Wednesday 20th May 2020
Post date: 19-May-2020 10:40:20
Philip and Rosalind's not so short ride report:
For reasons far too complex to explain in this report, Philip and Rosalind set out together on their Wednesday bike ride on Tuesday this week!
A short ride was planned to give Rosalind her first opportunity to climb Beacon Hill!
After a somewhat lengthy delay outside the house, whilst Philip 'tweeked' his gear change mechanism (apparently referred to as 'the mech') we set off into town, getting as far as the post box before shouts of "I need to go back" were heard! More tweeking followed until eventually 'the mech' was fixed and we once again set off, fully equipped with drinks, snacks and tools. Through town and out onto Meadow Lane to the church at Stanford, right onto Cotes Road, across the T junction (!) in Cotes and down into Barrow. From there we headed to Quorn, crossing the old A6 and pausing briefly at the bench by the station, where we waved to one of our crew who zoomed past us.
On resumption, we rode to Woodhouse, taking the right fork, passing the Old Bulls Head and up Beacon Hill. Encouraged by workmen at the start of the climb, Rosalind made it to the top Beacon car park just less than a minute after Philip. A rest on the wall and consumption of some of our snacks led to a discussion of 'home or on'?
Coffee was mentioned and Long Whatton post office seemed like a good plan. The sun was shining and so we headed towards Shepshed, passing the windmill and crossing the A512. From there out through the countryside, passing the Cloud Trail to Long Whatton. Coffee was consumed together with the rest of our snacks, on a bench by the church, whereupon another member of our crew spotted us and waved.
More discussion between me and Philip led to a route home via Kegworth, Sutton Bonnington, Normanton, down Fox Hill into Stanford on Soar and back across the Meadows and home. 30 miles completed! Our short ride wasn't so short.
Long Ride report, by GrahamThis week, on the hottest day of the year so far, Jane and I had a ride out Bosworth way, which I’m documenting here as it could well form the basis for a future long ride.
Leaving from Woodhouse Eaves, the only way west involves climbing, so we took the path of least resistance up Maplewell Rd, Benscliffe Rd, Beacon Rd, and up Warren Hills Rd to Abbot’s Oak and past the highest pub in Leics. From there we continued down the long and fast descent all the way into Whitwick, going right just after the Three Horseshoes to pick up route 52 just behind Castle Garage. From there it’s a pretty off-road section through the prettier parts of Whitwick and Coalville (yes they do exist, if you discount the section past Morrison’s) until it spits you out back onto the road near Ravenstone. We continued along route 52 south, on quiet pretty roads, passing Bosworth Marina closely followed by Bosworth water park. Both off-limits today of course but potential tea stops on a future ride, instead we stopped a little further down and took on board energy bars and water under a canal bridge, where the photo was taken.
We continued south on route 52 until just outside Shenton, where we headed east past the Bosworth visitor centre (also closed but another potential tea stop), through Sutton Cheney before crossing the A447 (garden centre tea rooms, another possibility), and continuing east to Kirby Mallory, catching the odd glimpse of the racing circuit.From there we took Desford Lane, which is singletrack road becoming easily passable bridleway, into Desford, passing the tea rooms where we’ve previously stopped on one of Keith’s rides (closed today), so we continued on past Newton Unthank. On my previous recce ride I took bridleways through Burroughs Wood and Martinshaw wood to Groby, but today we stuck to tarmac, through Ratby to Groby, up past Groby pool and into Newtown Linford, where we finally found refreshment at the Park kitchen and Deli, as correctly signposted recently by Myles. Coffee and bacon cobs were taken in the shade of the church gateway before we remounted and continued homewards via Sharply Hill and Benscliffe Road.
Total distance 63.2Km or just under 40 miles. Quite a lot of climbing at the beginning and the end, possibly some could be avoided if starting from Loughborough.
John's Short Ride
Headed out to Shepshed and then took Hallamford Road and Smithy Lane to Long Whatton where I had a coffee and sausage roll sitting in the sunshine outside the village shop. Then on east to Zouch and north to Kingston where a cyclist was spotted sitting in the sun outside church. Carried on towards Gotham but turned south before reaching the village down Gypsum Way. Then home through East Leake, where some of the cafes were doing takeaways with quite a few cyclists scattered round taking refreshments.
Lockdown Spring Biking
Oh what a lovely day it is
To ride around the lanes
In gorgeous British sunshine
Instead of Aprils' rains.
The bluebells are out early
And ring next to dancing daffs
In hedgerows full of Spring like signs
And happy walkers laugh.
The white hawthorn loves pink campion
And rhodes glare bright through the hedges;
Wild garlic and wild parsley grow
There's even irises and roses.
It's great the migrants have returned.
The loud chiff chaff chiff chaff;
Swallows chatter on overhead lines
And the stone chats chat chat chat.
Blackbirds, robin, blue tits.
Pigeons and black crows,
Starlings flock around a pond
And then line up in rows.
It's wonderful to bike around
And see nature at it's best,
But after seventeen glorious miles,
it's time to have a rest.
April 2020 by Anne