Girls on Cogs

On a sunny saturday, which was more like summer than the beginning of April, Claire and I set off for a ride out to the Ferrers Craft Centre at Staunton Harald. Being very organised Claire had a route already planned, looping round to the craft centre then coming back by the more direct route. We headed west through Kirby Muxloe and Barlestone towards Barton-in-the-beans and Newton Burgoland (mainly because the names sounded interesting) then made our way north through Heather, Normanton-le-heath to Ashby. The villages were only a couple of miles apart so we were ticking them off the list quickly on our way to Ashby, uplifted by the lovely weather and the fact that we were out enjoying it on bikes and singing the Levellers ‘What a beautiful day’ in our heads. From Ashby, it was a short distance to Lount and Staunton Harald’s Ferrers Centre. We’d done 28 miles in 2 ½ hours, so feeling very pleased with ourselves, we obviously deserved some nice food. We sat outside in the courtyard, watched the visitors making garden obelisks from willow and had a big piece of homemade camembert and broccoli quiche with a jacket and salad! Lovely! Then, since we were at a craft centre with shops, we had to indulge! Being on bikes didn’t deter us, so we shopped away, and would then have to drive back later to collect the goodies which were obviously unsuitable for carrying back on bikes!

Time flew and realising we had been there for two hours, we decided we should head back by the more direct route through Whitwick, Copt Oak, Markfield, Newton Linford and Anstey. It wasn’t as pretty, and had many up-hill sections (about 10 miles worth which disappointingly reduced our average speed a little). However, we managed a total of 50 miles with a good overall average and commended ourselves on a very pleasant day out managing to build in a good cycle ride and good shopping!

Wtth the lighter evenings, it’s about time to start up the evening cycle rides, and sunshine promised for Wednesday, we met up at 6 for our first one. There’s a nice little chippy at Cosby so we agreed this would be a good place to head for. We cycled out along the Guthlaxton trail to Countesthorpe, and soon saw a sign to Cosby for 2 miles. It was still early and only 8 miles in, so we thought we’d take the longer loop round, and enjoy the evening sunshine. Charlie estimated around 5 miles – ish! We cycled on through the little villages, and at Leire, still had 5 miles to go! So probably nearer 10 then! We arrived at Cosby around 7.30 ish, after completing nearly 18 miles. Still we’d made the most of the evening and got some extra miles in! We sat on the village green to have our fish and chips from ‘the Nook’, then feeling very full and with the sun starting to fade, we made our way homewards. I was back by 9 so still time in the evening to pop out for a beer or two!

As Hels previously mentioned our 2011 venture takes us from Newcastle to Edinburgh on the Sustrans Coast and Castle cycle ride. 14 of us have signed up and as usual Hels and I not being satisfied with that, have decided to set out from Leicester……’We have cycled from Lands End to John ‘O Groats you know……blah, blah, blah!!!!

Anyway also as usual, our training seems to be in short supply, so this weekend we have decided to head out with the gang and cycle near to where our friends Phil and Jo live. So the 7 of us headed out into the beautiful Hertfordshire countryside and immediately felt lifted by the spring weather.  It was nice to see so many other cyclists out on the roads,although only boys we noticed, girls only seem to go out with male partners.

We past through some beautiful country villages, tackled a few hills but it was a fairly flat route and we rode a total of 40 miles, after cyling up and down Phil and Jo’s road, for fear of only riding 39.6 miles!

We had a lovely lunch sitting outside the farm shop at Audley….although there was some disappointment regarding the portion size of the food. Luckily Stav had brought his Birthday cake to share and we managed another stop at the pub in the last mile for crisps and a pint.

In the evening we had the first BBQ of the year. Everyone seemed a little tired in the evening and headed to bed fairly early. A little worrying after only 40 miles!!! ……..oh well, we have cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats you know!

Route details:  http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/31170328

The March Critical Mass met at the Curve to a Drumming ensemble and all the cyclists gathered round in Brazilian theme fancy dress – a few wearing flags, many in Brazilian colours and one with a Brazilian wax costume!

We headed up London Road following the bike trailing the Sound system and giving the mass a festival feel.  People were joining in with bells and whistles and waving to bemused motorists and pedestrians along the way.  We cut through Victoria Park and back down Regent Road and into town to circle the Clock Tower a few times before regrouping at the Crumblin Cookie on high street, with the Drummers bringing us in to finish.

A good turnout again, and it should only get better with warmer weather and lighter evenings!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?profile=1&id=100001740378816

Our big cycle ride this year is part of the Coast and Castles ride along the East Coast, from Newcastle to Edinburgh, some miles. This is planned for the end of may bank holiday and we have a group of 14 signed up! So, we thought we’d best start some training as not that long to go.

