High Winds

With high wind speeds of up to 60 mph today it has certainly been a challenging day travelling whether on foot or on the bike. As the winds die down this evening and tomorrow I'm sure we will be back out on the NCN soon and over the coming Easter weekend.
As usually have a look out for any fallen debris such as branches, etc. blocking the NCN and in the worse case scenario if you come across any trees or large branches that may have fallen then please do let me know asap with information on location, etc. and if your able to send a photo then this will be an added bonus.

Local Pro Cycling Tours 2015

There was a time when the Milk Race and Tour of Britain was the only major cycling tour in the UK, such as is the interest and growth in cycling this has seen a huge increase on road and on track and this year is no exception with quite a few tours local to us. Listed below are some of the ones to look out for and their respective web links.

The Milk Race, Nottingham, Sunday 24 May.
Now in it's third year being at Nottingham in the new relaunched and repackaged event see's a compact city based circuit.
http://www.themilkrace.com/

The Tour Series, Round 9- Peterborough, Tuesday 9 June.
An evening based compact city circuit, also with regular TV coverage.
http://www.tourseries.co.uk/

British Cycling National Road Championships, Cadwell Park and Lincoln, Thursday 25 & Sunday 28 June.
National time trial and road championships based in Lincolnshire, these are the two major event for weekend as well as other events over the weekend including the Lincoln Grand Prix.
http://www.nationalroadchamps.co.uk
Cadwell Park car/motorcycle park entry tickets can be purchased in advanced at http://www.ticketweb.co.uk/event/british-cycling-national-time-trial-championships-tickets/162609 this will give you a saving against the price if purchasing on the day.
Grandstand tickets for the Lincoln based races have also go on sale at: http://www.nationalroadchamps.co.uk/site/grandstand-tickets
And there is still call for volunteers at http://www.nationalroadchamps.co.uk/site/volunteers

The Friends Life Tour of Britain, Stage 6- Stoke -on-Trent to Nottingham, Friday 11 September.
Another race in Nottingham, this time a finish after the stage from Stoke-on-Trent.
http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk

Park Works

Last Friday was a hive of work in Queen Elizabeth Park and Wyndham Park, both as you know carry NCN 15. Riding through Queen Elizabeth Park from Manthorpe I came across contractors starting that day to clear at the northern end of the path, you may remember that in June 2012 the same contractors had resurfaced the path from Belton Lane going northwards, the work only went part of the covering about 70% of the path and the new work is carry on from there, the contractors wasn't at the time sure of how far he was going but was thinking it would be all the way to Manthorpe Road. The work will consist of them scrapping flat the old path and then re-dressing with a sand/grit based aggregate which is rolled and then hardens off.

I then carried on my journey into town along NCN 15, only then to come across lining contractors putting in the white line and pedestrian and cyclists symbols on the newly relaid path in Wyndham Park. The secret is also out off how they get a straight line.... a very long piece of rope.

New Derby (Velodrome) Arena

To most cyclists in the East Midlands the new £30 million Derby Arena will be the Derby Velodrome although it is a multi use arena. It was officially opened on Friday 20th March (BBC report) and it is in a current unwrapping programme where you can drop in and have a look around the new facility till Sunday 12 April. More details at the new website here.
The main highlight of this unwrapping is the open weekend this weekend, full details here.
It certainly looks a stunning building and let's hope it draws some world class track cycling competitions to the region soon.
I know I'll be planning to take a look around in the coming weeks, in the meantime you can take a virtual look around........

April Workdays

Firstly, sorry about the slight delay.
So here we go 2 new dates for workdays in April, the first involving some painting at the milepost in Wyndham Park, Grantham. The 2nd date I'm currently in talks with SKDC to see if we can paint the park bench on the Running Furrows path as it is in need off some TLC and would certainly smarten up that end of the path. Full details of dates, etc. below.

Saturday 11 April 10:30- 12:30 (Please note this is on Saturday)
Meet: NCN Millenium Milepost, NCN 15, Wyndham Park, Grantham. See map here.
To do: Re-paint the milepost.
To bring: Gloves and suitable clothing to paint, volunteer hi-viz and don't forget your mug. Paint and materials will be provided.

