2025 Cycling
Juneclick for this month's league table
Free week
Due to rain on Thursday, the vote was to abandon that day's ride. This week Embers were free to choose their own rides and solo miles were accepted.
As soon as rain stopped on Friday morming, five Embers made their individual ways to Abbey Lane ASDA for a coffee, chat, and to blow the cobwebs away.
Two Embers dodged light showers on Sunday to visit Mush at the Triumph Six Car Club open day, pausing on the ride home for lunch at the very busy Foxton Locks canal festival.
This week many disparate and desperate Embers cycled miles between them.
George & Dragon, Stoke Golding
Seven Embers gathered at Desford for a jaunt westward. A relaxed start to the day with good weather all morning. We started by taking the unpaved track to Kirkby Mallory then onto Cadeby and a stop for coffee at Sutton Cheney Wharf. With plenty of time to spare we took a roundabout route to Stoke Golding via Shenton and Upton; although four of us took an unplanned diversion. Lunch was taken at the George & Dragon, one of only two real ale Church End brewery pubs. Good beer and good company.
The afternoon did not go so well as the predicted weather closed in and wet weather gear was needed. The route back to Desford was through Dadlington, Sutton Cheney Wharf then followed the outward route.
- Simon Over
With two riding locally and two Iberian itinerants, many Embers cycled miles this week.
The Woodmans Stroke, Rothley
We sometimes change our plans because of ice, heavy rain and even strong winds. Toda we adjusted our schedule because of hot weather. We started at 9.30am to avoid the hottest part of the day and met locally at Abbey Lane Asda. From there we set off for Rothley, diverting along the way to explore Broadnook garden village that is springing up just east of the A6.
We arrived at The Woodmans Stroke early, so we loitred in the church graveyard, trying not to look like risen corpses.
This week many Embers cycled miles altogether.
Horseshoe Inn, Tatenhill
Eight Embers met at Mercia Marina and set off on Ben’s south westerly route to the far side of Burton on Trent. Apart from a few spots of rain while we were in the new Willow Tree Tea Room before the off, we had great weather. The outward route took us first to Repton (where Jeremy Clarkson went to school) then to Newton Solney and finally on to Burton.
The route through Burton was tortuous trying to follow cycle routes that just disappeared. When we finally broke free of Burton we made it to Tatenhill and a new pub called The Horseshoe Inn.
After lunch and a well-earned rest we took a very flat route back to Willington by following a tow path alongside the Trent and Mersey Canal. The canal passed back through Burton via the districts of Shobnall and Horninglow (both mystic names) and some nice countryside back to the café at Mercia Marina.
- Simon Over
The final week of June saw many Embers covering miles on new routes.