Wednesday 7th May 2025

Intermediate Ride

Report by David

It had been persistently dry, and today was no exception, with a slight chill in the air early on, but warming up with cloud cover.

David led Arnold and Betty on a ride that was presented with Calke as the destination. Perhaps such a destination was the reason for the low take-up.

The three riders went through the university and over the M1 to Shepshed, then via Leicester Road and Cambridge Street to Tickow Lane. After taking the Sustrans route over the hill to Belton, we continued on Mill Lane to Gelscoe Lane through Tonge and Wilson into Melbourne. Here we found Shazza’s café and sat outside at tables where we were served after placing orders at the hatch. We took this opportunity to replan the route to avoid Calke Abbey.

Suitably sated, the riders returned to the Main Road in Melboune, then took the narrow Penn Lane to get onto the B587. After a short distance we turned right up Robinson Hill, then continued down Beighton’s Hill to the A514. We passed the entrance to Calke Abbey and came off left onto High Street. After half a mile, we branched off onto Staunton Lane as far as Heath End. Here we went left. We arrived at the back entrance to Staunton Harold and went over the cattle grids up the straight road to the Ferrers Centre. We did not stop here but carried on down across the bridge over the Fish Pond. There was then a steep climb up to the B587.

We headed south and crossed the Nottingham Road, passing under the A42 and by Newbold. Here there was a little track that took the corner off Rempstone Road, leading directly to Gelsmoor Road. We took this road and the deceptively steep climb into Peggs Green. Crossing another Nottingham Road, we avoided the roundabout on the A512, using New Road, and crossed the Church Hill. There was a downhill part and an uphill part before it became Talbot Lane. From here we climbed Whitwick Moor, on the outskirts of Whitwick, to get to Grace Dieu Road, which led into Turolough Road, through Cademan Wood. What remained was the ride home via Swannymote Road and the A512. The ride was 31 miles, with an altitude gain of 2,257 feet, and back by 12:45.

Short Ride

Report by John

A bright and sunny late Sring morning produced a good turnout with four rides departing Holt Drive. John offered a circuitous ride to Normanton on Soar and was joined by Andrew, Dom, Nim, Clyde, Myles, Derek, Duncan, Rob and Marcus.

Duncan leading the group along Brickyard Lane.

The riders departed Loughborough via Meadow Lane and then headed north up Fox Hill and on through Normanton, Sutton Bonnington (where the road over the railway is now open) and Kingston on Soar before turning south down West Leake Lane. They then took Brickyard Lane then up Travell's Hill to Butt Lane followed by a rapid descent to the Village Shop at Normanton.

Andrew, Dom, Nim, Clyde, Myles, Derek, Duncan, Rob and Marcus at the Village Shop.

After sampling the refreshments on offer in the sunshine, the riders returned via Fox Hll and Meadow Lane arriving in Loughborough just after noon.