Wednesday 15th January 2025

Short Ride

Report by John

A cool overcast morning saw Dennis, Eric, Andrew, Myles, Chris and David join John on a ride to Millies. The Riders headed out through Loughborough taking Meadow Lane to Stanford where they turned south to Cotes. Here they turned left up the A60 to Hoton where they turned east to Wymeswold.

Myles and Andrew ahead of David on the Salt Way.

There was still some evidence of recent flooding in the village and some muddy stretches along Narrow Lane. Arriving at Six Hills the group turned west along the Salt Way to Millies where refreshments were taken inside.

Dennis, Eric, Andrew, Myles, Chris and David at Millies

The riders emerged to find that the sun had put in an appearance and they returned to Loughborough via Barrow and Quorn, arriving back around noon.

 

The other Short Ride

Report by Tim

On a dull but dry day, Arnold, Margaret, Jeff, John N, and Tim, led by Howard, headed to one of the refreshment establishments around Newtown Linford. A more gentle ride to start the new year. We wound our way through Shelthorpe to Allendale Road then Terry Yardley Way then Farley Way traffic lights, where we took the Woodhouse road. Through Woodhouse we headed to Swithland then took the Cropston road; an undulating route with a couple of short climbs that made us work hard. We branched off towards Hallgates then took the path through Bradgate Park; very slowly as the park was busy, despite the dull weather.

 We stopped for refreshments at the Old Post Office (inside as the outside seating was still quite damp) then headed north out of Newtown Linford, taking the quieter Ulvescroft Lane then the steep climb up Priory Lane. That worked off our cakes! The sun started to come out, making our return trip much brighter.

 We continued home through Woodhouse Eaves and Woodhouse where we rejoined our outward route to Farley Way lights (wisely avoiding the shorter route past Beaumanor Hall, which is in appalling condition, with mud and potholes, due to the logging in Mucklin Wood). As we headed back to Holt Drive members left the peloton at various stages to make their own ways home. By my reckoning we did 19 miles in around two and a quarter hours, with a much faster second half.