Right I copied this from an email so if you have any questions the answer is probably "I don't know" and I don't have enough space to host the downloads but I'll happily mail them out to anyone (email in profile), and yes it might be a bit lofi / not hardcore enough for some of you.

…Subject: Parkwood Springs MTB Trail:
Update December 2009:
We need your support!

Hello and Seasonal Greetings!

The story so far!
An outline bid was successfully submitted to Sports England's Community Investment Fund to help create an all weather armoured 2km flowing single-track Mountain Bike loop for Parkwood Springs accompanied by a program of MTB events and activities over three years.

European money has now been secured to match the potential Sport England funds. We are now at the last stage and need to submit the finalised bid to Sport England in early January 2010. To succeed at this final stage we need as much evidence of support for this project as possible.

We now need letters of support for the project 'makingtracks @ Parkwood'.
The trail has been designed by local trail builders and riders as well as 'world champion Dr Steve Peat!' A huge thank you to him and 4XSteve for all their effort to date.

Attached is a peak at the trail and trail description. (its red/blue xc with opt ins) Steve Peat will be involved in the final lay out and checking the riding quality of the final build…. so we it should be good.

The trail is designed to be accessible and promote skills development from a novice who can roll down it, to the expert rider who can flow and pump through its turns and features. Opt ins and multiple lines being the name of the game.

Making tracks @ Parkwood :Project Overview:

-Plan to build the trail winter 2010/11, for completion and launch spring 2011.

-Annual program of activities to utilise the proposed trail for the next 3 years.

Most recently we have been talking to the ski village of the possibility of using their lifts a couple of time a year as a trial to get bikes up the hill. We already have a Sheffield schools comp planned for 21st July 2010 up there (cheers Craig M and Steve M), as well as the ongoing 'woodland MTBsummer sessions program' which is planned to run once more building on the success of the academy last summer.

– We are keen to fill in a wider program of events/ races etc up there through the years from spring 2011 onwards. So look at you schedules and come forward with what you would like to do now! We hope to get a regular weekend club up and running for children / families and youths as well as specific comps, night rides and a no-sludge winters a drag events going too.!
-A key theme to the 'making tracks @ Parkwood' project is working with local community groups, families , women, children, schools, youth groups and young people from across the city and most importantly from the local area getting everyone positively involved in the site. We being able to provide bikes, equipment and instruction so they can have a go! Be its as part of a PE lesson, have a go session, or a local club.

-The trail will be open access and free to use. There will be a strong emphasis on positive activity for all riders at whatever level. To encourage and develop MTB skills, flow and style. To promote and foster sustainable trail use, good rider etiquette and respect, and develop a wider understanding of the natural environment and the context the trail is set in.

To date we have been working closely with so many people so thank you to you all whether we met you at the weekender, MTB summer sessions, cliff-hanger, or around the table helping to put the project together.

To succeed in the long-term a 'parkwood mtb group' need to form., I will be looking to meet at the ski village in February to start to taking this forward.
The vision being that this group can help the council manage this facility and help and shape its growth in the future. be it building, maintaining and developing the trails network as well as helping us shape the project.

-we will be looking for sponsorship for parts of the trail / events / web based material / trail signage, as well as annual schools, youth, and city events.
so what do I want for Christmas? A letters of support from yourselves, the groups you work with and any one else you know who would support the project 'makingtracks@ Parkwood'

You need to state who you are, or you represent. Please state your support for the project as well as if possible try and describe how 'you' feel the project would benefit you. Be it your community, your club, your group, the friends you ride, with or the mates who don't ride who maybe could, your children, grandchildren, parents, uncles , race team , pupils who ever.

we need your support whether you are a keen MTB rider, xc racer, free rider, school teacher, youth group leader, teenager, child, parent, whoever or even if downhill world champion we need your support! so please write or email in, Be it a line, paragraph or small essay.

By: Monday 11th January 2011

These letters of support will be sent on to Sport England in the new year!

letters to:
Jon Dallow
Woodland Project Officer
Parks & Countryside
Meersbrook Park
Brook Road
Sheffield
S8 9FL
or email:
Jon.Dallow@sheffield.gov.uk

In support of the 'Making tracks @ Parkwood' Project
We should hear the final decision by APRIL 2010 on Sport England funding.
Hope that helps, once again thank you for your support, please contact me if you want to know more.
All the best..and have a Happy Christmas
Jon Dallow
Woodland Project Officer
Parks & Countryside

Trail Descriptions: Parkwood Springs
Anti clockwise around plan from bike skills link area:
Trail Grade: Blue/ Red

1st Section
From the car park area the rider can either go straight to the bottom of the first climb on the trail or onto the skills link to warm up. The skill link will consist of a number of technical trail features similar to the ones the rider will encounter on the trail but at a more controlled speed. There are a number of small table tops, doubles, drops, berms etc.

