5th April:
Miles: 45ish
Punctures 1? (re-pumping of tyres due to a dodgy valve or slow puncture: about 4!)
Alcohol the night before: less than previous rides – very good!
Well, our last cycle ride before the big Barmouth-Yarmouth challenge over Easter, we were planning a ride out on Sunday afternoon, starting around 11. I arrived at Em’s before anyone else so started a little phone round to see who was coming along – mustered up 3 other recruits, Stav, Charlie (who thought it might be wise to do at least one cycle ride before the big challenge), and Dave – on a proper mountain bike! After the customary faff, a cup of coffee and pumping up of tyres, we set out at 12, via Kirby Muxloe, Newtown Unthank, Kirby Mallory towards Market Bosworth. The sun was shining so conditions were good, although Dave seemed to be giving his legs a good work-out on the mountain cogs! It’s quite hard getting out of the bowl Leicester seems to be sitting in. We stopped at Bosworth Fields after 12 miles for a cuppa, sausage roll and home-made pecan pie. Then all refreshed, headed onwards through some lovely little villages, passing through Twycross (with revelations that Twycross zoo was in Leicestershire’s Twycross!) Barton-in-the-beans (good name!), Thornton, Merry Leas (where we indulged in an afternoon ale and some potato snacks, since it was good enough to have a pub that was open) then homewards via Heathley Park for some food and a beer as a little reward for the afternoon’s activity. So just need to double the daily mileage next week and we’ll be fine!
