2026 Cycling
Februaryclick for this month's league table
Red Lion, Huncote
Twelve Embers and one guest were out today. The guest being Lila the granddaughter of Peter Wright who was visiting the UK having come via Japan and New Zealand. Eleven riders met at Huncote, one rider joined at Burbage Common and another Ember came for lunch. As predicted the weather was overcast but nowhere near as bad as forecast. We had light drizzle and cool winds but not the 40mph gusts predicted. We were all prepared so set off on time heading towards Earl Shilton (Clickers Way) bypass via Watery Gate Lane, passing over the flooded steam using the footbridge. From there it was a simple route on cycle ways going south west all the way to Burbage Common and Acorns Coffee Shop.
Having warmed up with hot drinks at the coffee shop we were now twelve and using Burbage Common road went east to Stoney Stanton. There we turned north and headed back to Huncote for lunch at the Red Lion where the thirteenth member joined us. Ben as ever prepared had Spike available who made it fourteen at the table. No mechanicals or punctures today so all good. After lunch we made our way home with quite a number doing significant additional miles on their bikes to get there.
- Simon Over
Probably not the best day for cycling and certainly not if you had travelled 9000+ miles to join in. Well done Lila doing 19 miles on a cold wet day.
- Peter Wright
With a guest Ember, many riders cycled miles.
Old Red Lion, Welham
Nine Embers met at the Sports Centre in Market Harborough. The rain eased off by 9.45am and stayed dry till about 3pm so a generally dry ride. Yah Boo Sucks to the forecasters. We headed north through Harborough itself up to Great Bowden and onto Thorpe Langton. We then turned west to Church Langton for a banana break next to the church.
Lunch was planned at the Old Red Lion in Welham so to get there we took a roundabout route via (near) Stonton Wyville, onto Cranoe, round to Slawson and then down to Welham.
After lunch the group split up with five heading back to Harborough and four heading to the Mint and Ginger coffee house in Tur Langton then home. The five returning to Harborough travelled though Thorpe Langton then south to the Bowden coffee shop in Great Bowden. From there it was a quick dive through Harborough traffic to get back to the Sports Centre. With little wind, no rain and no mechanical issues it was a great day out.
- Simon Over
Allowing qualifying rides earlier in the week and two riding north on Thursday, many Embers cycled miles.
Navigation Inn, Barrow upon Soar
Nine Embers gathered at Syston on a day that threatened rain and snow. Cold it was, and our ride began in drizzle that soon mizzled out. Our route took us to the Barn cafe on Bradgate Park for a warm drink.
Our plans for lunch were thwarted, so we navigated our way to the Navigation Inn at Barrow upon Soar. From there we took the pretty (wet) way back to base through floods, just beating the next rain home.
A good turnout of many considering the forecast. With earler rides included, this week Embers cycled miles.
Man at Arms, Bitteswell
Ten Embers met at Cosby café “The Cook in the Nook” on a cool, dry and windy day. With Wishbone giving directions we headed south into the wind to Willoughby Waterleys then onto Peatling Magna and a banana break. From there we went south again to Bruntingthorpe bypassing the Shires at Peatling Parva and passed through Gilmorton. The final leg of the journey took us west then south to the Man at Arms pub at Bitteswell.
After lunch we made our way north with the wind behind us and many parts downhill. The hard work of the morning paying off. The route was a simple run up through Ashby Parva and Leire to Broughton Astley and finally back to Cosby. The drizzle held off till two thirty so we had a great day out with just couple of minor mechanical issues easily resolved.
- Simon Over
Closing February with many cycling miles, including some qualifying earlier in the week.