Wednesday 22nd January 2020
Post date: 21-Jan-2020 14:34:46
With both John and Howard indisposed, the team put in place a full set of rides on WhatsApp, anticipating a good turnout, and indeed the weather was relatively kind to us yet again and there were plenty of riders.
Intermediate Ride: Report by David Greenleaf Terry led the intermediate ride bound for the Cherry Lane Garden Centre at Bradmore. There were 5 of us, including 2 Davids, Anne and Pat. We set off to Beacon Road, then turned uphill, and out via Cleveland Road to the paths behind the Fairmeadows estate. We then turned through the hedge to the track leading to Woodthorpe village. The track was still a bit muddy, so some cleaning of mudguards when we got to the Allendale Road roundabout facilitated future progress. The temperature had dropped a few degrees since early morning and fog had begun to get denser, and we were mindful that there had been black ice earlier in the week. Anne decided to return early, concerned about the safety of riding through fog.
Thus, four of us proceeded to Quorn, following Farley Way and across the bridge to Barrow Road. On the Bridge Street roundabout, pursued by a heavy lorry, we turned left and the lorry went right. A friendly person in Barrow-upon-Soar said hello as we rode past. After that we headed for Burton-on-the-Wolds via Nottingham Road. Emerging from the mists, and overtaking us in haphazard fashion, was a truck labelled “Highway Maintenance” and, equally prominently, what I presume to be the same in Welsh. I am afraid that this crew will get a lashing when they eventually return to their depot.
On the ride through to Wymeswold we were overtaken by a younger peloton, every member of which greeted us. I saw that they had wisely put their lights on. As we passed through Wymeswold, Pat met one of her neighbours. After climbing the “Wall of Wymeswold”, which I am reliably informed is the start of Wysall Road, the fog began to lift and be replaced by cloud. The sun was always promising to break through this too.
In Wysall we turned left along Bradmore Road. This road leads to Cherry Lane Garden Centre, and shortly after that to the A60 just south of Bradmore. Before this, it descends like the road from Bunny Hill Top, then passes Bunny Lane. As we passed Bunny Lane, there was the frequent report of shotguns firing. I was pleased when we got out of range of the reckless Victor Quartermaine, and hope the rabbits did too. We were, of course, bound for the Garden Centre.
Cherry Lane Garden Centre was extremely popular, with over a hundred cars, and most of the people had come to use the restaurant and were sat in long rows. Fortunately, the restaurant, which is called Wellington’s, was big enough and the staff efficient enough to take this in their stride. I also felt we need not be concerned about having muddy feet. I declined the Rose Hip and Rhubarb flavoured sponge cake and joined others with fruit scones, which Terry said had zero calories. I would say there are about 350, which is well within the calorific expenditure of the ride.
Our return journey started back along the same road, but we turned right before the steep hill alongside Fairham Brook. David described this as an ex-road (or X-road), as it was once laid with tarmac but now served a purpose of getting us to Bunny avoiding traffic. It was evidently warmer than when we had set off. At Bunny, we crossed the A60 before the other steep hill and took Gotham Road past the British Gypsum works and Rushcliffe Halt before entering East Leake.
As we left East Leake via Castle Hill we waved goodbye to Pat. The three of us crossed the A6006 into Leake Lane and came down the hill, pursued and overtaken closely by commercial traffic, into Stanford-on-Soar. The route back to Loughborough across Meadow Lane is still a little flooded, and traffic lights were in place to send traffic into single file.
The three of us returned through Loughborough along Southfields Road, arriving home shortly before 1 o’clock.
We had covered 26.5 miles at a respectable 11 mph, although the total elevation gain was only 1148 feet.
Long Ride:
Alan, Brian, Mick, Phil & Rob stepped up to the mark to follow Jeff on the long ride to Market Bosworth. So setting off in a southerly direction on a cold, foggy morning, they initially made for Quorn. On leaving Quorn, as they hauled themselves up Wood Lane and past the quarry, the fog started to get serious and lurking behind tall, leafless trees, the low-lying, emasculated sun resembled a full moon on a hazy evening. Onward they sped into the thickening gloom, straight down Swithland Lane to Rothley station whence a right, and next left, brought them up to Thurcaston crossroads. By the time they reached Anstey visibility was no more than a few metres. However, a little way beyond Anstey along Groby Road it was suddenly no longer a foggy day, save for the odd wisp of mist on the surrounding fields.
