Wednesday 1st February 2023

A bright but blustery morning saw a good turnout or riders with four groups departing from Holt Drive.

Short Ride

Report by John

A surprisingly large number of riders opted for the short ride with Clyde, Andrew, Myles, Pat, Rosalind, John N., Dom, Eric, Dave and John choosing this ride.

It was decided to head out up wind through the University to Shepshed. However before even reaching the University site Andrew found he had a puncture. Pat, Clyde & Myles volunteered to stay with him while the remaining riders continued out to Tickow Lane and Charley Road to reach the tea room at Bawdon Lodge where Ray Clay was already ensconced.

Rosalind & Eric on Charley Road

It was some time before the pucture repair team joined them, having managed to puncture a new inner tube while refitting a very tight tyre.

Clyde, Andrew, Myles & Pat.

After refreshment the riders headed for the Beacon with some peeling off to head for Swithland while other continued back to Loughborough via Woodhouse Eaves and Quorn.

Intermediate Ride

Report by David

It was an overcast morning with a brisk westerly wind forecast, although not much sign of it in Holt Drive.

Terry had been afflicted over the past year and had not been out cycling much; but now was prepared to lead a ride over 30 miles. He was joined by Anne, Laurence, Jeff♀, Howard, David and Marcus.

Terry took us shortly before 10 out of Holt Drive via Outwoods Avenue, over Crosshill Lane, across to Broadway, then right onto Manor Road. We joined Allendale Road, then came down towards the Aldi roundabout, crossing to the other side of the road early to avoid the tangentially unpredictable traffic off the roundabout. With the wind behind us, the first stages of the ride were easy going.

After Terry Yardley Way, we were joined by the group headed for Hollands Nurseries. At the Quorn traffic lights, they headed off along Farley Way, while we carried on through Quorn.

In Mountsorrel, we turned left down Sileby Road, over the hump back bridge, under the A6, over another hump back bridge, past Slash Lane, then along Mountsorrel Lane. Somebody had been playing car ten pin bowling with a row of bollards that marked a bend in the road; one was still standing, but they would have needed a spare car to knock that one over too.

As we reached the end of Mountsorrel Lane in Sileby, we turned right by the ‘orse and Trumpet and then left at the bottom of the hill under the big bridge. Our first significant hills then followed on the Ratcliffe Road. We continued past the school exit, down the hill and under the A46. Up the other side we took a left onto Thrussington Road, to Thrussington. We continued along Hoby Road through Hoby, which had a surge of traffic. Our route then took us down Asfordby Road and Hoby Road past Frisby Lakes, then down into old Asfordby, where the main road to Melton used to pass. Out the other side of Asfordby, we picked up the present main road up the hill to “Asfordby Hill”. It was not a pleasant climb amongst heavy lorries. However, at the top was our right turn to the peaceful avenue leading to The Grange.

Terry, Laurence, Howard, Jeff♀, David & Marcus 

In the Alpine Restaurant, we needed to move some furniture to bring the 7 of us together, and it was heavy furniture at that. Those who did the shifting are herein spared reputational damage (by not being named). This place has a long reputation for large scones. A photo shows some cheese scones next to a pair of goggles. The scones appear nearly as wide as a person’s head. No wonder we needed 45 minutes.

Our journey home, except for Howard and Jeff♀, retraced our path along the A6006 through Asfordby until we got to Saxelbye Road. This road crosses the Asfordby bypass. Just before that we passed a coterie of illicit smokers. Some of us appeared to recognise the substance from the fumes emitted.

We then had other appreciable hills to take us firstly to a bend in the road, affording long views over north of Melton. We passed Saxelbye, the Melton Fudge Factory, and rode through Grimston, which was quiet. We emerged after climbing Perkin’s Lane onto Six Hills Lane.

Birds were singing, particularly along Six Hills Lane; although there was still some chill in the air and it was against us at 20 mph.

As we turned up Paudy Lane, Laurence sailed on. Some of us shouted, and Anne went in pursuit on her electric bike, but Laurence increased his speed to just over the maximum electric bike speed. The ear worm in my head changed from Bryn Terfel singing “Anfonaf Angel” to “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen. Laurence had not heard us, but managed to join Terry and Anne later in the day.

