Author: james

A mild and sunny, dry day. But with a strong-ish wind coming from the east. I thought I’d do the eastbound route, or a variation on it. Usually the route curves round Loughborough, to the north. But this time I thought I’d go straight through the town.

I actually nearly took the usual route on auto-pilot and went up Gracedieu Lane to Belton rather than continuing to Loughborough. But I returned to the intended route via Forest Lane.

Loughborough was depressingly urban and busy with traffic, as I thought it would be. But if I were to do my long ride to East Lincolnshire and back, I’d likely be going through there before 0500, and it would be fine I’m sure. Would save a bit of distance, and possibly a bit of climbing.

I also took my occasional detour through Walton on the Wolds and Paudy Lane before joining the traditional route at Six Hills. I turned back short of Eastwell as I’d actually added distance a bit by exploring round where my ex-partner’s parents lived in Loughborough, and by doing the Walton detour. I didn’t want to do much more than a fondo as the headwind had been really annoying. Much nicer on the way back. Came back through Wymeswold and Rempstone (ie avoiding Loughborough, as usual).

Finished the Reacher novel. It turned out to be really daft. Not one of the better ones. Lovely sunny mild day, although I thought I’d need to take a layer off in the afternoon, and I didn’t.

That’s 740 km done in March now, happy with that. That was the fifth fondo this month. I’ve only done more than four in a month three times previously.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13919317000

It wasn’t brilliant weather for cycling – a bit cold and cloudy with a threat of showers later on. The wind was coming from the north-east. I had two ideas in mind – either to do the usual eastbound route, or to go up toward Newark.

The first 25 km is the same in either case and just before I got to the crossroads at Rempstone, I decided to do the Newark route. I wasn’t going to go nearly that far. Just enough distance for a fondo. But I hadn’t done that route for four years.

I went as far as a village called Barnstone, then, having done nearly 51km, I turned back.

Well – I’m not doing that again. Nice to reacquaint myself with those roads (and acquaint myself with some short stretches of new road, where I took wrong turns) but the roads were shocking in places. I do remember that they were a bit rough, it was always the downside of doing that route. But it was worse today than I remembered. I was actually getting quite angry rattling over what passes for a road surface in parts of Nottinghamshire.

I’d be happier doing it on my gravel bike, but then again it’s the heaviest bike I own and there’s a fair bit of hill climbing over that way.

After Belton on the way back I took a detour down Forest Lane, hadn’t done that for years either.

It was colder than I expected. I picked up a few spots of rain but nothing troubling.

Listened to more Reacher and footy on 5 Live.

Back on 102.23, that was my fourth fondo this month. And that’s 2003 km done this year now.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13901113055

Showers were forecast for the afternoon and it was definitely cold this morning, but since I hadn’t been out on a bike since Sunday I felt the need to get 50 or 60 km in today.

With the wind coming from the north unusually I decided a trip up to Derby was in order. Up through Melbourne, over Swarkestone Bridge, up Infinity Park Way. I found Moor Lane and had a sneaky look round the grounds of the Rolls-Royce recreation centre where I used to go shooting in the early ’90s.

I did briefly consider repeating my old cycle ride home to Oakwood from there. But I decided against it. I came round the ring road and pedalled south along Chellaston Road, back to the roundabout over the A50.

Then I headed homeward via Weston, Aston and Shardlow. From Shardlow I had a brief excursion west back toward Derby. Nice bit of flat road. Then I turned back to Shardlow. Cavendish Bridge, down through Donington, Top Brand, Griffydam et al.

The weather warmed up nicely when the sun came out in the afternoon. I did pick up a few spots of rain going past the airport but I couldn’t call it a shower.

Noticed a shocking traffic jam on the A50 when I passed over it, what a way to spend a Friday afternoon.

Listened to more of the Reacher novel. The plot has taken an odd turn and a lot of the tension has gone out of it, I suspect it’s not going to be one of the better ones.

