Wednesday 11th August 2021

A sunny but fairly cools summers morning saw a slightly lower turnout with three rides departing from Holt Drive.

Short Ride

Once the other rides had departed John, Savi, Tina and Howard remained. It was decided to head for East Leake and from there the destinations of Wysall, Sutton Bonington and Normanton would be available.

The group set out through the Market Place and onto Meadow Lane, taking the direct route to East Leake. Then on to West Leake where the choice had to be made between three available routes. After a brief discussion the longer route was chosen and the riders headed north up Dark Lane before turning south through Kingston-on-Soar and on to Gallery 119 in Sutton Bonington, where refreshments were obtained.

The riders then returned via Normaton and Fox Hill ,after ensuring that Tina's tyres were pumped hard, arriving back in Loughborough at noon.

Intermediate Ride, by David.

Intermediate ride to Barkby Thorpe – This was an ideal day for a ride; moderate temperatures, no wind, light cloud cover and no rain, or hail, or thunderstorms.  I hope weather like this still blesses the Wednesday Cyclists in years to come.

David led off with 7 riders in total, or so he thought, because by the time we reached Quorn there were six.  These were Mick, Rob Stephens, Rob Smith, Marcus, Margaret and David.  A digger, parked on the path into Quorn, caused David to lose the lead temporarily.  We were accompanied for a while by Alan’s ride, which also took a route through Quorn, Mountsorrel and Sileby.  There was also a bit of an obstacle course through Mountsorrel, where the “Road Closed” sign provided challenges and further stirred up the groups.

At the top of the hill by the church in Sileby, we waited for Alan’s riders to get ahead; although then we were joined seemingly by the Leake Lane Rally Club, but it was us causing the traffic jam.

We sailed forth down the hill to Cossington, then turned right along Platts Lane.  At the end of the lane, after crossing the road, we entered Cossington Lakes and had a pleasant ride along the path where we encountered few others.  After passing under the A46, we stopped for a navigational break, to determine the route past Syston.  We went up to the road by the Hope and Anchor, then crossed the A46 on the Wanlip Road. After taking a right onto Fosse Way, we took a sharp left at the top of the hill, then almost immediately right into Barkby Lane.
Barkby Lane took us to the village of Barkby, where we passed close to Church View Nursery, then after a double bend, turned right past the cricket ground.  The hill was a bit of a climb, but shortly followed by our stop at Roots.

Roots is still operating from a hatch, and one’s name gets called (ooh!) when one’s fare is ready to collect.  They served large flapjack with white chocolate and raspberry bits, which should provide all the sugar needed for the journey home.

We set off back, but turned off at the top of the hill along Barkby Thorpe Lane.  The lane takes a fork and goes over the railway line.  Just up from here, we turned left into Highway Road, right into Charnwood Avenue then crossed Sandiacre Drive to a footpath.  The footpath led to a footbridge over the A607, which we were able to use without getting off our bikes.  The footpath continued mostly to Melton Road; many readers will have guessed we were in Thurmaston.

A little way down after turning left into Melton Road, next to the Thurmaston Stores, we took Mill Lane, that led us on a more-or-less straight path through Watermead Park.  There were a few more people here, and dogs.  Most of the blackberries near the path had been picked.  We emerged alongside Birstall United FC.  At the end of Meadow Lane, we found Wanlip Lane and proceeded to Wanlip.  Just on the bend, there is a wide path that leads behind the Birstall park and ride.  It turns back towards Leicester, before offering a right-hand turn towards the A6.  We took this path, and an uphill left turn took us to a footbridge over the A6.  
At the far side, we crossed a medley of slip roads and descended towards Rothley alongside the A6.  We turned left into Hallfields Lane, left into Town Green Street, then turned right up the curving slope to Rothley Court.   Here we went right up The Ridings, and stopped for a photo by The Ridgway.  

We followed the Ridings into Swithland, crossing one end of Swithland Reservoir.   There was a horse we needed to give some space to, quietly ambling up Main Street with an inexperienced rider and an assistant.  
Our route home then went via Woodhouse, which is now clear of roadworks, and Quorn, although Rob Smith took the bumpy route through Mucklin Wood.  The ride was about 26 miles, with not many hills and an average speed of 11.7 mph, and many of us were almost home by 12:30. 

The long but shortened ride by Alan, report by Bryan.

Alan was our designated leader, promising  a ride to Burrough on the Hill and beyond. He was joined by Mick, Bryan, Vic, Dave and me, Brian. Following the old A6, we turned left at Mountsorrel, catching up with David's pod at Sileby. At a good pace we sailed along through Cossington , Rearsby and on to Gaddesby.
Mick didn't see a parked car until it was too late, hit the offside corner and came down. He suffered some contact grazes and was in shock but after a few moments was OK. There wasn't a mark on the car and the oldish couple sitting in the car were only concerned that Mick was alright, even providing plasters to patch him up. Mick's carbon frame bike suffered a catastrophic fracture where the head tube meets the down tube.
Alan, being the good leader he is, offered to cycle home and return with his camper van to transport Mick and bike home.
Following the 3 Musketeers  principle, all for one and one for all, we elected to wait with Mick until the cavalry  arrived.
Once safely dispatched, Vic took over leadership duties taking a shortened route through Barsby, South Croxton and for a belated coffee stop at Barkby Garden Centre. After the earlier excitement,  we forgot to take a photo. Route home was Syston, canal path to Cossington, Rothley and old A6 to home. An eventual trip covering 36 miles.