Whitelow Lane isn't a long climb, it's more of a hidden gem or a short-cut route to the quieter roads from the south side of Sheffield. Abbeydale Road can be rather busy, especially during rush hours and weekends. The right turn up to Totley Townhead will get your legs warmed up and is a more severe gradient than riding up to Owler Bar, but it's sure fire way to get you onto the quiet roads within only twenty minutes of setting off from the town centre. 

Once you reach Townhead then take take the left turn past the butchers and go right through the village. Then there is a small descent before your onto the bottom of Whitelow Lane. From there on in you can take your time on the climb up to Hathersage road and soak in the view as you climb out of the valley.

It's only a one mile long road with a gradient of 7.1% but you will have already done the climb up to Townhead which is touch in it's own right and by the time you've reached the little-kick-up onto Hathersage road, my guess is you'll be grateful when the roads flattens out. 

"If you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view, until you climb inside of his skin and walk around in it." 

Atticus Finch gave this fine advice to his daughter and what man wouldn’t like to be more like Harper Lee’s fictional hero? You can start by wearing a seersucker suit as Gregory Peck did when he played Atticus in the film adaptation of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’. You will need to work on the decency and honour and being unflappable yourself.

Seersucker is a thin cotton fabric that is woven so that some threads bunch together, giving the fabric a wrinkled, puckered appearance in places. It is usually blue and white striped and is used to make clothing for summer wear. The word originates from the Persian words "shir o shekar" which mean "milk and sugar" and probably refers to the resemblance of seersucker’s smooth and rough stripes to the smooth texture of milk and the rough texture of sugar.

Although it originates from India, seersucker is associated with America. Originally worn by poor Americans, it’s image was shifted in the ‘30s and ‘40s by Princeton students and the Duke of Windsor who was a serious style icon of the day. Nowadays it’s not so common which makes it a good choice. As a consequence you will attract attention when wearing it and you will need Atticus Finches confidence to carry a full suit. But it makes a classy outfit when paired with some well worn tan shoes and a pair of vintage RayBan Clubmasters. A less bold choice is to go for one seersucker piece - like a pair of shorts, a jacket or this Litton shirt.

Antoine Ventouse

 Andy was born and grew up in Sheffield. He joined a local club, Rutland CC at 13 and began competing in criteriums, time trials and cyclo cross races.

Bike racing took Andy to Holland representing English Schools on several occasions. He also rode the Junior Tour of Ireland following his 4th place finish in the Junior National Road Race championships that year. After finishing school Andy raced in France for a season achieving some success before returning to Sheffield to go to University.

More recently Andy spent 3 years in Vancouver, Canada, working as a bike mechanic at the Mountain Equipment Coop.

The draw of the 'Peaks' and the close proximity of the European hotbed of cycling pulled Andy back to Sheffield (actually Hope) in 2012.

He now enjoys racing for the Langsett Cycles Road Team based in Sheffield. 

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

Two ends of the age spectrum here but a couple of results that I'm quite proud of are 3rd place in the over 30's National Road Race Championship and 4th in the Junior Nationals a long time ago!

I've had a few  wins at 1st Cat level and I'm quite proud of them too. After all, wins are something else!    

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

I really like the climb out of Goyt Valley in the Cat and Fiddle direction. From the reservoir at the bottom you climb through pine trees which open up to wild moorlands and excellent views when you eventually reach the summit. The gradient is not at all fierce but you can make it as intense as you like.

Another climb I like is from Hathersage up to the gliding club at Abney. This climb goes up in a series of ramps. Great views all the way up and almost traffic free!

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

I'm going to go for one of the iconic climbs in France. Luz Ardiden. It goes up at a steadier gradient than Alp D'Huez but steep enough! The views are fantastic and the descent makes the pain of climbing it worthwhile!  

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

This is a tough question for me because it's hard to single out an individual moment or experience when you've been riding for over 25 years. My season in France was a big experience and whole lot of fun. 

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

At times racing makes the bike feel like a machine of torture! The obsession to achieve results makes riding the bike seem like a job. Certainly racing can take away some of the pleasure associated with bike riding but, at the same time, racing adds a whole different element to cycling.

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Having weak legs is ok sometimes.

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK at the moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

The boom hasn't got me into riding the bike or anything. I'd still be riding, boom or no boom. I do take pleasure in the fact that many more people are enjoying the same sport as me.

I only see positives in the increase in popularity of cycling. When I took up cycling it was a long way off being a main-stream sport. Now there is hardly a day goes by without the mention of Brad or Cav on the news. I think drivers give us a bit more respect because of it.

Britain's success on the track started it, followed by Sky's backing of a pro team and some notable results by top British riders.

