Ride Sheffield’s Lady Canning’s Trails Project: Crowd Funding Success leads to partnership with Go Outdoors
Launched last spring, Ride Sheffield’s Crowd Sourced funding for the development of trails in Lady Canning’s Plantation was rapidly taken to the hearts and wallets of local (and countrywide) riders. With donations ranging from grom’s pocket money, through to university and local cycling clubs collecting money together, to larger donations from local industry and topped up with t-shirt sales supported by local bike shops. The funding slowly but surely made its way up to the amount needed to start construction of the first stage of the trails. There has been a phenomenal amount of support for the project and it is a huge thanks to all those who have donated that we are in the position we are in today.
Alongside the generosity of the local riders, another narrative was developing in the Lady Canning’s story. Sheffield based outdoor equipment specialist Go Outdoors had got in touch after seeing what we were planning and loved the ambitious nature of the way we were hoping to achieve the project, something that fitted well with their company ethos.
So it is with great pleasure we can announce the plans for stage one are now firmly in place with a projected opening date of spring 2015 (full details will be released early 2015). We’d like to offer a big thank you to the fantastic support of the crowd sourcing fund in helping the project to get underway.
That’s not the only bit of good news…. We are very pleased to announce our partnership with Go Outdoors bike brand Calibre who will be funding the construction of the rest of the loop!
Go Outdoors – Mike Sanderson: “Supporting the Lady Canning’s Trail Project was an easy decision for Calibre with the new trail being right at the gateway to the Peak District, only a short ride from the city. The GO Outdoors Calibre team are all Sheffield riders and once we saw this great initiative we thought we could lend a hand and make the dream a reality. Supporting the great work so far and the awesome donations given by the riding community, together we can make it happen and create another great place to ride mountain bikes in Sheffield.”
“The Lady Canning’s Trail Project is a new venue that caters to what GO Outdoors Calibre is all about – a place for beginners to find their feet, equally the same trail can be ridden faster by the more experienced riders; giving all a smile at the end of the ride. We are all excited be able to jump on our bikes and within 30 minutes from work cycle to a world class trails centre. We hope the mountain bike community in Sheffield and beyond will join us.”
Ride Sheffield – Henry Norman: “We are really excited about our partnership with Go Outdoors Calibre; not only does it allow us to construct the best trails possible in the woods, giving strength and variety to the riding in and around Sheffield. But it also highlights the passion and support that you find across Sheffield’s outdoor communities and industries. Without the fantastic support from the local riding community, this project would never have been realised. So it’s a massive thanks to them too”
Thanks to everyone who has contributed so far, without your support none of this would have been possible. We will update the progress of the GO Outdoors – Calibre Canning’s Trail at www.ridesheffield.org.uk and for enquiries please email info@ridesheffield.org.uk
