Wednesday 17th November 2021
A sunny but slightly chilly autumn morning saw another good turnout on a day when the autumnal colours were at their best.
Short Ride
Report by John
After the other 3 rides had departed John, Ian (who we had not seen our for a couple of years), Lyn, Derek, Phil and Patrick decided to try and find the best autumnal colours and the best cake by heading for Bradgate Park and the Jade tea room in Newton Linford.
To ensure that Phil was properly challenged the group decided to escape from Loughborough using the path past Mucklin Wood to Woodhouse. The riders then headed for Swithland and on to Bradgate Park.
After partaking of the excellent fare at the tea room the riders returned through the park and back to Loughborough via Cossington, Swithland, Woodhouse and Quorn. Arriving back in Loughborough just after noon.
Intermediate ride to Kinoulton
David led, accompanied by Pat, Margaret and Betty.
It was a mild November morning, and the sun came out strongly for the second half of the ride, and was particularly noticeable when we were cycling south. The air was still initially, developing into a light westerly breeze in the afternoon.
We made our way through town and the usual red traffic lights, to Meadow Lane. We crossed the meadow to Stanford on Soar, past a farmer feeding his sheep, then climbed the Leake Lane hill. After crossing the A6006, we continued to East Leake, where we turned right. This road goes past Love and Piste, through Costock, across the A60 to Wysall.
We were momentarily held up in the village by traffic lights, but were able to carry on round the bend, to our right turning into Widmerpool Road. The quiet straight road, had a short whizzy bit just before Widmerpool. Here I had déjà vu as the road does the same as in Wysall, a left bend followed by a right turn, this time into Station Road. This crosses a railway line shortly before the A606. We went straight across and through an open gate into what used to be the Kinoulton Lane. Although there were no cars on this road, there were hedge clippings amongst the fallen oak leaves. We proceeded with caution until the exit from the road led to a gravel path that led north to a bridge over the A46.
Once over the bridge, we descended to the old A46 and resumed our ride on the other bit of Kinoulton Lane which was one of the higher parts of the route, with long views across the Vale of Belvoir. Then, there was a steep descent and we continued through the long village of Kinoulton. At the end of the lane, we turned right at the T junction towards Hickling. We were soon at our refreshment stop.
This was Sarsfields Chocolaterie near Hickling. This is a respectable establishment, in an outbuilding housing the chocolatiers, who could be seen exploiting their craft through an internal window in the café.
We were shown to our table and offered menus. When our coffee, tea and cake arrived, we were also given a free chocolate each. I want you to imagine the ecstasy etched on our faces as we sampled these exquisite morsels.
The venue also has a shower, in case anyone feels that they’ve done enough cycling for the day.
Suitably refreshed, we cycled on to Hickling. The Wharf was very popular, with so many cars parked that it was difficult for larger vehicles to get through. Soon afterwards, the road became a single track, past more trimmed hedges with thorns scattered on the road. As we arrived into Nether Broughton, mercifully there was no hissing of tyres, and the road zigzagged through the village until we reached the A606. We turned from this road into Old Dalby Lane. This road bends before Old Dalby Queensway, then passes what used to be the Belvoir brewery, and goes under a railway bridge into Old Dalby village.
Hoping for the gentlest way to gain altitude to the highest point on the ride, we turned right into Longcliff Hill. This comes out opposite an equestrian centre. We took a right turn along Nottingham Lane and then a left turn to where the Raceway Karting and Best Western Hotel are situated next to the A46.
Our route took us round the sweeping trajectory of the road across the A46. The road continues past Willoughby on the Wolds, where we were overtaken by a vehicle travelling like a bat out of hell, just before Hades Lane- it slammed on the brakes as two horses being ridden side-by-side came into view.
For us, it was a slow ride up to the A6006, or some combination ‘0’s and ‘6’s, but faster coming down into Wymeswold. We said goodbye to Pat, then continued through Wymeswold to Hoton Road. From Hoton, we followed the A60 to Stanford Lane, and were temporarily stuck in the middle of the A60 seeking refuge in that lane while a crocodile of cars passed the other way.
The lane was not much of a refuge for birds as the repeated sound of shotguns and red flags flying in the nearby woods attested. I thought there was no longer a shortage of turkeys for Christmas.
At the end of the lane, we followed Meadow Lane back into Loughborough, negotiating a series of red traffic lights before reaching the other side of town.
The ride was 35 miles long, and gained altitude of 1362 feet. We covered it at an average of 11.1 mph, and were home before 2pm.
Shortish Ride Report by Rob
Ride by Rob,
blame Rob!
On a brilliant autumn day, particularly for mid-November, ten of us (Andrew, Keith, Dom, Paul, Clyde, Bryan, Myles, Mick, Rob & Leigh) set out for a high 20 mile ride stopping at East Leake. That was the plan! It turned out to be 25 miles, which was a bit shorter than intended - bad memory meant a small loop got missed out. This is my fault for planning two different length rides heading to the same café!
A slightly tortuous route through the university and houses taking in the scenic parts of Thorpe Acre (!) took us onto the A6 just short of the dual carriageway to Hathern. Sticking to the cyclepaths led us to the A6006 to Zouch and Sutton Bonnington. From there a cut up the hill to Quiet Lane (footpath sign) took us down to West Leake and into East Leake. The Chef’s was closed! A quick ‘conflab’ and we headed up the hill to Manor Farm to their new café. The outdoor patio was an excellent suntrap and we enjoyed a long chat over coffee, cakes etc. In fact, we talked for so long I thought we might have stopped at Much Gossiping in the Marsh!
After the lady serving behind the counter had kindly taken our group photo we popped back over the hill and headed to Wysall and then Wymeswold. At Burton on the Wolds we took a left and came through the lanes to Cotes Mill, crossing the A60 and finally coming in to Loughborough by the Meadows. All in all, a fun ride on a beautiful day with good company!
Another Intermediate ride, this time to Scoff and Shop at Ticknall.
Howard led, accompanied by Marcus, Dave, Tricia and Mick.
Great weather. With a select group of 5, (a lot better than 11), we set off straight up Nanpantan to Charley cross roads. It's always good to start of with a hill, especially when it's a wee bit chilly. Then past the Monastery and down into Whitwick and up again and down, before ascending the second significant climb up out of Whitwick on Church Hill, then down Zion Hill. Nearly went wrong here, misreading my Garmin, Everyone else new it was the wrong way and had stopped. Not a great disaster and only a few yards further. Through Peggs Green Newbold, Lount to Staunton Harold Estate, then on past Tollgate Brewery to Ticknall. Now all fairly flat.
Stopping at the cafe in Ticknall, the Scoff and Shop we had table service, tea coffee and cake was consumed. After a suitable rest period we continued. We left Ticknall going towards Melbourne and dropped down to the Reservoir Path
A nice morning out with approx 55 to 60k (33-35 miles) covered and over 600m (2000feet) of elevation. I think most of us got back well before 1:30.
Comments
Post a Comment