Cycling UK Lincolnshire 95th Anniversary

Starting at the Meridian Leisure Centre Louth today were Ty Harness, John Rickett, Paul Linder (having ridden in from Alford), Alan Hockham, Tim Newbery and guest rider Owen Koslow hoping to meet up with Cycling UK Lincoln riding from Lincoln to Ludford (they unfortunately had to shorten their ride as the weather forecast was for strong westerly winds). Chris Owen had indicated that he would meet us at the Viking Way Café and Martin Wood sent his apologies for his absence due to illness. 

 

CTC Lincolnshire DA’s first meeting was exactly 95 years ago at the White Hart Inn, Ludford. We are still cycling the same roads as our illustrious elders. Things have changed maybe not for the better. There's no getting lost anymore with GPS unless the batteries run out. Not sure the road surface has improved but as so often pointed out to us these days by car drivers we don't pay a road fund license.

 

A brand new "roadster" bicycle in the 1930’s would set you back £7 10s possibly available from Grundy's Cycles in Aswell Street Louth. The Raleigh Club Model was a traditional all steel frame sporting single speed by standard. Looks like you had to pay extra for a freewheel and a back brake. Mr Jack Rossiter paid for the upgrade to a 3 speed Sturmy Archer gearing system and claimed the Land’s End to John O Groats record 2 days 13 hours 22 mins on the 22nd August 1929 which stood for 5 years. 

 

Available today from Louth Cycle Centre for around £3600 you can purchase a Merida Scultura Endurance Rival Edition 2025 model: A carbon fibre frame (endurance geometry wait! what?) with 2x12 electronic shifting. No mudguards as standard. It does at least come with a rear brake as standard, room to fit mudguards and allow wider tyres and a multi-tool in the saddle pack we were pleased to see. Quality tyres these days mean less punctures.

 

As always, it’s been the rider' legs on the day. The Land’s End to John O Groats record now stands at 43 hours 25 mins 13 seconds by Michael Broadwith set in 2018. We won’t be breaking either of those records any time soon even on the most advanced technology. 

 

The weather today is a warm strong Westerly wind 20mph and gusting up near 35mph with a top temperature of 18 Degrees Celsius expected by 13.00 but our resident meteorologist Tim Newbery has raided the met office archives to inform us that 95 years ago the weather was a chilly, cloudy and a breezy north easterly with a top temperature just 12 Degrees Celsius.

 

Promptly leaving at 9.30 am heading due north around Brackenbough Bends and taking a left along the exposed Ings Lane to Utterby. Turning left into Church Lane and passing by St. Andrew’s church and the pack horse bridge built by the Gilbertine Monks of the 14th Century. 

 

Following the Barton Street for a mile and turn left to ascend into North Ormsby (or Ormsesbi in the Doomsday book) where the earthworks from the Gilbertine Priory can still be seen. The meandering mile up through North Ormsby climbs around 80 m. This is a favourite hill for our club, especially Paul. 

 

Turn right and then first left will take us past the RAF Kelstern War Memorial where we need to be careful to take the Great Tows Road to join the Louth Road just west of Ludford. Then travelling east into Ludford passing the St. Mary's with St. Peter's church and the White Hart Inn we will go a little further to meet Chris Owen at the Viking Way Café. 

The Viking Way Café offers some great food and Paul's avocado and poached eggs on toast looked delicious. 

 

After the riders had been fed and watered, we all travelled back to the White Hart for another photo opportunity where many of us are hoping to make the centenary ride in 2030. We said goodbye to Chris as he would make his way home to Cleethorpes via Ravendale and ‘aurevoir’ to Paul who had urgent business in Louth. We then headed east out of Ludford to take a left down through Girsby Lane (aka the Viking Way.) Being mainly road cyclists, we’ll follow the road through Girsby down to the (A157) Lincoln-Louth road and turn left through Burgh of Bain. 

 

We pass St. Helen's Church on our left but will again have to climb up to the Viking Way with Grim’s Mound on our left then descend to Grimblethorpe crossing the River Bain and turning immediately right in to Gayton le Wold with its Grade II* listed church of St. Peter and then onto and through the medieval village of Biscathorpe. 

 

Travelling through the beautiful scenery of Biscathorpe Park and fording the river twice we will head towards Donnington on Bain. Well at least John forded the Bain but the rest of us took the foot bridges. 

 

We have the chance of several stops in Donington either St. Andrew's for divine inspiration or the Post Office Pantry, Jenny Ward's Shop or the Black House Public House for a drink stop. We decided to push on to Scamblesby. 

We would also say goodbye to Owen as he would return to Louth via Manor Hill and Hallington needing to get home early to watch the Giro and Nottingham Forest's last match of the season. That leaves Ty, Tim, John and Alan heading towards Scamblesby where we passed St. Nicholas' Church, Stenigot and then the privately owned St. Peter's Church in Asterby. 

 

Crossing over the A158 into Scamblesby we took a detour up Waterery Lane just to look at the stunning views of the Wolds from St. Martin's church yard. 

 

We then climbed out of Scamblesby via Rowgate Hill which is always a tough climb made doubly hard by being the last leg of the ride. Fortunately, Alan's and Tim’s (new) batteries were still at 20% capacity and made light work of it. We caught a glimpse of Haugham All Saints Church which is often mistaken for St. James, Louth because the spire was modelled on St. James' church but the All Saint’s church is a much smaller scale. 

 

Crossing the London Road (A16) we will go down through Haugham Reedings (pronounced affum if you're not a local) with its ancient woodlands, Stone age neolithic burial grounds (not open to the public) plus it's well known for nesting ravens but we did not hear the distinctive call of the Raven today. A thrilling descent into the "chocolate box" village of Little Cawthorpe. We couldn't miss a photo opportunity at the duck pond with the new thatched cottages in the background and onto ‘The Splash’ Pub. Again, John preferred to ride through the Beck. 

 

One last push along the Louth - Mablethorpe Road (A157) back into Louth. We were back at the Meridian Leisure Centre for 14:20 to take a well earned rest, a final coffee and to reunite with Paul Linder.