Bike Diary

I don’t often ride on consecutive days but I didn’t do a great distance yesterday and I wasn’t going to this evening, so – with the weather looking iffy tomorrow, I decided to see if I could crank out another 30 miles or so. I do want to get the year off to a good start with a decent tally for January, so I can get the remaining monthly totals down a bit. Currently they’re higher than last year.

I set off with no particular plan other than to go roughly west, but I’d decided to do a Twycross Bypasser within half a mile of setting off. So I did.

Quite cold out there, a bit colder than yesterday although I set off later in the day.

Nice view of Mars just above the horizon along Sibson Road, about half an hour after sunset. Very dark by the time I was pedalling along Gibbet Lane. Spotty rain for a few minutes near Shackerstone, but I wasn’t bothered.

Listened mostly to 5 Live, and the reaction to Gareth Bale’s decision to retire.

Back on 32.82 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8364960689

My cycling goals for today weren’t overly ambitious, because rain was due over this afternoon and I was keen to avoid it, if possible. Also, the conditions weren’t particularly nice – overcast and a little damp, with wet roads. With a stiff wind coming from the south, I thought I’d do 15 miles or so of the southbound route, then come back.

However – instead of turning right along Kirkby Lane after ten miles, I kept going as far as Desford. From there I found my way to Markfield, where I took this pic, along Altar Stones Lane.

I’ve only ever known Altar Stones Lane as a very quiet dead end; the location of a couple of farm houses and a cattery. There’s no through road to anywhere else. But I’ve been nerding out over old OS maps recently, here: https://maps.nls.uk/os/6inch-england-and-wales/

It turns out that before the M1 was built, this road was the main road between Markfield and Coalville. Then when the M1 was opened in the ’60s, Altar Stones Lane was connected directly to it. Traffic would have come barreling along here straight off (or toward) the motorway junction, about 200 metres from the bike in this pic. Then finally, some time in the ’80s I think (certainly before I lived in Markfield in 1989/90) a bypass was built to take the M1 traffic out of the village, and the lane became the quiet, secluded little dead end that it is today.

I suppose the folks who lived along there must have been horrified when the M1 came along, then elated when the A50 bypass was built, after which their little corner of Leicestershire became quieter even than it was 100 years ago.

Came back home from Markfield an unusual way, through Stanton under Bardon. Very annoyingly, there was only one puddle of any significance along Stanton Lane, and I was overtaken by only one motor vehicle there, a white van. You can guess what happened. I should have stopped a reasonable distance from the puddle after I saw it in my mirror, but I thought I had enough momentum to take me past the puddle by the time the van passed me. I didn’t. Of course it would have been nice if the van driver had tried to avoid the puddle, or slowed down a bit. Oh well.

As it happened a Biblical downpour was visited upon me about a mile from home, so in the end it didn’t matter. I was soaked by the time I made it to the garage. But I gave the bike a good wipe down; I think it’s cleaner than it’s been for months now!

Back on 27.42 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8358707424

This afternoon’s mission, should I choose to accept it – was to do at least 33 miles, to tip the January total into treble figures. And with a strong wind coming from the west I decided to go up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road. The “Upper Westbound Route”, as I call it.

I did that as far as Derby Airfield, then turned back. Dark by this time. I’d done about 18 miles. The headwind had been a real irritation, but it was a joy in tailwind mode. Very mild out there, as well. I do enjoy gliding along the A road in the dark.

Decided I wanted to do something a bit different on the way back down so I detoured through Wilson. Only ever done that two or three times and I didn’t know the way back but I was less than 9 miles from home after Melbourne so I wasn’t going to get seriously lost. I rolled through Breedon, then Worthington and Newbold. Hadn’t been through those latter two locations for years. Used to do them quite often five or six years ago, on my old hybrid.

Bit spooky out there in the dark between Breedon and Worthington, mostly because I didn’t really know where I was, I suppose. But I rejoined the usual route shortly after Newbold.

I used my Canmore GPS tracker, something I bought on a retail therapy whim years ago. Glad to see the internal battery’s held up nicely. It has a rubbishy little LCD screen that’s hard to read properly on the handlebars but apart from that, it works well. I also tested a new watch that I bought for night cycling. Nothing fancy, a cheap Timex, but it proved to be nicely legible in the dark thanks to its bright white dial and high contrast hands, even without using the ‘Indiglo’ electro-luminescent dial function.

