Wednesday 4th September 2024

The first ride of September produced a rather chilly start, a harbinger of autumn being on its way, and three groups departed Holt Drive.

Short Ride

Report by John

After the other groups had departed Rob, Andrew, Chris, Eric, Dom, Clyde and Derek remained with John for a short ride to East Leake.

The group rode through Market Square departing Loughborough via Meadow Lane befor heading south to Cotes and then up to Hoton before heading west to Wymeswold. In Wymeswold they turned north to Wysall where they turn west passing through Costock and heading for East Leake.

John leading the group south along Stanford Lane

Just before reaching East Leake a Coffee Shop sign was spotted and a temporary coffee shop in an Elms Farm field was identified. The sign said closed but activity could be seen and it was decided to investigate. It turned out that the cafe was open but the sole lady in charge hadn't got around to removing the closed sign.

Eric, Chris, Rob, Andrew, Derek, Clyde and Dom at Elms Farm Cafe

After sampling the refreshments on offer, the riders returned via East Leake and Stanford arriving back in Loughborough just before noon.

IntermediateRide

Report by David

Alan led David, Dave, Mick and Trisha. This was not a fast ride, but pleasant for the varied scenery and the opportunities to chat along the way. Alan led us along Forest Road into Loughborough, along Woodgate and Pinfold Gate to the inner ring road and the traffic lights near the old cinema that became a bingo hall and the new cinema that will shortly become something else. Here we loitered waiting for invisible traffic lights to change, before pursuing Baxtergate and Meadow Lane.

The five of us continued through Stanford on Soar, up Fox Hill, through Normanton on Soar and Sutton Bonington. After passing the Agricultural College, we turned left down Station Road and joined Kingston Road. We crossed the River Soar, and shortly notices of the closed road appeared. We were able to get to Long Lane, and cross the bridge over Remembrance Way. At a right-angled bend, we entered Ratcliffe Lane, which was clear of traffic. It took us to Warren Lane with its contorted but quiet track to the Plank and Leggit. By this time, the sun had come out and the temperature had risen. After a short stint on the Tamworth Road, we crossed the entry waterway to Sawley Marina and followed this to the bridge over the main flow of the River Trent into Derbyshire. It can be crossed using low gears if nobody is crossing in the other direction. On the other side, the path alongside the River Trent narrowed and was overhung by stinging nettles. We encountered a large party of walkers coming the other way. They were sympathetic to our challenge and were sensibly wearing long trousers.

We continued to follow the river until Trent Lock, then turned sharp left parallel with the Erewash Canal. This passed under two railway bridges and past several swans sitting next to the towpath. The canal turned a double bend under the B6540, then we had to find a bridge to cross to get to West Park.

There was a low bridge that we ducked underneath on our side of the canal, but access to the bridge was not obvious. There was a break in the hedge leading to Milner Road where builders’ vehicles were gathered. At the other end of Milner Road was a path through to the bridge.

The park was quite busy with children and dog walkers. We headed for an exit the led into Parkside Avene, on the Sustrans route 6. At the end of the avenue was a busy interchange, where we waited until a clear course to the A6005 arrived. That road took us over the M1. Soon afterwards, we went right up Poplar Road. At the ‘T’ junction we went left along Longmoor Lane to Risley Lane.

We turned off Risley Road on the Sustrans 6 route between The Navigation pub, Breaston and the Breaston in Bloom garden. This was a popular route for cyclists of all abilities. There were riders behind us urging us to put pressure on the riders in front of us, with the intention of the latter getting out of the way. Eventually, they did and peace was restored. As we continued along this track, the unmistakeable factory building at Draycott came into view.

The track later joined the A6005 just before Borrowash. After negotiating the kinked road, we entered the main street, then turned left down the B5010 over the River Derwent. Past Elvaston Castle Country Park, we took the left turn, Ambaston Lane. At Ambaston, the road does a right-angled bend, then goes to Shardlow. On the outskirts of Shardlow, we found a hidden path right onto London Road, emerging just short of the Florentine Coffee and Patisserie.

Tricia, Alan, Mike, Dave and David at the Florentine Coffee and Patisserie, Shardlow

As we arrived, it was immediately evident that other cycling groups had got there first. I think they can be forgiven for not clearing the premises of cakes and leaving us still plenty of choice. For example, there was Strawberry Frangipane and the Cappuccino had flakes of real chocolate, and the scones were a reasonable size, not too big or small. Mick exchanged some banter with one of the Ilkeston group, but they left soon after that.

As we prepared to leave, the clouds darkened and there may have been a few spits of rain later. However, Shardlow knew we were coming and put out the bunting. We crossed the Cavendish Bridge back into Leicestershire. Hereafter, we negotiated the complex combination of cycle tracks that took us alongside the A50 and over the M1 at junction 24A. A couple of parallel tracks (we took the left one) led to Remembrance Way, under which we went before emerging onto the A6. From here we followed the A6 to Loughborough.

Two of us used the track parallel with Black Brook to get to the Epinal Way. Three of us, continued on the A6. The Black Brook route has a narrow bridge just before the low road bridge. There is a plank missing from this bridge, so future riders please watch out.

The ride was 37 miles, and out average moving speed was 10.8 mph. The altitude gain was 1079 feet, quite high for a mainly riverside route. We will have been home by 1:40.