Ride and Stride 2025 – A Cycling Odyssey

Nick’s report

The day dawned with the sun shining but the forecast showing a chance of rain in the early afternoon. Starting from Colston Bassett, I had soon notched up my first two churches in St John and St Mary. After a warm greeting at Tythby, I moved on to Cropwell Bishop, where there was an excellent photographic display on the theme ‘All Things Bright and Beautiful’. On to Keyworth, via Cotgrave and Plumtree, and the sun continued to shine. I continued, by way of Stanton and Widmerpool, to Wysall. There I met another cyclist who hadn’t previously heard of the Ride and Stride, but had seen the signs and decided, there and then, to visit all the nearby churches! I then made my way back to Plumtree, visiting Bunny and Bradmore on the way.

.Click on the map to see a larger version.

I continued through Tollerton and on to Holme Pierrepont, where a wedding service was in progress. Not wishing to be disturbed by sweaty cyclists, they had thoughtfully provided a registration desk well away from the building! Around this time, the clouds started rolling in and by the time I got Radcliffe, the first few drops started to fall. Refreshing at first, it got somewhat harder on the way to Shelford and I was glad of a few minutes respite and a guided tour of the church. The rain eased and I made a dash for Gunthorpe, only to be caught in a downpour about a mile short of my destination. I met a group of six other cyclists on the road and together we arrived at St John the Baptist church like a bunch of drowned rats. We received a very warm welcome by a large group of parishioners and were plied with tea and cake for the period of about 20 minutes it took for the rain to ease. As the others moved on to Lowdham, I rode off in the opposite direction to East Bridgford, where I reached St Peter’s just as it started to rain again. After 10 minutes shelter I continued to the Methodist chapel in the dry, but then the heavens truly opened and I had to shelter for another 45 minutes! Then, Glory Be, the clouds moved on and the sun shone through a glorious blue sky! At that point, I had more-or-less dried out apart from very soggy shoes and socks which regrettably accompanied me for the remainder of the ride. I crossed the A46 and visited several churches in the Fosse and Cranmer Groups before returning to our own parish, visiting Elton, Granby and Langar.

Overall, I cycled over 60 miles and clocked up 40 churches, including all 7 in Wiverton in the Vale. Despite the rain, it was an enjoyable day which started and ended in sunshine and the ride was made that much easier with the knowledge that it would raise a fair amount of sponsorship for NHCT.

Thank you to everyone who has sponsored me already and, if you haven’t already done so, it is not too late to sign up. Find out how by clicking here.

Many thanks

Nick

You can read about Jake’s alternative ride, on a pony, by clicking here.