WDCF Newsletter Autumn and Winter 2025

In 1997, in a village hall in Lower Ackworth, Pontefract, the Cyclist Touring Club (CTC) AGM decided to set up a sub-committee with the remit of campaigning to improve cycle infrastructure in the Wakefield District. The committee consisted of Steve Kidd, Bill Houlder, Graham Lawrence, Des Hampshire and Sandy Clark. After recruiting local cyclist and MP, Jon Trickett, and organising a number of ‘campaign rides’, the CTC was able to persuade Wakefield Council (WMDC) to set up a consultative ‘Cycle Forum’.
Leading members of the Forum met regularly with WMDC representatives and were able to suggest improvements to cycle infrastructure and agree an annual path-building programme. Importantly the council also agreed to the appointment of a cycle officer. Unfortunately, after the banking crisis when austerity started to squeeze government spending, WMDC decided that savings should include the abolition of the Healthy Transport Team, including the Cycle Officer.

It was at this point in 2008 that Wakefield District Cycle Forum was born as an independent voluntary community group. An invaluable addition to the Forum activists was David Keighley. David brought many ideas to the Forum’s programme including a programme of ‘missing-links’ designed to create a joined-up network of traffic-free cycle routes in the district. In its new form the Forum was not only able to canvass for council-built infrastructure but also successfully acquired funding to commission building projects to build and improve many of the cycle routes now familiar to cyclists in the district. Today, this programme still plays an important role in the Forum’s activities.

As part of the ‘we can do it’ mindset, the Forum also set up a work group, which was responsible, with the support of WMDC, for carrying out maintenance sessions on the path network. This group is still active and carries out regular workday sessions to repair paths and clear debris.

The Forum had also taken over a programme, initiated by the NHS, ‘Cycling for Health, which was run by Forum activist Roger Talbot. From it originally ad-hoc structure this programme has been developed by the Forum and its many ride leaders, to the now extensive, well established guided rides programme. Around 100 guided rides are run every year, graded in order of difficulty and all with qualified Ride Leaders. Everyone is welcome and there are bikes to borrow for those just wanting to try a ride.

It is now 2025 and the aims and the activities of the Forum are as vital as ever: –
– We are an advocate for local cyclists and actively campaign for new routes, linking existing ones and challenging the obstructions provided by ‘A’ frames and the like.

– We encourage cycling for all ages by providing an extensive program of graded guided rides. Riders can start with easy, largely off-road trails, progress through longer rides and then try our strenuous road rides with further to travel before the first essential refreshment stop.

– We organise many FREE events, including over 100 guided rides per year, Holiday Wednesdays at Nostell during summer school holidays, Bike Doctor sessions, Basic Bicycle Maintenance Days and information stalls.

– Our working parties lay new routes and clear existing ones.
If you want to help, either as a Ride Leader, workday volunteer or assist with essential admin, please get in touch via email – info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk
Thanks to Des Hampshire, Sandy Clark and David Keighley for the information in this article.

The rule of thumb for deciding whether to cancel a ride used to be along the lines: ‘if it’s not raining when the ride is due to begin then the ride goes ahead.’ These days, weather apps can allow ride leaders to give more notice but with the changeable weather we’ve had this year, it’s sometimes difficult for them to decide whether or not to cancel an upcoming ride.  A forecast of rain at 2pm may mean rain at 11.30am, a hailstorm at midday or no rain at all until 6pm.  Overall, it was a year of extremes, with many months seeing above-average temperatures and rainfall, including the hottest summer on record.

It started in spring when only 15cm of rain fell between February and June – less than half that expected in an average year. It became the driest spring since 1893 and the sunniest in 132 years. The main lake at Nostell NT shrank dramatically and small watercourses across the area disappeared altogether.

Met Office scientist Dr Emily Carlisle commented:

‘“the domination of high-pressure systems, unusually warm seas around the UK and the dry spring soils…have created an environment where heat builds quickly and lingers, with both maximum and minimum temperatures considerably above average.”  

Not ideal cycling weather!  These conditions led to a hosepipe ban being introduced in Yorkshire in July which lasted until the 10^th December 2025, despite a wet September with rainfall 32% above the norm followed by a very wet November. A large area extending from the Midlands to Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire was particularly wet, with over twice the normal rainfall.   Nevertheless, a maximum temperature of 18.9°C was recorded at Thornes Park Wakefield on the 5^th November, which might have helped to keep the fireworks dry. December, on the other hand, has been very cold, with temperatures between 3 and 7 degrees C, rain and a few days snow expected.

