Forecast for rain early on but clearing. Rides will be on but be prepared for rain for the first few miles. Remember to book for Xmas lunch - details on post below.

We will once again be having our Xmas Lunch at Rothley Court . You can use this form for booking your place and selecting your courses. Derek is organising the event and you can pay him either by giving him cheque or crediting his account direct. Details are towards the end of the form. You need to reserve you place by 27th November. YOU MUST CLICK THE SUBMIT BUTTON AT THE FOOT OF THE FORM FOR YOUR ENTRIES TO REGISTER. Once you have clicked on the submit button you should get a confirmation screen in your browser so you can check your choices. If can't complete the form please email your choices (a screen shot of the form should suffice) to  wxmaslunch@leic.org.uk . Marcus will be running the raffle again this year and donations of prizes will be gratefully received.

Medium Ride Report by Graham I hadn't planned to lead a ride today, but an evident dearth of leadership caused JC to ask me to lead a 30 miler, and hence I led a group of 10, comprising Davids C,J,&G, Tim, Tricia, John N, Margaret, Dennis and Mark, to the Rock at Whitwick. Outbound we threaded through the University campus and business park, out alongside the A512 to Shepshed, cutting through the new Aldi car park (well most of us did, 2 overshot!) and out the back of Shepshed onto the familiar Carr Lane route 6 to Belton. At Osgathorpe we had to take to the pavement to get past a tractor doing hedge trimming, or more like hedge flailing, it was a miracle none of us punctured, then through Thringstone to Whitwick, taking the Bosworth trail (route 52) for the last section, emerging at the site of the old Hermitage leisure centre into the land of the million St George flags. The Rock is one of my favourite watering holes: time it right and you can have brunch and wash it ...

Short Ride Report by Andrew There were two short rides available so with Eric leading one and our illustrator leader Mr J Catt away, Ian and I led another one to Jade's. Or to be more honest and accurate Ian was by far the main leader!! The crew Ian and I were joined by six more “elite athletes” Chris, Clyde, Dave, Dom, Derek and Myles eagerly anticipating a lung busting morning workout!! The route We headed out through Quorn and then up the hill past Granite Works. We then turned left and then right up The Ridings. We then cycled through Thurcaston towards Anstey, at which point Ian expertly turned right past the schools to avoid the busy town Centre and onto Jade's we rode. The route back was a regular, well practiced route through Bradgate Park and Swithland, Woodhouse and Quorn and back home along the old A6. Myles leading Andrew and Clyde through Bradgate Park No really bad pot holes were witnessed by this keen observer, wait until we get some heavy frost...

Long Ride Report by Graham Ride reports are a bit of a rarity these days, only JC faithfully produces a report week after week. But, having bumped into Brian and Lorraine Jones at Quorn beer festival the preceding weekend, Lorraine mentioned how she missed reading the ride reports, so this one's for you Lorraine. Also threatened seems to be the concept of the long ride. It's been weeks, if not months, since I was last out on a Wednesday, so I expected my long ride to the Cow Shed would be massively popular. As John announced the 40 mile ride, there was a perceptible wave of riders looking at the floor and shuffling away from my allotted corner of Holt Square. Only Ged and David J came forward, eventually to be joined by the luckless Mick, who, having arrived late, had missed all the normal rides so was press-ganged into joining us. I'd already arranged to pick up Robert S at Hathern, so the 5 of us threaded northwards, through Long Whatton to the bypass, down p...

Short Ride 1 Report by Derek The morning ride, shared by Dave, Robert, Dennis, Margaret, Marcus and lead by Derek unfolded into twenty-eight miles of crisp, clean air and dappled sunlight filtering through the clouds.  The first part of the ride was a steady climb out of the town and on to rolling farmland, testing the legs but rewarding the effort with panoramic views of the Soar valley below. The road soon levelled out as we made our way through the villages via a slight detour to Bradgate park. As we entered the park it was quiet due to the earlier rain, the only sounds were the crunch of gravel under the tires and the melodic rush of the water from the stream to the left.  Dave leading Marcus through Bradgate Park We paused briefly while watching a heron fish, before embarking on the final push to Jades tearoom.  We all enjoyed tea and cakes and conversation about many subjects the main one being why Amazon use such big boxes for such small items inside. Dave, Rob...

Short Ride Report by John A rather cool and largely overcast morning produced an excellent turnout with 5 rides departing Holt Drive. John was joined by Derek, Ian, Eric, Helen, Nim, David, Mick and Dom for a ride to Millie’s Café. The group set out through Loughborough departing via Meadow Lane to Stanford on Soar, where they turned south east to Cotes from where they climbed Loughborough Road to Hoton. Here they turned west to Wymeswold and then on along Narrow Lane to Six Hills where the riders turned onto Paudy Lane before taking Berrycott Lane to Seagrave. Derek and Eric on Narrow Lane The group then ascended back to Paudy Lane and turned left to Millie’s Café at High Meadow Farm. After refreshment the riders returned to Loughborough via Barrow and Quorn. Derek, Ian, Eric, Helen, Nim, David, Mick and Dom at Millie’s Café

Short Ride Report by John Having put the ride on as the forecast the previous evening had been for a dry morning, the perverse English weather provided a heavy shower as a surprisingly large number of riders gathered at Holt Drive. John offered a short ride to Rothley Station and was joined by David, Dom, Nim, Ian, Chris, Andrew, Mick and Myles. The Riders headed out via Cross Lane and Shelthorpe to Quorn, from where they climbed Wood Lane and past the Quarry. Turning right onto The Ridings, the group headed into Swithland and then turned south on Leicester Lane. This took them to Bradgate Road and up onto Reservoir Road and across the dam to Cropston where they turned left onto Station Road, leading to Ellis Tea Room. The one lady manning the counter coped well with the sudden rush of cyclists and refreshment was taken inside as rain still threatened. David, Dom, Nim, Ian, Chris, Andrew, Mick and Myles at Ellis Tea Room, Rothley Station The riders returned via The Ridgeway, Mou...