Charity mountain bike event returns to Stocksbridge for the 4th year

The Steel Valley Ride charity mountain bike event is back this summer for its 4th year, taking place on Saturday 18th July 2020. 

 

The event is organised by Stocksbridge based countryside management charity, the Steel Valley Project, and helps to raise funds for their work in the Upper Don area, improving the environment for people and wildlife.

 

This increasingly popular event is a 31-mile challenge which goes through the open countryside and moorland above Stocksbridge.

 

Starting and finishing from Trek Sheffield in the Fox Valley Shopping Centre, participants will follow a clearly signed route to Langsett before tackling the technical terrain across Cut Gate and Derwent Edge.

 

Marshals will be on hand and there will be a well-stocked feed station mid-way to replenish energy levels before riders return to Stocksbridge via some of the quieter roads and lesser travelled bridleways of Strines.

 

With over 3,500 feet of climbing, the ride is not for the faint-hearted. However, the challenge always attracts mountain bikers of all levels and, last year all 150 places sold out well ahead of the event.

Comments received after that event included “Another great event”, “Thank you to all involved in organising such a good event, well signposted and great marshals” and “Roll on next year”.

 

Event partners Trek Sheffield are providing event HQ and are donating a pair of mountain biking shoes for an early entry prize draw. Liberty Steel are providing free parking for all participants and Enzygo, based in Fox Valley, have donated a prize draw gift.

 

Steel Valley Project General Manager, Tom Newman said: “Entries for our 2020 event opened at the beginning of March and places are selling fast. With only 150 places available again this year, we recommend that people get their entries in early to avoid disappointment. As an extra bonus, if you’re one of the first 50 entrants, you’ll be entered into a draw to win either a pair of mountain biking shoes or a bottle of wine in a wooden gift box.”

 

More information on the Steel Valley Ride, including how to enter be found at www.steelvalleyride.wordpress.com 

ENDS

 

Notes for Editors

The first Steel Valley Ride was held by the Steel Valley Project in July 2016 and had approximately 100 participants. 

In 2017, the charity decided to host a charity ‘gravel’ ride instead to celebrate the Tour de Yorkshire finishing in Stocksbridge, but returned to running the Steel Valley Ride mountain bike event in 2018.

120 people registered to attend the 2018 Steel Valley Ride and the 2019 event sold out with 150 people entering.

The Steel Valley Project in Stocksbridge was formed in 1988 and delivers environmental, community and countryside projects in the area.

The organisation is a registered charity, working towards the following objectives:

• Manage habitats for the benefit of wildlife, people, heritage and landscape

• Encourage access to open green space/wider countryside

• Deliver environmental/education/interpretation to local schools/wider population

• Provide support, advice, training and supervision to volunteers, trainees and community groups in countryside management/conservation skills by working on real local environmental projects

 

Much of the work carried out is via their volunteer team, working on practical and community activities throughout the year.

Charity mountain bike event returns to Stocksbridge for the 4th year