They next crossed the very busy A50 and found their way onto Sacheverell Way, slinking around the southern flank of Groby and over the M1 to enter neighbouring Ratby. They negotiated their way through this busy little village out onto Desford Lane. At Newtown Unthank they branched right to Botcheston and continued along Main Street, crossing Rothley Brook and then the Leicester - Burton railway (freight-only these days). Next up was Merrylees where the hilly terrain begins to assert itself. At Newbold Verdon they found their way westwards on the B585 and shortly afterwards crossed over the A447 onto Bosworth Road. They entered the town alongside the country park and Rectory Lane and hitched their bikes to the railings by the Market Place
Upon arrival, Phil struck up conversation with some acquaintances of his former workplace town, while the others deliberated over which cafe was to receive their patronage. Cafe Torte won the vote and while Phil remained chattering in the market place, the rest wandered into Wheatsheaf Courtyard and entered the nearly empty tearoom. A short time later they were seated outside in the quaint, little courtyard, with drinks, cakes and Phil, whose attention was now devoted to a humongous chunk of sponge cake.
The return journey commenced northwards along the pleasant and scenic Barton Road to Carlton. They branched right just past “The Gate Hangs Well” onto Nailstone Road and right again onto Lount Road to Barlestone. Passing through the main street of the village they exited along the quiet, rural Bagworth Road and then turned right onto, then next left off, the B585 to embark upon a steady, lengthy climb to Bagworth. After a blast down Thornton Lane and passing beneath a bridge carrying another stretch of the Leicester - Burton railway, they faced another upward slog. From Thornton they headed up through Stanton under Bardon, crossed the A511 and the M1 and climbed up some more to Copt Oak before eventually careering down Nanpantan Road to arrive back in Loughborough at about 1pm. Total ride distance approx. 35 miles, 20 out and 15 back.
The Short Ride Report: The chosen ride leader, in the absence of John, for the short ride this week, was Eric. Well, when I say chosen, I really mean he was the only one who volunteered so therefore it was Hobson’s choice! His main qualification for leading the short ride is that he is, in short...... short. Following him where the considerably less short, Dave, Dom, Rozzy, Mick and titch .... no sorry this joke has gone too far .. actually Patrick, Lyn, Max and Ray. We headed off past Mountfields and through the market place before the clock struck 10 and onwards and out of town via the Nottingham Road. After a few stops for people to catch up who had got stuck at lights and for Max to reattach a pedal that was coming adrift, we went through Cotes and turned right and right again. We then went left up Bandalls lane and progressed towards Walton on the Wolds. As we came out of Walton the group discovered why Eric is rarely asked to lead this group as they cursed him all the way up the dreaded Black hill. Ray’s Electric Gtech bike was very unhappy about it and Ray even less so when he had to push it up half the hill.
With a breather on the top we continued down then back up Big hill to Paudy lane. There we crossed and went down and up again to Seagrave. Three large climbs and still no sign of coffee and the team wondered what kind of sadistic madman had taken control of their normally tranquil group. Reassurance given that sustenance was not far away, down they went again only to be followed by another brutal climb. At the top they admired the substantial majesty of the new King Power training facilities that was mushrooming across the once soggy Park Hill golf course, whilst waiting for the unfortunate Ray and his recalcitrant gtech which was proving to require a lot more push than it was giving pull!
One small down and up and we reached a major obstacle on our journey - the A46. It is a busy dual carriageway and it takes some nerve and acceleration for cyclists to get across safely, without an unseemly game of chicken. We crossed safely in three batches and we could almost smell the coffee. Down the long downhill to Thrussington and arrived at the village shop with attached coffee shop. We were ushered to a large table near the back so we didn’t clutter the place up and we ordered teas and coffees and assorted pastries, cakes, buns and cobs. It was all delivered and consumed and generally considered to be a very pleasant venue even if a trek to get there.
Once satiated, we paid and left ... only to find, as we mounted our bikes that one of our number... who will remain nameless to protect the guilty, had decided to do a runner! Had he had to push his gtech less, such that by now he was using a stick to aid him walk, he may have managed to get away Scott free, however the proprietor managed to sprint out and catch him in time and decided as long as reparation was paid, officers of the law need not be called on this occasion. Once debts were made good, off we went again turning right and heading towards Ratcliffe on the Wreake. At the end of the road we turned right and came under the A46 this time and then one last big climb up to Humble lane. Here something remarkable happened. Ray discovered that the gtech had an on switch and came whizzing up the hill at Mach 3 and zoomed past Eric into the lead!
At the top we turned left and came down The Humble into the back of Cossington. There we turned right and came back to Loughborough via Sileby, Mountsorrel, and Quorn in a nice easy roll home. The group split and went its merry way as we came to the Shelthorpe shops and the ill judged experiment of leadership was fortunately at an end and the members are all looking forward to the return of John.