Wednesday 9th November 2022

A sunny autumn morning saw what must have been one of the highest turnouts the Wednesday group has seen with over 30 riders.

Short Ride

Report by John

Once the other three rides had left, Rosalind, John, Jeff (a new rider), Robert, Derek, Clyde, Dom & Paul remained. A short debate ensued about the preferable destination for refreshments and Bawdon Lodge Farm was chosen.

John led off through the University but went onto auto pilot and took what would normally be the route for crossing Garendon Park. Rather than go back up the hill he led the group to Forest Road and then took the cycle route along its north side to Shepshed. The riders cut through Cambridge and Oxford Streets, then Anson Road, to Tickow Lane.

Jeff & Rosalind on Charley Road

After negotiating the A512 the riders followed Charley Road to Bawdon Lodge where the excellent range of cakes was sampled.

Jeff, Robert, Derek, Clyde, Dom & Paul at Bawdon Lodge Farm

Rosalind took the direct route back to Loughborough, as she had an appointment, while the remaining riders returned via the Beacon, Woodhouse and Quorn (with riders peeling off at various points) arriving back in Loughborough around noon.

Longer Short Ride

Report by David

On a warm autumn morning there were nearly 30 riders. For the short ride to Snibston, David stepped in to lead for Graham, who was unwell on the day. Graham had planned to return with the wind behind us, as the forecast indicated southerly winds. We used Graham’s route: it seems to have a record proportion of roads with “brook” in the name.

Accompanying David were Keith, Myles, Betty, Anne, Laurence and Andrew. Laurence is a friend of Terry and Anne. The leader had so far spared readers of this column his troubles with his cycle computer. At 9 am on the morning of the ride, the cycle computer entered persistent vegetative state. Fortunately, it can be replaced under warrantee. So, we proceeded largely from memory, but with a single page printed map and Strava on the phone, tucked away in pockets.

From Holt Drive, we took Outwoods Avenue and entered Outwoods Drive at the roundabout, then cycled down Outwoods Drive to the footpath by Brookfield Avenue. Carrying on past the playing fields on Woodbrook Way, we emerged onto Woodbrook Road. We crossed Valley Road to Brookside Road, then continued on Badger Way to Upper Green. This led into Brook Lane, that took us to Nanpantan Road. From the pedestrian crossing we proceeded in a more-or-less straight line via Mardale Way, Derwent Drive and paths linking these roads to the university entrance on Coniston Crescent. At Burleigh Court, we took the steep downward road that turns left past Wolfson School, then continued over the Holywell Way roundabout to Oakwood Drive. We took a rough track to Ashby Road, and used the Old Ashby Road crossings to get to the far side, from where we pushed against the wind up to the junction 23 roundabout. Continuing against the wind, we found respite at Leicester Road, Shepshed. Instead of negotiating the oncoming cars, Fairway Road carried us round to Forest Street almost without the need to peddle. We passed Iveshead School and STEPS, then down the bumpy slope to Brook Street, turning right towards Hathern, then left into Chapel Street. There is a slight climb and dog leg to get to Oakley Road.

We dived right off Oakley Road onto Hallamford Road, then went left into Carr Lane and stopped briefly for a swig. It cannot be more than 200 yards later that Andrew’s bike got a puncture, probably from a thorn from a cut hedge. Fortunately, it was a quiet place to do repairs. He had a spare inner tube and Keith set to, changing the tube and checking the outer tyre, and we were soon on our way.

Fixing Andrews Puncture

The road led to Belton, where we reached the church, then turned left into the sun to cross the B5324 again to Osgathorpe. Further down, on Gracedieu Lane, we turned right on Church Lane and entered Osgathorpe. After turning onto Chapel Lane, we took the bendy Main Street until the turning for Meadow Lane, heading south. After turning left at the end, then right onto Ashby Road, we cycled a few yards past the George and Dragon and were met by a black 4x4 breathing fire as it cut corners and beat us to the narrow Lily Bank, delaying our entrance thereto. However, our trusty steeds took us up Lily Bank and along the Main Street to the Fish Shop, just round a bend at the end of the road and over the Loughborough Road.