Will it continue? I think so. There aren't many people who lose interest in cycling once they have taken it up. 

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

'A light bike allows you to ride faster, up-hill at least'. That's what people believe. 

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Not much different really. I still get the same kind of thrill out of it. I enjoy the freedom it provides and the challenge.

Who has been your favourite pro rider over the years and why?

Paolo Bettini  for his attacking style and happy persona. World Champion, Olympic Champion and winner of many 'classics'. 

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

The 80's. The era of Le'mond, Hinault, Fignon, Sean Kelly. Pre EPO.

Do you think Bradley Wiggins looks cool despite his long socks or because of them?

Ha. Good question..it's got to be despite the long socks. I guess that with Brad's level of success you are allowed to set a few new trends!

Sheffielder Brendon Tyree decided he wanted to be a cyclist at the age of 13 and joined the Rutland cycling club off his own bat.

Rising through the racing scene to represent great Britain many times over he racked up enough UCI points to turn elite running into his senior years where cycling was at a low giving him the much needed push to take off around the world with his film camera.

Returning back to Sheffield as a very keen amateur photographer Brendon did the rounds selling spray tanning machines for a short time but for the last 6 years he's been living his dream as professional photographer where he's managed to combine both cycling and photography by shooting travel stories and adventures for various International mountain bike magazines.

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

Winning the national under-23 road race final down in Dorset was probably my most proud moment as it was a lone break in the last race of the 1999 season and all the big names were in it.

I also managed to get this quote in cycling weekly, 'I gave up clubbing to concentrate on training and racing and it's paid off'.

Also finishing the national XC championships with no saddle was pretty cool if not a bit dangerous looking back.

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

I love the new road up from Ladybower to Stanage, I think of it as my local break in surfing terms.

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

The coast road in Majorca from Soller to Andrax is perfection, I know it's a bit main stream but I just feel like bond everytime I'm cruising along there.

Less main stream from the top of the col de la bonette down to nice is an awesome couple of days riding.

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

Breaking my leg flying down Win Hill a few years ago and waiting for the ambulance with the lads cracking jokes to stop me from fainting.

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

Yes big time, Racing at elite level can also be a golden cage around the freedom that cycling gives you, that's how it turned out for me so that's why I stopped.

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Nope not at all, who else is going to stay in with you and watch a film every Saturday night when everyone else has gone out down town?

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK atthe moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

Well now you can sell all your old parts from the early 90's (previously worthless) on e-bay to trendy london fixie types for more than you paid for them new, which is a positive.

No negatives apart from a high percentage of 'new' cyclists don't wave back to you when your out riding... OK you expect that in Belgium but not here, we've always waved at each other on passing during a ride, It makes my day better anyway.

Is cycling really the new golf? 

Is it bollocks, cycling is a lifestyle as well as a sport, it's also a spiritual thing to do that connects you with the world around you and makes you feel higher than Jimi Hendrix.

I can't see where networking businessmen flashing their Rolex watch will fit in with that. I think we're just becoming more European which is fab news so the term 'cycling is the new golf' is a poor and shallow choice of words in my opinion.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

Because it's a power to weight thing, obviously!! but yes, people take it too far and manufacturers love that cha-ching.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

No it's gone full circle just a beautiful thing to do but I must admit I NEED it more now with all the stresses and strains that come with modern life.

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Robert Millar, a legend!!! As a kid I saw him attack on a climb in the tour, get caught and swallowed up by the bunch and then, a few minutes later he properly attacked again! To every ones amazement, I love how uncalculated it was. I've never felt as excited as that to this day.

Jason Mcroy was my hero when I was at school too, I was pretty much obsessed with him, what a hero.

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

It looked lovely when it all started.....Tour de France riders smoking and domestique's carrying beers up for the team leaders. A lot more leisurely.

I'm sure I heard on the Rutland CC tea-cake ride that you once had the better of Sir. Wiggo in the past? Is this true? 

Yes It was when I was on the GB squad riding the prize of Europe stage race in France. It was a very very tough stage... Wiggo had lost his legs and got eliminated, I was also struggling and crashed after someone took my line on a mountain descent ripping off my left STI lever, but I managed to stay in the race and finished looking proper hard covered in blood with one lever! 

You can visit Brendon's website here - www.brendontyree.com

Another rider coming from the strong contingency of local talent in our area is Dean Downing. After seeing our recent Q&A session with Dave Coulson, Dean kindly offered to answer the questions himself.

It's Lincoln GP today and Dean will be looking to place high after winning the race back in 2007. He's been a professional for nearly a decade, riding first in Belgium then back to the UK to race for the Rapha-Condor outfit. Today he rides for another new team on the professional circuit, Madison-Genesis.

