[Closed] Whitwick / Coalville / NW Leicestershire Riders

I've been frequenting this area again of late after years of not going there.
It's surprisingly good although not that big but last few times there have been an increasing number of f*cktards ripping the place up on their motorbikes - scaring the shit out of walkers and bikers alike.
That's mostly been on Sundays so not sure whether they're out in the evenings...

I'm up for a get together in principle - the Man Within Compass is the logical watering hole and it's quite a nice pub...let's see what transpires from this thread... 🙂

I'm in Derby and moving to south side of Derby next week that theoretically puts me within pedalling distance via the Cloud Trail, have ridden around that area a few times with a mate from down that way

Rag n Mop? You can tell you're a local! 😉

I'm in!

Live in S. Leics but work in Enderby and have yet to venture round Cademan/Thringstone.

Scandal42, were you one of the chaps we saw on Thursday night in Cademan woods?

Apologies for not checking the thread, delighted to see a few replies 🙂

Don't think it was me on Thursday, I was out and about but went Bardon hill way rather than Cademan.

And yes I am rather local (cademan St) 😉

sounds like a plan. I'm up for it.

Didn't see this before, I'm in Leicester so date n time dependent I'll come over.

C'mon Scandal...pull your finger out and sort a time and date 😉

were any of you guys the pair i saw this evening at castle garage?

C'mon Scandal...pull your finger out and sort a time and date

Agree 🙂

I'd be in, had a pootle through on Monday night nice and dry great ride except for some knobbers on a crosser, also very local, Brooks Lane

Sorry guys, I'm really busy with work at the moment, can I pass the organisation onto one of you very capable chaps? I don't mind helping just struggling to find the time at the moment.

As Scandal's a busy boy at the mo I'll try and sort something...

There will be 2 or 3 of us up that way tomorrow (Sunday).

If anyone's interested we'll be by the benches at the top car park of Cademan Woods on Swannymote Road at 3pm. I'll be on a black Commencal Meta accompanied by an orange Soul and a white 5 - feel free to join us - it will probably involve a few runs down through the woods to Grace Dieu and if someone knows of stuff they want to share then all the better.

A beer or 2 in the Man Within Compass will happen so don't forget your beer tokens - participation in this bit is voluntary 😉

Would be good to meet a few local-ish riders - come and say 'hi' if you fancy it.

Cheers

rascal, thanks for the offer, unfortunately I'm bust this afternoon so will have to give it a miss this time. Keep us posted though, as like you say it'd be would be good to meet some local-ish riders!

I'm in for this, probably not next week if it's a Sunday, as I'm shooting.
Actually Sunday afternoon is always a bad time for me, GF wants me then!
How about an evening?
I'm in Derwent Valley ATC, and they go out every Tuesday. Started with 5 or 6 riders over the Summer about 10 years ago, now it's a year round thing, with up to 30 turning up, typically 15-20.
Also gives an excuse to get a decent light.
The only trouble for me is the travelling, it used to be an hours drive to Ripley, now takes 1.5 hours, so something more local would be good - I'm in Blaby.

I'll be up for an evening ride but it's tricky to commit 100% because of work - I never finish at 5.30 (even though I'm supposed to).
I was going up today anyway so thought it might get the ball rolling (or tyres even!) by mentioning it.
No probs if you can't make it - there'll be other times.

Cheers

Ok, how about a Tuesday or Wednesday evening, meet around 7:15, for depart about 7.30?
maybe 1.5 hours to 2 hours?
I can't do this week as I'm away, but the week beginning 5th Aug is good for me.

DVATC do a different area each week,in a radius of around 20 miles, so there is a rota of around 8 routes, some hard, some easy, all start and finish close to a pub.

An evening ride sounds good to me, earlier the better as I travel to and from south Derbyshire from Leicester along the A511. I don't really want to go home to go back.
I usually ride at Hicks Lodge after work (5.30ish) on Wednesdays/Thursdays, does get a bit boring so a ride elsewhere would make a nice change.

As I suspected, just the 3 of us turned up.
Eventually accompanied by the usual f*cktards on their motorbikes, although it was a case of hearing them and not seeing them. Really overgrown in there at the mo - the stinging of the nettles/brambles/branches strikes was numbed by the Hobgoblin in the man Within Compass though 🙂

I'd be up for an evening or weekend, work permitting - will be coming from just north of Loughborough, so Thringstone area works for me.

OK, Who's up for next Wednesday 7th Aug?

Anytime after 5pm is good for me.

A bit out of the blue, but I'd be up for a blast around cademan or similar next wed.

Prob can't start much earlier than 6.15 pm, but if there's a few going, then I'd like to tag along.