As the first cycle ride this year, and a start to the training, Claire, Caroline and I went out for a Sunday afternoon cycle ride, planning to do a good couple of hours cycling. We set off at 1pm, with the sun shining and headed out to Thornton Reservoir. After 7 miles we had a little pub stop at Field Head for some lemonade (Caroline hadn’t managed to drink much that morning!) It was only another 3 miles to Thornton and the Steaming Billy pub where the girls fancied a little stop for some pudding! We checked the stats and 10.8 miles cycled in a rolling time of 1hr and 5, average speed around 9 miles an hour. As we’ll be doing around 70 per day for the Coast and Castles they could have some long days on the trip. Still it’s early days yet, and time to improve the cycling times! We managed the return journey in one go as Claire had to get back for a sick cat – so we broke 20 miles in total and a very pleasant little Sunday afternoon ride!

Mass-Tache was the second Critical Mass bike ride ride round Leicester, with over 100 cyclists turning out on an icy friday evening, dressed up in Mo’s or Moustaches to support Mo-vember, in support of Prostate Cancer. We met at the Curve at 6 and I put on my ginger moustache-beard combination (a bit tickly but it did keep my chin warm) and a viking helmet (a substitute bike helmet, as some kind of head protection). We headed up Regent Road, round Vicky Park and back down London Road, through town, and finishing up at the Criterion for a welcome beer or two. There were some good mo’s on bikes and some bemused reactions from people out and about. A good turnout, despite freezing temperatures! Check out Critical Mass on facebook for some photos! The next one will be the Christ-Mass ride, on 21st Dec.

Since it was a dry afternoon, we decided to go for a little Sunday afternoon cycle ride over to Wistow garden centre. We went along the Guthlaxton trail, into Countesthorpe, then too busy chatting we must have gone out in the wrong direction, so after a little map check, we turned back into Countesthorpe and out towards Kilby. The garden centre located on google maps turned out not to be the one we were after, so we continued along a little further until we came across the right one – Wistow! We headed straight for the cafe at the garden centre, for a hot coffee (to warm ourselves up) and a little jam and cream scone (to boost the sugar levels) then went for a little look round the boutique shops. I bought an expensive coat in the first one (always the best purchases- the impromptu ones) and it’s reversible so two in one! In the next shop I found an ostentacious christmas present for my brother. So then we had to leave before I did any more damage to my credit card. The temperature was dropping rapidly so we had a quick sprint home, via Sainsbury’s to get some mulled wine! A very good afternoon out, and almost 30 miles too!

Like it or not, and despite some massive improvements over recent years, Leicester is not a place that springs to mind when you think of cycling friendly cities. Riding around the place can be difficult with awkward one way systems, pedestian only areas and hills, not to mention our fellow road users who often present the biggest threats to our safety.
Despite these challenges, an ever growing number of people are using the humble bicycle for everyday transportation in and around Leicester.
so last Friday, Leicester hosted its first attempt at a non-confrontational, law-abiding, fun group bike ride. The aim  to encourage more cyclists onto our streets until Leicester gets to the level that London is at now where there are so many cyclists on the roads, that they are just another form of traffic and not an inconvenience or danger.

Inspired by Critical Masses elsewhere and Skyrides, it plans to be a monthly event and to help make people feel more confident to get out on the roads around Leicester city centre.

So how did it go?

Well with an apparent turn out of nearly 100 people, pretty well. Lots of people had made the effort and dressed up for Haloween, along with plenty of high vis clothing, lights and bell ringing. It was a nice friendly atmosphere from the start and everyone seemed pleased to be there. I knew a few people but Hels my partner in crime could not make it. We headed up London Road quite slowly and most road traffic seemed bemused by us, a few waved and pipped their horns. The route continued through Clarendon Park and Queens Road and followed the cycle route through Victoria Park. It was pretty cool looking back at all the cyclisits along two sides of the park all lit up, ringing their bells. The ride headed down Regent Road and back into town and took a couple of circuits around town before finishing off at The Criterion for a few beers.

MASS’Tache

Leicester’s second critical mass is all set for the 26th November.

Spivs, porn-stars, dandies, 70′s tv detectives, Victorian gentlemen, Mexican bandits, WWII dictators, pubescent teenage boys – all kinds of iconic/ironic figures need apply…

Use your imagination and decorate your face, your clothes and your bike …and rock up at Curve on the last Friday of Movember for another fantastic evening ride.

Sunday 26th September 2010

A sunny autumn morning and we’ve signed up for an 80km cycle challenge ride in Stoke on Trent in aid of Prostate Cancer.

6am start on a sunday morning! We arrived in plenty of time at Longton Park and it was all very well organised. There was a mechanic on site, so we topped up with air, fitted our champion chips (to record our times) and crossed the start line around 9am. Despite our initial reservations of cycling in Stoke (City Centre, busy dual carriageways on the Barmouth-Yarmouth ride), the country lanes and rambling countryside was actually very nice! The roads were relatively traffic free and we stopped after 20 miles for free flapjack and water, there were a few sharp hills but nothing we couldn’t handle. The next food station was another 10 miles, so we bypassed this and stopped for a banana and nuts snack at 40 miles. The last 10 miles flew by and we found ourselves back in the park, racing along the finishing stretch, spectators cheering us to the finish lines for our medals. We collected our goody bags (sure the shaving gel will be very handy!) and had our complimentary pasta meal and hot drinks watching the other competitors finishing in the sunshine.

Total riding time was 4 hours, average speed 12.2 mph.

A very worthwhile event!