It was a clear night with a very bright Moon. Definitely added to the experience. Very enjoyable run out, only slightly marred (once again) by a few idiots in oncoming cars with full beam on.

One odd thing – I put my rear light onto flashing mode, but I looked down to check it a few miles from home and it wasn’t flashing. It was stuck in “on” mode fortunately, but it didn’t respond to the power switch. Couldn’t turn it off. I had to take the batteries out for ten minutes after I got home to get it working properly again. Its little processor must have crashed!

Back on 37.87 miles.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8338637559

The last day of the Christmas hols and a dry, sunny and fairly mild one although the roads were still a bit wet from rain yesterday.

Hoped to do about 40 miles though I did think I might just stretch that to a fondo. With a light wind coming from the west I decided on the Lower Westbound Route, out through Lullington, Edingale and King’s Bromley. Quite nice out there and I seemed to have plenty of energy despite hoovering a few Scotches last night so I kept going up through Abbots Bromley to Bagot’s Wood, where I decided to turn back after 32 miles.

I took a wrong turn on the way back after Abbots Bromley but that was fine. I followed a sign to Yoxall and I knew that would take me back to the usual route eventually. Actually quite a fortuitous mistake. Hadn’t done that stretch of road between Abbots and Yoxall before. I quite liked it.

What wasn’t quite so fortuitous though was that, no doubt prompted by taking an unusual route into King’s Bromley, I missed the turn there and went some way off course, to the south. With the sun due to go down before long I resorted to Google Maps. I plotted a route to get back on track that involved a two mile stretch of A38. I wasn’t thrilled about that, but I reasoned that the Bank Holiday traffic would be light, and fortunately I didn’t get killed. I did get beeped at a couple of times. But it’s perfectly legal to ride a bike along there. It’s just not particularly sensible.

Back the usual way after that and home on 67.79 miles.

I listened to Adrian Chiles on 5 Live, then Rangers v Celtic. Then LBC.

This year’s target is 4540 miles, which would maintain my average of just over 20km per day since Jan 1st 2015.

I ticked two of the neighbouring counties boxes with this ride; Derbyshire and Staffordshire.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8327391445

Tomorrow’s weather forecast tells me no more cycling in 2022 so that’s a wrap for this year.

It was a pretty good cycling year, I think. I did Norfolk and back again which was very enjoyable. I did Wales and back as well, which I’d only done once, a few years ago. But no new long routes. I definitely need to plan something different for 2023. York and back, maybe. But I do want to do Norfolk and back again.

I fell short of my monthly target for September, which is a first. But I exceeded it every other month, quite substantially in some cases.

A comparison of this year’s stats with last year’s: I did one more ride in 2021 apparently. Surprisingly consistent. But my average distance was higher in 2022 and I did three more fondos. But one fewer 100 milers.

I only did 180 miles on my S Works this year, which seems a shame. And only 538 on the Roubaix, although I really only use it for unusually long rides. I’m surprised to note that Boardman I has been overtaken by Boardman II as the most used bike. Boardman I has better wheels in theory, although Boardman II has carbon forks. I got more use out of the Cannondale in 2022 than in 2021 which is nice, as it’s still my favourite bike. It’s had brand new wheels this year.

Every year I set myself the target of visiting all of the neighbouring counties of Leicestershire, and I’d done that by 25th February this year (30th March last year). That just depends on the weather, really.

I didn’t do any new counties this year. The last time I did that was August 2020, when I penetrated Gloucestershire. Perhaps I’ll aim for a new one in 2023.

Another break in the miserable weather and probably the last cycling opportunity of the year. I wanted to do about 45 miles, to preserve my 2022 average distance. The wind was blowing from the SE, but I thought I’d go up through Coleorton over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road as usual.

However – I’d hatched a different plan within about half a mile of setting off. Instead I decided to go up Top Brand. At some point along Top Brand, I had the idea of going up through Castle Donington then through Shardlow towards Derby. So I did that. Must say it was delightfully sentimental to be rolling along the road between Shardlow and Derby. I used to go to work that way (in a car of course) back in 1989. Happy memories, can’t believe it’s 33 years ago now.

