CITY BUZZ: Enjoy Kelham Island as a family in a whole new way...

Well now’s your chance, as Sheffield Urban Cyclo Cross returns to the city for its second year - bringing with it the opportunity to take to your bikes as a family.

2018 will see riders in the city race over cobbles, through a museum, round Europe’s largest listed building and the site of the proving ground for some of Sheffield’s greatest athletes. But kicking the entire thing off this weekend, is the chance to enjoy some races for all ages at Kelham Isalnd Museum.

Events manager Adam Simmonite said: “The Sheffield Urban Cyclo Cross concept was developed as a way to showcase areas that played a part in Sheffield’s story, by reimagining them as venues to host some fast-paced cycle racing.

“The races are also an opportunity to highlight Sheffield’s growing reputation as ‘The Outdoor City,’ a city where sports, such as cycling, climbing, trail running, and walking, are a release for Sheffielders, who are lucky enough to have the Peak District on their doorstep in which to explore their limits.”

But, Adam reveals, it’s the stories behind the venues that makes the Sheffield Urban CX series more than just an exciting race series.

“Riders will be helping to forge a new chapter in the story of locations that are in an exciting renaissance and, like the molten steel that runs through Sheffield’s veins, the fluidity of these changes are interwoven into the rider and spectator experience and vice versa,” said Adam.

The 2018 series will begin this Friday, before moving on to Park Hill flats on July 28, and The Olympic Legacy Park on September 9 for the final round. Each round will have men’s and women’s categories, and will also give young riders the chance to take on the course in the 6-11 and 12-16 categories. There will even be a specially designed course for balance bikes.

“The courses are designed to make the most of the locations and the opening Kelham Island race promises to be pretty spectacular, taking riders up a steep ramp into the museum and down the ‘Little Mesters’ street to get out onto the cobbles again.

“It’s also an opportunity to bring new audiences into these exciting areas of the city, and make them want to visit again. I mean who wouldn’t be impressed by the Don Valley engine, Europe’s largest working steam engine? The atmosphere is going to be amazing; noise makers are welcome and we love to see people turn up ringing cowbells!”

This Saturday’s event will be running throughout the day, kicking off at 9am.