We crossed, forgoing the fish and chips, and went right along Talbot Street. After a short distance, we turned right into Brooks Lane. This passes through New Swannington before running into Thornborough Road. There is a puzzling blue sign that indicates Coalville is 6 miles away, when a direct route would be less than 1 mile.

A short way along Thornborough Road, we turned left onto a familiar grassy path, continuing past the turning for Hermitage Lake and ending up on an A511 roundabout. We got a little separated negotiating the various ways of crossing it to Whitwick Road. But we regrouped at the other end of Whitwick Road where, on a recent previous ride, our riders had been met by a disagreeable oaf in a small car. This time we calmly took the crossing to a winding path that went over a railway bridge, then turned right onto a track that went straight to Snibston Colliery on a former railway track. On the way, it had to negotiate a complex road junction with pedestrians arriving from all angles, as well as cars and vans. We were soon through this and ready for a break.

The Colliery café had a few other patrons, and a long table suited to our group. As ever, we were well catered for; although some of the meatier offerings of other rides today would take some beating.

Betty, Anne, Laurence, Keith, Myles & Andrew

On emerging from the stout wooden cycle racks, our exit path was obscured by the arrival of a large coach party of children and the coach. Fortunately, one of the staff saw our predicament and parted the kiddies to allow us through. We turned left in the direction of large excavations on Chiswell Drive and stopped at a temporary set of traffic lights. We were allowed (brooked?) through the muddy track and then carried on straight past the golf centre and along footpaths and other tracks to Leicester Road, Snibston.

We turned left and up Standard Hill into Donington le Heath. After another set of temporary traffic lights, the road took us sharp left. In 250 yards we turned left at a crossroads in Hugglescote onto Central Road. A short while later we took the right fork onto Forest Road. This road becomes Broom Leys Road, and leads without turnings all the way to the peak of Abbey Road. Riders would need another swig at this peak. Then we were ready for the largely downhill run past Mt St Bernard’s Abbey, then right into Oaks in Charnwood.

We turned right onto Charley Road, then continued under the M1 to the B591 crossroads. Most of us said our farewells here, as the rest of the ride went directly into Loughborough, again largely downhill with the wind behind us.

The route was 25 miles, with an elevation gain of 1426 ft. I don’t know the average speed, but we were back just after 1 pm.

Long Ride

Report by Brian

Alan was offering  a ride of 42 miles to the Wildflower Cafe at Langar Airfield. A large  party consisting  of Marcus, Vic, Rob Smith, Tricia, Dave  Mick and me set off through the middle  of a fair filled loughborough seeming to hit every traffic  light on red. Through  Cotes, leaving the A60 at Hoton, then Wymeswold,  Wysall,  Widmerpool  and Kinoulton. We took the route via the Dick Turpin memorial rather  than the gravel path as our leader was worried about  punctures ( see later ).

From Kinoulton, at a good pace, we sped through  Colston Bassett and onto our coffee stop. I was showing   off my new bike ( 1 week old and a 100 miles on the clock ), to Mick when he helpfully  pointed out the front tyre was flat. Vic and Alan soon had the wheel off but the tyre appeared to be glued to the wheel rim and was very hard to separate. 

Fixing the puncture

Eventually they were separated,  a thorn in the tyre removed, my new tube installed which, for whatever reason, wouldn't  hold air. Rob came to the rescue with a new tube and we were soon on our way. Let the record show my thanks to Vic and Alan  for the  tube change, Rob for his tube which I will replace shortly and my companions for their patience.