Howard and Jeff♀ had turned off the A6006 in Asfordby onto Welby Road, then left onto Welby Lane to Ab Kettleby. They then took Main Road past Wartnaby and joined the Six Hills Lane. They took this road re-joining the route taken by the rest of us, and caught up with us as we entered Barrow Upon Soar.

Terry continued to maintain a respectable speed and led us up over the station railway bridge, along South Street and down the hill towards Quorn.

At the Quorn traffic lights, at the end of Farley Way, Howard and Jeff♀ continued along Woodhouse Road, while the rest of us turned right onto Loughborough Road. They had evidently not had their fill of hill climbing, as they continued up Beacon Road past Beacon Hill. Their route back to Loughborough was via the B5330, Deans Lane, Woodhouse Lane past the Outwoods, then down Nanpantan Road.

Most of us will have been home by 1:45, having covered 31.9 miles averaging 11.4 mph with an elevation gain of 1404 ft. Howard and Jeff♀ covered 43 miles and gained 2015 ft.

Medium Ride

Report by Bryan

Last minute decision to take a ride with the wind behind us as we returned to Loughborough.

We set off through the University to the Ashby road and battled the headwind towards Shepshed. Leaving Shepshed we battled more headwind along the Garenden trail to Belton, and again along Grace dieu Road where we turned to pass through Osgathorpe and up to Top Brand and the start of the Cloud Trail. Surprised to find it has recently been refreshed with tarmac.

Not being sure if the trail through Worthington was dry enough for some of us we left exploration for a later date and turned right to find the road past the quarry entrance to the restart of the cloud trail. A sheltered few miles to Melbourne followed before we sat in the warm for our coffee and cake stop at the Melbourne tea rooms.

We took the direct return route via Wilson, Tonge, Long Whatton and Hathern, to ensure those needing to get back for appointments made it on time. The only hiccup was that I (Bryan) lost an spd cleat as we left Melbourne. (It did offer an excuse for me to power up the remaining hills to cope with the unsecured boot😎 )

Riders split up as we entered Loughborough to go various routes home.

29.8 miles 1300 ft climbing.
Alan, Bryan, John, Keith, Paul, Rob and Rob.

Long Ride

Report by Alan

With temperatures hovering around 6°C and a chilly wind I was surprised at the size of the turnout at Holt Drive. Undeterred by the cold weather I left my Lycra®  behind and opted for shorts. I also offered the longest ride of the morning, wanting to test my knee. A few weeks ago it wasn’t up to the job and I suffered the indignity of walking my bike up various hills. Joining me on the journey to Twyford was Mick, Phil, Vic and Jim. The latter, an old colleague from my teaching days, was coming on his second ride with us. At last we had someone who would give Vic a run for his money, fitness-wise.

Setting off from Holt Drive we coalesced briefly with Terry’s large group just outside Quorn. Our outward journey was through Barrow, up Paudy Lane to Six Hills, Ragdale, Frisby on the Wreake, Rotherby, Gaddersby, and Thorpe Satchville before reaching Hollands Nurseries outside Twyford. Luckily the wind was behind us as there were a couple of challenging hills near Ragdale on the Six Hills Road and Gaddersby Lane outside Rotherby. Hollands Nurseries is on the top of a long climb and by this time the wind was facing us. It was with some relief that we found the place open, resplendent in yellow and blue curtains as an act of solidarity with Ukraine.

Vic, Jim, Alan, Phil & Mike

There were fewer hills on the way back through South Croxton and Syston but this was negated by a strong wind in our faces. As predicted, Vic and Jim often disappeared into the distance, leaving Phil somewhere in the middle and Mick and I floundering at the back. Actually I am doing a disservice to Mick as it was me floundering and Mick was pacing me back quite comfortably. The knee was fine, it was just my Christmas paunch and a lack of fitness letting me down.

From Syston we took the canal path back to Cossington where we bade farewell to Vic and pressed on home via Sileby and Mountsorrel, arriving back at around 1.30pm with 38 miles and 568 metres of climbing behind us.