Here are Dean's answers... 

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

Becoming British Criterium Champion was a great moment for me and it came at a great time, the year after the Tour Series town centre races came around and i was in the limelight as British Champ on TV, that was cool.

Which are your favourite stretches of road to ride on locally and what is it that you like about them?

I don't particularly have a fave stretch of road, but when the sun shines in Yorkshire and the Peak District ( like this weekend ) i don't think you can beat the beautiful lanes we have.

The same question for roads anywhere in the world?

Some of the beach roads in Australia are pretty amazing, The Ocean Road. But some of the best roads in the world are the descents i have been down. How can you not love going fast down a long long descent with loads of hairpins in. 

What is your most memorable moment on the bike or involved with cycling?

Winning the Lincoln Grand Prix 2007 and thinking of my Grand dad as i crossed the line. He came to watch me in the Junior version when i was 18 and passed away when i was 20.

Has racing affected your relationship with the bike? If so, how?

It has yeah, sometimes i hate my bike, but thats when I'm having a seriously bad day in a race for example. If i have had a bad day on my bike in a race, then i hit the chocolate, always makes me feel better...

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Mickey, what a legend. I absolutely love the Rocky films. Awesome motivation, but I'm not sure about the weakening of legs, I'm sure there are some ladies out there that have weakened some guys heads. 

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK atthe moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

Cycling has been on a Boom since Team GB won all the Gold Medals at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. This is a direct result of all the lottery funding for the talented riders within the GB system that started way before this, back in 95 or so. It has definitely affected me yes, more sponsors have come into cycling within the UK scene and of course the wages went up too. That affected me in a good way. Also Bradley Wiggins and Chris Hoy have become stars in the British Public. 

Negatives, yeah cars and cyclists are still looked at as not being allowed on the same roads. This has to change, but how, i have no idea.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

I'm not sure really, i ride a new Genesis steel frame bike which is obviously never going to be as light as a carbon frame. But maybe some of these guys should take a bit more care of what they are eating and drop a kg that way.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Yes and No. I still love to enjoy riding my bike, but on the other hand, i've been making my living out of riding my bike for the last 10 years or so. So i have to approach it differently in that sense, most days i am on my bike, i am going to be training and doing some form of structure to my riding. But it is great some days to just revert back to when i started cycling with my dad, cruise along and sprint for some village signs and have fun with the lads.

Who has been your favourite pro riders over the years and why?

Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche were my dads hero's when he was still racing and this transferred to me too. They won so many races between them back in the 80's when i was a kid. The best thing about these guys, is, i have had the pleasure to meet them both several times and have a beer with them. Dream Come true right there.

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

Back when i was growing up watching the Tour in the 90's, all riders were just attacking each other on most of the stages. Really smashing it up the Mountains etc.. It has become a bit clearer why they were all kicking each other heads in now, but it was exciting to watch. Doesn't make it right, but it was exciting.

Do you think Bradley Wiggins looks cool despite his long socks or because of them?

Despite. He has long legs so he can carry them off. But they are a bit too long i reckon. Not as long as Tim Rowsons thought...

I didn't know him at the time but I remember seeing Antoine Ventouse
getting off his orange J F Wilson bike in town, lean, shaven tanned
legs, Hebden cord short-shorts, vintage embroidered french jersey,
looking the part in the sun. I'd already decided that I wanted to
become a cyclist and I'd bought a second hand 531 steel bike and done
a few short rides on my own but I had no idea of where to go from
there. I introduced myself to Antoine, we talked about the bike and
about clobber, became friends and he gave me the pointers and advice I
needed.

I had lost interest in playing football; it's not really something you
can do on your own and organising games of football around other
people was hard. And you don't see many blokes playing football past
the age of 40. I wanted something new and different and cycling held a
lot of appeal. There was something romantic about being an endurance
athlete. And the aesthetic of professional riders past and present was
undeniable - they looked hard and lean. It wasn't just pros either.
I'd seen knarly old boys on touring bikes with saddlebags that looked
like they had ridden all of their lives and they looked lean and
healthy. If I fostered the same lifetime habit, I knew that I'd be
adding years to my life. And there was the limitless freedom that the
bike offered; setting off and riding as far from home as you fancied
whenever you fancied it with no train timetables or traffic jams to
hinder your progress and no cost - just some food in your belly for
fuel and the strength in your legs.