Cycling, as an ecologically friendly way of travelling, can help reduce global warming.  It’s also a good way to work off the effects of too much cake and mince pies and a considerate way to travel if you’ve overindulged on the brussel sprouts!

Arguably the most critical aspect of maintenance is being able to recognise when your bike isn’t quite “right” and doing something to prevent it becoming an issue or a failure.  Despite doing regular maintenance, things can happen and bits can wear or pick up damage earlier than planned.

In poor riding conditions, after cleaning off the bike check your tyres for foreign objects and cuts etc. Tubeless sealant needs topping up every 6 months. The other safety critical consumable is the brakes. Check pads or blocks regularly and replace them before they’re badly worn.

On rim brakes make sure you can still see the rim wear indicators (either a thin groove or a few small blind holes).  If there aren’t any left, you might need a new rim. 

On discs check for a step between braking surface and the inner disc. If there is one, get the disc measured as they do have a minimum safe thickness.

Another long suffering component is the chain and it’s easy to leave it mucky and just do one more ride. Check it for wear regularly, as replacing it in good time is much less expensive than leaving it too long and having to replace your cassette and chainrings as well. They will need changing eventually but you should aim for 3-4 chains per cassette.

Now the hosepipe ban has been lifted don’t be tempted to put any pressurised water near your bike as it gets past seals and displaces grease causing accelerated corrosion. Let chemical cleaners and soft brushes do the hard work and then rinse them off gently.

Take care with chemicals on braking surfaces unless they’re brake friendly. Drying your bike off is very important and lubricating chains and suspension stanchions is crucial for long life. Remember to wipe off excess lube from the chain so that muck doesn’t stick to it and form a grinding paste.

Regular maintenance based on the time ridden or the miles covered is a good idea. Checking, regreasing or replacing bearings, tightening bolts up regularly and servicing suspension keeps things operating as they should.

You can check a lot of these things yourself even if you can’t do the servicing or repairs.

If you don’t know how to do the basic checks or running repairs to get you home then look out for Forum organised Bike Maintenance Classes in the New Year and we’ll explain what to do, show you and then supervise you to do it.

On a cold wet Saturday in September, Meg & I attended an event at Snowhill, Wakefield.

It was organised by TP Consultants on behalf of WMDC as part of the Section 106 provision for the Snowhill Housing Project.

We joined the consultants and a Halfords mobile cycle mechanic to provide information, bike servicing and bike registration.

Six bikes were serviced, three registered and lots of people talked to. All in all, not a bad turnout.

October’s Nostell easy ride was unusual, but possibly a sign of the times, in that all the bikes taking part were electric assist. 

I know some pride themselves on relying on muscle alone but e-bikes do enable people to keep cycling when otherwise they’d need to hang up their helmets, drive to the start of a ride or take a rest day.

The November ride from Nostell NT was on a bright sunny day, as highlghted by all the riders wearing sunglasses. You can tell from the photo, however, that it was chilly too but everyone is smiling.

The last WoW of 2025 was a somewhat select gathering in damp, dark conditions.

Riders did get to see the long-awaited repairs to the zigzag on the Trans Pennine Trail at Navvy Lane going northwards (what3words bagpipes.jugs.lightens) which should make future rides safer.

Santa came to Nostell in December but not content with cycling there David K and Sandy tried out the splendid Santa sleigh provided.

To introduce a different venue, here’s a Forum Group on a ride to Walton.

21^st December 2025 was our final easy ride from Rycroft.  Despite the fog, the Sports and Youth Centre car park was full as usual.  Unfortunately, not with cyclists transporting their bikes to the start of the ride but with parents bringing their children to play football in the heavy mist.  

British Triathlon had a nominal bike hub at Ryhill with loan bikes available. They arranged some skills and learn to ride sessions but the local response was less than ideal and they have now withdrawn their support. 

Our own efforts to introduce locals to the pleasures of cycling and improve cycling skills and knowledge of local cycle routes so they had the confidence to cycle to shops, wheel with their children to school, set off on family rides or cycle to work in Wakefield, came to naught.

Members from other areas often supported the rides but the original reasons for setting them up at Rycroft remained unfulfilled.  The unwelcoming a-frames on the paths around the community centre and the reinforced and extended barriers on the path which links with the route to Anglers and Nostell NT, designed apparently to stop horse riders riding down a steep section of the path but effectively blocking it to anyone who could not lift their bike vertically, did not convey the idea of a cycle friendly location.  The decision was made to stop the Rycroft rides and divert our attention to the shortly to be reopened Bike Hub at Pugneys.

