Wednesday 3rd July 2019
Post date: 02-Jul-2019 19:05:13
SHORT RIDE REPORTIt was a beautiful warm sunny day. At Outwoods Drive, Ray, the short ride leader, was followed by his intrepid group, the two Annes, Rob,Myles, Patrick and Lynn. Ray powered off on his electric machine with the others in tow. We wended our way along Epinal Way and Leicester Road to Mountsorrel, where we turned left towards Sileby. As we approached Sileby we were overtaken by an incredulous Terry. He was leading the long ride and couldn't understand how we got in front of him. On reaching Sileby, we turned into the road for Seagrave. It's a bit of a slog up the hill to Seagrave (but not for Ray). At Seagrave, we turned left for a few hundred yards and powered down the slope towards the crossroads, Ray losing his cap in the wind in the process. At the crossroads, we turned left and it was downhill all the way to Barrow upon Soar whilst taking in the lovely views. When we reached Barrow, we found our way to the Barrow Boatyard where we enjoyed tea, coffee and cream cakes. After a leisurely stay we took to the canal towpath to avoid the village centre roundabout. Then it was back to Loughborough via Leicester Road and Epinal Way
LONG RIDE REPORT
Force 10 from Outwoods Drive, Rob, Philip and his newish son in law Dan, Pat, Jeff, Keith, Brian, Alan and Clyde all very ably led by Terry, left just after 09:30 heading for Nice Pie. We can now cross Park Road safely with Severn Trent having finished messing about. This took us to the lane into Woodthorpe, although some with posh bikes and skinny tyres preferred the route on the tarmac bypassing the picturesque hamlet of Woodthorpe some people do not appreciate good scenery!
On to Quorn and Mountsorrel and near Slash Lane we met a small group of fellow cyclists, how they beat us here remains a mystery as they left after us.
Barrow and Sileby came and went although the leaders had to wait in Sileby as a part of the group were thoroughly distracted by the "new" group.
We turned left in Cossington, up Humble Lane to Ratcliffe On The Wreake and on to Asfordby via Rearsby and Gaddesby. Crossing the Asfordby bypass using a cut through Howard would be proud of and to Grimston and Nice Pie. At Saxelbye some lucky riders saw an Elizabeth Line train on the test track.
Whilst most contented themselves with a coffee or tea and cake a member of the younger element had steak pie AND the biggest slice of chocolate cake imaginable, maybe he smiled sweetly at the lady behind the counter.
The return route took us DOWN Greenhill much to the delight of most riders, to Nether Broughton and onto a short stretch of the A606. Willoughby and Wymeswold were next where Pat left us.
Home via Burton on the Wolds and Barrow, just to put a couple more hills in, arriving in time for a late lunch at 13:30.