Wednesday 23rd June 2021

A brilliantly sunny morning saw an excellent turnout of riders that split into three groups, with Alan proposing a ride to Upper Hill Farm Cafe at Asfordby, Keith to Thrussington and Howard to Costock. These ride got away very promptly with John remaining in case any late riders turned up. This was a good thing as Lee turned up shortly after the rides had left, having had mechanical problems.

Short Ride Report 23/6/21

by John

Keith set out with the a plan to leave Loughborough via Meadow Lane and then turn south for Cotes at Stanford. This meant that there was time for John and Lee to take a direct route to Cotes and join the ride there. This they did, cycling up Stanford Lane in order to get into a position for John to take some photographs. Here John suggested to Lee that he go up a road a bit to join the group so he would be in the photographs. This he did. However it wasn't Keith's group that appeared coming down the lane, but Howards. Lee duly joined the group and ended up on Howard's ride, which fortunately this week was shorter than normal.

John decided to remain and wait for Keith's group as Howard's was already quite large. He was then surprised to see Lyn leading the ride. Unfortunately Keith had some trouble with his bearings and had decided that discretion is the better part of valour and headed for home. John therefore joined what was now Lyn's ride heading out through Cotes to Walton.

Here Lyn decided to treat the riders to a journey along the little used Six Hills Road. This road for most of its length is quite good tarmac, but the last half mile at its eastern end is little more than a farm track, providing challenging riding for those on narrow tyres and light weight wheels. The final hundred yards was on grass to rejoin Paudy Lane. 

The riders carried on eastward to Six Hills and then took Ragdale Road south through some very attractive scenery to Hoby.  Here Lyn decided on a pretty diversion down Brooksby Road and up Mill Lane to Hoby Road where the group turned left for Thrussington. Here they encounterd numerous motorcycles heading east, presumably there must have been a motorcycle rally in the vicinity.

Refreshments were provided by the village shop in Thrussington and consumed on the village green. Here they were joined by other cyclists and an equestrian group that rode in, with the horses taking advantage of the fairly long grass on the village green for their refreshments. The riders then returned down the Wreake valley before turning north to Sileby, Mountsorrel and Quorn, arriving back in Loughborough at 12.30pm.

Long Ride Report 23rd June 2021

by Alan

I’m sorry but it’s not my fault. Leaving Holt Drive I was mildly astonished to see 8 riders following me but it was too late to do anything about it.

Our destination was to be the HillTop Cafe just outside Asfordby, near Melton Mowbray, a place I had visited just a couple of days before. The group consisted of Mick, Margaret, Patrick, Phil, Bryan, Rob and two riders new to me, Dave1 and Dave2. Dave1 had come along to the Wednesday meet several times before. Dave2 was an ex work colleague from Loughborough Grammar and a virgin. At the age of 57 he was also the youngest male ever to ride with the “Wednesday Cyclists Loughborough” to give them their full Google title.

I wasn’t going to mess around this week. It was straight down the Forest Road into town, through Woodgate, left turn into the High Street and then on past the railway station. Hill Top Cafe was 22 miles away via, Cotes, Burton on the Wolds, Wymeswold, Six Hills, Saxelbye, Ab Kettleby and Holwell. The only significant hill was just turning left from Ostler Lane in Saxelbye. I don’t think you could have had more perfect conditions for cycling; warm but not too hot, very little wind and not a cloud in the sky. I felt like bursting into “the hills are alive with the sound of music” as we sped along (at times a little too fast).

The Hill Top Cafe was very busy, much more than Monday, but they had ample staff to wait upon us and at least 20 benches out on well manicured lawns. It obviously wants to act as a beacon for cyclists as they had suspended one of Mick’s old bikes from the wall (see photo). 

We had exhausted the conversation of prostate problems on route and so that other favourite topic was dragged out of the closet, “Covid”, or as Phil likes to call it “the Plague”. It was generally agreed that the Scots were absolute bas***ds not self isolating having come into contact with Billy Gilmour whilst the flowers of England (Mason Mount and Ben Chilwell) were forced to be confined to barracks.

Suitably refreshed, we headed back to Loughborough via Monday’s route of Asfordby > Frisby > Holby > Thrussington > Ratcliffe > Cossington > Sileby etc. Strava recorded me as burning up 1793 calories but it felt like more in the (now) hot weather. Arrived back at 1.30 after 38 miles.

Short Ride 2, Report 23rd June 2021

by Howard.

Today after some decent hilly rides over the weekend I felt for me a shortish ride was in order. Destination Six Acre Nurseries, Costock. Via a direct route this would be a very short ride indeed, so we went to Hoton, then Wymeswold, Wysall and then to Costock, to make it more pleasant and longer. With me gathered Eric, Vic, Clyde, Derek, Pat and Robert. 

Partway round having just completed the (Strava segment) "Wymeswold Wall", there's a clue in the name, our group was re-gathering at the top when we were joined by Lee. He had thought that John was also going to join us as well. It turned out though that John had joined Keith's group. 

The cafe stop was very pleasant. We sat in dappled shade on a lawn surrounded by trees. Unfortunately it was very close to the A60, which could have spoilt it.

Heading back, Pat not wishing to have go back to Wymeswold through Loughborough for a second time, decided to go to Willoughby thus completing all the W s, (Wymeswold Wysall & Willoughby); whilst we headed into Costock and out again using Woodgate Road & then all the way up Travell's Hill to Rempstone Road, this being a busy road you don't wish to stay on it too long (Robert needed to get home so continued straight on to Hathern). We turned off at the first opportunity down Butt Lane. Butt Lane from the top gives tremendous views across the valley, as you gather speed however concentration is needed elsewhere.

We ended up safely at the bottom in Normanton on Soar just opposite the Plough Inn. From here it was the usual route back, losing Vic and Eric down Stanford Lane the rest of us coming past the (soon to be no more), 'Brush works' to Loughborough. 

Total distance approx 35K,m (22 miles) with 230m (750 feet) of climbing.