Nice to get out. Back on 67.73km.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13880879263

Fitted a Schwalbe Lugano II to the rear Roubaix wheel, to match the Lugano (I) I fitted to the front. The II apparently has inferior puncture protection, but better rolling resistance compared to the I.

I’m disappointed by all the flashing (as I believe it’s called). The little protrusions from the moulding, and the little fin that’s formed from rubber seeping into the seam in the mould. Probably doesn’t make a practical difference but I may go round them all with a sharp knife, or a guitar string cutter anyway. Carefully.

Another very nice day with bright sunshine and unseasonably high temperatures, this time with a moderate wind coming from the east. I wanted to go a bit further today – over the border to Lincolnshire, which I hadn’t ticked off my list for 2025 yet. Set off at about 0935.

Really nice out there, a bit cool in the morning but I was able to backpack my tights and a fleece a couple of hours after setting off.

I tried a variation on the route that approaches Waltham via a village called Scalford. About 6km of roads I hadn’t done before. It was worth a try, but I don’t think I’ll do it again. A bit too twisty-turny and stony.

Got as far as Stainby, about 2km into Lincolnshire – then I turned back. I was only a few klicks away from Rutland at that point actually, the one remaining neighbouring country of Leicestershire that I haven’t done this year – but I decided to leave it for another day.

I came back the usual way, ie avoiding Scalford. I was going to stop at my usual village shop at Buckminster, but a new establishment caught my eye. A little row of businesses in a new site on the other side of the road. One of them was a deli. So I tried that. I came to regret being unfaithful to my usual village shop. The selection of food was not great. Most of the drinks were in glass bottles or cans. And the ice cream fridge was empty and unplugged. Also, although it’s not visible in the pic (below), I had to get the bike across an expanse of stony gravel to park it outside. I carried it.

Shame, as I’d been looking forward to my village shop visit. But I had to try it once. I actually do feel a bit bad about it as they’re really nice people at the usual place, and they gave me a free samosa once.

Came back along Narrow Lane rather than Paddy’s Lane. But it was the usual route after Wymeswold.

Really lovely to glide along Six Hills Lane on the way back in the afternoon sunshine with a tailwind. I made much better time than I expected. Surprised to see that I got four Strava PRs, certainly wasn’t trying to.

I was back a long time before sunset and about 45 minutes before I expected. Should have gone a bit futher really. But it’s only March. Lots more nice cycling days coming up over the next few months, hopefully.

132.07km, longest ride this year so far.

Listened to LBC, more of the Reacher novel which has taken an odd twist, and football on 5 Live.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13836129978

I was going to take the Roubaix out tomorrow but on closer inspection, I definitely won’t be.

I have a barely used Schwalbe Lugano in the garage. I think I took it off the front of the Cannondale because something bad happened to the rear one. They have a white stripe so you’ve got to match them really.

Ordered another one, should come on Monday.

They tyre in the pic is a Specialized, the one that came with the bike. It had done 6614 km, not that much really. I knew it had a few cracks but I hadn’t noticed that chunks of the rubber had come off.

A thoroughly decent day with double digits temperatures forecast for the afternoon. Only intermittently sunny, but bright. A stiff wind from the south. So I did the southbound route. Pretty much the same as Saturday, except that I went a little bit further toward Sibbertoft after crossing the border into Northamptonshire. But not much. I didn’t take the Wood Road diversion on the way back up. But I did come the short way over the last few km, now that Standard Hill has a tolerable surface. After doing the longer way through Ibstock so many times it feels a bit like coming through a wormhole.

I stopped for refreshments at the village shop at Gilmorton. To my disappointment the single table outside was already occupied by a small group of cyclists, but fortunately they were about to leave. One of them had a limited edition Boardman with carbon forks like mine. I could see it had had some use – the yellow bar tape and yellow-sided tyres had been swapped out, also like mine. I didn’t engage them in fraternal cycling chat.

