Wednesday 20th April 2022

Shortish Ride

Report by Graham

A cool start to the day, but a good forecast brought swathes of riders to Holt square, with all two other rides leaving before ours as we faffed and chatted about our route to Castle Donington.

Once under way, our party of 6: Pat, Vic, Eric, Marcus, Brian and myself had only gone through one junction when we found ourselves mixed up with Howard's ride, who’d left before us but via a wizardly devious route.

We played leap frog with them all the way through Hathern, although they overtook us by pretending to be proper roadies, taking the main A6 whilst we took the scenic path through Hathern village.

We’d almost caught them by Long Whatton, but they headed north towards Keg’orth while we continued through Diseworth, then through the airport, with its lovely industrial scenery and country smells of kerosene. Still, it beats the main road, and we skirted the west of airport before dropping down into Castle Donington and our stop at Tylers cafe.

It was warm enough to sit outside where the conversation meandered, as it usually does, today it was mainly dead pop stars of the 70s. At one point Pat almost became one of those bumper mascots on the front of a huge truck which turned in about 2mm from our table, but happily the driver spared us today.

From Donington we continued east, but after dropping down Hemington Hill we took a sharp right onto a single track lane and then left onto a bridleway which skirted to the south of the huge Logistics and Amazon complex, dropping us back into Lockington. From there we went north and through the fly tippers paradise under the A50/M1 interchange, before striking south to Keg’orth, than homewards via Sutton Bonington, Normanton and Stanford, where we split and headed to our respective home villages.

Total mileage probably about 24 and not too much climbing today.

Short ride report

Report by David

On a warm spring day, Terry offered a ride which when mapped out looked a bit like France; although this wasn’t a Tour de France. The ride offered plenty of chance for a chat along the way and to appreciate the spring flora and fauna, as will become apparent later.

The riders consisted of Anne, Dom, Myles, David, Rob and Lynn. Terry took us up Beacon Road, and along Pytchley Drive to the Fairmeadows estate, then along a dog walkers’ footpath, via a little bridge over the brook to the Allendale roundabout. After Terry Yardley Way, we negotiated the construction diversions going into Quorn, then took Farley Way.

We carried on over the road bridge to Barrow upon Soar, then pulled in briefly at the station car park for people to catch up. The seven of us continued through the village to the Nottingham Road, where daffodils still line the road sides. After some hills we turned right up the relatively steep Barrow Road, leading to Burton on the Wolds. We joined Melton Road, then went left along Wymeswold Lane. After descending into Wymeswold, we were accompanied by many dogs being taken for walks. We left Wymewold by the short steep hill of Wysall Road, coasting through Thorpe in the Glebe to Wysall.

At the village we turned left onto Costock Road and continued to East Leake. For once, the A60 was clear of traffic.

Our stopping place was Bryer’s on Gotham Road. It offered friendly service, Muffins with fresh raspberries, flapjack and a special pecan tart, as well as a range of hot drinks. We sat outdoors in the sun to drink and chat. I recall discussing the travels of Michael Portillo, but the closest some of us has come to these is wearing brightly coloured clothing so as to be seen on the roads.

When back on the road we continued on the Costock Road past the church and along Woodgate Road, followed by a climb up Travell’s hill. After crossing the A6006, we turned left into Butt Lane and stopped for a breather.

As we rode down Butt Lane, there was a commotion caused by 2 lambs that had escaped their field. We got off and tried to remonstrate with them, while one of us went to fetch the farmer. But Myles demonstrated admirable affinity and lifted one of them over a gate into its field. The other lamb hid in a hedge after bleating defiantly at me, but the farmer was not unduly concerned about them escaping.

We carried on down to Normanton on Soar, past the bees that live in a wall of an old cottage, and up to our final main hill. Once over Fox Hill, assisted by a light wind, we sped down to Stanford on Soar, then crossed the meadow on Meadow Lane to Loughborough. Each rider separated from the group for their ride home.

The ride returning to Holt Drive covered 23.5 miles with an average speed of 10.9 mph, and an altitude gain of 1053 feet.

Medium ride to Spring Lakes

Report by Howard.

Bryan, Mike, Rob, Dave, John, Keith and John joined me on a ride out to Spring Lakes at L.E. (Long Eaton) today. We exited town via Epinal Way and Black Brook following Graham's group towards L.W. (Long Whatton); they were of to Castle Donington. Occasionally we'd bump up against the back of their group and at times I thought perhaps some may swap some riders. At Hathern we switched to the road to take the left turn past the King's Arms into L.W. as a result with Graham being on the cycle path alongside the A6, we sneaked past. In L.W. we turned off right taking the back road to Kegworth. This is a nice quiet road and takes you up to a ridge with views over the flood plain and power station, before a roller coaster down and up to the Kegworth bypass. Through Kegworth and diverting off the A6 just before Junction 24 we took the cycleway alongside the M1 then joining Warren Lane we end up at Sawley. Here there is little else to do except take the direct route through to L.E. and Tappers Harker roundabout. Turning right here and over the railway lines nicely takes us away from the traffic and towards our destination, Spring Lakes. The road becomes a lane, and very quickly we arrive at Spring Lakes. The cafe is empty and we have a choice of seating. We choose to sit outside on the decking overlooking the lakes. 

30 minutes later and suitably refreshed we continue along the lane to the path alongside the Cut at Cranfleet past Nottingham Yacht Club, (for yacht read canal cruisers). 

We continue to where The Erewash canal joins and the follow the path by the river until we reach the railway bridge over. This bridge is really useful as alongside it is a pedestrian / cycleway that allows us to cross as well as the trains. Dropping down of the bridge we continue now alongside Sawley Cut. Coming off here we rejoin the road network towards the A50 but go left just after going under the M1. This is a disused road that once was the main through route to the old A50 to Kegworth now it is rapidly being taken over by nature and leads on to a circuitous navigation back to Warren Lane. We leave Warren Lane before Kegworth and use the cycle path next to Remembrance Way to get to a collection of hairpins that allows us to duck under Remembrance Way and on to Ratcliffe on Soar, Kingston on Soar, and Sutton Bonnington. From here  it is the standard route back into Loughborough over Fox Hill. 

Distance 52km, no elevation to speak of, at an average speed of 18Km/h. Note on the road sections this would probably be nearer 22-23km/h.

Distance 32 miles, no elevation to speak of, at an average speed of 11 mp/h. Note on the road sections this would probably be nearer 13-14mp/h.(it was flat).