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Sheffield BMX track becomes lockdown success story | Sheffield BMX track becomes lockdown success story |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Bolehills BMX track opened in 1983 | Bolehills BMX track opened in 1983 |
From perfecting your banana bread to taking up a new hobby, the coronavirus pandemic has seen people trying all manner of new things. | From perfecting your banana bread to taking up a new hobby, the coronavirus pandemic has seen people trying all manner of new things. |
In one corner of Sheffield a dusty BMX track has become a magnet for hundreds, with one rider saying the circuit had seen "three years wear in just one year". | In one corner of Sheffield a dusty BMX track has become a magnet for hundreds, with one rider saying the circuit had seen "three years wear in just one year". |
Bolehills BMX track is a series of twists, turns and jumps nestled at the bottom of a hill in the north west of the city. | Bolehills BMX track is a series of twists, turns and jumps nestled at the bottom of a hill in the north west of the city. |
Built in 1983 between the suburbs of Walkely and Crookes, in the past four decades it has been a hangout for those seeking an adrenalin rush and a proving ground for a number of talented young riders, as well as Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders. | Built in 1983 between the suburbs of Walkely and Crookes, in the past four decades it has been a hangout for those seeking an adrenalin rush and a proving ground for a number of talented young riders, as well as Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders. |
But since last March, and over the course of three lockdowns, it has become a place of escape for more than just the thrill-seekers. | But since last March, and over the course of three lockdowns, it has become a place of escape for more than just the thrill-seekers. |
Dave Camus, one of a number of passionate BMXers who help to maintain the track, said the site had been "buzzing every day". | Dave Camus, one of a number of passionate BMXers who help to maintain the track, said the site had been "buzzing every day". |
The type of people visiting had become more "diverse", he said, and the track "the busiest I've ever seen it". | The type of people visiting had become more "diverse", he said, and the track "the busiest I've ever seen it". |
"Normally you'd get loads of university students up here but it's been kids, older people, parents," he said. | "Normally you'd get loads of university students up here but it's been kids, older people, parents," he said. |
He said the "biking boom" has seen more people choosing to get on a bike, rather than going to the pub or shopping at nearby Meadowhall. | He said the "biking boom" has seen more people choosing to get on a bike, rather than going to the pub or shopping at nearby Meadowhall. |
One rider said the track at Bolehills in Crookes was "the reason to live in Sheffield" | One rider said the track at Bolehills in Crookes was "the reason to live in Sheffield" |
Among those to have made the most of Bolehills during the pandemic is 77-year-old mountain biker Pat Horscroft. | Among those to have made the most of Bolehills during the pandemic is 77-year-old mountain biker Pat Horscroft. |
She said she had been using the track to sharpen her skills for when she can finally return to riding holidays in Europe. | She said she had been using the track to sharpen her skills for when she can finally return to riding holidays in Europe. |
"Although I will never be jumping like the lads, it's just really good for learning skills that translate to mountain biking," she said. | "Although I will never be jumping like the lads, it's just really good for learning skills that translate to mountain biking," she said. |
Pat Horscroft, 77, said she uses the track to sharpen her mountain biking skills | Pat Horscroft, 77, said she uses the track to sharpen her mountain biking skills |
She is well aware she is among the older people using the track but says she feels as welcome there as anyone. | She is well aware she is among the older people using the track but says she feels as welcome there as anyone. |
"Age isn't a thing for me at all. I may say what age I am but I have no idea what that actually feels like," she said. | "Age isn't a thing for me at all. I may say what age I am but I have no idea what that actually feels like," she said. |
"I've always been into sport - I'm a black belt in Judo - so that's me basically, just get on with it." | "I've always been into sport - I'm a black belt in Judo - so that's me basically, just get on with it." |
The track is built on land owned by Sheffield City Council | The track is built on land owned by Sheffield City Council |
Lucy Follett said the track has been "a life-saver" for her over lockdown, giving her somewhere to take her one-year-old son after all the indoor venues were forced to close. | Lucy Follett said the track has been "a life-saver" for her over lockdown, giving her somewhere to take her one-year-old son after all the indoor venues were forced to close. |
"It's the reason to live in Sheffield. To have a facility like this, that's outdoors, where you can safely socially distance and keeps kids entertained," she said. | "It's the reason to live in Sheffield. To have a facility like this, that's outdoors, where you can safely socially distance and keeps kids entertained," she said. |
Sue Foong, 36, said her five-year-old daughter Arianne has enjoyed "building up her confidence in cycling" at the track. | Sue Foong, 36, said her five-year-old daughter Arianne has enjoyed "building up her confidence in cycling" at the track. |
"She's just getting an idea of moving up and down hills. She comes with her friend who's four-and-a-half and he's a lot more daring," she said. | "She's just getting an idea of moving up and down hills. She comes with her friend who's four-and-a-half and he's a lot more daring," she said. |
"I don't think you get many places like this." | "I don't think you get many places like this." |
Sue Foong and her daughter Arianne are among those to have used the track | Sue Foong and her daughter Arianne are among those to have used the track |
Hanna Jonsson, 31, who moved to Sheffield from Sweden a few years ago, said it was an "amazing" track and had also given her the chance to meet other people. | |
"You can be a complete beginner or an expert at this kind of riding and you come here and you can still have a great time," she said. | "You can be a complete beginner or an expert at this kind of riding and you come here and you can still have a great time," she said. |
"Having a spot like this in the city centre gets young people out of the house. It's somewhere to hang out with your mates, make new friends." | "Having a spot like this in the city centre gets young people out of the house. It's somewhere to hang out with your mates, make new friends." |
British Cycling said it was "fantastic" to see participation in BMX continuing to grow, adding it was working with Sheffield City Council to create more opportunities for budding riders. | British Cycling said it was "fantastic" to see participation in BMX continuing to grow, adding it was working with Sheffield City Council to create more opportunities for budding riders. |
Dave Camus said parts of the track were in need of resurfacing | Dave Camus said parts of the track were in need of resurfacing |
But its popularity has come at a price, and volunteers are asking new users to donate to the upkeep, with parts of the track in need of resurfacing. | But its popularity has come at a price, and volunteers are asking new users to donate to the upkeep, with parts of the track in need of resurfacing. |
Mr Camus said: "At the end of 2020, after all the use, I reckon we've had three years of wear in one year. | Mr Camus said: "At the end of 2020, after all the use, I reckon we've had three years of wear in one year. |
"People have been telling us they've come up here to teach their kids PE lessons." | "People have been telling us they've come up here to teach their kids PE lessons." |
"It's continuing as well. It's not just now we're out of lockdown and it's quiet again, it's still buzzing every day. It's so good to see it busy." | "It's continuing as well. It's not just now we're out of lockdown and it's quiet again, it's still buzzing every day. It's so good to see it busy." |
He said the track would always welcome new riders. | He said the track would always welcome new riders. |
"The amount of love that goes into this place is massive," he said. | "The amount of love that goes into this place is massive," he said. |
"We love it down here, and that love radiates." | "We love it down here, and that love radiates." |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |
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