Listened to another couple of hours of the Reacher novel. Nearly half way through and he hasn’t hurt anyone yet, which is unusual. I also listened to 5 Live for a while – Jay Foreman from the excellent YouTube channel Map Men was on talking about English counties; in particular the confusing differences between historic, administrative and postal definitions. One of my favourite niche nerd topics, even more so since discovering that I live in an exclave of historic Derbyshire surrounded by historic Leicestershire.

Sorry to say that the new saddle did feel a bit uncomfortable after 40km or so. But tolerable. I probably wouldn’t do much more than a fondo on that bike anyway so it’s destined to stay on there, I think.

Very enjoyable one, 104.47km. Hopefully more on Sunday to make the most of the weather before the rain and single digit temperatures return.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13815831186

Another sunny day. Had a lunchtime appointment so I couldn’t take full advantage of it, but I was off and away before 1400. I did a pretty typical Bypasser, except that I took a wrong turn after Upton somehow, and came back onto the A444. I don’t go through Upton that often.

Noticed that the old pub, which had been disused for quite some time now, at Norton-Juxta-Twycross has been demolished and a small group of new houses are going up. Shame, it was a nice old building. Did give the village a certain character. Don’t know when it closed but I never went in it myself.

Oh – just checked, it closed in 2008. https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/derelict-pub-near-twycross-zoo-8974124

.. in fact contrary to that piece from December 2023, it looks to me as though the whole building has been flattened despite it being Grade-II-listed.

Listened to 5 Live and another couple of hours of the Reacher novel.

Two military helicopters bristling with rocket pods and other weaponry came over quite low as I made my way north from Bosworth, heading roughly east. Heading to RAF Coningsby possibly. That direction anyway. Must be a lot of fun to fly low over the English countryside in one of those, especially on a day like today. Just did a bit of YouTube research. Apaches, £50m a go.

Very nice for cycling as well. Back on 63.84, a couple of minutes after sunset and I’m pretty pleased with 232 km this month, 5 days in. Happy to have given the S Works a run out as well, first time since August surprisingly.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13798649924

Another lovely sunny day out there, but after all the rubbish weather we’ve had in the first couple of months, we definitely deserve it. Only wanted to do about 60k or so since I had an appointment this morning. An ideal opportunity to test the new saddle on the X.

Once again I did half a Twycrosser, down as far as Witherley this time, then came back the same way (apart from looping up to Ratcliffe Culey at the bottom). I went up and pedalled around Ashby for a bit as well on the way back.

Really nice out there, very pleasant. The saddle definitely felt very comfortable for the first 25k – I’m not sure, after that. But that might just be because I’ve done a fairly decent distance this last few days. It’s going to stay on for a while at least.

Listened to LBC then the Reacher audiobook, definitely a good one so far. Back on 64.18k.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13778498619

A very good cycling day, lots of sunshine, not too cold. The wind was light enough that I could head off in any direction without worrying about a headwind on the way back.

I decided on the eastbound route since that’s my favourite fondo, but before I’d got more than a few hundred metres I decided to do the southbound instead. Just more in the mood for it.

Really nice out there, dry and sunny. Cold in the morning but mild enough to backpack the overtrousers after a while. I went down to the glider club at Sibbertoft – nothing going on there today – and into Northamptonshire for half a km or so. Then I turned back. I came back a different way ovr the final 10km, taking the usual diversion along Wood Road and the quicker way into the village along Standard Hill.

I took the Cannondale, its first run out since October. Really enjoyed it. Listened to fallout from the Trump / Vance / Zelensky debacle on LBC, the Bowie covers album Pinups and started the next Reacher novel, A Wanted Man. Kept my attention for a few hours that did, very good.

Back on 104.33 km, a few minutes before sunset. I only did 626km in February which is the lowest monthly total for nearly two years. But I’m glad to have got March off to a decent start.

https://www.strava.com/activities/13762542746