If you use this thread to put the details then that would be great. Do I need to charge the lights?

I'm about next Wednesday, 6 onwards for me.

I'll try and make that - more like 6.30 for me though...

Next Wednesday sounds good. I'm fairly flexible on time.

I'm in, does 6.30 sound about right then?
Where?
I havent been there before, so a pointer to a meeting place would be good.
Thanks
Alan.

i'll try and make it. I struggle to get out before 8ish, but i'll mooch around the likely spots!

It looks like my workload is going to be ok, so I am 95% certain I can make this Wednesday. Is the 'meet' going to be the Swannymote Road car park at 6.30pm? I'll probably be there a bit before that, so might ride into the woods for a bit before going back to the car park for 6.30.

I assume we're not riding on until dark, so I'm not going to bother with lights. Just a couple of hours riding in the vicinity then a pint?

Looking forward to doing some local riding in a group, I only tend to ride in a group on away days.

Sounds good to me.
Will try my best to get there for 6.30.
Not bothering with lights - just a couple of hours and a pint for me too.
What if it's pissing down? Anyone still going then?

I'll try to get a few out 6.30 should be a good crack

Does anyone know Scandal - the OP?
Seems a bit daft that he instigated this whole thing yet is nowhere to be seen...or heard 😕
Kind of feel he should be there...

Sorry, don't know Scandal, so can't really sort anything. I assume he would read this thread from time to time, though.

No worries about it pissing down, I'll ride in whatever weather I'm given. It's only a couple of hours, so won't be too miserable. Not like being caught out in the wilds in dodgy weather.

I'm away for a week from Friday, sans bike, so Wednesday night is it for me for a few days. As a result I'm riding whatever the weather.

Depending on how quickly we can sort ourselves out, we could do the monastery drop to Blackbrook, or the quarry drop to Whitwick. Or both! I'm also interested in gracedieu wood past the main brick bridge over the brook. I've never really been further in than that, I like the sound of this viaduct!

Lets not get ahead of ourselves, though, a quick blast will be a laugh no matter what.

I'll be there too, whatever the weather.
Alan.

I'll be there, 6.30 in the carp park, which I assume is roughly [url= http://www.streetmap.co.uk/map.srf?x=444384&y=316916&z=110&sv=444384,316916&st=4&ar=y&mapp=map.srf&searchp=ids.srf&dn=651&ax=444384&ay=316916&lm=0 ]here[/url]?

If you see a fat git on a blue SC superlight (normally going far too slow up the hills), then please feel free to shout hello 🙂

I live and ride in Coalville but don't often get home in time for night rides.

Fathomer.

Yes, that's the car park I'm going to anyway!

Weather looks ok for tomorrow evening, so should be good.

Cool, see you there!
Sam

Hopefully gonna make it for 6.30 but might be running late.
Can one of you guys who are def going WITH a mobile give me your number so I can call you to find out exactly where you are - if you don't mind?

Cheers

I'll be there, except for death/limb loss, I dont know the area, but here's my number 0787 548 4190.
Alan

Cheers - see you there...at some point.

Room for one more? I've been meaning to pop over there for ages so would be good to go with people who know the area. I'm about 10 miles away so will probably come in the car to make it for 6.30.

It'll be good to put faces to names, anyone else interested?

Would be but Im between bikes at the moment which frankly was the most stupid oversight on my behalf ever!

Not that I quite made the ride, but it was good to bump into a few peeps above 🙂

The young un told me off for going up the road on mountain bikes when we passed the car park - she really wasn't amused 😀

Told her she'd moan a lot more at the rocks and mud through the woods, but it fell on deaf ears.

Hope you had a good ride.

Well tonight saw the inaugural NWL Riders Club (just made that up - shit innit!).
Me, dannyh, fathomer and alanl met and minced around the Cademan Woods area for a couple of hours...bumped into twonks. Torn to threads by brambles but nice pint in the local helped.
Good to meet a few bods off here - tidy bunch - hope to make it a regular thing same time every week.

If you fancy coming along use this thread to announce your arrival.

Cheers

I was too late to meet up unfortunately but came along anyway when I could. i didn't bump into you (unless you were aged about 14 and riding scooters and dirt bikes... I didn't stop to ask...) but will be up for other rides in future so i'll bookmark the thread. Some good trails around there. And plenty of evil muddy overgrown ones!

Work got in the way so I couldn't make it, but definitely up for any other similar meet-ups in future.

I'm based in south Notts but would be keen to get involved.

Any more rides planned?

The inaugural NWL Riders Club Wednesday night ride was a success - very enjoyable and a few tracks that I didn't know existed. Indeed one that has quite a nasty drop of to the left!

