Yesterday was the first Gravelton Events ride of the season, kicking off in typical fashion with The Spring Fling at Hicks Lodge. However, the recent long spell of bad weather and trail damage from 4×4’s meant routemaster Chris had to revise the original route at a very late stage but he didn’t disappoint.
On a grey but most importantly, dry morning, 50-60 riders (my estimate) overwhelmed the cafe before the start. Lots of riders is a nice problem to have and I’m sure the cafe don’t mind the business but I think it’s time I pre-warn them now out of courtesy.
At 10am I did my messiah skit (which I hate btw!), standing up on a picnic table offering a brief sermon to a gravel-ready flock. It was great to see lots of new riders again and plenty of ladies too. Shout out to Debbie, who drove 70 miles each way to join us from Northwich! We must be doing something right if riders are prepared to travel that far!
Group pic done, I set the riders off but my GPS played up again and took a few attempts to get it working by which time the bulk of riders were long gone on a lap of the trails to warm up. Chris had held back too so we rolled over the road and waited for the group to come round towards the end so I could take some photos. My unedited album is here
It was quite cold standing around so as the first few buzzed past I decided to start my ride proper and try and catch the front group up. I crossed back over to the start and headed around the side of the lake but the group were long gone. I left Chris on the drag up to the A42 bridge as we skirted Willesley Woods and got my head down for a chase and then I was joined by cycling buddy Paul, who’s still an active racer and clearly in better shape than me so I sat on him for a bit getting a tow through Packington and a speedy blast around the edge of QE2 woods where we finally caught the group at a kissing gate.
From here the group split so I joined Claire, Grahame and Dale which was to be my group for the day.
We made good progress through Ravenstone to pick up The Bosworth Trail and then a quick bit of fun around the MTB trails at Snibston Country Park. Into Coalville town centre and it was busy with pedestrians as usual so our bells were put to good use navigating all those bodies.
We crossed the A511 via a bridge then it was a quick sector which featured the biggest puddle of the day so far. The route was wet in places but on the whole probably drier than expected.
After another brief section of tarmac we picked up another great sector through Holly Hayes Wood which is slightly downhill, straight and pretty fast. At Whitwick we caught the front group dealing with a puncture and then left them to pick up The Bosworth Trail again which is a nice long sector past Hermitage Lake.
It was another lengthy road section now and the front group were just behind us as we headed into the lanes and up the punchy climb through Farm Town. I followed the lead group for a bit here as they pulled away on the Ashby Road but held back and waited for Claire and Grahame only to see the riders in front ride straight past the gap in the fence which cuts through to the next byway. It caught me out the same way last year but wasn’t going to happen again and we found ourselves in front again.
The track that takes you back under the Ashby Road and out via Rough Park is probably my 2nd favourite sector on the ride. It’s great, it’s quiet and you see no one. It was nice to see it a bit easier to ride too. The initial gravel was fresh and very heavy going last year.
At the Staunton Harold Estate the original route over the bridge and past the big house had been closed so we had to retrace a few hundred metres and pick up the route via the car park instead. Now this long, meandering sector through Lount Wood is my favourite. Up, down, left, right it has a bit of everything and popped us out at Smisby where another punchy climb up Forties Lane beckoned.
It was the last big road section now. We picked our way through Blackfordby and picked up another fast bridleway which lead us to the Gorse Lane byway which can get pretty churned up on wet days but was holding up well too.
At the end we dropped through Conkers car park and then it was a bit of Strade Bianche on the towpath before the climb back up to Hick Lodge Lake and the finish back at the cafe.
Another great route from Chris which I think has been well received by the riders. It was great to ride on a dry day. It was cold and fresh but the trails held up really well.
See you all next month at The Peaky Finder
Adios
Pleased to hear everyone enjoyed the day – even the ‘big puddle’ 😂 After all the rain we’ve had I knew it was there, but looks worse than it is, as shallow. Another great turnout Paul to kick the year off!🥳
You do well to ride this and get so many photos too 👏