Wednesday 22nd January 2025

Medium Ride to Gorse Hill City Farm

Report by Graham

Despite the chilly and dull morning, a large crowd had gathered at HQ, awaiting JC's directives.

Most seemed to be opting for the short rides, so 6 of us: myself, Keith H, Rob Smith, Mick, Tricia and Tim, headed south along the old A6 passing roadwork after roadwork, taking to the pavement near Eric's in Sileby, as some sort of bus altercation was completely blocking the road.

We joined the canal path at Cossington, where happily the waters had abated, but had left quite a lot of sludge behind. So we paused just after the apparently forsaken Hope&Anchor for Mick to clear his mudguards, only to encounter even more clagginess as we slithered down to, and through Watermead, which was beautiful, still and quiet.

Continuing on route 6 towards Leicester, we turned off after Ellis Meadows, past the pumping station, and after a short but hilly urban section, we arrived at our destination, Gorse Hill farm café.

None of us, not even Mick, had been before. In fact after Monday's trip to the Welly Deli, I'd taken Mick to 2 new places in the same week, that's unheard of! No fancy courgette cakes or frappuccinos, but very good value basic fare: £3.50 for coffee and a teacake? (No jam though).

Tricia, Tim, Mike, Keith H and Rob at Gorse Hill City Farm.

We returned via a maze of paths through Beaumont Leys, popping out on Anstey Lane between Anstey and Thurcaston, then homewards past Rothley Great Central Railway and down Swithland Lane, Keith and me peeling off at Rothley crossroads. Unfortunately the rough tracks I had taken us down were too much for Keith's tubeless road tyres, but he made it back (I think?) after a few stops to reflate.

Loughborough to Loughborough would be about 26 miles, not much climbing, just lots of mud (sorry all!)

Short Ride

Report by John

When the other 3 rides had departed, just John, Margaret, Dennis and Eric remained for a short ride with the intention of going to Dobbies in Rothley.

The riders set out via Cross Lane and Shelthorpe to Quorn where they turned up Wood Lane past the Quarry before taking a right down The Ridings towards Swithland, passing their first sight of snowdrops on the corner close to Swithland Spring Water.

In Swithland Eric found that he was suffering from a slowish puncture in his front tyre. As is was a cold day, the idea of a full repair was unattractive, so the tyre was pumped up and it was agreed that all would double back and on to Mountsorrel so that Eric would be closer to home. After one more reflation the riders arrived at the Memorial Centre Cafe in Mountsorrel and enjoyed their refreshments in the warm.

Dennis, Margaret & Eric at the Memorial Centre Cafe in Mountsorrel

Leaving Eric to find his way to home in Sileby, the remaining riders headed back through Quorn, arriving in back in Loughborough around noon.