I took a right to Borrowash. I’d decided to take my old route into Derby from Nottingham, from the time I worked at Nottingham University. I only ever did that on a bike three or four times but I called in at Spondon Railway station, from where I used to take my bike to Nottingham and back on a train every day in the late noughties. I hadn’t been there for about 14 years; quite a strange thought given how familiar it seemed. Next, I went up Acorn Way to Oakwood, where I bought a house in 1991. Again – just indulging my sentimental side, but I find that as I grow older, the past seems to become ever more important.

After rolling through Oakwood for a bit I took an opportunistic turn up Morley Road. I doubt I’ve been along there since the early ’90s. Nice to see pubs I’d forgotten about are still there.

I came back much the same way, except that I went through Chaddesden in Derby, just to look around. And I detoured through Diseworth after Donington.

Back on 56.45 miles, which takes me to 397 this month and 5477 for the year.

I listened to Talk Radio for a change. I quite enjoyed Mike Graham but Cristo Foufas, who followed him, wanted to talk about COVID and has more than a whiff of tin foil about him, sadly. Very irritating to hear someone who knows next to nothing about public health matters assume he knows more than Chris Whitty, although some of his callers were worse. Pretty annoying to listen to a retired school janitor pontificating about genome sequencing.

Anyway. That was one of my favourite rides of the year probably. Much more fun than if I’d just done one of my usual routes.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8307902343

The roads were wet from overnight precipitation but a rain free, sunny day was promised. Had a date with a cocktail bar later in the afternoon, but I wanted to do about 40. With the wind coming from the south, the plan was to do the southbound route – but detour to Markfield (again) on the way back.

Just for a change I went down through Donington le Heath instead of Ibstock. A shorter route, but involves more climbing. Oddly – just looked at the track on Strava – I seem to have taken a wrong turn, then recovered without realising it.

I got as far as Broughton Astley before deciding to turn back. From Kirkby Mallory I took Peckleton Lane in search of Markfield, but I didn’t find it. I did a bizarre, meandering route through Desford that ultimately led me back to the usual route. So I gave up on Markfield. But I do like to do something a bit different over the Christmas hols, so I took a road to Barlestone rather than coming back up through Bagworth or Battram. Just by following my nose I ended up looping back onto the A47, so I gave up being adventurous and just came home the direct way through Ibstock – apart from a little wrinkle where I took a wrong turn at the double roundabout.

I took this pic near the Caterpillar works at Desford. The aircraft display is intended to commemorate a twin-engine trainer that was built there after WW2, when the site was an RAF airfield. I think the red, white & blue decorations were added for the Platinum Jubilee.

Mild out there, pleasant in the sun. I had to roll through a couple of inches of water once or twice – some of the roads round here turn into shallow rivers after a downpour – but that’s what winter bikes are for.

Back on 44.76 miles. 340 done this month, 5420 this year. I’m sure I’ll get out again a couple more times before the end of the year, but I’m quite happy with that.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8286515341

The roads were wet from heavy rain overnight, but a rain-free, mild day was promised. Another day off work today. I set off not long before 1100. The wind was coming from the SW so I thought to do some of the southbound route. I wanted to do 40, to hit the December target of 300 miles.

By the time I’d reached the turn for Kirkby Lane though after ten miles, I’d hatched an alternative plan. I decided I’d head for Markfield. I recalled seeing a road signposted in that direction near Desford on my previous ride. However I lost my way at Desford and ended up looping back onto the same road. So I reverted to Plan A and went down Kirkby Lane.

From Kirkby Mallory though I took a left along Peckleton Road – don’t think I’ve done that before – in the hope of finding a viable route to Markfield. Good cycling territory, must try to incorporate it into a route another time.

Eventually I did find my way to Markfield, via Newtown Unthank and Botcheston. Really nice to be doing different roads than usual. Made a nice change. I visited my old house there, as I usually do this time of year. And then I set off in the rough direction of Swarkestone Bridge.

One day in 1990 when I lived in Markfield, I commuted to my place of work in Derby by bicycle. I only ever did this once. I don’t know the route I took either there or back, except that I used Swarkestone Bridge both ways. I planned the route using an OS map that I took with me. Because I know all the likely routes quite well now, I’d be fascinated to know which roads I took. I have only tiny fragments of memories of the rides there and back, none of them conclusive with respect to a location.

