Wednesday 24th April 2024

Medium Ride

Report by Graham

Several times previously I'd planned to take a group to King's Lock, but had been thwarted by weather or floods; today we actually made it.

So on a bright but breezy and cool morning, I led VIc, Paul, Dave C, Tricia, Margaret, John N and Marcus out of Holt square, south along the old and then the current A6, past the new 'Broadnook' development and through the top of Birstall to Watermead Park. From there we continued south, picking up the canal behind Belgrave and following it all the way through the middle of Leicester to our destination, the tea rooms.

Parking the bikes round the back, we headed for a covered, but still draughty shelter in the garden before ordering. That was perhaps a mistake as it was pretty cold, and the hot food came in 2 batches, they obviously only have a small kitchen. Yorkshireman Paul provoked much intrigue by disappearing into the toilet to extract his wallet, he must have it stitched in! Then he reversed the operation to replace it. Anyway the food and service was fine, but we were all pretty cold as we set off back, and into a cold headwind at that.

Dave, Paul, Vic, John, Marcus, Margaret and Tricia at Kings Lock

Return was via route 6 along the Great Central, before jinking through Leicester and Abbey Park, and then the hidden back lanes of Beaumont Leys to Thurcaston. Vic peeled off at Rothley station, then I went left at Rothley crossroads, leaving the remaining 6 to return via Wood Lane to Quorn and then home.

Loughborough to Loughborough would have been about 32 miles, and not much climbing.

Short Ride

Report by David

Although it was a bright day, there was a biting north wind that occasionally caught us especially on the way home. Eric led the ride out to Beardsley’s and was joined by Derek, Stuart, Myles, Andrew and David.

Eric took us out past the Beacon pub and Lansdowne Drive, on to Ling Road and the One Ash roundabout, then through Quorn and Mountsorrel. The lawn mower shop premises on Loughborough Road has now got new owners. We went left and crossed the river Soar valley on Mountsorrel Lane, then came up to Sileby opposite the Orse and Trumpet. We turned right and immediately left along King Street. Just before the Methodist church, there is a jitty. We sped down there and emerged by a Post Office, then went right down Swan Street, joining Ratcliffe Road for a short distance before turning up Cemetery Road, past a road closure. The road became quite steep and led into a smooth gravel track.

Suddenly, Eric veered off the gravel track into a ditch. I wondered if we would have to rescue him; but it was evidently intentional, and soon we were all veering off into the ditch, through a hedge and up the other side onto some boggy grass. We were led a short distance back onto Ratcliffe Road. The six bedraggled riders continued up this road past Humble Lane then dipped down under the A46 to Ratcliffe on the Wreake. It was not a quiet day for traffic. From here we gathered a burst of speed that took us past Beedle’s Lake golf course. We crossed the railway line and came into East Goscote. At the end of Broom Lane, we turned left onto Melton Road, Rearsby and continued to Beardsley’s.

We were joined at Beardsley’s in their cosy outdoor enclosure by Pat and Roman, who had cycled over from Wymeswold. Orders were rounded up and complimentary drinks were provided with any cakes; so, we all had cakes and chatted for 45 minutes, then called in to the shop to settle our bills. As we were preparing to leave, Eric passed the leadership baton to David, as he had to return for an afternoon commitment via another route.

Stuart, Andrew, Myles, Eric, Roman, Pat, David and Derek at Beardsley’s

Usually, one tends to feel the cold after a refreshments break, particularly if indoors. On this occasion it was never more so as the biting north wind vied for its share of the cakes. The temperature on the Garmin had dropped 5°C within 5 minutes of setting off.

The route home went alongside the ford in Rearsby, then turned left to Thussington, past fields of cows and evidence of earlier flooding. We continued through Thrussington and up the hill to the A46 crossing. Everyone crossed safely, then continued past the Leicester City training ground and through Seagrave, then up to the crossroads with Paudy Lane. It was then a coast down to Barrow upon Soar, then up the Melton Road towards the station. We stopped to let a bus and delivery van overtake. At the end of the road, we went right, past the Hunting Lodge, then down the hill off the roundabout. After crossing the bridge, David thought it would be safer to head back across the fields to Quorn, over the footbridge. However, this route was closed for safety reasons; so, we took the usual route back by road to Farley Way. On the way back from Quorn, we were joined briefly by Terry and Rob Stephens returning from the other short ride. After reaching Allendale Road, we said goodbye to Stuart and Derek, and the remaining threesome continued to Holt Drive.

The ride back there was 20.4 miles, which we covered at 10.4 mph, arriving at 12:20. The altitude gain was a modest 951 feet. Many of the riders were complimentary about today’s ride.