This Saturday Sheffield’s Greno woods will be set alight with the excitement of bike racing, the cheers of thousands of spectators, the clinks of many a beer and a party tumbling on well in to the night. As we assemble for the annual test of skill, bravery and speed it will remind us just how special Sheffield’s biking family can make the biggest little race feel. Its time for the 2018 edition of Peaty’s Steel City DH.

The racing family is made up of 300 riders from all over the country ranging 9½ to 74¾ years old, 40 lasses and 75 under eighteen. Some seasoned racers, some trying it for the first time and everyone lucky to have got in. This majority of categories sold out within 30 minutes, demand is extraordinary.

The spectating family is made up of 3000 riders, hecklers, cheerers, toddlers, mums, dads, kids, strollers, sitters, drinkers, eaters, window shoppers, bargain hunters, noise makers, heart breakers and fans. Everyone is there to enjoy their day and we’re all there to raise money to improve the trails for us to ride in Greno woods. It’s a harmonious cycle event. Greno woods are owned and cared for by the Sheffield and Rotherham wildlife trust who we work with to improve the woods for everyone.

Racing begins at midday and final runs will be around 2:30pm. The course is open for practise from 9am so there will be plenty to see all day long. Prize giving and champagne spraying will be just after the final runs of the elite men at about 4:30. This year Ratboy, Brendog, Craig Evans and Sam Dale will all be trying to beat Steve Peat for the win, they’d better watch out though because the old boy is still hungry and knows the woods like the back of his hand. Who’s your money on?

Our race sponsors provided thousands of pounds worth of prizes to reward the fastest riders and given everyone a chance to win with spot prizes. We’ve also got several auctions where you can feel even better about your new toys as all the money you’ve spend will go in to the race fund.

• A 50:10 frame for auction from Santa Cruz
• A set of pimp carbon wheels for auction from 6th Element Wheels
• A free guided holiday in Les Arcs from The Inside Line MTB
• Peatys Products have given everyone an exclusive goody bag
• Course vouchers as spot prizes from ALine Coaching
• Best Crash Award given by Broken Riders
• Product Vouchers from E. James Cycles
• Exclusive SCDH mudguards from Hook It products
• Monster Energy are bringing their PA and plenty of energy rich products

Lads

• Rippers – Shred XS
• Juvenile – Butterworths Cycles
• Youth – 18 bikes
• Junior – Fasthouse
• Senior – Renthal
• Master – Trek Sheffield
• Veteran – Hope Tech
• Grand Veteran – Expert Bike Repair

Lasses

• Senior – Flare Clothing Co
• Master – Zania Clothing
• Veteran – Bike Garage

Pro’s

500 quid cash to reward the pro elites.

• Men – Leighton vans
• Women – 60 sticks

In the bomb hole

The race track finishes in the wall of sound and activity that is the bombhole and plays host to our race arena. Once again it will be packed full of things to peruse and choose, lots eat and drink, and people to catch up with or newly meet. Most important is the Steel City Merch stand manned by Sheffield’s own Mayor Dallow and crew. Here you can purchase a whole host of exclusive garms that will directly benefit the trails you ride. This year the mighty TADO have put maternity leave to one side and produced another classic design for you to wear with pride showing everyone that you put that little bit back in. We’ll have Tees for a tenner, Hoodies for £25, along with amazing Beanies, socks, water bottles and mud guards from Hook It.

Your food options this year are mouth-watering, the Whirlow Farm Barbeque will be serving up locally produced delights, Nether Edge Pizza are firing up the wood stove, Street food chef are back with the best burritos, the Yorkshire Crepe Company will be flipping tasty and Maxine’s cake stall is back with sweet treats galore.

To quench your thirst Forge Coffee will have their dapper wagon and race sponsors Bradfield brewery will be serving up Peaty’s trail ale alongside all their other brews. Every adult racer also gets a free beer in their ever-bulging goody bag, this year provided by Peatys’s Products and featuring a BikeTrack cowbell for under 18s. Every racer also gets an exclusive Steel City Water bottle to ride with pride and a tasty Clif Bar.

The rest of the bomb hole is taken up with a range of companies showing off or selling their amazing products, they’re all supporting the race and the fund.

• Flare Clothing
• Cotic
• JE James Cycles
• Trek Sheffield
• Go Outdoors
• Banana Industries
• Cant Quit Cartel
• Broken Riders
• 250 London
• Tony Butterworths
• Peatys Products
• 6th Element Wheels
• Expert Bike repair
• PDMTB
• Yorkshire Wheel Works
• Dark Peak MTB

After Party

After the race we’re all off to the New Barrack Tavern on Penistone Road where each racer will receive a free pint of Bradfield Ale to celebrate and commiserate with all our mates.

Schedule – Saturday 5th May

• 7:00 – Official car park Opens
• 8:00 – Registration opens in event car park
• 8:00 – Course open for on foot inspection (no riding)
• 8:30 – Course open for Practice
• 10:00 – Registration Closes
• 11:40 – Practice Closes
• 11:45 – First Race run begins
• 2:30 – Second race runs begin
• 3:00 – Car Park Entrance Closes
• 5:30 – Podiums and Prize Givings
• 7:00 – New Barrack Tavern for beers and cheers

Map

Parking

If you are driving to the race you must park in our official car park. Parking anywhere else, in the public greno car park or on the road, jeopardises the running of the race on the day and in future. Please be responsible and tell others if you see them. We want to keep running this race!

Parking is in Farmer Jack’s field, at Hall Head Farm on Woodhead Road, the entrance will be clearly marked. It is marked on the map above by the car and the closest postcode is S35 7DS but dont rely on it for a Sat Nav. Do not try to come in to the exit, it is a one way system.

Parking is £3 per vehicle and offsets the loss of hay earnings from damage to the grass in the field. The car park opens at 7am it will close for entry at 3pm. Its about a 10 minute walk to the start of the track from here. Please remove your car as soon as possible after the race.

Tombola

This year we will be running a tombola for a large selection of prizes. Tickets will be only £1 with every race sponsor be providing a prize for the prize pot, so there will be lots to choose from.

The Wildlife trust

Greno Woods is a nature reserve owned and managed by Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. It is an ancient woodland, rich in wildlife and full of historic interest. Covering 169 hectares, it is one of the Trust’s largest reserves and offers excellent opportunities for wildlife watching, exploration and recreation.

The Trust has carried out work on the reserve to increase the proportion and quality of priority habitats on the site and maintain features of interest as well as maintain and improve recreational infrastructure such as our downhill mountain bike trails.

Help protect and enhance our local wildlife and green spaces by joining Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust. By joining Sheffield and Rotherham’s community of wildlife lovers today you can help care for the wild places you love – preserving them for years to come.

Find out more at www.wildsheffield.com or join us on Facebook and Twitter.

To keep up to date on all things Steel City you can visit Steelcitydh.com and follow us on Facebook or Twitter