Have you resolved to get more active in 2025? Active Travel – including walking, cycling, and wheeling – is now encouraged by the government and local councils. Why not try cycling? Cycling is low-cost, great fun, good for your health, and beneficial for the environment.
Councillor John Shephard, Bassetlaw District Council’s Cycle Champion, has previously shared basic cycling tips, which can be found at www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/sport-leisure-and-culture/leisure-and-well-being/cycling-in-bassetlaw.
Here are some additional tips for cycling during winter:
- Stay warm: Wear a helmet with a buff underneath, layer up to keep warm, and invest in a waterproof jacket, gloves, and warm socks.
- Be visible: Use front and rear lights (a legal requirement during hours of darkness) and consider using them in the daytime during winter for better visibility to drivers.
- High visibility: Wear a high-viz vest or clothing to improve visibility. Be mindful of the glare and dazzle caused by low winter sun, which can reduce drivers’ ability to see you.
Where to cycle?
It’s best to avoid busy roads where possible. For example, from Worksop, you could use the well-signed National Cycle Network (NCN) route 6 to cycle to Clumber Park via minor roads and traffic-free paths. Clumber Park, managed by the National Trust, offers miles of off-road cycle tracks, making it ideal for cycling enthusiasts.
Route 6 is part of the National Cycle Network, which spans the UK and is promoted and maintained by the sustainable transport charity Sustrans (www.sustrans.org.uk). Local Sustrans volunteers play a vital role in maintaining the NCN network. If you’re interested in getting involved, contact local Sustrans volunteers via the ‘Bassetlaw Friends of Cycling’ Facebook group. The group also organises social rides during the summer months.
Other local branches of the NCN network include:
- Route 647: Clumber to Fledborough, crossing the River Trent and continuing to Lincoln.
- Route 648: Connecting NCN route 6 at Budby to Shirebrook.
- Route 674: Running from Woodsetts to Thurcroft along the old Mineral Line.
Derbyshire offers excellent cycling routes, particularly repurposed old railway paths. A local example is the Clowne Greenway, which connects Creswell with Clowne and Poolsbrook Country Park.
As Bassetlaw Cycle Champion, Councillor John Shephard has been working with Bassetlaw District Council planners to incorporate cycle routes into the Local Plan for future developments. If you have ideas for local cycle paths, you can contact your local councillors – Parish, Bassetlaw District, or Notts County Councillors – or email john.shephard@cllr.bassetlaw.gov.uk.
Happy cycling!