Town and Country

Sky Ride Local in Leicestershire

If you’re fairly confident on your bike and ready to broaden your cycling horizons, our Steady rides are ideal. At a comfortable pace, and possibly with some modest hills along the way, rides take place on mainly quiet roads with plenty of sights along the way. Rides are between 6 and 20 miles long, at a moderate pace of between 7 and 10 miles an hour.

We travel along no fewer than four (count them!) off road trails where the cycling will be relaxed and away from the noise and pollution of motor vehicles.  Within a mile of the start we will swing on to the Bosworth Trail and leave town for the North Leicestershire countryside.  After another mile and a half we pick up the Grace Dieu Trail and stop at the Priory.  The Iron Madonna sculpture is there, known locally as "Rusty Mary".   We will now be in sparsely populated country travelling up to Belton at the 5 mile point.  From here we will continue westwards on NCN15 which goes to East Midlands Airport.  At the 8 mile marker, with hill top views of Breedon Church looking as if it will tumble into the Cloud Quarry, we join the Cloud Trail (NCN6) and then pick up the off road route towards the Garendon Trail.  Here we will stop to admire the Drill Sculpture and climb up to the Viewing Point where you can see right into the quarry.  We then continue to the Osgathorpe village and back to Grace Dieu Priory before retracing the home stretch to Coalville. 

Additional Information

Helmets must be worn by all under 18's regardless of ride level.
Please bring equipment with you to repair punctures, Ride Leaders are there to help but are not responsible for your bike.
All rides leave at the time stated you must arrive early Ride Leaders will not wait. 

Meet the Ride Leaders

• Peter Condon
• Robert Robinson When I retired from my business at Christmas 2011 (just over 50 years as a Barber), I felt that I needed something to keep me active, so I decided to volunteer in order to put something back into the local community.
  
  I have an easy manner around people, as my occupation was first chatting to customers and second cutting their hair! I have a good knowledge of local cycling routes and I am looking forward to leading sky ride’s in the area .
  
  I joined Sustrans in 2012 as a Volunteer Ranger, covering the area from Ravenstone in Coalville to Wilson, near Castle Donington - most cyclists will have heard about the Cloud Trail which goes to Derby (Sustrans route No.6). This year I took on the role of Area Co-ordinator for Sustrans West Leicestershire, covering the area from Stoke Golding on the Warwickshire border to Wilson, on the Derbyshire border.
  
  I am a fit and active person,my interests have always been outdoor-based, and I enjoyed taking part in several sports - at a non-competitive level! I have also helped to form two walking clubs, one in Ibstock (which still meets occasionally) and a walking club for single people, which is still running. I have had lots of experience in leading walks and cycle rides in the past. I have recently completed my British Cycling Leader Course so that I can be involved in leading cycle rides in the County.
  
• Michael Bridge