Wednesday 29th June 2022

Short Ride - Watermead Park

Report by David

It was a fine, fairly still day, but with patchy rain showers forecast. David set off with 7 riders, Andrew, Paul, Mick, Myles, Margaret, Betty and Howard. Howard asked if the route would be free of gravel, and we were aware of a few roads being gritted recently.

There was a slight chill in the air as a dark cloud moved overhead. We exited Outwoods Drive into Beacon Road, then took Cross Hill Lane, Park Road, Broadway, Manor Road into Manor Drive. The path through from Shelthorpe to new houses off Allendale Road was behind a parked van, so we nearly had a Keystone Cops moment as the leader spotted it late.

Arriving from John Boden Way, we crossed Allendale Road to get to the A6004, then made our way to Quorn. Tricia joined us at Quorn, so there were now 9 of us. We proceeded to Mountsorrel at an easy pace. Anticipating an early arrival at our refreshment stop, it was not disappointing to encounter a procession of quarry lorries at the Granite Way roundabout. Thankfully these did not shed much gravel on their way round. I wondered if we were entering the gravel capital of Europe; but that title has been claimed by Girona. We took a detour from a planned route by turning up The Green and along Rothley Road, then right into Halstead Road.

At the end of Halstead Road, we went left past the Granite café until The Ridings. This road drops down to Westfield Lane opposite the Rothley Court Hotel. We proceeded through Rothley village to Hallfields Lane, then crossed the old A6 and took the Syston Road until Platts Lane. Opposite Platts Lane at the entrance to Cossington lakes, we stopped for water. Andrew generously offered chocolates.

We then rode the tranquil path through to the River Wreake, then crossed a bridge over it to ride alongside the canal. The towpath took us under the A46 and we emerged at the Hope and Anchor, where there is a gentle slope up to Wanlip Road. We crossed the canal, then descended to Watermead Park. The shade of the trees protected us as the sun got up, and we passed John Merrick’s Lake, then found our way to pass the east side of King Lear’s Lake. Then there was a narrow bridge over the River Soar, and a T-junction in the paths just past Keys Lake. We went right here along a strand between 2 lakes.

A swan went for Myles as we crossed the strand between lakes, but it must have been playful nip since his trajectory was not diverted by it.

At the edge of the park, we followed the River Soar until a local person showed us where The White Horse was – just 30 yards from where she was standing.

As we arrived at The White Horse at 10:55, Terry and Anne were seated in the garden and the sun had come out. Terry was using a rollator, as he presently has difficulty walking. We hope that this is temporary transport for him, and he has made it clear to medical staff that he is a keen cyclist.

Terry, Betty, Andrew, Howard, Myles, Tricia, Margaret, Mick, Paul and David at the White Horse, Birstall

Although the coffee was nice, the limitations of the coffee-making machine contributed to our desire to stay longer at this venue.

Howard was sporting a bike with a golden cassette and chain (obviously not pure gold, as that would not be strong enough). On the way out for this ride, he was accompanied by 8 of us as potential bodyguards. The return route through wilds of Leicester might not have appealed, so he took a different route home. As it happened, the would-be bodyguards would be enjoying the scenery rather than looking out for nefarious people.

As we were about to leave, our leader instilled fear into other riders by consulting a map. But this was to negotiate the immediate sequence of bridges and junctions in the paths in the park.

On the path out between 2 lakes, we passed 2 very powerful dogs… carefully. The dogs were well held in check by 3 men in black. A cluster of geese gathered by a nearby lake.

David tried to pick up the pace of the ride. The path wound its way through meadows and under bridges until we got to Thurcaston Road. Here we crossed the Rover Soar, negotiated the junction with Abbey Lane and carried on past some flats until we reached a footpath off to the right. This path took us over Red Hill Way to The Sidings and Leicester North station. A steam locomotive was stopped there as we passed.

We made our way as parallel to the railway, but lost sight of the footpath half way along and took a small detour to get back on track (so to speak) to join Greengate Lane along Walnut Avenue. Turning left we encountered one of the steeper hills of the ride, so took a breather at the top, after crossing the railway line and settling on an off-road cycle lane. After re-joining the carriageway, we proceeded to Ashton Green Road, and went right. Carrying on past the roundabout we crossed the A46 on a bridge and entered Thurcaston. There is a dip in the road between the tops of 2 hills, but the downhill part cannot be used to gain momentum for the uphill part, because there is a mini roundabout at the bottom. At the top of one of the hills one can see “The Wheatsheaf Inn” inscribed on the roof of said hostelry from the top of the opposite hill. Just before the hostelry, we turned right into Thurcaston Lane. There is a bit of a climb here before Station Road. Turning right into Station Road, we were headed for the Rothley Station; but turned left after crossing the railway, into Swithland Lane.

Swithland Lane continues into Wood Lane, providing a fast downhill entry into Quorn, where we arrived at 12:40. Tricia said farewell, and the seven remaining riders headed for Loughborough.

As we arrived, we met the other Mick who had just done a 30-mile ride and looked game for yet another.

Our ride was 24.1 miles, which we covered at a leisurely 10.4 mph, and only needed to climb 886 ft. Luckily, there had been no rain at all. We should all have got home by 1 o’clock. By coincidence, our average speed was equal to the wind speed, although this is the only sense in which we rode like the wind.

Shortest Ride

Report by John

After the other two rides had departed, just John N., Rosalind, Vic, Pat and John C. remained.

It was decided to head for Ellis's Tea Room at Rothley Station. The initial thinking was to go out past Mucklin Wood but it was pointed out that Tricia hadn't been able to make the start and would like to join a ride in Quorn. So the route was amended to take in Quorn and use the road up past the Quarry. As it happened David's ride also went through Quorn and Tricia had joined that group.

After taking a circuitous route through the South Loughborough housing estate the ride proceeded smoothly through Quorn and up past the Quarry. However here Rosalind suddenly started to worry that she might not have secured her house properly and decided to return to check. The other riders carried on taking a right turn to Swithland and then headed for Cropston Reservoir. After crossing the Reservoir dam the group carried on to the outskirts of Anstey before turning left for Thurcston and onto to Rothley and refreshments.

John, Pat, Rosalind and Vic at Rothley Station

Just as bikes were being parked, Rosalind appeared again, having returned home to ascertain that it was a false alarm, and taken the direct route to the station. After consuming numerous tea cakes, the group returned to Loughborough via Swithland and Quorn, discarding riders as they proceeded along the route. Just John and Rosalind arrived back in Loughborough just before noon.

Pat and Rosalind followed by John heading for Woodhouse

Medium Ride

Report by Keith

Seven of us left Holt Drive – Philip, Lee, Rob Smith, Rob Stevens, Mick, Siva and Keith. We were shortly joined by Andy as we set off through town via the canal bank to Meadow Lane, then off to Fox Hill and Sutton Bonington. Long Lane at Kegworth took us to the spaghetti mess of M1/A50.

Without Howard as guide to this complex the leader (Keith) was guessing a bit, but it proved straightforward as we headed to Lockington, then up the hill into Castle Donington. A long drag out of here took us to the airport and then to our destination, the new café at Superbike Factory, which is in the buildings of the previous Wheatcroft racing museum just inside Donington Park circuit. A good café, a bit more bacon cob than carrot cake, but well worth a return.

After sorting out all the figures who had played Tarzan, and pondering the relationship with UK divers under Russian warships in the 50’s, we set off back – Wilson, Tonge, Belton, Shepshed and Garendon Trail back to L’boro. 30 miles, 1250 feet climbing.