LEICESTERSHIRE RIDE SUNDAY 27 MAY
Four Moultoneers met at 10am in Syston for the Leicestershire rural ride. Two riders were mounted on TSR 27s, one on a modified Series 3 and my chosen stead was a TSR 30 tour SR. As the temperature was already about 22C there were no takers for cake, scones and toasted tea cakes but water and tea were eagerly consumed.
Before the ride Matt Dunn was presented with the Johnston-Major Cup for identifying the best original painted vintage Moulton in the known universe.
The ride was mainly on lanes and minor roads, often gated, from one Conservation village to another most of which are mentioned in the Doomsday Book. The terrain in this part of Leicestershire is surprisingly undulating and affords excellent views and, for the densely populated Midlands of England, is delightfully free from vehicular traffic.
Many of the historic buildings in these villages are made of a type of sandstone called ironstone so the area looks like the Cotswolds but without the crowds and traffic.
Starting from Syston we headed eastwards into High Leicestershire through the villages of South Croxton, Beeby and Ashby Folville. Then we took the gated road and climbed to Thorpe Satchville, turned westwards to Gaddesby and then north to Rotherby, Frisby on the Wreake and then having crossed the river Wreake to Asfordby, only stopping briefly to check out an old Sun bicycle frame perched on top of a gate and to apply a generous smearing of sun block.
We then took the lane to Ab Kettleby which involved a three mile moderate climb and then on to Wartnaby the former ancestral home of Lord King of British Airways. We then turned west and rode along the only main road on the ride, the B676, before turning off to Grimston where we watered and fed in a leisurely and kingly manner at the Black Horse pub, before proceeding on our way along gated lanes having taken on additional water supplies. The temperate had soared to 26C – much too hot for the puncture gremlins!
Heading south we passed through the villages of Saxelbye, Rotherby and Brooksby. In the chapel of what is now Brooksby Agricultural College is the memorial to Lord Beatty of Brooksby and the North Sea - I always find the juxtaposition of the village of “Brooksby with the “North Sea” rather amusing. Admiral Beattie fought in the battle of Heligoland (August 1914) and Doggerbank (June 1915) and became Admiral of the Fleet in 1919.
Next came the villages of Thrussington, Radcliffe on the Wreake, East Goscote and finally the most dangerous part of our ride, along a cycle path crossed by occasional entrance drives to houses, then through the churchyard of St. Peter and St. Paul church in Syston (the first priest of the church was appointed in 1206 and if memory serves me right one of the early vicars was called Achibald the Bald).
When we got back to base no one wanted cake, scones or toasted tea cakes but the iced water produced by my wife was gulped down vigorously.
The ride was 42.66 miles.
The uneaten cake, scones with double cream and jam were most effective in helping me rebalance my energy deficiency.
Alex Johnson
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