I am definitely not available next wednesday as I am away on hols, but I'm up for the week after - assuming work doesn't get in the way.

The idea would hopefully be to get a standard Wednesday evening ride going - we could then agree a consistent meeting place and time, and just take it from there.

Come on everyone - this club will be like the communist party in soviet russia - if your membership number is in single figures you will attain god-like status when world domination is complete. Or perhaps not!

We rode for just shy of a couple of hours last night, and came nowhere near to doing all the trails in the area - so there is easily enough good stuff for a regular evening ride.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Just an afterthought - has anyone (or can anyone) let scandal42 know that we are going to give this a go?

This was his thread after all, so it would be nice to involve him.

Yes, thanks to the others for turning up, it was good to get out locally, even if I was panting at the back most of the time!
I'll definitely be there next Weds, if it carries on, we can maybe arrangement a different meet point each week to vary things.
Thanks
Alan.

😀

Sorry for my long absence from the thread guy's, I have been on holiday with no access to the internets.

I was absolutely delighted to log on just now and see that this thread has resulted in the formation of the NWLRC.

Glad you had a good blast, I'm really surprised at the amount of peds in the woods, I have never ever come across one which is crazy.

I should be available for future meets.

Nice one!

I'll be there if I don't get dicked* in work.

*Given the usual more-than-one-day's-work-finished-by-tomorrow scenario.

Same time and place...though will be needing lights in the next few weeks I think!

Bloody hell - it's got dark quickly tonight - makes me think lights is almost a must if the ride's gonna last much more than an hour 😕
Anyone else taking theirs?

Is there a ride this week and where are you meeting. I live in LFE so not far and would be up for a ride!!
Dom

Every Weds 6.30 at the carpark at the top of Swannymote Road, Whitwick.

Im going to try my best to get out tomorrow. Managed to pull in 10 miles tonight and after being out of the saddle for over 2 weeks I felt it 🙂

Just out of interest what type of riding do people usually prefer? I usually ride xc with some trail riding mixed in.

I imagine you guys ride fs? I only have a ht at the moment so you may have to wait for me at the bottom of grace dieu woods whilst I amble down 😆

Have a good ride this evening folks. I'm a 90% for next week. In Cornwall at present, so no-go this evening.

I'll get the lights charged up for next Wednesday evening. Scandal, the inaugural ride featured three hardtails and one full-ie, so no need to worry about bike choice.

Last week involved ratting around in Cademan and Gracedieu woods with a pop out to ride the path around Whitlock quarry down to the Copt Oak road out of Whitwick. Nothing crazy, but no head-down XC hacking either, just a nicely rounded play-ride!

Future weeks may well include the Monastery track down to the reservoir and, perhaps Bardon as well, but you guys are in the driving seat this week, so whatever suggests itself.

Make sure you pop in to the Rag and Mop, though!

Sorry I've been quite since last week but it was a good night and good to put names to faces.

Unfortunately I've just been dumped with a load of work which means I'm highly unlikely to be there tonight. If I’m not there by 6.30pm don't wait around, sorry!

I'll be along tonight (barring any work emergencies in the next 30 mins!) I don't have lights though so will have to leave you to if it starts getting dark...

Any good last night?

Hey Daniel - how's Cornwall?

Yep - good ride last night.

4 again - me, Scandal, daftdom, and Steve (sorry - forgot your username! - muddyfool?).
Usual run from the top - got split quite early though and didn't see each other til we bumped into each other at the pub! Loads of other locals about so was shown some cracking little runs I never knew were there so that was a bonus.

Deffo won't be long before lights required though as gets gloomy in them there woods.
Steve has some super-dooper Chinese cree lights on the way so if they're any good I'll be getting some too 1200 lumens for £20 - ridiculous!

That's 7 different riders in 2 outings - good if we could all make it next week and add a few more - c'mon people. A few of the other riders might tag along too so might be a bit of a gathering next week.

Same time, same place next Weds...cheers

Alright chaps

Despite the logistical issue last night it was still good to get out and meet a few new riders. I should have a mate joining us next week so that's another one to add to the growing list of members.

I already have one of these and will be buying another set today, they are simply blinding (pun intended) for the money,

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CREE-XM-L-XML-T6-LED-Bicycle-bike-Head-Light-Headlamp-Rechargeable-Head-Light-/330958001861?pt=UK_SportGoods_CyclAcces_RL&hash=item4d0ea256c5

I was thinking yesterday that if we got a steady group going we could also organise some group rides at centres further away, wales etc.

Cheers lads

Nice one for keeping the ride going.

Those lights are great. I use one on my lid. Quite spotty in beam terms, but very bright and focused light.

