Wednesday 2nd September 2020
Post date: 01-Sep-2020 07:43:25
Despite several people being away on holiday and a forecast of rain for the afternoon, there was a turnout of 16 on this sunny late summer morning.
Long Ride: Report by Alan
What a difference a week makes. Last week I was “Billy-no-mates” where only Keith wanted to join me on a ride. This week I managed to recruit 6 able volunteers; Brian1, Brian2, Trish, Margaret, Mick and Pat (who only just made it in time) before we left Holt Drive. As last week was so much fun I decided to repeat exactly the same route so the reader can see last week’s ride report for the actual route we took. Differences this week were better weather and less wind. Approaching Rotherby, once over the cattle grid, the cows were safely tucked away this time in the far corner of the field so there was no need to tip toe past. A couple of miles further on, during the slow climb up Gaddersby Lane, Mick had the audacity to swerve out slightly to avoid a pothole much to the consternation of a BMW driver whose journey was interrupted by less than a second. The driver wound down his window to exchange pleasantries but I didn’t catch the whole conversation ... I think they were having a debate about illegitimate births. The Promised Land was Syston for our coffee stop. I knew from last week that the Brook Cafe was shut on Wednesdays but two alternatives were the Occasions Tea Room on the High Street or failing that the Hideaway Cafe on Melton Road. The former looked enticing, two large empty tables inside, but to our frustration there was a sign on the door stating their debit machine was on the blink and therefore it was cash only sales. Most of us were like Prince Charles and weren’t carrying cash, at least not on a cycling trip and so it was off to the Hideaway Cafe a few hundred yards away. Again the cycling gods were against us as this cafe was also closed on Wednesdays. The shopkeeper next door said it was because Syston was quiet on Wednesdays. That statement seemed at odds with events around us as the centre of this town was heaving with shoppers. Thankfully we were directed to a third alternative, the New World Cafe, a few yards further on. This spacious enterprise was so busy inside we had to order takeaways. That event turned out to be fine as there was a pretty park nearby where we decamped for food and drinks (see photo for evidence). All in all this was a pleasant 36 mile ride. It was challenging in a couple of places with some steep hills but we took it reasonably easy and kept together, arriving back in Loughborough around 1.30pm.
Intermediate Ride; Report by Terry.
Rob, Robert, Keith and David left Holt Drive first, led by Terry, to Nice Pie. The troupe went to Sileby via Quorn and Mountsorrel, left in Sileby towards Ratcliffe and into a traffic queue at road works. At the top of the hill the front 3 waited for the two stragglers then onto Ratcliffe and Thrussington, the right turn and up hill always takes me by surprise and and I am never in the correct gear. From Thrussington to Asfordby and Grimston and finally Nice Pie. The table did not really allow for 5 people to be socially distanced so Keith (Phillip fashion) suggested we get two more chairs on the ends. Tea and cakes were consumed with the conversation as to where the Grimston tunnel was, we finally concluded it was about 20 metres to the west. A choice of routes home was offered left to Six Hills and down Paudy Lane or right down Green Hill and through Willoughby and Wymeswold. I think the temptation of whizzing down Green Hill was too great!! After Green Hill on through the Broughtons and Willoughby to Wymeswold, where Robert left us to go straight to Hathern, and Hoton. Coming down the hill from Hoton to Cotes the question was asked “Why is there always a headwind?”.
We variously split up through Loughborough and arrived home just after 13:00 and 35 miles.
Short RideAfter the other rides had left there were just four riders opting for the short ride - John, Jeanette, Myles and Rob. As the wind was in the south it was decided to head via a circuitous route to the garden centre at Cossington. The riders wended their way to Mucklin Wood and then past Beaumanor to Swithland where a right turn was taken towards Cropston Reservoir. After crossing the dam the group headed for Rothley then across the Soar to East Goscote Garden Centre where refreshments were taken in the garden. The riders returned via Sileby and Mountsorrel getting back to Loughborough just before noon. John managed to foul up in taking photographs. He failed to notice that a dial on the camera had been moved resulting in all the photos being over exposed. The one shown is the only one remotely worth preserving.