Grantham Fayre- Sunday August 9th (now Sunday August 16th)

*****UPDATED 17/04/15*****

Please note that due to unforeseen circumstances the date of the Grantham Green Fayre has had to be changed and has been pushed on by one week to the new date of Sunday 16 August 2015 (10:30- 17:30).
I have still confirmed that will be able to attend the event. I'll be talking to the organisers soon about further details of the day and will pick up the planning of our presence from late May/June.


You may have seen in this weeks Grantham Journal or website (see here) talk of a Green Fayre due to happen this year in August in Wyndham Park, Grantham.
The idea, from Councillor Charmaine Morgan came to her after visiting similar events when she lived in Surrey she explained to me back in October 2013 at the Grantham Canal Discovery Day. As you will recall we were there promoting Sustrans, NCN, cycling & walking at our stand when she approached me with the idea and had asked if we would be interested in attending, an ideal event I thought at the time and said certainly.

Now the event is very much in the early planning stage, I approached Coun Morgan a few weeks back to say we were still very happy to attend, as usual I can see us having our loads of information about Sustrans, the NCN 20th year, cycling & walking advice guides and not forgetting maps and donation items to sell which always go down well but I also want to give an interactive element to our presence, I have forwarded on information about the Fayre to local Sustrans staff who I'm hoping can support is with equipment and their services on features such as Dr Bike, Smoothie Bike and Paint Spinning Bike (see photos).

So please put the date on your calendars and in your diaries, and I will be in touch with more information as and when. I do hope this is something you would like and can help out with and any ideas or thoughts or questions then please do get in touch.

British Cycling National Road Championships/Lincoln Grand Prix 2015

In 146 days on June 25th & 28th Lincolnshire will be play host to the British National Road Championships, set over 2 days within a 4 day cycling festival.

It will see the national time trial take place on Thursday June 25th at Cadwell Park. More info about this day here.
On the Sunday, June 28th the national road race will take place in and around Lincoln, using the same course as the Lincoln Grand Prix which is famous for climbing the cobbles of St Michealgate, Lincoln. More info about this course here.

As well as the 2 national event days, the Friday and Saturday will also see day and evening competition events such as The Uphill Dash, Castle Criterium, Championship Sportive and not forgetting the 60th Lincoln Grand Prix.

The organisers (Lincoln Grand Prix) have put a call out for volunteers to help during the 4 day event, with roles such as:
Manning road closures along the route.
Manning crossing points in the busier areas
Course set-up and breakdown team
Marshalling at Expo areas
Selling race programmes

This maybe something your interested in getting involved in, if so then head over to the volunteering page here.

New Work Dates For Feb/March

So after our long rest before and during Christmas and New Year it's probably about time we gave NCN 15 some more group TLC. I have put forward below some dates taking us in to February and March, with full details of the first workday given I shall then give out more details regarding the rest as we progress through the weeks.
As usual the workdays will be no more than 2 hours, although there is no pre-roll call if you want to let me know if you able to make it or not this would be great if able too.

Sunday 8 February  10:30- 12:30
Meet at: Running Furrows cycleway entrance, off North Parade, Grantham. Map here.
To do: Litter pick, whilst the vegetation is current low a good opportunity to clear out some of the litter along the cycleway.
To bring: Bags and litter pickers provided. Please bring a litter picker if access to one, workwear/gardening style gloves, Sustrans volunteer hi-viz waistcoat.

Location TBA dates:

Sunday 22 February
Sunday 8 March
Sunday 22 March

New Year, New Ranger's

With us going into the start of a new year what better news than to introduce you to 2 new volunteers to the group.
Today I met with Laura Simpkins and Wayne Priest along with Ian Keetley (Sustrans East Midlands Volunteer Co-ordinator) who came from our Nottingham office to welcome Laura and Wayne aboard and to give them an insight to Sustrans, volunteering and what to expect by becoming a volunteer for Sustrans.
I shall be meeting up with them in the coming weeks, so will let you know of a date asap, to show them the network and work out the best allocation of route for them.
If you don't see them in the coming ride with them then I am sure you'll get to meet them in forthcoming workdays.*

*New dates coming very soon.

Casthorpe Bridge (64)- Take Care!!!

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=486122&y=334862&z=115&sv=486122,334862&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=836&ax=486122&ay=334862&lm=0

Caution should currently be taken when approaching and exiting (Grantham side) of Casthorpe Bridge (64) on the Grantham Canal towpath (NCN 15), the towpath although concrete covered near the bridge it is has experienced some subsidence resulting a deep edge to have appeared around a concrete pipe box and if caught wrong with your bicycle wheel could result in it guiding you towards the canal.
I have sent the Canal & River Trust photos and an email to report the problem and ask for them to look at rectifying the problem by re-concreting the towpath pad so it is flush with the limestone surface and concrete box.

January Map Sale- Sustrans Shop

The online Sustrans Shop currently has a January sale on a large selection of maps, giving 50% off this gives great value on new maps that you might find handy to have or help with future planning of day or longer rides around the UK.

Although as volunteers we would normally get 20% off on all purchases by adding v(and your volunteer number) in the discount code bar, because this is a special offer you won't be able to add your discount on top, but with 30% more than our normal discount this is great value.

Terms and conditions can be read here. It is worth reading as because of new VAT legislation you would have to contact the shop by telephone if purchasing VAT added goods.

Local maps you might find handy in the East Midlands category can be seen here.