Wednesday 18th March 2026

Short Ride

Report by John

A beautiful sunny early spring morning saw an excellent turnout of more than 30 riders at Holt Drive. Five rides were offered and John was joined by Margaret, Dennis, David, Clyde, Derek, Max, Keith and Eric with East Leake as the destination.

The group headed out of Loughborough via Meadow Lane before turning south along Stanford Lane then climbing to Hoton and on east to Wymeswold. From there they headed north to Wysall where the display of daffodils around the church wall could be admired.

Clyde and Derek leading Dennis and Margaret west along Costock Road

Heading west through Costock, the riders paused outside Love & Piste and ascertained that they were still closed on Wednesdays. Continuing into East Leake the group arrived at Bryers where they discovered Patrick and Laurie already taking refreshment.

Laurie, Patrick, Dennis and Margaret

David, Clyde, Derek, Max, Keith and Eric

Having enjoyed a repast in the sunshine, the riders decided to head on west rather then negotiating the potholes while descending Leake Lane.

After ascending Travell's Hill and descending Butt Lane into Normanton, the riders returned to Loughborough via Fox Hill and Meadow Lane, arriving back around noon.

Short Ride 2

Report by Andrew

Short version

21 miles, 8 riders, East Goscote Nurseries

Less short version

What a glorious, beautiful sunny day!! The best of the year brought out many keen cyclists.

There were five rides from Holt Drive today and the option of a short ride to East Goscote Nurseries was too good to be true and too good to turn down.

Eight of us set off on a circuitous route to our destination, I'm sure we passed through Quorn, Woodhouse, Swithland, Cropston and Rothley.

Ian lead us on this route and I honestly believe he was a taxi driver in his early days and must have “The Knowledge” as he knows every single road, major and minor, out there!

It was fabulous to sit outside at The Nurseries to enjoy their delightful refreshments, the beautiful plants on offer as well as the typically excellent and eloquent conversation.

Chris, Ian, David, Robert, Rob, Mick and Myles at Cossington Garden Centre

The highlight of which, for me, was a discussion of the meaning of the lyrics in Don Maclean's all time classic “American Pie”.

(I suggest avoiding the version Madonna subsequently recorded if you have any musical taste!!)

A few of these verses debated are below (and I'm sure a few others were also debated) with the meaning of the libretto below teased out.

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But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died

Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned

Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend

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It was then back via Sileby and a left hand turn at the church, and onto Loughborough through Quorn and Mountsorrel.

Quite a few major roadworks and temporary traffic lights today including by the A6 trunk road between Rothley and Cossington, in Cossington itself (Severn Trent I think) and in Quorn (Leicestershire County Council).

I made it 23 miles D2D and was home just after 12.45.

A great morning was hopefully enjoyed by all participants, many thanks to Ian for leading us on a fabulous ride!!!