So .. I hoped that maybe doing the same thing again today might tease out an old memory, but nope. I didn’t get any flashbacks to rolling along those roads in a Raleigh Routier in the distant past. My best bet is that I didn’t go the same way as I did today. I remember the ride being a lot more rural and I doubt I went through Whitwick. The most interesting thing actually about the last couple of miles to Whitwick from Markfield is that it’s downhill all the way, and I think I would have remembered that.

 Anyway by the time I got to Whitwick I was only about four miles from base, so I rode home the usual way from there.

Back on 35.34 miles. Considering it was unusually nice cycling weather for this time of year and I had the day off, criminal not to do more really. But that’s the way it pans out sometimes. 296 miles done this month which is a few miles short of the December target – but although the weather forecast for the rest of the year looks a bit iffy, I’m sure I’ll get another couple of rides in.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8270724181

No rain in the forecast and a few degrees warmer than Thursday. I didn’t feel a need to go far though, maybe 30-40 miles? And with a moderate wind coming from the south, I set off on the southbound route not long after midday.

Had to take a detour along Beveridge Lane from Ellistown to avoid roadworks. Then when I got to Bagworth I decided to take a left at the T junction instead of a right, just to follow my nose and do something random for a change. So I went down through Merry Lees and Botcheston to Newtown Unthank. I’ve done that a few times before; not sure why I don’t do it more often. It’s a pleasant and convenient enough route.

In the past I’ve taken a left toward Kirby Muxloe from Unthank, so I took a right to do something different. This led me, to my surprise, to Kirkby Lane and my usual southbound route. I’d been meaning to turn back and take a turn to Markfield, but I didn’t bother. I pressed on to Kirkby Mallory. From there I took a turn to Sutton Cheney rather than going any further south. Then to Shenton along Shenton Lane, a road I’ve only ever done a couple of times, then up to Bosworth and home the usual way, or one of them.

Despite the alleged improved air temperature, I felt colder than I did on Thursday or Tuesday – presumably because the sun wasn’t shining. But at least there was no rain or snow. A bit of ice on the roads on the quieter stretches but not much.

I passed a steam tractor parked outside the Gate Hangs Well pub at Carlton. Really a beautifully preserved old thing, in shiny dark blue paint. I stopped to take a pic and a minute later, the driver started shovelling coal.

I listened to Foolgita Myska on LBC mostly.

Back on 34.41 miles and that’s a modestly pleasing 260 so far this month.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8259551185

I have a few days off work and since today was slated to be sunny, I thought I’d attempt a fondo. Got up later than I intended and didn’t set off until 1130, meaning I’d have to do a couple of hours in the dark – but I didn’t mind that.

Very cold again out there, a degree or two warmer than Tuesday but that’s not saying much. Peaking at 1C in the afternoon. Below freezing after sunset.

The wind was coming from the west so I did the time-honoured route up over Swarkestone Bridge and west along the Beloved A Road through Willington and Hillington. Once again I missed the right turn up Ashbourne Road, so I pressed on to Doveridge. Unfortunately after that you either take the A50 (the coroner would probably record a verdict of suicide) or minor roads that degenerate quickly into twisty, gravelly lanes extravagantly furnished with potholes, but I pottered around as best as I could before turning back. I stopped at a Church in Doveridge to take a pic of the bike with a frosty graveyard as the backdrop. Would have been a cracking photo. But I couldn’t find the phone! It wasn’t in any of my (many) pockets.

This did make me feel a little insecure, I must admit. What did cyclists do before mobile phones came along in the ’90s? I suppose you’d take a few 10p pieces for public phone boxes. But actually I had the phone in my backpack all the time, although I only realised that after arriving home.

I thought the part of the ride after sunset was going to be an ordeal – the temperature was due to drop a couple of degrees and the bright sunlight had definitely made a positive difference – but it was bearable. Even so the water in my bidon was cold enough to hurt the back of my throat and give me an ice cream headache more than once.

I realised I was going to be half a mile short of the requisite 62.14 miles fondo distance as I passed my twenty-miles-to-go point (a hairdressers’ salon in Hatton) but I made it up with a detour round the village over the last couple of miles. Back on 62.34 miles. That was this year’s 30th fondo.

https://www.strava.com/activities/8252263494