Wednesday 25th September 2019
Post date: 24-Sep-2019 18:40:40
After a very wet night and a rather grey damp morning, the turnout of riders was a little down on the current average.
Short Ride
John, Rosalind, Rob, Myles and Rob decided to head north west out along Meadow Lane and climbing towards East Leake before taking a left, heading for Brickyard Land and West Leake. They then took Dark Lane to Gotham Road where they turned south through Kingston on Soar and Sutton Bonnington to the village shop at Normanton on Soar where tea and muffins were consumed. The riders then returned to Loughborough over Fox Hill.
Long Ride
And so it was that the supple six set off on the Long ride to Snarestone. Led by Howard, they included Philip, Mick, Eric, Brian, and Jeff. Passing through the university grounds, distinct autumnal weather became apparent and we donned waterproof jackets. We rode up the cycle path to the M1 roundabout to be told by Howard that we might abandon should we so desire, take coffee in Shepshed and return home if we felt the low lying mist was too unpleasant. Naturally this had the desired effect on people who should have known better and resisted the testosterone fuelled need to prove ones manhood in the cauldron of pain.
This was successful to the extent that we all continued riding past the petrol station to the Iveshead Road junction. Here we ascended the hors categorie double col de shepshed, past the Jolly Farmers. Turning right towards the monastery, we passed St Joseph's tea rooms and climbing into Whitwick, we turned left and South .Then it was Ellistown, Heather and Shepstone . All the while, rain threatened, but more worryingly, a black car, impatient to make progress made an attempt to overtake on a blind bend and very nearly caused an accident. When finally he overtook all of us, a variety of jolly hand gestures were exchanged of an Anglo Saxon nature. Finally the Alpaca tearooms at Snarestone appeared out of the mist. Following a robust request from Philip in the manner of blackrod at the opening of parliament, we were admitted to the cafe. An anecdote from Eric about divorcees of his acquaintance was only partially overheard by Philip, who along with others was tucking into hot treacle tart with whipped cream. We were disappointed not to see any alpacas or alpaca meat. Remounting we returned via Newton Burgoland and rode via a ford into Ibstock. On occasion, there was even some signs of sunshine. Not only will it be mudguards from now until the spring but treaded tyres too. From there it was back to Whitwick and on the long climb back up to Oaks in Charnwood, Philip gave up cycling but continued walking so was only a few minutes late to the junction. We rode down to Copt Oak, turned left at the lights and stampeded down the A591 into Loughborough, where we all separated. Thanks Howard, for all that climbing! (And thanks to Phil and Eric for an entertaining ride report).
