Wednesday 10th May 2023

Short Ride

Report by Derek

Some 25 to 30 cyclist arrived at Holt Drive on a sunny morning but, with the weather about to turn nasty around lunchtime, most of the rides were shortish between 20 to 30 miles.

Our group comprising of Clyde, Dom, Dennis, Rob, Myles, John, Pat, Rosalind and Derek decided to head for Bawdon Lodge so we could get back before the rain. Derek was leading but having lost two riders for most of the ride last week, he asked John to assist him.

Heading out through the University we took the main road to Shepshed avoiding Garendon Park because of the muddy tracks. After crossing the M1 we turned right on to Leicester Rd then left on to Cambridge St, picking up Tickow Lane. Once we had crossed the busy Ashby Road it was a short ride along Charley Rd to our destination.

Rosalind and Pat on Charley Road

However for some reason the cafe was closed this week once we got over our disappointment we decided to double back on ourself and head to St Joseph's tea room.

Clyde and Rob leading the group.

We arrived just as it was opening and as the sun was still shining we sat outside to enjoy our refreshments with the discussion about Lady Jane Grays house in Bradgate Park.

Dennis, Myles, Rob, Rosalind, John, Dom, Derek, Pat and Clyde at the Monastery Cafe

With the clouds closing in we decided to take the shortest route back to Loughborough along the B591. Pleased to say we arrived back before the rain and Derek was feeling very smug that he had not lost any riders this week.

Medium Ride

Report by Alan

For once common sense prevailed, bearing in mind the threat of heavy showers at midday; all the rides on offer this week were of a modest distance.

Brian, Phil, Trish and Mick signed up to accompany me to James’s tearooms, part of Lanes Garden Centre outside Breaston (pronounced Breeeston not Breast town).

I did promise a flat ride of 30 miles, a total of 920 feet of elevation recorded on Strava is a testimony to that fact. This is in contrast to the usual 45+ miles we sign up for with the Mighty Monday Milers involving several category one climbs around the mountains of the East Midlands.

Our route took us down the Forest Road leaving Loughborough, >> Meadow lane >> Normanton on Soar >> Kingston on Soar >> Kegworth>> Sawley and Draycott. The only part of the journey which raised heart beats was on the narrow Long Lane when a car, travelling at around 60 miles per hour, came at Phil and I head on.

Once we arrived in the tea rooms, we performed our weekly ritual of sitting down cross legged to listen to Mick impart pearls of wisdom about times long ago. Once these reminisces were over, conversations turned to the subject of why women were such crap cyclists. Direct evidence was offered for this by citing various examples of various anonymous wives. Trish sat there quietly fuming.

Mike, Brian, Phil, Alan and Trish at  James’s tearooms, part of Lanes Garden Centre outside Breaston

The journey home took us back through Sawley >> Lockington and up past the Amazon Empire. As we breasted (there’s that word again) the start of Whatton Hill on the Kegworth bypass we saw with some trepidation dark black clouds hanging over the whole of Loughborough. Indeed on reaching Hathern it was clear from the surface water that a deluge had happened just before we had got there. Remarkably the pavements on the outskirts of Loughborough were bone dry (12.50pm). At this point the famous five split up and I reached home at 1.05pm. At 1.10pm the heavens opened up and continued on and off all afternoon. Who said the gods of cycling (small “g”) don’t exist?

Shortish Ride

Report by Graham

I'd offered a shortish ride today, as the afternoon forecast was ominous, so I led Rob Smith, Vic, Keith, Paul, and Dave C out through the top of university and via Ashby Road to Shepshed, passing Howard's ride on the way. Then out the back of Shepshed, through the traffic lights that have been there for weeks, despite no evident activity, via Belton to Osgathorpe. We then left the beaten track, going left at the church, left again at the Storey Arms, then across the Ashby Road and through Thringstone. Rob had some gearing issues on the steep climb, which continued to plague him as we traversed the hilly back lanes of Whitwick to our destination, the Rock Café.

I was the only one who'd been there before, and it's an odd mix: a café by day, which morphs into a pub after 4pm (so the bar sign says, but I have seen pints being nursed long before!) Breakfast cobs at value Whitwick prices were approvingly guzzled by some, whilst conversation varied from films to watch on a rainy seaside holiday, through Eurovision, Giro d'Italia (in Welsh!), to marvelling at the 12% beers on offer.

David, Vic, Rob, Keith and Paul at the Rock Bar & Cafe in Coalville

Tempting though it was to stay until the bar opened, we headed out up the steep climb past Mount St Bernard, then down through Oaks and back up Charley road, with some peeling off at Bawdon lodge and others continuing over the forest.

Most were home by 12:00, having ridden around 25 miles, with a fair amount of climbing, unavoidable in that part of the county. But at least we stayed dry.

PS: For the beer fans, the Rock is run by the same people as the Blue Boar in Leicester, and has a great range of real ales, craft keg, cans and bottles, not to mention ciders, and serve yourself 'beer wall' with wine and beer taps.

Serve yourself 'beer wall' with wine and beer taps.