The first climb of the trail gradually makes its way through the woodland, weaving its way through the trees as it goes. There will be very little ttf’s on the first section as to not catch the rider unawares so soon. After crossing the first small path the rider will have a few small rocks to negotiate as they carry on climbing before the next path crossing. A short distance after the path crossing the rider has a choice of following the climb across another path and to the view point over Parkwood or to use the link path which will take the rider to the top of the first down hill section.

2nd Section
The rider begins the first downhill of the trail from just below the view point. This section flows through the woodland with many features. There will be three or four split lines with further advanced technical trail features where riders of basic ability can opt round leaving the feature to be ridden by more experienced riders. This section of down hill will finish at a path crossing; the rider can opt to ride back to the car park from this point.

Sections one and two can be used for school lessons by following the link path if required.

3rd Section

After exiting the second section the rider crosses straight over the path and enters the third section. This section carries on flowing down the hill and begins to traverse across the slope below the existing garden area. This section will have a few S bend turns to make the best uses of the slope with a number of ttf’s near the bottom of the section.

On exiting the small piece of woodland at the end of the section the rider will follow the path down to the left for about 30m before reaching the top of section 4. From this point the rider can view the whole of Sheffield City Centre and beyond.

4th Section
Section 4 starts by traversing across a steep bank with switch backs to stay at a reasonable gradient. As the trail cuts along the slope it will rise and fall following the banking and keeping flow for the rider. Towards the bottom of the banking the trail levels out just before a slight incline rising to the start of section 5. This level section will be entered with plenty of speed with ttf’s set out to help the rider carry their speed up the slope.

5th Section
At the tall pines the trail begins to drop down hill again entering the woodland. There will be a split in the track around this point with an advanced ttf before joining back up and flowing down the slope. As the slope levels off the trail will have a long final downhill straight to help the rider carry speed into a long left hander before starting the climb back up the path. This will be a gradual climb winding its way out of the woodland with a steep finish onto the path.

6th Section
After crossing the path the rider follows alongside the pathway before crossing the bridleway and making their way towards the woodland. This section will be stone armoured to help protect the heath land below from possible contamination. The trail then enters the woodland and begins to weave its way through the trees. A short descent with a split line ttf takes the rider down and over the brook by means of an armoured rock crossing before a short steep climb up to the path.

7th Section
This section is the final climb before reaching the car park. The rider will traverse along this steep bank with switch banks and sweeping climbing turns along with specially placed ttf’s keeping the flow of the trail before a slightly steep climb bringing the rider on to the playing field level.

The rider can then decide to cruise round to the car park or ride through the skills link and go round the trail for another loop.

Skills Link
The skills link will consist of a number of technical trail features the riders may encounter on the trails itself such as drops, step ups, table tops, double berms etc. It can either be used as a practice area, warm up spot or a simple link for riders intending on doing a number of loops on the main trail.

Link from Ski Village Car Park
The link path from the Ski Village will allow riders to use the facilities of the Ski Village and still be able to access the trail. From the Ski Village Car Park the riders can climb out of the top side of the car park and gradually make their way up the slope towards the main trail. There will be a number of split sections on the link to allow riders making their way back down from the main trail to ride different paths therefore reducing rider conflict.

it's great podge it really is but i got bored after line 15. what do you want us to do? i guess a letter showing support. will email do?
if you're wanting some evidence of it helping in pe lessons get in touch with winterhill school as they have a bmx track across the road and it's brought girls and boys on in leaps and bounds in pe lessons. it's amazing. you need evidence of it being good for a wider community and not being a niche thing to do.
i'll help but you need to sum up the above in roughly three paragraphs.

OK, yeah it is a bit long. basically Sheffield is getting an inner city mini trail and skills centre.

To show your support and help secure more funding please send an email or letter to:

Jon Dallow
Woodland Project Officer
Parks & Countryside
Meersbrook Park
Brook Road
Sheffield
S8 9FL
Jon.Dallow@sheffield.gov.uk

tell him why its a good idea and just be generally positive about it all.

thanks