I didn't know it at the time but once I started riding I discovered
the social appeal of riding 6 inches apart for hours at a time
chatting as a pair or in a group, in the same way as you might with a mate down the pub but
rolling around Derbyshire enjoying some of the nicest views in Europe,
if not the world, instead. And it becomes a social currency in the
same way that football is. People want to chat about the bike and
organise rides. I've ridden with and met some ace people. I've had
some of my best experiences and most interesting conversations while
on the bike. Long may it continue! 

There is a strong professional and elite amateur racing cyclist contingency in and around the Peaks with a number of riders and ex-riders living in both the Sheffield and Rotherham area. Dave Coulson is one of them.

Dave was born and raised in Sheffield and moved to the continent at the age of 20 to race. This is where he "grew up a lot and was very
often hungry". He continued to race at elite level in the UK and Europe for close to 20 years. Dave has recently moved into team management after retiring from the racing scene at the end of 2010. He is also a now a husband and father, with a 3 year old daughter and still lives and rides his bike (although slower) in Sheffield.

We asked Dave some questions about his racing career and how this has changed his view of the bike.

As a racing cyclist, which results are you most proud of and why?

Racing and trying to be a serious rider for 2 decades has unavoidably affected my relationship with the bike. During a riders racing career he becomes pretty obsessive and the level of comittment to improving as an athlete is something out of the ordinary.

This commitment and what it brings, makes cycling 'training', and not just 'bike riding'. Enjoyment is replaced by satisfaction, relief and pressure, often largely self imposed. I've known very good riders fall out of love with cycling after reaching a point at which they feel they've given too much for too little in return. This is often down to the historically rocky and exploitative nature of sponsorship and unscrulous team managers. Also the ever present knowledge that you are often racing against doped riders.

I'm gradually getting back some of the simple pleasure I found in cycling years ago. If I can offer some advice,for most riders cycling is something of an escape from the 9-5 grind of work and the responsibilities of having a family. Don't take cycling too seriously, remember why you do it. Obsess about enjoying cycling. 

Do you agree with Mickey Goldmill's advice to Rocky that 'women weaken legs'?

Yes, you'll never be a contender if you got women around. Seriously, I don't think so. I know a few riders who'd tell you sex helps.

We are in the midst of a well publicised boom in cycling in the UK atthe moment. Has it affected you? Do you have any thoughts about why it has happened and whether it will continue? Do you see any negatives to the increase in popularity?

I feel that cycling has become something that's now perceived as lees of a minority sport. Cycling is a sport which suffers from some snobbery. Not in the typical sense, but often amongst seasoned riders, be they serious racers or club riders, new cyclists are sometimes snubbed simply for not being aware of the nuances and etiquette within road cycling. All riders will know someone like this, a guy that sneers at the" newby" especially if they are young and fast.

I dont see any negative results of the increase in road cycling popularity. More cyclists can only improve awareness of cyclists amongst other road users and having spoken with several cyclists, I do think we saw I noticeable change in drivers behaviour towards cyclists on the back of Wiggins tour and Olympic success, with many drivers giving more room passing cyclists and generally being more considerate.

All cyclists, whether they race or not, seem to obsess over the weight of their bikes. Why do you think this is?

I guess it's the fact that the majority of road bike riders, wrongly or rightly, associate riding with some level of competition or at least maximising potential. Whether that takes the form of beating their times for regular routes ridden or winning a sprint for a village sign on a club run.

Do you approach riding, or ride your bike, differently now to when you first got into cycling?

Absolutely yes. When I was racing,cycling was training. When I first started riding , everyday on the bike was fun. Since stopping racing I'm trying to get back some of that fun. I try to get on the bike with different people. When I was training I tended to train with the same few people or alone. Although training with Chris Walker was often a good laugh. We had a great training group for quite a few years.

Who has been your favourite pro-rider over the years and why?

I always liked Carlos Satre. He seemed to have had a tough career at times, but achieved a lot and made the most of his abilities. His tour win was evidence of this,in the midst of team politics he grabbed the tour from his team mate Frank Schleck, a guy I raced with in Italy, a real cool bloke. 

What was you favourite era of professional bike racing?

Probably late 80's. I think that's due to me being so young and watching tv and reading Winning magazine in awe of the likes of Roche, Herrara,Kelly et al. In time I learned more about the sport and lost that romantic hero worshipping perspective. Not for those or any other riders specifically.

Do you think Bradley Wiggins looks cool despite his long socks or because of them?

Inspite of the over long BLACK socks, I think he's pretty cool, I think some would consider him a little contrived. I'd much rather see kids looking up to Wiggins than the typical prima-donna footballers.