When it came to the final ride itself, our ride leader was truly on his own.

Citizen Coin was introduced in the Wakefield district in June 2024 to encourage local people to start volunteering and at the same time to publicise local businesses.  It was decided to reward volunteers involved in activities as diverse as litter picking, helping out at Girl Guides meetings or gardening at Pontefract Castle, with virtual Citizen Coins.  These are redeemable for discounts at participating local businesses.

WDCF joined the scheme in 2025 and has been rewarding committee members for attending meetings and ride leaders and back markers for guiding rides.  The coins collected have been used by volunteers to pay for things like swimming sessions, discounts on cycle goods and cups of coffee.

To join the scheme, you need to download the Citizen Coin App and follow the registration process.  Once registered, you can search for and sign up to activities – preferably those promoted by Wakefield District Cycle Forum.  Coins can be gifted to other participants in the scheme and so you could also treat a friend.

It has been decided to extend the scheme so that where the activity involved has health benefits, thereby potentially easing the strain on the NHS, those taking part can be rewarded, as well as those organising and leading the rides.  Attending one of our rides as a participant entitles you to one coin whereas acting as a Ride Leader or Back Marker entitles you to two coins.

Over the year more businesses have joined the scheme and often the conditions imposed for getting the reward have been made easier.  For example, one café dropped the requirement to buy a panini before you could have a free coffee and has probably sold more bacon sandwiches as a result.

The sign in sheets for rides in 2026 will have a QR code printed on the back for participants to claim coins.  You will need to register before you can start collecting coins so download the App or go to Citizen Coin Website and register.

You can get further information by emailing info@cycling-wakefield.org.uk and including ‘Citizen Coin Enquiry’ on the subject line.

Our Agbrigg path, starting near the local community centre and the allotments and passing along part of the disused Barnsley canal, provides a short, picturesque route to Walton Country Park. Some local people, including those who campaigned for the path in the first place, have been unwilling to use the route because it crosses Oakenshaw Lane at a point where the speed limit was the standard 60 mph for a single carriageway road.  The local authority was unwilling to put in speed bumps or a raised crossing, because of the proximity of bends in the road. They did agree to reduce the speed limit to 40 mph with some 30 mph stretches, but the important section including the crossing to Walton CP, used by walkers, cyclists and horse riders was to be set at 40 mph. We joined the objectors and wrote pointing out that multiple speed changes in a short section of road were likely to cause confusion and suggesting fixing the speed limit at 30mph for the whole length of Oakenshaw Lane to Doncaster Road. This would halve the number of road signs required, reduce pollution from cars braking and accelerating as the speed limits chop and change and cut down the likelihood of motorists getting confused as to what speed limit is in force at any particular point on the road, whilst increasing journey time by only 15 seconds.  Statistics show that the risk of serious injury or death, particularly for pedestrians, drops dramatically as speeds reduce and a minor tweak to the amendment could bring real benefits. 

The council has listened and 30 mph signs have recently appeared on Oakenshaw Lane.

We understand that the present owners of what is commonly known as ‘Metcalfe’s field’ are in discussions about moving the path so that rather than cutting across the field it goes down the roadside edge of it, thereby avoiding any conflict between crops and cyclists- a step to be welcomed.

Andy and David Keighley regularly ride the WoW and less often the Wheel to keep an eye on the signs and to check for any fallen branches, flooding or deterioration in the surfaces.  Others help out on an ad hoc basis when a sign is obscured, a manageable branch blocks the way or litter spoils the outlook.  The efforts of all are appreciated so why not add a Swiss army knife, folding saw or strong plastic bag to your saddlebag?

Our annual Festive Meal will be held on January 29^th 2026 at the Counting House in Pontefract at 6.30pm, on the premiss that the meal will be served at 7 o’ clock. It’s a lovely old building, with quaint twists and turns, and it’s good to see it back in use again. The food is delicious and I look forward to seeing you there. Links to the booking form, which we want back by the 14^th January, can be found at Festive Meal Booking form

Those of you who wanted a Christmas meal or get together before the 25^th December may have enjoyed the informal get-together at The Singing Chocker, organised by Sharon and Lisa. The picture below shows who turned up for a cheerful re-union.

There are no easy rides in January or February.  Details of our steady rides appear on our website. Our Rides programme for 2026 is at the printers but to whet your appetites, the first page looks something like this:

Access full 2026 rides leaflet here:
WDCF Rides and Events