Wednesday 26th July 2023

Medium Ride

Report by Vic

Some new faces were at the Clubhouse for the weekly roll out.

JC arrived and scurried around trying to put some order into the disorganised throng.

The menu of rides was announced and it became clear extra leaders would be needed as Bryan was unable to fulfil his offer of a ride to Melbourne. Phil offered a ride to Asfordby and I offered one to the Factoryheads cafe at Donnington Park.

This proved popular and 11 willing volunteers stepped forward and duly followed me out via the A6 cycle path to Quorn where we turned towards Woodhouse.

Due to the largish group we took the Swithland road turning up Brand Hill and then Maplewell Road the group tackled the ascent at their own pace and we regrouped by the school. From here we went via Bawdon Lodge and would have headed to Shepshed to pass down Tickow Lane but we're thwarted by a closed road and so had to climb up to the Monastery then down Swannymoat Road and onto Belton where we headed towards Diesworth. We worked our way through the village to emerge opposite the airport cycle path which we used to traverse the airport, emerging close to the C Donnington junction where we covered the last few yards and turned into our destination.

This is a large cafe frequented by Motorcyclists mainly due to the Motorcycle equipment emporium on site.

Unfortunately we were greeted by a broken cake fridge so we had to choose our refreshments from the savoury menu.

Bacon, sausage and egg proved no problem to the chefs but a beagle and a cheese salad proved a bit more problematic and these took a while to arrive but we were content to sit outside and watch the planes and listen to the race cars lapping the track.

Leigh declared I would be getting a solicitor's letter from himself for the false advertising of this ride as he said I was a serial offender!

Rob, Leigh, Margret and Chris decided they would make their own way back as they couldn't trust my description of the 'downhill' route back!

That left 8 of us to work our way home via C Donnington, Hemmington, Lockington through the new Landscape of the rail freight terminal and the Large Sheds that adorn this part of the world. We eventually emerged into Kegworth and made our way to S Bonnington where at the Ag college Pat left us to head home to Wymeswold, Betty also left us here to add some extra miles as she hadn't been stretched enough.

The remaining 6 traversed through Normanton and up Fox Hill as we turned the corner at Stanford Ged and I carried straight on towards Cotes whilst the rest returned via Meadow Lane.

I had covered 48 miles from home and 2000ft of climbing so I guess most would have covered 34 miles from Holt drive just over a 10% deviation from my estimate.

Hopefully everyone enjoyed the ride.

Short Ride

Report by John

The short ride again proved popular this week with John N., Dom, Clyde, Derek, Myles, Rosalind, Paul and Dennis joining John C. on a ride to Millie's Cafe.

The riders set out through Loughborough and out via Meadow Lane to Stanford where they turned south to Cotes. They then climbed on a quiet main road to Hoton taking the right turn to Wymeswold. After a climb up Narrow Lane the group arrived at Six Hills from where they headed West along Paudy Lane before taking Berrycott Lane to Seagrave.

Dom and John leading the group down Berrycott Lane.

After climbing once again up to Paudy Lane the riders headed west for welcome refreshments at Millie's Cafe.

John, Clyde, Dom and Derek at Millie's Cafe

Paul, Rosalind, Dennis and Myles 

Replete from various cakes and other goodies the riders returned to Loughborough via Barrow on Soar, arriving back at 12.15pm.

 

Longer Ride

Report by Laurence

 The report for the trip to Asfordby, lead by Phillip:

It was Wednesday again, a day that I like
Off to Loughborough cycling with the LWC,
we did set off  after I picked up my bike,
We being Anne, Terry and me

Phillip proposed a nice thirty mile ride,
All the way to far Asfordby
Precisely at half nine we moved off the site,
Phillip in the lead, Anne, me and Terry.

Out of Loughborough, through Quorn cycling on
Steadily to Cossington through  Sileby
Turning left at Humble Lane in Cossington,
Still Phillip in the lead, me, Anne and Terry.

Phillip said: it is now one road straight to the lake
So being me… I shot off, cycling as fast as I can
To be first at the coffee and cake,
Sorry.. left Phillip, Terry and Anne.

Nearly overshot the café, due to the speed
Waited 'til the rest of the group arrived then,
Was told off for my irresponsible deed,
Enjoyed the coffee with Terry, Phillip and Anne.

Made volunteer to write this report, with some humble pie,
A suggestion was made to do it in poetry.
So we bade the lovely café goodbye,
We being Anne, Terry, Phillip and me.

After some minutes, some miles were gained,
It must have been in the area of Saxelbye,
Anne’s bike became suddenly unchained

Terry repaired, watched by Phillip and me.
Back on the bike, to Barrow upon Soar,
Straight through Quorn as steady as could be,
Until on the A6004

A loud bang was heard by Terry, Anne, Phillip and me.
My rear tyre had a hole as large as a dime
Not much to repair, not far to go but still…
May be the karma for doing the “go too fast” crime

The rest cycled off, Anne, Terry and Phil.
Walking the rest of the time,
With my own thoughts, just only me,
Luckily Anne had forgiven my crime
And waited at home with a cup of coffee…

Longest Ride

Report by Alan

And then there were two.

Offering a flat ride of 43 miles to Elvaston on a mild day, with very little wind for some reason went down like a lead balloon. All I can say is “thank God for Mick”. He is the Robin to my Batman and therefore it was just the two of us that set off from Holt Drive. Vic is obviously wearing nicer aftershave than me because 10 riders set off with him to a place that doesn’t even sell cakes.

Rather than go into forensic detail of the route I have decided to cheat and post a Strava picture of the route to Elvaston Castle. Personally I don’t think it’s much of a castle. Castles to me should be on a hill with a moat, with men wearing pointy steel helmets and carrying bows and arrows etc. Even that excuse for a castle in Nottingham is on a hill.

Anyway ... it was lucky only two of us were on the ride after all, as the queues for the cafe were horrendous. Lots of kids, dogs and families with nothing better to do. I forgot it was the school holidays and no one wants to go abroad anymore. It led to Mick and me opting for plan B which meant going for a quick cup of tea at a gift shop, 100 metres away in the grounds. £1.50p each for two full cups. There are several riders who would blanch at that news (“wot no cakes !!?).

Alan & Mick at Elvaston Castle

The ride back took on various canal paths and a sizeable section of the Cloud Trail. The only slopes were around Shepshed including the nasty little hill leading to Tickow Lane. Mick was riding yet another ancient pair of wheels that I have never seen before so it was a leisurely 10.5 miles / hr.