Wednesday 21st August 2014

A blustery but bright morning produced an excellent turnout necessitating four rides.

Short Ride

Report by John

John was joined by Dom, Andrew, Chris, Dennis, David, Derek, Myles and Clyde on a short ride to Bawdon Lodge Tea Rooms.

The riders set out through the University and wended their way to the cycle track across Garendon Park which has deteriorated over the last few years with many large holes to be avoided. The group then navigated to Tickow Lane and then Charley Road.

Clyde leading the group across Garendon Park

Arriving at Bawdon Lodge the riders found Ray already seated. As it was a sunny day it was decided to take refreshments outside.

Dom, Andrew, Chris, Dennis, David, Derek, Ray, Myles and Clyde at Bawdon Lodge Tea Rooms

The riders returned via Roecliffe and Woodhouse, arriving back in Loughborough just before noon.

Derek leads along Charley Road.

Medium-Short Ride

Report by Tim

Howard, Margaret, Stuart, Mick and Tim, led by Jeff♀, set out on a 'gentle' ride to Coalville; into the wind, in the hope that it would be behind us on the way back. We crossed the university and headed out to Shepshed along the Ashby Road, then took Iveshead Road towards Whitwick, where the ride became less gentle; two steady climbs with a descent between them, which lost all the gain of the first climb.

We turned right and took a quiet lane past Mount St. Bernard's abbey, then a gentle descent into Whitwick where we picked up the path of the old Charnwood Forest Railway. After crossing the Coalville by-pass we cut across Coalville on some quieter roads until we came to Oasis Cafe, a volunteer-run community cafe, in Hugglescote, where we stopped for the obligatory refreshments. (NB. For those that haven't been before if you ask inside they will open up the passage gate/door and allow you to park your bikes safely round the back).

Mick, Tim, Jeff♀, Stuart, Margaret and Howard at the Oasis Cafe, Hugglescote

Suitably refreshed (I can recommend the carrot cake) we, like the Wise Men, returned by a different route, heading east through Agar Nook to join the Whitwick Road; a long, but more gentle climb than our earlier ones. Left at Copt Oak took us on the Loughborough road where the wind was never quite behind us as we had hoped.

After the slightly tricky descent to Nanpantan crossroads (not Leicestershire County Council's best effort at pothole repairing on that downhill) we went our separate ways. I made it 19.5 miles from Holt Drive back to home in a leisurely 2h, the return leg being considerably quicker.

Intermediate Ride

Report by Keith

Keith was joined on a ride to Melbourne by Jed, Rob S, Catherine, Betty, Bryan, Laurence and David. Out through the University and over the A512 and to Shepshed on the ”new” Garendon Park route, then to Belton. Jed fell over whilst stationary here, and had to ring his wife to allay any worries as an automatic emergency message had been triggered from his fancy gizmo. Then an upright ride via Osgathorpe, Cloud Trail, up the steep hill past Bardon golf course to the Melbourne tea rooms.

Betty, David, Bryan, Laurence, Jed, Robert and Catherine at Melbourne Hall.

It was busy there and there was quite a wait for our order, and then the waitress announced that due to a missing bacon delivery the bacon butties were off. Cue a couple of disgruntled riders, especially as those ordering other options which included bacon got theirs! Anyway alternatives were found, and we eventually left the café at about 12.

Home was along the Cloud Trail to Tonge, then Diseworth and A6 back to L’boro.

About 28 miles.

Longer Ride

Report by David

We were the first lot to set off from Holt Drive, with Rob Smith, John, Davendra and Brian, led by David to cross town by a typical canal-side route to Meadow Lane.

The canal alongside Limehurst Avenue was busy with fisherman, parked canal boats and parked cars poking through hedges not far from the canal towpath. We emerged onto Meadow Lane. Carrying on across the meadow, we entered Stanford upon Soar, then proceeded to the steady climb up Leake Lane. Near the end of Leake Lane there was a 3-way traffic light system which allowed all to have a breather and made it easy to cross the A6006.

The five of us took the Loughborough Road to East Leake. The road surfaces had been repaired here. After this came Castle Hill, at the end of which we turned right for Costock. It was a mainly overcast with the temperature rising and the breeze behind us. A couple of breaks in the traffic allowed us to cross the A60 without much delay. Then we headed for Wysall, where we took a short break by the church. After resuming, we took the right turn for Widmerpool. In somewhat similar pattern, we took the right turn onto Station Road. At the end of Station Road, there was a pause while David reset his Garmin as it was not providing directions. Others took the opportunity to cross the busy A606.

We resumed on the far side of the road using the road that used to go to Kinoulton Lane, but is now gated. Traversing small gates to the side of the road, we joined a track that runs north parallel to the A46 until the road bridge. After crossing the road bridge, we came down the road that runs south parallel to the A46, then turned left into Kinoulton Lane. There is a steep downhill stretch before getting to Kinoulton, where we will have notched up the fastest speeds on the ride – down an escarpment that we would later have to climb. At the end of the long village of Kinoulton, we turned right onto Hickling Lane and continued to the Old Wharf.

There were, as usual, lots of cars parked on the roadside, but nevertheless spare tables outside to sit. Prices were eye-watering, but the service was good.

When we resumed, we headed for Nether Broughton, and eventually Old Dalby. The road got narrower and crumblier as we negotiated a hilly course through traffic. Then as we entered Nether Broughton, we stopped for a photo.

Brian, John, Rob and Davendra at Nether Broughton.

As we took the zigzag road through Nether Broughton, Brian opted for a less hilly route home by turning off at Chapel Lane, then taking the A606 to Upper Broughton, followed by Station Road.

The rest of us crossed the A606 near the bend, taking the turning on the bend onto Old Dalby Lane. The road did a right-angle bend and we reached Old Dalby. Here we took the right turn onto Longcliff Hill, which was our way up the escarpment. We regathered our breath, then went right onto Nottingham Lane and joined Station Road, to cross the A46. Road surfaces here had been repaired too. We continue past Willoughby-on-the-Wolds, and gathered some pace against the wind to reach Wymeswold, where we rejoined Brian.

Coming out of Wymeswold, John headed off along Burton Lane, while the rest of us rode to Hoton. Three of us went via Prestwold and rejoined the A60, while Brian took the A60 from Hoton. I don’t think any of us were home before 1:30 pm, as the ride was 34.5 miles; but it was a good day for cycling and having a chat.