew, living locally, will be able to keep a watchful eye on it. I suggest another ride later this year, taking in more of this marvellous route and the wonderful scenery.

 

Ride leaders required for public rides around the reservoirs in Bike Week

This was the other job I mentioned! Do we have any volunteers for leading/marshalling* at two public rides, one around Ladybower/Howden/Derwent Reservoirs, the other around Carsington, please? Dates would be either 13 or 14 June, at the start of Bike Week, and on behalf of Severn Trent Water. Please email me and/or leave a comment below. This could be a good way of maintaining and improving the profile of our group and that of Sustrans. I'm pleased that we have been asked to help out at these events. The rides will be for families, so not a race! In beautiful settings. Should be good! Thanks. Clyde

(* by marshalling, I mean riding with the group to keep an eye on riders, if not actually leading)

More jobs for the group!

I mentioned recently that I had been contacted by Rose Clarke at Parsley Hay about a couple of jobs that we can help with. The details are as follows. 

(1) A waymarker post near Tissington ford (GR 199 521) needs straightening up. Picture of the post below, before it got knocked over. Could a couple of you go out there and have a look at it, please? You will need to see if the wooden post is damaged before talking to Rose about methods and tools required (these can be borrowed from Peak Park). A replacement post can be ordered if necessary. Please let me know if you are free to do this in the near future. You can contact Rose directly by this email address: Rose.Clarke@peakdistrict.gov.uk (but email me or leave a comment here to keep me up to speed!)

(2) The other job concerns Himalayan Balsam along the Manifold Track. Rose has sent some information, which I copy below.

Rangers, riverkeepers and landowners have been working to try and eradicate/stop further spread of HB in the Dove catchment which includes the Hamps and Manifold Rivers and tributaries. We have been making good progress by working from the source areas of the rivers where it is present travelling downstream to try and stop seeds spreading on the water. Outlying areas, often where the seed or plant has been brought in on farm or other vehicles or from moving soil and earth we have been working with landowners to a) make them aware of the problem, b) encourage them to survey and destroy any plants found and c) helping with contractors or volunteers to pull/strim the plants to prevent further spread and eradicate.

In essence much of the stretches of the Manifold from Hulme End right out beyond the National Park boundary (and confluence with the River Dove is invaded with HB. Some sections where the river is near to the Manifold Track (NCR 549) the plant seeds are likely to be picked up on people, bikes, horses and animals and spread to new areas accidently. We would like to gather a few SUSTRANS volunteers to patrol the track throughout the growing season to a) identify where the plant is growing which it closest to the track and poses a threat of spread and b) pull these plants and destroy them before they go to seed. Please let Clyde know if you are interested in helping us combat this alien species that is threatening our native wildlife. No experience necessary, just need thick gloves, sometimes wellies and some time to check the route on approx about once a month maybe between May and October.

I am going to be away over the next few weeks, but will be back in June. I would be happy to willing to lead a patrol then. Could someone check the route this month, please? I can organize something for July and September; maybe someone could look after August? Rose is willing to give us some training at Dale Bridge on Mon 12, Sun 18 or Mon 19 May. Will anyone be free then? - please email me or leave a comment here. Thanks. Clyde

PS Another job to mention, but probably best in a new post!  

L'Eroica Britannia

Don’t know if you are all aware of L'Eroica Britannia, a weekend-long festival celebrating cycling heritage, local territory and overall Britishness. It begins June 20th, culminating on the 22nd with a vintage cycle ride over 3 different routes round the Peak District National Park. See www.eroicabritannia.co.uk.

They are looking for 2 local volunteers to help with directional marshalling on the 22nd June from 12 noon to 2 pm.  If any of you are interested please contact Marco Mori at marco@gustocycling.com