Leicester riders - anything near Mallory Park?

If you're into jumps at all and wouldn't mind a short drive to the outskirts of Leicester, Western Park is worth a try. Loads of different progressive jump lines. I haven't been for years but it looks even better now than it did back then.

I used to live up the road at the edge of Hinckley.

there’s nowt off-road really worth bothering with but there’s some decent road riding to be had.  Plenty of lanes and smaller roads if you head over towards Market Bosworth and then go north ish, stay away from Hinckley, Tamworth, Coalville, Bardon and don’t cross the M1 and you’ll find a nice corridor of lovely riding lanes.

If I was in the country I’d offer to come over and show you around.

I've got a couple of GPX tracks that you're welcome to from time at Mallory

Road bike for sure, what sort of distance are you thinking of?

As said, there are some great roads for cycling if you dissect Mallory and go West.

Depending on time, you could go out West, up and circle round, coming back behind Loughborough and up near Coalville (ish), as that is the highest point in Leicestershire. There are some good (for Leicester) climbs around and as long as you avoid the centres of towns, the riding can be mostly on country roads.

There is some good mtb riding around Coalville into Loughborough but, on balance I think I'd go for a road ride in your situation.

As others have said, plenty of pleasant road riding. I used tomlive on the Tamworth side of the M42 but would often ride out that way.  If you fancied it you could do a four counties ride as they all roughly converge at No Man's Heath so taking in Leicester, Warwickshire, Staffordshire and Derbyshire.  The Leicestershire side of the M42 is the prettier part of those four but all have enough to keep you going. If its clear you'll have a view across the Trent Valley to Brum from the Orton Lane Crossroads.   If that's not sold it then I don't know what will.  As others have said, avoid the towns, Coalville, Swadlincote, Tamworth etc but Ashby is a pleasant place if you wanted a stop.

I never used to do a route as such, always used to follow my nose as there were so many lanes to choose from. Appreciate local knowledge helped there(!). If you are interested pm me amd I'll list all the places that are worth riding thorough or avoided then you could plan a route off that?

There's a few good DH tracks at Bardon Hill: https://m.facebook.com/Bardontrailassociation/

And some great stuff in Whitwick Woods, or Snibston Colliery is good for a quick MTB blast.

There’s a few good DH tracks at Bardon Hill: https://m.facebook.com/Bardontrailassociation/

And some great stuff in Whitwick Woods, or Snibston Colliery is good for a quick MTB blast.

I think the only way you could consider any MTB in the ‘shire “good” is if you’d never been anywhere else!  I’ve lived in all corners of Leicestershire over the last 47 years and, whilst there’s some ok parts to kill an hour or 2, I wouldn’t ride far to any of it and certainly wouldn’t drive!  I’d much rather go for a road ride with a few hours spare in that corner of the world than MTB.

Road ride market bosworth shenton ect  the surrounding villages are very pretty indeed cv9 /cv13 postcode corridor is always popular with rodies

There must be some Strava routes

Sutton Cheney caffe is good for a pit stop. Market bosworth village has a few cafes but it's a bit range Rover.

Sunday club rides seem popular.

One of my work locations is out that way and it's always busy with road riders and horses

Thanks all.   I'm there for Jnr's Triathlon event, so will plan a route with Kamoot, stick a road bike in the car and shoot off when an opportunity presents itself in the schedule, which seems to be about 1pm Saturday.   Ride time is a 1-3 hrs.

Much appreciated!

1 hour- I'd stick to the Mkt Bosworth area

3 hours- Head for Newtown Linford and have a play around the hillier Charnwood Forest lanes

:Waves from the Leicstershire Alps:

Mallory park area is prime road/dirty lane riding area.  Gravel bikes work well.

For MTB based fun look at Charnwood but keep in mind "Leicestershire's biggest deer based tourist attraction" isn't kosher in daylight.

It would seem that Bardon hill trails are good enough for matt Jones and Hans Rey but don't quite come up to your 47 years experience blazin-saddles?

Yeah, probably.