Sunday 26 April 10:30- 12:30
Further detailing the same as listed in above post of Saturday 11 April due to the cancelation of workday because of the day's weather.

22/03/15 Workday Review

After quite a few years of attacks on the NCN 15 signage on the rail path between Woolsthorpe top lock and Sedgebrook Mill, Muston a solution was needed that could be easily replaced. The solution was the use of scrap metal plate, then painted with rust preventing paint and a Sustrans volunteer sign to be stick on, this meaning that once the metal plate was fixed into place on wooden posts, etc. it would hopefully give a more permeant base to which the sticker can be replaced easily if original removed or defaced. The ideas was born and 10 plates were then made. (see above).
So know we had the plates we needed to fix them up, Sunday 22 March was set for the job, and on a fine sunny morning it was encouraging to see so many of us wanting to get on with the job, 5 of us in total and a chance for new volunteer Wayne to meet some of the group. (Bob, Peter, John, Wayne and myself)
Soon the first plates were up at Woolsthorpe once a bit of clearance was done and the Gorilla glue was mastered with the addition of a local stick! Slowly riding north we pushed on removing and replacing signs at Woolsthorpe, Stenwith tunnel, and River Devon weir were John departed us due to a prior engagement and once we had decided on the 4 signs locations around the weir we took the opportunity of tea, coffee and hot cross buns (with additional Gorilla glue glaze ;o) ).
Once supped up, the last push at the Muston end with 2 new signs going in and then the ride back towards Grantham.
Hopefully these signs will stay up and if successful then I will get Sustrans HQ to make up some destination patches. If you check this route in the future as always give a quick check to see if visible and if any of the stickers need replacing then do replace as needed. You can get your signs via the VolunteerNet on www.sustrans.org.uk or see in your handbooks for ordering information. Do get in touch if you need any assistance.

At the end of the workday it was also encouraging to hear you ask when were out next, I'm currently looking at location details and will be in touch tomorrow but looking at two dates for April on Saturday 11 April and Sunday 26 April.

08/03/15 Workday Review + Next Workday 22/03/15

John and myself was in attendance on Sunday 8th March at Stenwith at the Woolsthorpe Lane tunnel on the rail path (NCN 15). The job in hand was to sweep out the tunnel after a build up of winter debris, in the past we have tended to sweep at the end of the year but attending to the job at this time of year seem to help as the debris was much drier, something to think about in the future. Two hours soon passed and we had the tunnel clear and received many comments of thanks from path users. No photos this time :o(

Our next workday is this Sunday, full details here as confirmed a few weeks back. In addition to what to bring, if any of you are able to bring along any tools such as hammers, suitable tools for removing nails and if any of you have a cordless screwdriver or drill then this would be welcomed as we shall be fixing steel plates.

NCN 15 Tarmac Works Completed- Wyndham Park

The 2 weeks of works in Wyndham Park, Grantham to replace worn out paths throughout has been completed on schedule as of last Friday. Some photos above of the excellent work carried out by the contractors giving a much better and smoother finish, the work is a small part of Heritage Lottery Funded improvements taking place over a number of years to improve the park.

More on the park can be found at: http://www.wyndhamparkgrantham.org.uk/public/index.php

Remember Ironstone Lines

This had only come to my attention today so apologies for short notice.

Details above of an event at Rocks by Rail Museum, Cottesmore showing off locomotives that ran the ironstone lines from the Harlaxton Quarry, which off course had northern based lines running from it which you will best know as NCN 15 from Woolsthorpe- Muston and connecting line south of it from Longmoor Bridge to Sewstern Lane near Denton.

Even if you can't get to this event the museum is open throughout the year, see more information at http://www.rocks-by-rail.org/

"More cycling, by more people, more of the time"

Thanks for the eagle eyed Wayne for spotting this in the Grantham Journal (published 27/02/15). I had not heard about the meeting and unaware if Gwyneth McMinn had or even attended. Certainly as local volunteers and at Sustrans something we need to input on.
I will be meeting Gwyneth tomorrow at Newark so will be discussing it with her.