Wednesday 14th February 2024

ShortRide

Report by John

John had offered a short ride to the Jade Tea Room via Bradgate Park and found himself with Myles, Clyde, Robert, Dom, Chris, Derek and Eric once the other 3 groups had departed. As it had been raining for most of the night the route past Mucklin Wood would have been rather muddy, so the riders headed south through Quorn where they ran into an unforecast rain shower. However this didn't last long and the riders climbed up past the Quarry, descended and turned right for Swithland. Leaving Swithland via Leicester Road they climbed up to Cropston before taking Reservoir Road, passing over the working overflow channel, to Bradgate Park and on through to the Jade Tea Room.

Clyde leading Chris through Bradgate Park.

After the usual excellent repast the riders returned through the Park via Swithland, Woodhouse and Quorn.

Myles, Clyde, Robert, Dom, Chris, Derek and Eric outside the Jade Tearoom

Medium Ride to Whitwick

Report by David

It was our warmest ride day so far and some winter gear was shed by most riders, but rain was difficult to forecast due to the ever-changing weather patterns. However, it was not raining in our hearts this Valentines Day.

Howard led this ride for Whitwick, and specifically the Rock Café, so it was likely that we would encounter some hills. He was accompanied by Dave, Keith, John, Andy, Anne, Trisha, Leigh and David. Curiously, although we were to pass through Shepshed, we set off in the direction of the Beacon pub. This was to get us via Beacon Road and Valley Road to Nanpantan Road. By now, the rain was falling. We negotiated the 4-way temporary traffic lights by weaving through a queue of cars and gathered on the pavement opposite The Priory in case anyone wanted to put on waterproofs. We sped down Snells Nook Lane and crossed the A512 to get to the entrance to the Garendon Estate. This was a quieter but bumpy road. As we passed the Temple of Venus, the sun came out as if the goddess of love was reminding us of what day it was.

We went under the M1 on Coach Road, then up Cumbrian Way onto Fairway Road. At the end of this road, we turned left then right down Kirkhill for a short distance, then left along Garendon Road. On Charnwood Road, we turned right, then left onto Lambert Road. At the end of this road, our route went through some secluded passageways. Anne was concerned we had left Leigh behind, as this was in her experience a rough area. Keith rode back to check he could find us. Shortly, we were soon onto the more familiar Tickow Lane.

We went left and crossed the A512 to Charley Road, until Oaks in Charnwood. Then we climbed through the village. In the distance, there was a figure in a bright yellow coat cycling up Abbey Road, but fortunately it was not one of us. Instead, we crossed Abbey Road, went past the Monastery, then down the hill, turning left onto Cademan Street. John’s bike had taken over the mantle of noisiest brakes from Marcus, and provided some direction for anyone who had dropped too far behind to see their fellow riders. At the end of Vicarage Street, we turned up Leicester Road, then shortly left up Hall Lane. Hall Lane took us all the way to The Rock Café.

We were able to take our bikes through a locking gate on the premises, although Howard had to check repeatedly that other customers weren’t leaving the gate open. We were served cheerfully and efficiently at a long table. The diagrams of beer dispensing apparatus on the walls prompted some discussion on engineering, including food engineering or, more specifically, how had the staff managed to hew veritable slabs of Millionaire’s shortbread with such evident precision. When asked, they said it was brute force and a sharp knife. For anyone counting calories, if you have to ask how many, it’s too many.

Anne, Dave, John, Andy, Leigh Keith, David, Howard and Tricia at the Rock Café

The onward ride, along Meadow Lane was in a direction away from Loughborough, and continued so along Broom Leys Road, across London Road, Coalville and through Hugglescote. We continued along Midland Road to Ellistown, and I wondered if we would need a convenient wormhole in spacetime to get home at a reasonable hour. Now clear of hills, Anne’s bike chose this point to lodge an objection and dislodge the chain. Some well-delivered help resulted in her bike getting back to speed.

We turned left onto Victoria Road, towards industrial estates, then right on the roundabout onto Stanton Lane. Here, the noise of traffic abated and it turned very quiet as we were in open country with a Buzzard soaring overhead, and undisturbed by any sound from John’s brakes. We turned left through the village of Stanton under Bardon. This uphill stretch got steeper until we got onto Stanton Lane, which led to the roundabout by the Flying Horse. The next part of the ride was, on average, downhill. So, if zero-friction bikes were possible, one could freewheel all the way from Copt Oak to Loughborough. Still, it was a rapid way back, and we peeled off at various place for our homeward journeys.

I covered a distance of 25.8 miles and was back at about 1:30pm. After the initial spell of rain, it remained dry unless we went through a puddle. The elevation gain was 1818 ft, consistent with cycling twice over the hills, and our average moving speed was 10.3 mph. Thanks to Howard for an interesting and satisfying ride.