 "The bicycle is its own best argument. You just get a bike, try it, start going with the thing and using it as it suits you. It'll grow and it gets better and better and better" 

Many acute observations have been made and memorable things said and written about cycling but this line from bearded, crepe sole shoe wearing '70s cycling legend Richard Ballentine emphasises the bike's versatility; how it can be many things to many people. 

This versatility has led to a divergence of bike design to create specialised bikes which in turn has seen the emergence of various cycling tribes. A cursary roll call would see touring cyclists riding their bikes to see different places and for the love of riding, mountain bikers (with many sub-tribes) availing themselves of the thrill and challenge of the trails, retro hipsters using their bikes as fashion accessories, club riders doing traditional Sunday runs with a cafe stop, road racers testing their mettle and professional road racing riders earning a living doing the same. And of course people using their bikes simply to travel from place to place or enjoying being out with their pals, taking in the countryside and getting some exercise in the fresh air.

Some people enjoy the tribalism; of being part of an exclusive groovy gang. Others can't get past the snobbery and cliquey behaviour and others don't give a hoot and just get on their bike and ride. Whichever way your cloth is cut, the trick is to follow Ballentine's advice and ride your bike to suit you. It's a trick that a few may be missing as a result of the way cycling is marketed and a culture of copying the pros in some of cycling's tribes.

Professional road racing cyclists are a source of inspiration for cycling fans and a fair share of envy too for their prowess and the fact that they are making a living from riding their bikes. They get to take all of those drugs as well the lucky bastards. But then there's the pain. Lots of it. And most are in the unenviable position of having to take a reductive approach to bike riding. Their riding is either training or racing and both are a means to an end. The training is to allow them to race better and the racing is to earn money. There may be other factors for some - like glory and even enjoyment. But these aren't the main considerations.

Tiny improvements to performance can translate into big improvements at the finish line. To that end, most pros and their coaches reduce their training rides to numbers in an attempt to better improve performance. Heart rates, power outputs, cadence; measures of pain.

Many cyclists copy the pros. The bikes they ride and the way they set them up, the clothes they wear and how they wear them and the way they ride their miles (but rarely the miles themselves). Marketeers know this and package cycling in images of pain to entice customers to part with their hard earned cash to buy products that allow them to be more like the pros. The logic is simple - the pros are the best cyclists in the world and copying everything they do might make me stronger.

Even if the logic wasn't flawed (it is), it would still be missing Ballentine's point. Which is that pain and numbers suit the pros and getting stronger is what pays their bills. It may suit amateur racing cyclists to copy the pros approach to some extent to enjoy racing more; the more thoughtful will avoid turning their training rides into a means to an end and enjoy all of their riding. The rest of us are better served by just riding our bikes, pushing on when we fancy it, forgetting the numbers (other than the price of a slice of cake at the cafe), enjoying the scenery and the company if we have anyone else along for the ride or the contemplation if we don't.

By Antoine Ventouse

Following on in your fathers footsteps is something many people aspire to do, dependant on your fathers trade of course. My Dad was a miner when i was growing up, he worked at Maltby pit in Rotherham. When Thatcher closed the pits in the 80s he decided, like many others, to strike. Not wanting to waste any time he trained as an electronical engineer, something he still does today in Germany. 

My Grandad however worked within the famous Sheffield steel industry. Sheffield has been and always will be known for it's amazing steel. The city has an International reputation for metallurgy and steel-making. It was this industry that established Sheffield as one of England's main cities during the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. However, due to increasing competition from imports, it has seen a decline in heavy engineering, thus streamlining its operations and laying off the majority of local employment. My grandad just about scraped through uneffected when he retired after 50 years of service. 

As a leaving present and token of appreciation from the the company, he was given an engraved tray. I can't remember what material the tray was made from, but I can remember it being shiny, possibly silver plated? I was too young to remember and I doubt I even cared back then, but I can remember it's purpose clear as day. It sat on his bed-side table and when he came home from Bramley club (a place where he goes most night like many men of his day, to play dominoes and snooker) he'd empty his lose change from his pockets onto the tray. Being a cheeky scamp back then, I used to sometimes (not always) help myself to a few quid for some sweets. Until the day I was caught! Embarrassingly I was given a good telling-off by my Dad and felt truly ashamed and embarrassed, even at 10 years old, I knew I'd done him wrong. 

I still think about that tray and what it represents. 50 years of service to Sheffield's steel industry, Mr Eric Barnett, a small cog in a huge machine. The Mamnick 'Made in Sheffield' collection is a small way in which I can carry on my grandads efforts by using the same material he helped put on the map over 50 years ago and it feels good to know those 50 year of graft he put-in is now inspiring me to continue to work with the material that he worked with day-in day-out. 

Who knows, maybe one-day I'll make a tray to keep my pocket change in.