I had a 3 x Cree equivalent, but had some issues as the build was quite tinny compared to the single led. I eventually burnt the light unit out trying to do a controlled battery discharge in my kitchen!

I now have an mtbbatteries lumenator. A bit pricier than the amazon ones, but not as expensive as the very similar magicshine m880.

Well up for next week.

Also away days, I'd be more than glad to show anyone my fave routes in the peaks and long mynd.

Perhaps a Saturday or Sunday in September or October.

Long Minge was mentioned last night.
I'm doing a Peaks ride (camping at Coopers, Edale) with a few mates in September sometime...Hollins, Rushup, Mount Famine, Hayfield, Jacobs...beer

Will see if they don't mind a few stragglers 🙂

Yeah, nice one keeping it going, I was gutted I couldn't get out last night!

I'm going to order some lights before next week, it'll have to be an early birthday present, but I'm looking at the Lumenator which I'll run on the helmet.

See you all Wednesday baring no work disasters again!

Yeah, good ride last night all! (Ok technically two separate good rides!)

The light arrived today and it is definitely bright. It appears to be exactly the same as the one scandal posted although I paid a whole extra £3.21 from here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B007WAAO70

As mentioned above it does have a fairly narrow beam so will have to see what it's like, but if its ok I'll probably get another one for bar/helmet use before it gets properly dark. Not sure how reliable it'll be either so probably worth having an extra for backup.

Anyway, was good to meet you all and the riding was great. I should be along next week too and could also be interested in trips further afield too sometime - long mynd definitely sounded interesting.As long as you don't mind having to wait for me to catch up occasionally, that is! 🙂

You wouldn't be on your own straggling on long mynd!

Historically, I've started the ride either climbing out of carding mill valley or The Batch.

Both are long and steep in places. I have managed to ride up all of The Batch until the really steep scramble at the end. Only to be confronted by the less steep, but grassy and 95% cert to be into a headwind climb onto the ridge proper. Burned.

In a way I prefer the climbs in the Peaks as they have more technical interest, tend to be a bit more sheltered, and they don't egg you on by seeming do-able when they get really serious!

Many peaks climbs just prompt my inner voice to say "no chance, sunshine, save your legs and walk"!

But some people have cleaned Jacob's as a climb! Literally unbelievable. I've stood at the bottom numerous times and been absolutely mystified as to how you could ride up that, even if you were inhumanly fit.

Me and my mate did a 55k marathon over Long Mynd last month, was awesome but the climbs are full of false horizons, which when it's blistering sunshine with not a tree in sight can be hard work 🙂

I wouldn't mind going back there, plus the Peaks sound good, unbelievably I have never ridden there.

As I was saying to the lads last night I have some unfinished business with the Penmachno in Betws-y-Coed after getting caught out in the most horrendous weather last time.

55k's?!

You'll have me for breakfast, then!

I did a 29 mile route there last year. Five times up onto the ridge and back down.

It ended with my legs so cramped that I couldn't get onto the bike and feet into pedals without jumping off and hobbling around like C3PO.

It was one of the few times I've been glad to end a ride. My legs cramped up so badly driving home that I had to stop on the hard shoulder of the M54.

Hi Rascal and all,
Glad to hear you're enjoying the woods.
I'd like to join you one a Wednesday night soon, if that's OK? I've been riding the woods since 2004. I'm nursing the after effects of a broken wrist at the mo, but should be back on the bike pretty soon.
I'll pop along and say hello, if I can this week.
I'm based off Hall Lane, Whitwick.
Cheers
e.

The more the merrier.
Bring beer tokens 😉

Heading over Swithland Woods area this afternoon (Sunday) if anyone fancies hooking up...

Unfortunately I am nursing a hangover after a 12 pint epic yesterday at the T20 slogging finals! Otherwise a rattle around Swithy might have appealed.

My personal favourite moment was some bloke dressed as Darth Vader stand up to chant something and getting his pint absolutely totalled by a beach ball, soaking him from the chest down.

Cycled down to Thingstone and Cademan Woods today from South Derby
35 mile round trip including a blast through the woods and a detour on way home through Robin Woods at Ticknall
Good day on the bike

Who's in for this Wednesday, then?

I'll be there. Usual time, usual place.

I'm feeling a bit podgy after a fortnight off the bike boozing and eating, so it's an absolute must for me this week!

I will be puffing, panting and, above all, sweating my way around the riding spots of NWL again.

P.S.

I've charged my lights as it looks pretty dusky out there tonight at 8-15pm so will be poor visibility in the woods from about 8 onwards I would have thought.

I went for a spin the woods tonight, was dark but I was wearing a pair of those yellow tinted glasses, amazing breakthrough, almost like mid afternoon in the cover of the trees 😀

P.S. Take lights