Alternative and Safer Ways to Pedal In and Around Parkwood Springs and North Sheffield’s Parks – 16 Miler

Parkwood Springs offers some of the best inner-city-park photo opportunities on the planet. There are several winding climbs to reach its summit. You might find it’s faster to dismount and push while adopting a cyclocross style. As we draw breath at the summit and regroup, we can marvel at the technical sections of Parkwood Springs Mountain Bike Trail, designed by Sheffield’s downhill legend, Steve Peat, who won 17 world cups, while discussing more alternative and safer ways to cycle in and around them. The ride will continue by heading past Sheffield United Academy, then through Roe Woods. Next, it’s a short pedal to Longley Park, where there are some hidden trails. Parsons Cross Park is home to a pavilion, playgrounds and potting sheds. We can spirit our way past Hillsborough (Sheffield Wednesday’s ground), before following established tracks in Hillsborough Park. We can fuel up in the café at Rivelin (near the birthplace of Robin Hood). The return trail will see us travelling through the Ponderosa, Upper Don Valley, and then Pitsmoor. As we draw breath at the end of the ride back in Parkwood Springs, we can marvel at even more of the technical sections of Parkwood Springs Mountain Bike Trail. After the ride, there’s also the opportunity to pedal the short distance down the hill to Parkwood Academy Community Sports Centre where members of Team GB train with the Sheffield Sharks. A former pupil has even ridden for Team GB’s Cycle Speedway Team, finishing third in the World Pairs Race, and Kell Brook, who is aiming to become the best pound-for-pound fighter on the planet, is a former pupil, too. You might even meet members of Shiregreen Badminton Club, which was established after the Guinness World Record was smashed for the longest game of badminton doubles - 29hrs in 2011, and then local people were inspired to establish their own club with help from the person who organised the record-breaking badminton session. Furthermore, Parkwood Academy Community Sports Centre, with help from members of Shiregreen Sports Badminton Club, would like to offer participants of this ride the opportunity to experience a free two-hour Saturday badminton session, which is usually held 11.30am-1.30pm. There’s also state-of-the-art training bikes in the gym, which is worth visiting, too.