A very blustery day saw a reduced turnout.

Medium ride to Sawley Marina

Report by David

There was some doubt whether the winds would subside enough for safe riding. Although there was still some wind from the WSW, the medium ride went okay. Otherwise, the temperature was warm for January and there was no hint of rain.

Graham had planned a route to allow for crosswinds, and was accompanied by Vic, Jedd, Brian, Marcus, David and Dennis. Dennis dropped out as we proceeded out of Loughborough on the A6 towards Hathern.

By Hathern Nurseries, we turned left onto Whatton Road, then right through Long Whatton. Opposite The Falcon, we were helped up the hilly Kegworth Road by the wind. However, the Kegworth bypass was a bit of a struggle, being exposed to crosswinds. We skirted round Amazon warehouses and came down Bainbrigge Road and Church Street to Lockington. Near the end of Main Street, we turned left onto the cycle track, parallel to the A50. We passed underneath and on a helical path to the old Netherfield Lane, which has barriers to cars. As we approached Tamworth Lane, two police cars sped past and a large vehicle did a U-turn and disappeared down Netherfield Lane. We continued on the path alongside Tamworth Lane until a crossing by Sawley Marina.

The café was relatively quiet when we arrived, but began to fill. Good coffees and an assortment of sweets and savouries were on offer. Vic showed us photos of his hard work to prevent flood waters getting into his house. This was a more apposite account than the one televised on local news after a previous flood.

Marcus, Jedd, Graham, Brian and Vic at Sawley Marina

Our return ride set off at a faster speed, averaging about 2 mph faster than the previous leg, even though the wind was not always behind us. We took the winding Warren Lane onto Long Lane to Kegworth. Here we went left onto Station Road, over the bridge, then right up the slope to join College Road to go past the agricultural college at Sutton Bonington. David and Marcus had slipped some way behind the other riders.

At this stage, there was a parting of the ways, as Marcus and David decided to go back via Zouch while the rest went via Fox Hill. As David and Marcus reached the corner by Landcroft Lane, a cart pulled by horse and another horse came out ahead of us, and went slowly down the slope into the village. By this time, Marcus’s brakes were in high voice and might startle the horses, so we held back. We eventually overtook the horses on Main Street and carried on to the A6006.

Our route through Hathern used the footpath behind the Kings Arms, past the church and eventually emerging onto the A6 along Wide Street. We entered Loughborough via Blackbrook Way.

This version of the ride was 23.9 miles with an altitude gain of 1000 feet, with an average moving speed of 11.1 mph. This would get us home at about 1 pm. Thanks to Graham for leading the ride.

Shortish Long Ride

Report by Keith

Arriving at a windy Holt Drive around 9.50 there were only 2 stalwarts there – looked like one ride needed. Slowly the numbers increased to two ride levels, and then after about twenty arrived three rides were decided upon.

Keith led off towards Melbourne with Mick, Terry, Dave, Stuart, Howard, Rob, John and Nim. Unfortunately, Terry did not feel well and sensibly turned back home. Through the University and up the side roads by Ashby Road to the “new” way through Garendon Park to Shepshed. Keith was confident of the route because Howard was in the group, but was shocked to discover that Howard had not been this way before either! Anyway it is simple, and a very pleasant alternative to the soulless cycle path up and round the J23 roundabout.

Mainly against a stiff headwind we passed Belton up to the A42 roundabout, then down past the quarry to Bardon. No one wanted to take the optional ride up to the church, so we arrived at a packed Melbourne Tea room, but with one large table free. Tea, coffee and food was consumed (some of it by those who had ordered it, some not!) and surprisingly Mick knew a cyclist at another table! Their work on making glass spinning machinery for fibre optics sometime last century was one of the topics discussed.

Howard, Ian, Stuart, Nim, Rob (half hidden), John and Keith's eye.

The return was mainly downwind, so we coasted along the Cloud Trail to Tongue, then to Long Whatton and home via the A6, arriving after 27 miles around 1.30pm.

Short Ride

Report by John

The numbers choosing the short ride varies enormously and this week John and Eric found themselves the only ones taking this option.

They decided to head out on a circuitious route to the village shop at Normanton on Soar

Exiting Loughborough via Meadow Lane they climbed Leake Lane to Stanford Hill and then into East Leake. Taking the road to West Leake they notice their first snowdrops and a solitary crocus in the church yard.

From West Leake they took Brickyard Lane where a they had quite a close encounter with a bird of prey. Eric reckoned it was a Red Kite while John speculated that it was a buzzard. For future reference a buzzard has a solid fan tail while that of a kite is split.