Rotherman’s Rides: Meadowhall Train Station Sheffield to Smithywood Ecclesfield

Take this 3 mile journey with me on the ‘Blackburn Trail’ as its known.

Right. [Music] Another ride then. This one’s uh Medal train station at the Travel Lodge. Medall Travel Lodge to Ecklesfield, Smithywood Industrial Park. [Music] There might be a little bit of a a wind noise on the microphone. So, I’ll keep me commentary down unless I need to uh unless I need to say something. [Music] But here we go then. It may be speeded up in places cuz it’s about 2 and 1/2 2 and a half miles long this track uh this this ride. And I’m sure you don’t want to be bored just watching uh watching where I’m going. [Music] It is slightly uphill. When I say uphill, it’s just like a gradient. Like I’m going up now. It’s not flat, but it does slightly rise until we get to smithy wood. Then it will rise up a It will rise up a lot. [Music] [Music] for the past few hundred yards. On me left is the old steel works that I used to work at. It were absolutely massive and it’s all been it’s all been taken down now. It’s all been demolished. It were originally known as Orth Steel Strip, but then he were bought out by Otmpu. [Music] And when I worked at British steel before to kumpoo days, it were always uh a competitor to British steels now a strip which on Shepkut Lane and Stocksbridge steel strip which of course is at Stockbridge [Music] and then when Otu acquired both sides and the closure of the narrow strip got transferred to Stocksbridge. bridge and then when stocks bridge closed it doors finally in 2005 we all got transferred down here to Arthles [Music] and it absolutely massive in fact I think 2/3 of the land weren’t even used or it or it used to have buildings on it which were demolished. Anyway, that finally closed its doors in uh well, New Year’s Eve with the end date for me, New Year’s Eve 2008 and then I went out to work for three week and got a job [Music] working in banking [Music] until I retired [Music] in 20 23 I think. I don’t know. Can’t remember. No, 2024. Just 12 months ago, weren’t it? I did a video on it. [Music] If you haven’t seen that video, why haven’t you seen it? Anyway, [Music] this is a cycling video. It’s not about me, is it? Anyway, let’s carry on. I’ll keep me gobs. [Music] Have you ever been up on M1 going north uh just north of Sheffield after Vio and you see that crane Then them cranes where they manufacture them cranes in the rectum and they stood upside that motorway. I see you on me right hand side. Some more crap information for you there. It can you see how it’s just gradually rising all the time? It’s just a continuous rise. [Music] I’m not used to this. I know it’s only a gradual rise and it’s it’s not to some people. It had been a dodle for me years ago, especially on the road bike. [Music] And I know it’s only a gradual climb, but it’s like relentless. Don’t know what it’s going to be like when I get to that smithy wood. I need an ebike. [Music] I definitely need an ebike. Here we go. Look, there’s one here. Bill eagle. [Music] You see loads of them ebikes, all them illegal ones. And they said police will confiscate them, but I don’t think they can police them all, can they? And I don’t think people like me, my age group anyway, that chap just passed me. [Music] He’s one of them joy riders going 30 miles an hour grant streets. [Music] [Music] You know, when you’re cycling on these trails, pedestrians have precedence over cyclists. What is a cyclist? A cyclist to me [Music] is like a road cyclist like I used to be doing this what I’m doing now. I mean, a lot of people will disagree with me, but I just think the people on bikes and I I once read that by a professional cyclist saying people, you know, who go around riding on pavements and mountain bikes and doing all what you see on YouTube. They’re just people on bikes [Music] now then. I ain’t got a clue where I am. And I’m in wrong gear for it. Let’s go this way. Bad mistake. [Music] [Music] [Music] That weren’t too bad. I got up here anyway, didn’t I? I think exits there in front. I ain’t done too bad at all. Got to be a lot odder than that. [Music] Oh, it’s not exit. [Music] It turns it. Oh, booger. [Music] That’s exit. And the cars are parked. Oh, I definitely need an ebike. Does anybody want to sponsor me? Send me an ebike [Music] and I’ll review it for you. [Music] Hey, thanks for watching Roman’s Rides. I’m at Smithywood Business Park. I’ll stay there. [Music]