Noodle Legs
Winging it
- Location
- Coalville, Leicestershire
Got August off to a flying start with four more points in the bag thanks to the annual trip to Skegness, or “Skeg Vegas” as it’s often known. This is the third time I’ve done it and each time the route has been different but this was by far the best route of the three!
Set off at 7am into overcast but warm conditions, and for the first time ever the wind was favourable if at first nonexistent. I was a bit naughty hurtling down Beacon Hill approximately 6 miles in where it transpired that I was travelling beyond 50mph in a 40 so I’ll await the summons
. In my defence I was focused more on the road rather than what the GPS unit was telling me and only realised my misdemeanour on conclusion of the ride.
The climbing was within the first 40 miles as I hurtled through the lanes of the Vale of Belvoir, but once through there and across the A1 into Lincolnshire I don’t think I saw another hill again for the remainder of the ride! By 9:30 I’d reached my planned stop at Corby Glen approx 41 miles in- the first time I’d been here in well over two years since my first ever ton as part of a Cyclechat forum ride. And yet again the “eat out” scheme played me a blinder- a bacon sandwich and a coffee for the hefty sum of £2.45!
Pressing on, I made my way through what I can only describe as endless idyll as I rolled through the villages in the flat Lincolnshire countryside. Any wind I had was behind me which helped my average speed and there were regular spits and spots of rain along the way, though nothing major which was good as I hadn’t packed a rain jacket!
Thirty miles later I’d arrived in Boston, where the route had taken me on a magical mystery tour of the town centre which was somewhat unnecessary as it led me down roadside cycle paths which slowed me down a little. Stopping off for five minutes at a petrol station to grab a drink and stretch the legs, the cycling cap I’d removed to enable putting on my face mask as I went in the store was wringing wet and as there was no sunshine I stuffed it in my pocket for the remainder of the ride.
Again the roads were pan flat from here and other than crossing the busy A52 a couple of times, very quiet as well. Some of these surfaces left a lot to be desired but the views were pleasant. Before long I’d reached Burgh le Marsh and the rain spots were more frequent, though by the time I’d reached Ingoldmells on the coast these had disappeared.
Within five minutes of arriving at Ingoldmells I quickly realised why I don’t like the place- it was packed out with gobby little chavs screaming and shouting at their kids while chuffing on cigarettes showing little regard for social distancing or what have you. So I stopped briefly to take a couple of pics and rode the last four miles into Skegness itself, where the clientele were no better but seemed to heed the distancing rules better than their counterparts up the road. I wheeled the bike along the beach, took a couple of customary pics and queued for what seemed like an eternity to get some cash out to pay for my “reward” of fish and chips, as they only took cash despite the push to go contactless in these times!
A “Mr Whippy” ice cream soon followed but the planned pint never made it to fruition due to the waiting at the cash point eating into the little free time I had before taking the train home. Not that I was complaining too much- two hours is more than enough for me there! I couldn’t holiday there but it’s a good ride out so swings and roundabouts I guess.
100.7 in 5:44 today, taking August’s tally to eight points after only four days in. I’ll take that......
Set off at 7am into overcast but warm conditions, and for the first time ever the wind was favourable if at first nonexistent. I was a bit naughty hurtling down Beacon Hill approximately 6 miles in where it transpired that I was travelling beyond 50mph in a 40 so I’ll await the summons
. In my defence I was focused more on the road rather than what the GPS unit was telling me and only realised my misdemeanour on conclusion of the ride.The climbing was within the first 40 miles as I hurtled through the lanes of the Vale of Belvoir, but once through there and across the A1 into Lincolnshire I don’t think I saw another hill again for the remainder of the ride! By 9:30 I’d reached my planned stop at Corby Glen approx 41 miles in- the first time I’d been here in well over two years since my first ever ton as part of a Cyclechat forum ride. And yet again the “eat out” scheme played me a blinder- a bacon sandwich and a coffee for the hefty sum of £2.45!
Pressing on, I made my way through what I can only describe as endless idyll as I rolled through the villages in the flat Lincolnshire countryside. Any wind I had was behind me which helped my average speed and there were regular spits and spots of rain along the way, though nothing major which was good as I hadn’t packed a rain jacket!
Thirty miles later I’d arrived in Boston, where the route had taken me on a magical mystery tour of the town centre which was somewhat unnecessary as it led me down roadside cycle paths which slowed me down a little. Stopping off for five minutes at a petrol station to grab a drink and stretch the legs, the cycling cap I’d removed to enable putting on my face mask as I went in the store was wringing wet and as there was no sunshine I stuffed it in my pocket for the remainder of the ride.
Again the roads were pan flat from here and other than crossing the busy A52 a couple of times, very quiet as well. Some of these surfaces left a lot to be desired but the views were pleasant. Before long I’d reached Burgh le Marsh and the rain spots were more frequent, though by the time I’d reached Ingoldmells on the coast these had disappeared.
Within five minutes of arriving at Ingoldmells I quickly realised why I don’t like the place- it was packed out with gobby little chavs screaming and shouting at their kids while chuffing on cigarettes showing little regard for social distancing or what have you. So I stopped briefly to take a couple of pics and rode the last four miles into Skegness itself, where the clientele were no better but seemed to heed the distancing rules better than their counterparts up the road. I wheeled the bike along the beach, took a couple of customary pics and queued for what seemed like an eternity to get some cash out to pay for my “reward” of fish and chips, as they only took cash despite the push to go contactless in these times!
A “Mr Whippy” ice cream soon followed but the planned pint never made it to fruition due to the waiting at the cash point eating into the little free time I had before taking the train home. Not that I was complaining too much- two hours is more than enough for me there! I couldn’t holiday there but it’s a good ride out so swings and roundabouts I guess.
100.7 in 5:44 today, taking August’s tally to eight points after only four days in. I’ll take that......
Last edited:
Arm warmers were soon dispatched on the gentle climb out of Bradshaw to Holcombe, great views from the top of Holcombe Hill, through Haslingden, Rawtenstall and Edenfield without any drama then on the climb up to Owd Bett's there are some temporary lights near Turn Village, single file for about 200 - 300 metres but all up hill. I was first in the queue but four cars got past before the single file section. I was about ¾ the way through when a car set off in my direction I was huffing and puffing up hill into a head/cross wind when he came straight for me, we both stopped, his window came came down and the abuse started. "Bloody cyclists, all the f*****g same, never stop for red lights" "It was green" was my reply. He just repeated his tirade and was joined by a guy on a motorbike, same accusation. I shook my head and left, glad of the moments rest. 
