Wednesday 14th April 2021

Another good turnout. Howard was back and it was noted that all the ladies opted to go on his ride.

Long Ride

report by Alan

I was a bit perplexed at the rendezvous at Holt Drive. John asked Howard how far his trip was going to be and I’m sure I heard him say “50 miles”. Within seconds about 8 people swarmed around Howard including my wife. They must have heard differently to me as my trip was a puny 40 miler. It turned out that Howard was going around 30 miles but the damage had been done and I was left with the ever faithful Mick, Marcus and Bryan heading off to Hickling.

Our outward route took us through the town, and up to the Melton Road via Stanford on Soar. The Melton Road to Rempstone is not for the faint hearted at that time in the morning with lorries thundering past and BMW drivers vying with Audi drivers to see who could drive in the most moronic fashion. Everything quietened down after Rempstone. We glided up the Wysall Road, through the village and on to Widmerpool. There we turned right heading for Willougby and on to Upper Broughton.

Hickling was approached by Hickling Lane, a steep descent past a farm with a shell torn surface. You needed your wits about you and good brakes. The Old Wharf Tearooms was swarming with cyclists when we got there but the service was prompt and efficient. 

I have a hidden medical condition which prevents me spending even the smallest amounts of money when I don’t have to, so I hid my flask and sandwiches under the table whilst Marcus and Bryan ordered their food and hot drinks. Mick had also brought a flask and something to eat but his conscience wouldn’t let him eat for free at our table. He therefore decamped off to a bench where surprise surprise he immediately bumped into someone he knew. Happily I don’t have a conscience and therefore stayed with Marcus and Bryan, one of whom was awaiting a bacon, sausage and tomato cob (see photo). The recipient was so ashamed to have ordered a “heart attack on a plate” he declined to be included in the photo.

Leaving Hickling we took the canal path for a couple of miles to bypass Kinoulton and we left this bumpy section at Owthorpe. Two steep hills lay before us, Park Lane (as on the Monopoly board) and Gilliver Lane which led up to Clipston on the Wolds. The latter had not been visited before so I innocently asked Mick if he had been this way before. After listening to his reply for around 10 minutes I think the answer was “yes”. Gilliver Lane led to Plumtree and onto Keyworth >> Wysall >> Wymeswold etc. etc. A total distance of around 41 miles back to Loughborough. Glorious weather and quite a bit warmer than the freezing temperatures of last week.

Medium Ride Report

report by Robert

On a Cool and sunny morning Howard, Pat, Margaret, Wendy, Rob & Robert set out from Holt drive to Tori & Ben's Farm shop in Kings Newton.

We set off at a leisurely pace towards Garendon via the university. After passing through the university then to Coe avenue, from here we went through the Garendon estate on the track that leads to Shepshed, climbing up and over the M1. We left Shepshed via the fast descent of Hallamford Road Heading to Belton by way of Carr Lane. Descending initially out of Belton via Mill lane then up towards Tonge crossing the A42. We continued to Breedon where we met the major climb of the route up main street towards Wilson. After Wilson we passed through Melbourne to our coffee stop at Tori & Ben's Farm shop.

After coffee we went to Stanton by Bridge via the main road. To avoid holding up the traffic on Swarkestone bridge causeway we decided to turn into Stanton by Bridege and went up past the church and then down towards the River Trent, next turning right towards Swarkestone. We rejoined the bridge just before it crossed the River Trent and headed on to the Cloud Trail. At Melbourne we came off the trail and headed to Diseworth on Melbourne road. Margaret led us a very interesting route through Donington Park and the Airport(it was here Pat left us to go to Kegworth and home) which neatly brought us out on the road into Diseworth. We continued via Diseworth and Long Whatton returning to Loughborough just after 1p.m.. The ride was mostly traffic free.

The Short (quite Long) Ride

After the other riders had left Eric, John, Mick, Myles and Derek discussed options for rides. Some had doubts about capability but as it was a lovely morning it was thought best to keep our options open and head for Thrussington where we could take refreshment or move on to either the Viaduct Cafe at Twyford or the garden centre at Cossington.

The group headed out via Shelthorpe to Barrow and then up the Saltway before turning south the Thrussington. Here, after a short conflab, it was decided to go for the longer option as all were feeling reasonably fit, and head out through Gattesby to the Viaduct Cafe. Here the riders were startled, when emerging with their refreshments, by a gust of wind removing two of the table umbrellas.

Suitably refreshed the group decided they were fit enough for a slightly longer route home via South Croxton, Syston and the taking the canal path back to Cossington and on north through Sileby and Mountsorrel. The riders reached Loughborough just after 1pm. A rather long short ride.