Wednesday 6th November 2024

Short Ride

Report by John

The short ride once again proved popular this week and two sets of riders set out from Holt Drive. John led Dennis, David, Elaine, Mick, Derek, Chris, Andrew, Myles and Rob to the tea room in Beacon Hill Country Park.

The group set out through the University towards Shepshed, turning off Ashby Road through Garendon Park, skirting the Temple of Venus and the many holes in the tarmac cut by road repairers. It is to be hoped that we will end up with a smooth tarmac surface on the Coach Road into Shepshed. The riders wended their way to Forest Street and descended to Market Place, where John made the mistake of going up Bridge Street, rather than Chapel Street. However he manage to find a way through to New Walk and the riders joined Tickow Lane only to find that it was closed for road works a mile of so down the road and the workmen were not prepared to let cyclists squeezy by. So the group retraced it steps to the point where they could get into the new housing estate and take the new cycle track to Daisy Lane. Here they were joined by another group of cyclists who were heading in the same direction who took the lead onto Buttercup Lane, which also turned out to be closed for road works. This time we were allowed through, although the workmen were somewhat bemused when about 20 cyclists came through to rejoin Tickow Lane.

The riders continued along Charley Road without incident, meeting with Howard's group, coming the other way, just after they had passed Bawdon Lodge Farm. The group then turned left down Beacon Road before taking another left onto Shepshed Road to descend to Deans Lane. This again was marked closed, but the riders ventured up it, only to find that there was no work being carried out and they had the road to themselves.

Chris ahead of Mick on Deans Lane

After ascending the southern part of Breakback Road, the riders turned into the Country Park and took refreshments outside.

Dennis, David, Elaine, Mick, Derek, Chris, Andrew, Myles and Rob at Beacon Hill Tea Room.

The return to Loughbrough was via Woodhouse Eaves, Woodhouse and Quorn.

Medium Ride to Old Dalby

Report by David

It was a very mild day for November, and nearly 40 riders turned up at Holt Drive, some of them in shorts. There was a general expectation of some fog and the air was very still.

David set off with Stuart, Arnold, Rob Smith, Keith, Phil, Betty and Tim. As we came through Loughborough there wasn’t much traffic, although we took the canal towpath to get to Meadow Lane. We crossed the Meadow and ascended Leake Lane. Unfortunately, Rob got a puncture and decided to walk home. The rest of us reached the A6006 and, although the Loughborough Road to East Leake was coned off, we proceeded anyway, with caution. The kindly workmen let us through although they were in the process of digging up the road. We then turned left at the crossroads into Rempstone Road, to avoid the further roadworks on the next stretch of Loughborough Road. After a slight hill, we turned into Kirk Leys Road and followed through to East Leake. Meanwhile we were joined by a vehicle with trailer that was pumping out fumes. Thankfully we gave that the slip and breathed fresh air again.

We crossed the A60 without having to wait at Costock, and carried on to Wysall where we stopped for a short break. Turning right in front of The Plough, we rode almost to Widmerpool and turned up Willoughby Road. This was a steady climb, which continued essentially all the way to the café.

In Willoughby on the Wolds, we took Main Street which curves round to join Back Lane, on which we crossed the A46. Soon afterwards, we turned right into Nottingham Road. It was apparent that our destination was near by the increased number of horse lorries. We were thankful for one, which facilitated the opening of the electric gate to the Equestrian Centre, allowing us to tailgate.

The Signature Café was temporarily unstaffed, as the staff have other duties; but we were served and took seats with a grandstand view of the horses being ridden indoors, separated from the café by large windows. It was a good day for horse jokes, if we could just remember them.

Betty, Phil, Keith, Tim, Stuart and Arnold at the Equestrian Centre, Old Dalby

After we emerged, the group photo was taken, although it has come out with an exaggerated impression of fog. We did not have a lorry to tailgate to get out, but somebody saw our plight and we were able to continue. It tends to feel a bit colder after a break, and the slight hill to climb before reaching Six Hills Lane allowed us to warm up a bit. Here, Keith and Phil took a shorter route home, turning right. The rest of us went the opposite way and turned right into Perkin’s Lane, through Grimston. Saxelbye Lane drops considerably in altitude to pass the road to the village, then climbs deceptively steeply, eventually at the top of the hill affording a view across the Wreake valley.

We dipped down towards Asfordby, then followed the A6006 a short way to Loughborough Road and Hoby Road, where again there was little traffic. The road past Frisby Lakes was quiet. We continued through Hoby, and Thrussington, and Ratcliffe on the Wreake. Next, we went right to take the road under the A46 and climb to Humble Lane to reassemble. We were soon on our way to Cossington, and continued to Sileby, then past the church and the Soar valley to Mountsorrel. Here we said goodbye to Betty who, was headed for Dobbies, and four of us continued on to Loughborough.

The round trip was 35 miles, with an overall ascent of 1473 feet. We did this with an average moving speed of 11.0 mph, and a typical arrival home time would be 1:30 pm.