Rampton & the Butcher's Brew with the ETA lads!

Sunday Lakeside circuit with Pat

Sutton on Trent Solo : Murky start: Bright finish!

Ride 542: First of 2026 on a bitterly cold day! 🥶🚴‍♀️🥶

Tickhill walk (pt 2)

Tuesday would deliver a rare fine, bright day in the midst of what has, for the most part, been a wet and gloomy January.  Having swapped routemaster duties with Roy, it presented an opportunity to come up with a route that would appeal to all five ETA regulars! As always, the process of route planning would  begin with getting the right cafes in the right places. Two candidates immediately popped into my head:  The Village Hall at Rampton and The Butcher's Brew at Sutton on Trent. The former is an old, treasured favourite with impeccable credentials.  The second, a brand new discovery that impressed me just four days ago on one of my solo meanderings. The other key factor would be the wind. Peaking in the afternoon at around 16 mph from the southeast, it would for the bulk of the outward journey as far as Carlton on Trent, be a constant thorn in our sides! Compensation, though, would come late in the day, as we reap the benefits of that same wind on a fabulously enjoyable 20 miles sprint back north to the cars.
 
The adventure would begin at 9.40am at South Wheatley. The sun had still not broken through as we set tracks south towards Sturton and Cottam. The impact of the head wind soon becomes apparent, raising dramatically my heart rate on my new fitness watch. The opportunity of a breather near Littleborough is eagerly taken. Despite this, we make the 9 miles to Rampton in decent time and settle down in the warmth of the hall to enjoy our usual £2 's bargain of coffees and teacakes. The real grind begins from here. Through East Drayton, we climb steadly on the main road to Tuxford and pick up the Great North Road to Weston.  With little wind protection hereabouts, I make a spur of the moment decision to alter the route.  Rather than climbing to Ossington, I opt to take the direct route to Carlton before turning 180° back north for a slightly earlier 12.30 pm lunch at Sutton. With tiring legs,  it proves a wise (and popular)  choice!

Having already rung the BB from home at 9am to confirm our booking for 5 cyclists, it's reassuring to find a table available. All the positive vibes I had picked up last week are reinforced as I enjoy one of the best filled salad baps I have eaten. It's a marriage made in heaven. A fresh bread roll crammed with corned beef, salad, tomatoes, Branston Pickle and some great homemade coleslaw. The item that really elevates it to greatness, though, is a liberal helping of beetroot. Unusually, the pots of tea that arrive turn out to be Earl Grey. I like the stuff, but it's not to everyone's taste!!

While the first 24 miles have been testing, the final 20 are a breeze. Rejuvenated by my Beetroot and Earl Grey, I feel like a dog let off the lead as the ETA peloton proceeds wind assisted at a speed that would have been impossible just an hour ago. To compensate for the omission of the Ossington section, I throw in a few extra loops that will take us around the Marnhams, then past the High Security Hospital at Woodbeck and culminating in the little diversion via the Windmill at North Leverton. After a last bench break at Sturton for biscuits and a bit of  good natured chit-chat , we make South Wheatley in some glorious late afternoon sunshine. After that gruelling start, my third ride of the New Year has turned out rather well!

9 °C Wind 16 mph SE


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David Marfleet

Rampton & the Butcher's Brew with the ETA lads!

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Rampton & the Butcher's Brew with the ETA lads!

Sunday Lakeside circuit with Pat

Sutton on Trent Solo : Murky start: Bright finish!

Ride 542: First of 2026 on a bitterly cold day! 🥶🚴‍♀️🥶

Tickhill walk (pt 2)

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