Loughborough Wednesday Cyclists

The Only Ride Report by Vic This is a combined ride report as there was only one ride. On Eric’s and my arrival at Holt Drive unusually there was no one else in sight. Almost immediately however Dave arrived and announced that the website was showing the days rides had been cancelled. Over the course of the next 5 minutes another 7 IT illiterate riders appeared. A brief democratic process was undertaken and it was decided we would go for a meander but not stray too far from home with a potential stop at Stonehurst in Mountsorrel. With this in mind we wended our way via a few back alleys and back roads to Meadow Lane where we got split by the temporary traffic lights. We regathered into a peloton at the corner in Stanford and proceed at a stately pace through Cotes, Burton and Barrow finally turning for our stop via Slash Lane. The delights of the confectionery on offer at Stonehurst was much appreciated and we all settled down to a convivial chat whilst the rain started to

Short Ride Report by John With a lot of water stiil around Eric, Rosalind, Myles, Derek, Vic, Lee, John and Paul decided to head up into Charnwood Forest. The riders headed out through the University and then skirted Shepshed to Tickow Lane and then on up Charley Road. Lee was having problems with his transmission and decided to head for home when the group reached Nanpantan Road. Rosalind on Charley Road The Riders carried on climbing up Charley Road before turning north on Beacon Road and then west to descend Shepshed Road to Deans Lane. A sharp ascent and descent saw the riders gathering a the junction with Breakback Road. From here they climbed to the Outwoods Cafe where they were greeted by Andrew. After sampling some of the excellent fare on offer the riders returned via Woodhouse and Quorn with riders departing the group at various points. Medium Ride Report by Alan On a breezy morning I decided to opt out of Howard’s 45 mile odyssey to Stathern as his return time w

Short Medium Ride Report by Jeff♀ This Wednesday was quite cold, so all the rides were a bit shorter than normal. Howard offered a medium ride to Donington, where we'd have our stop at Tyler's tearooms. Despite the cold it was busy at Holt Drive, and so 7 of us headed out - one of whom (Paul) had already managed to fall off the bike into a bed of flowers while standing around at Holt Drive. The route started off through the uni, but instead of taking the bike path down Epinal Way, we were led through the most obscure housing, industrial, and fishing estates. Occasionally we'd turn up to somewhere I recognised, and those spots I recognised were spread all across town. Howard admitted it was the least efficient way to get out of town towards Hathern, and I suspect he took it to show off his advanced wizardly knowledge of the non-Euclidean streets in the area. For the first half hour, many of us were shaking and squeezing our hands to try to keep them warm, but

An overcast morning, with the odd spit of rain and flurry of snow plus a north-east wind producing a windchill to take the felt temperature below freezing, saw a surprisingly good turnout or well wrapped up cyclists. Short Ride Report by John Once the more masochistic riders had left on the longer ride the hedonists made up of Myles, Andrew, John, Eric, Vic, Graham, Derek, Margaret, Rosalind and Philip opted for a much shorter ride, with the prospect of a warm cafe before their hands and feet could become ice blocks. The group set out through Loughborough, departing via Meadow Lane before turning south in Stanford on Soar for Cotes and then on to Walton in the Wolds. After the climb up to the Salt Way ( Paudy Lane) the riders turned west wheeling quickly down hill and down wind to the warm delights of Millies Cafe. Myles, Andrew, John, Eric, Vic, Graham, Derek, Margaret, Rosalind and Philip at Millies Cafe (Barrow). After a long refreshment break to warm up, the riders ventured