Dave, Mike, Brian, Rob, Tricia, Vic & Alan

After Harby,  Hose and Long Clawson, a brief meeting was held at Nether Broughton  to decide the way home.  Alan's  original  plan was via Old  Dalby up some horrendously steep hill called Wood Lane. The majority view was for an easier  and quicker route through  Upper  Broughton  and Wymeswold . There we split between Burton and beyond and Hoton and Loughborough.  Spot  on at 42 miles.

Medium Long Ride

Report by Jeff♀

Our ride to Hick's Lodge was originally planned by Rob, who unfortunately wasn't well so Howard offered to take a group out on his own route to the same cafe.

Seven of us (John, Margaret, Phillip, Andy, Howard, Stephen and I) chose this ride, and just as we were about to set off, Howard realised his Garmin wouldn't turn on. We set off through the university, making a stop at Howard's while he quickly fixed the issue.

We took the bike path along Derby Road up to Hathern, where we were able to roll past tons of traffic stuck at the temporary traffic lights - Phillip suggested it's likely busier than normal because the fair was just opening up in Loughborough town. Reaching Hathern, we waited for quite a while for an opportunity to open up to allow us onto the road. Eventually we just about all made it across, and headed as a group up the much less busy Hathern Road to Shepshed.

From Shepshed, we got onto a long, long ascent southwest (with a couple of little dips). The elevation of the peak of this hill was 216m above sea-level, significantly higher than the 53m we had when entering Shepshed. Naturally, we don't all climb hills at the same pace, so the group got a bit spread out. Andy, Stephen and Howard stopped occasionally to wave the rest of us through the right way on the hills, and make sure we were managing okay.

The hills seemed to never end, but somehow after peaking once more we had made it to the top. Just after that, we regrouped at the crossroads, before enjoying a well earned descent to Hugglescote where we headed north west, and turned left just before Ashby. This lead us over a main road, through Willesley woods which were awash with wads of wet leaves. Descending here was a matter of being very, very careful. We passed a horse here as well, quite close too due to the narrow path we were on.

At last, we had made it to Hick's Lodge cafe, where we locked our bikes. There was a bike repair shop here, and also bike hire, but we didn't need to hire one as we'd all brought our own bikes. The cafe was great, with the sausage rolls especially recieving high praise. Given the recent turbulence of the government, some chat was focused on politics. Here, Stephen said goodbye and headed off before the rest of us as he had to get going.

John, Margaret, Phillip, Andy, Howard, Stephen and Jeff♀ at Hick's Lodge Cafe

Leaving the cafe again was a tough moment, as it's certainly getting colder out and the cafe itself was so lovely and warm. Despite that, we forced ourselves to begin our route home along the same Willesley woods hill, which was easier to ride uphill than downhill. Still, with the ground being totally hidden by the leaves, it wasn't a speedy affair.

Instead of going back out towards Hugglescote and along the same long hill as we'd come up on, we continued north east along a windy (as in twisty)  and well-named Corkscrew Lane.

Here we were faced with a difficult to cross, busy road, which took at least a couple of minutes to cross due to all the traffic. Once we were all across, we started off again up a long Rempstone Road which turned into an Ashby road. Phillip said goodbye at this point and sped ahead of the rest of us with Andy, as it's a road he wanted to push himself on to get a good time. It was my first time going up this road and I see the appeal in it.

At one point, we heard someone behind us shout "car back"! It was a surprise as it didn't sound like anyone we were cycling with. Turned out it was another cyclist, who sped past us when the car overtook us as well. My guess is that cyclist also wanted to get a good time up that road.

Instead of continuing that road up to Hathern, we turned off and headed back to Loughborough through Shepshed. Andy had waited for us at the turn off. Margaret said goodbye to us at Shepshed, and the rest of us headed along the national cycling route back - down Butthole Lane, which was very muddy and wet. It was taken more as a shortcut, since we all know drier ways back home, but Howard had to get home and so did I.

Overall, a good ride. The days are getting colder, but we were certainly warm enough on the long hill out!