For the past year I’ve been driving from Hillsborough to Tankersley Manor and cycling the rest of the way to Barnsley for work. Yesterday, I decided to do the whole journey – from home to work and the return – about 23 miles round trip. It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It was fairly easy so I’ve done the same today.

However – I’ve got to make a comment about the state of the road. The A61 isn’t new to me as I’ve been doing the same journey along it by car for the last 13 years or so but driving only gives you a small understanding of the condition of the road. From the Red Lion through to the Jet garage, the road is rutted, pot holed, flooded (the drains are largely blocked with silt), obstructed by great big bushes and more. There are bricks strewn on the road side, debris from lorries and accidents litter the near side and generally, the road surface is dire. At the best of times it is a little nerve wracking cycling the route!

A lot of money was spent at the far end to correct the flood damage from a couple of years ago but surely – considering it is one of the main entries into the city, more needs to be spent on the whole section just to (at the very least) tidy it up and make it safer.

its not only the A61, most roads in and around Sheffield are of the same state. I cycle a mere 4 miles to work and yet have to avoid all the same problems as you. There has been massive under investment in the maintenance of all roads in Sheffield for the last 20 years, its only now when they have become so bad that they have even starting to think about repairing them.

its strange the roads that seem to be in best repair are those country lanes, but then no one drives them any more.

I totally agree, I ride to work every day in rotherham a 25 mile round trip and have to say that the state of the roads are terrible, really limits the speed at which you can ride and the comfortability too you would've thought with all the emphasis on being more "green" the government would encourage people to ride their bikes! food for thought for the mp's if they can pull themselves away from their expenses sheets that is haha

There were loads of cyclists out this morning .... there seems to be more each day - loads of different abilities too. There were those were obviously commited cyclists and others who looked new to the game - they looked pained!!!!!. I really think the councils round about need to look at the road infrastructure. The state of the roads can only put other people off. I have considered buying a helmet cam (counds like a little Germa fella) from Decathalon - filming the route and sending it in to various councils.

Like in so many areas of this country the roads need a little bit of forward thinking. Do them up - more people biking it - less cars on the road - less congestion & a better environment.

I was considering buying a road bike with really thin tyres - just to get a bit more speed up. Having done the full route a few times I think I'll stick with my big chunky mountain bike wheels.

I made the jump to a road bike it certainly speeds up the ride but at the expense of comfort. The first road bike I bought was a cheap one and the wheels buckled within 3 months partly due to the roads and partly due to me being overweight haha. my partner lives in lincoln their council seem to have a better idea with the roads most people cycle over there and the road surface and the other road users are miles better than over here.

Road racing bikes are the equivalent of driving a ferrari where comfort is concerned on Sheffields roads. For a more comfortable ride a city hybrid with straight double bound handlebars and a gel saddle is great.

Mountain bikes with their heavy suspension frames and chunky tyres make it harder going than it needs to be.

I do hope you enjoy your ride and get through the summer safely.

Road racing bikes are the equivalent of driving a ferrari where comfort is concerned on Sheffields roads. For a more comfortable ride a city hybrid with straight double bound handlebars and a gel saddle is great.

Mountain bikes with their heavy suspension frames and chunky tyres make it harder going than it needs to be.

I do hope you enjoy your ride and get through the summer safely.

Thanks for the advice ..... I'll look into it .....

I ride an old fully rigid MTB with slick tyres for commuting to and from Chesterfield to Sheffield City centre. Not quiet as quick as a road bike, but still comfortable enough.

A set of slick road tyres for a MTB really make a big difference, especially if they are pumped up to 65 / 70psi, and significantly more economical than a new bike.

I've considered getting some hybrid tyres fitted to my MTB. I've only just bought some 'slime' filled inner tubes for my existing tyres though .... would they fit in the hybrids?

As for suspension - I've only got front suspension which kind of helps out with the bumps.

How far is Chesterfield to Sheff cc? I guess it's along the A61???

Yes, along the A61 mainly. It's about 12 miles ish, each way.

As far as the tubes are concerned, I'm not sure. It depends on the profile of the tyre an size of the tube. Slick tyres will have a lower profile than normal MTB tyres.

I use these (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_City_Contact_MTB_Tyre/5360041262/), with tubes that came with the tyres (a deal at the time) since then, I haven't had a single puncture (on that bike anyway...).

Whether it would be worthwhile or not depends on how much you plan to cycle on the roads. If you are, the difference in speed and rolling resistance is massive.

Yes, along the A61 mainly. It's about 12 miles ish, each way.

As far as the tubes are concerned, I'm not sure. It depends on the profile of the tyre an size of the tube. Slick tyres will have a lower profile than normal MTB tyres.

I use these (http://www.wiggle.co.uk/p/cycle/7/Continental_City_Contact_MTB_Tyre/5360041262/), with tubes that came with the tyres (a deal at the time) since then, I haven't had a single puncture (on that bike anyway...).

Whether it would be worthwhile or not depends on how much you plan to cycle on the roads. If you are, the difference in speed and rolling resistance is massive.


Money is a big consideration for me at the moment .... skintsville!!!!! I kind of like the extra workout that big tyres give me too .... I'm a glutton for that kinda thing!!!!

We have the same distance journey I guess .... it's about 11.5 miles from house to work ...... 50 minutes sound about right?

Yep, about right.

I tried the slime tubes on my road bike thought they would help but they only seem to work if you get a really tiny puncture my commute distance is 10.72 miles from southey to rotherham nice couple of hills for the workout either way. did look into a hybrid yesterday but saw a really nice road bike an gonna start saving up now lol be interesting to see the difference in times between a road and a hybrid just for comparison

A61 you're not on your own.

I cycle into Sheff since from Woodhouse to near Jessops.

Whoever is responsible for the surface that a cyclist would mainly use (the edge 1/3rd) is not bothered or they would sort it.
Q's
Do the folks that dig up our roads no anything about what is req for cyclist? I doubt it.:loopy:
Why are new roads built without the red stripe at the side? :huh:
And on and on...........

We are told to get out of cars but when you do you're on yer own, put up and shut up with the surface you've got would seem to be the message.

A61 you're not on your own.

I cycle into Sheff since from Woodhouse to near Jessops.

Whoever is responsible for the surface that a cyclist would mainly use (the edge 1/3rd) is not bothered or they would sort it.
Q's
Do the folks that dig up our roads no anything about what is req for cyclist? I doubt it.:loopy:
Why are new roads built without the red stripe at the side? :huh:
And on and on...........

We are told to get out of cars but when you do you're on yer own, put up and shut up with the surface you've got would seem to be the message.

There must be people in the Town Hall who we could contact .... I did consider buying a helmut cam (sounds like a German football manager) and send the council the video of my cycle journey ....

It seems people from the townhall read this site ...... there is a lot of work going on at at least one place along the A61 ...... :)