With winds borderline gale force and rain on and off, I figured that today was as good as any to dig out the MTB again and hit the Dukeries Trail, which runs primarily across North Nottinghamshire- although it starts in Derbyshire (literally just-by less than 100m) and ends in Lincolnshire!
Catching the early train to the start, I arrived at Shirebrook just after 9am and barely a mile in I was covered head to toe in mud, such was the condition of the trails but I didn’t care- I was having way too much fun!
Fighting the wind and roads through nearby Market Warsop, it was soon time to hit the off road sections again, just south of Meden Vale and eventually heading northwards towards Hazel Gap on the outskirts of Clumber Park. Another few miles of claggy trails awaited and I’d got to a stage where I was literally bombing through the puddles instead of picking a line around them. I probably bore more of a resemblance to Sonny Colbrelli as he romped home to victory following a muddy edition of Paris-Roubaix, such was the accumulation of mud on me and my bike!
Clumber section defeated, I toiled through the roads towards Bothamsall where the direction had turned southwesterly, straight into the wind. That was by far the longest mile or so I’d ever done- or so it seemed! Changing direction, there was a deviation through some newer trails at the old Bevercotes pit site instead of the planned route down the old service road, then onto roads for the next six or seven miles where the original route was picked back up again.
Between Milton and Tuxford was where the only climbs were on this ride- short, steep and in frequent succession- and the law of sod came into play ensuring such efforts were into the brutal headwind (because clearly the climbs themselves were not difficult enough on a heavy bike!)
Stopping briefly at Tuxford for a quick drink, breather and photos and the customary Haribos, I pressed on towards the start of the next section of trail near Fledborough, a converted railway line that crosses the river Trent by way of a long viaduct. At this stage the wind really made its presence felt as at least twice I nearly came off the bike such was its power!
There were no more on-road sections for the remainder of the ride, save for a couple of hundred metres to Lincoln station, and a little after 12pm I rocked up there, bike and rider caked from head to toe in mud. The forecasted rain never really came save for a scattering of showers lasting only a few seconds at a time. This was probably the only time I wished for a downpour so that at least some of the mud build up would wash away, but it wasn’t to be.
It had dried enough for me to wipe it down with my gloves, so I did just that in eager anticipation (or dread) that I may not have been allowed on the train home!
A cracking ride in less than cracking conditions, being a North Notts lad myself it was nice to be on the old stomping ground again and on two wheels at that!
34.9 in 2:46.
View: https://youtu.be/JtLsj1hfhVc
I was due a telling off to be fair. Updates all now posted. Had boy wonder and his girlfriend visiting for the last 3 weeks so very little cycling done. Back to it now though as I waved them off home at the weekend 
