Wednesday 24th April 2019

Post date: 23-Apr-2019 16:36:44

The forecast earlier in the week had been for thunderstorms in the morning but these were now due in the afternoon so a rather murky morning with some watery sunshine saw a higher turnout of riders following the Easter break.

Short Ride

The riders heading along Paudy Lane towards the junction with Berrycott Lane.

Lyn, Marcus, Gill, Paul, Ken, Myles, David, Rosalind, John and Tricia opted for the short ride and headed out through the Shelthope estate (bypassing the traffic chaos at the Tesco roundabout) to Barrow on Soar and the up along the Salt Way as far as Berrycott Lane where they turned to head south west down to Seagrave. After a climb past the village school the riders turned west to Sileby and refreshments outside at the Green Place where some riders consumed some very generous portions of newly baked cake. The riders then returned via Mountsorrel and Quorn before the rain showers set in.

Long Ride report (by Eric).

The weather was not as hot as it had been over the past few days and rain threatened in the early afternoon so the long ride would stay relatively close to Loughborough.

The “Famous Five” from last week had a increased to a “Bar Six” this week. I say that not because of any similarities they had the sweet and tasty confection produced from the sixties to eighties by Cadbury’s but I think it looked like most of them had spent the last week in a ... bar! They had not even clad in orange or purple ( the various liveries of said confection) but in an effort to look more like a team this time they had all at least turned up in blue .. Except Phil who hadn’t read the memo and was in customary yellow.

We set off for Castle Donington, and following Howard were, Phil, Brian, Keith, Eric and finally Jeff who although was still clad in sky blue had at least had The decency to leave the Planet X behind in favour of his 3 gear favourite, in order to give the rest of us a chance.

Through the Uni we went and crossing Ashby road we headed for Garendon Park and crossed the M1 and up to Shepshed. Turning right down Hallamford road and straight on to hit the B5324 at the T junction. Here we turned right and after less than a mile turned left and swiftly rode down Smithy lane to long Whatton. Turning right in village and left at Falcon Inn we had a long and steady climb up Kegworth Road. At the top we crossed the big new main road and then down into Kegworth. We left Kegworth on the A6 and then Howard did some of his hocus pocus and led us round a series of baffling cycle routes under and over and looping up and down to circumnavigate the A453 and the M1 and then back down Main Street In Lockington. Then we turned right and onto the exceptionally pretty village of Hemmington past the lovely thatched cottages and up the brutal Hemmington Hill into Castle Donninton.

Jeff (partially hidden), Eric, Keith, Brian, Phil and Howard outside Tylers.

We arrived at our destination in the centre, Tyler’s tea rooms. As Phil did his customary reorganisation of the furniture outside, the rest ordered bacon sandwiches poached eggs on toast and other breakfast items along with lashings of tea and coffee. As we waited for delivery Phil enthralled as all with great tales of dentistry he had had performed on him and Howard exhibited new toys in his tool bag and gave portents of doom for those foolish enough not to travel always in possession of a derailleur hanger! Finishing up we cycled out of Castle Donington and round the airport ring road. At the top we tuned onto the busy and rather unpleasant A453. Finally we turned off onto the Moore lane and then lost the big trucks by turning left at the roundabout and immediately right on the road to Belton. At Belton we turned left past the church and crossing the Rempstone road we followed the Garendon cycle route back to Shepshed and then crossing the motorway once again we went through Garendon park back to Loughborough.

Most had ridden about 30 miles by the end and arrived home before the rain storms arrived thankfully.