[Closed] Tell me about........Leicester......

Leicester has a pretty good jump/bmx track in Western Park, Bradgate Park is nice to walk around, otherwise, it ain't the Mae West...

First multicultural city on Earth apparently!

take a road bike not a mountain bike, I've never lived anywhere with less bridleways, there aren't many cheeky trails either.
SE bit is probably the best but really it is all a bit of a s***hole.

It's shite. Utter utter shite. I moved 12 years ago and don't regret it for a second! Having said that, it's pretty good for a curry. As above, take a road bike

I live in scotland now but did live in leicester for quite a while. best places i found to ride are swithland woods,bradgate park, western park, martinshaw woods , and thringstone woods.

dryroasted +1
dont personally know Leicester as I'm more Derby but have ridden all those (largly cheeky) places and they can fill a few hours, which is plenty long enough when you have cannock or the Peaks within 60-90 mintes drive for anything more serious

Bradgate Park is nice for a walk / family day out too

No family walks or possibility to commute 60 miles for a ride, this is the full Alan Partridge style travel lodge existence.....

Doesn't sound hopefull!

Leicester is a shithole. For one.....I live nearby. That should be enough to put you off.

It's not worth taking your bike, the last time my brother went BMXing there he had to fight off a dozen Somalian lads (with only one mate to help) who tried to rob his bike.

A friend of mine was just murdered by 13 year olds, they beat him to death in the street last saturday for refusing to sell them alcohol.

Enjoy. If you want a nice day out and an easy XC ride, your best bet would be to get on the train to Oakham and cycle round Rutland water. It's rather pretty. Within striking distance by car are also Sherwood forest (okay), Wakerly (meh), Cannock Chase (good) and Chicksands (good).

Lived there for 3 years at uni and I liked it. Not amazing but it's small enough that all pubs, bars etc are in easy walking distance. Western Park is awesome if you're into jumps. The guys who build the jumps there are sound as well. Places in the centre and around the uni's are good for street if you're into bmx at all. Not anything to ride a mtb on though unless you like jumping on 26".

In my life I have had two bikeless years, one in Leicester and one in Barcelona. I walked or drove everywhere in Leicester, be careful on the buses. I disagree about multicultural, one token white does not make a class of 30 kids of the same ethnic origin multicultural.

Has no one mentioned crisps yet?

Hmm, that's a bleak picture painted of Leicester.
I've lived here all my life, albeit not in the city centre.
Yes, it's true, there are very few MTB paths/routes within riding distance. There must be 20 bridlepaths within 2 miles of me, yet they all have gates every few hundred metres, making a ride out exceedingly tedious.
The minor roads South are pleasant for road riding, very few cars around.
As for the violence, maybe I've lived in a sheltered cocoon, but I've never experienced anything as described above.
There are some areas where I wouldn't think of living in,but nowhere where I would not visit, or go to do jobs there.

Traffic is bloody awful. It is on a par with central London - yes really. Nowhere else (but London) has such a badly designed road system. So try and get somewhere close to where you are working.

A friend of mine was just murdered by 13 year olds, they beat him to death in the street last saturday for refusing to sell them alcohol.

Seriously Bwaarp sorry to hear about your mate, but this can't be representative of a city.

I would say that Leicester had more casual violence than anywhere else Ive been. Are you looking at my pint type brawls, but that's still shocking.

refuse to come,

its a s h i t hole

there is no riding (even the road stuff is pants) the people are ****y, the only way you would manage to have fun is if you bring a play bike and hang out at weston park, that's literally the highlight of living in the depressing hellish scrotum of the uk

I live near Leicester and the first thing I would say is try to be 'billeted' out of the city, but on a train line.

There is good(ish) MTBing to be had, but you need to ride the naughty stuff early to avoid being chased by rangers (aka the fun police). You can string together a reasonable 60% offroad route of 20 miles in Charnwood Forest if you don't mind riding footpaths and outrunning rangers in landrovers (anyone local knows where I am talking about). I can do a 110m height gain climb pretty much out of my front door, where there's hills, there's thrills - you just have to avoid people who want to clamp down on any form of enjoyment at all.

I have to agree with the 'casual violence' quote, though. I often said to my uni mates when we went out in Newcastle that there were lots of scuffles in the Bigg Market, but that they were almost governed by some unwritten code, in Leicester, there would have been at least ten people involved.

I've been out on the lash in countless towns and cities in Britain, and the only place I've been that's more intimidating is Oldham. You know, that kind of 'there's something bubbling under the surface in this place and it's going to kick off' feeling you get.

On the plus sides, though - very, very good for a curry and all manner of indian food and the best rugby team in the country!

dannyh has it pretty well summed up. If you end up south of Leicester, there's a town called Market Harborough which my brother is manager of the LBS, the owner runs a MTB club that I helped set up years ago, Cats MTB. They do regular rides so could be worth looking up. Train into the center of Leicester is sub 15m I think

transapp is that the bike shop opposite Emerson & Wests that do the loverly hot pork and beef rolls?

yep, that's the one

Keep meaning to pop and have a look when i'm over that way.

Had the odd scrap in my uni days in Leicester, loved my time there, can't ever remember it being the centre of violence tho! It is 15 yrs ago tho and I do remember back then tbe odd bit of racial tension!

Lived around the area on and off all my life and can't say I've ever felt intimidated ever when I've been out. Lots of cultures mixing together well on the whole. It is no different to any other city in the country, they all have areas that are a bit dodgy just be careful if you go to them. . . . . . . Thinking about it I am hard a nails though! 😉

ell me about........Leicester......

It's the capital of India ... no?

😆

I'm not exactly soft but quit (as in walked out with my girlfriend in tow half way through a class) a Leicester school rather than have to defend myself (which given the way the system works would have resulted in me being suspended and prosectuted rather than the thugs). My female head of department had already been punched in the face by the thug and there was a burnt out car in the teachers' car park (the thug was threatening to burn my car amongst other things). I would like to thank the thugs for provoking some of the best decisions I've ever made - including leaving Leicester.

Never once felt unsafe in Leicester, you guys must have been in some really shit areas!

Did a pub refurb on Belvoir Street many years ago. They pronounce it Beaver Street, crazy cats, all of them!

I used to live at the top of Belvoir Bank, pronounced Beaver Bank.

Smart people them leicesertshirians.

Oh yes, mate of mine had a hair dressers on belvoir street. Not a bad area and close to the bars etc. I lived near to Filbert street, and then on East Park Road, both quite shit areas, however all my scrapes were nowhere near where I lived and in the bars in the city centre (both the normal and the Indian centres)
Still freakin hate the place.

Don't think im helping the op somehow!

Cheese ?

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beaumont_Leys ]Avoid[/url]

Google "beaumont leys assault" if you doubt the above posters who point to high levels of violence in parts of the city.

Lived in leic for most of my life,cant say im sorry to have it in the rear view mirror now though, martin shaw woods, trails round mount sorrel and the bomb hole near croft hill are all good sports for a ride.
As for it being rough in the town, it can get bad (match days,jd sports sale,etc) but no worse than anywhere else ive lived, malvern, london and dorset inc, everywhere has chav's and scum bags these days, just a sad fact,,,, But I wouldnt let the stories posted above put you off altogether

Smart people them leicesertshirians.

[url= http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Matthew%27s,_Leicester ]St. Matthews - statistically the most income deprived area of Britain[/url]

Edit: Beaumont Leys - pah, there's a police station there. Even the police daren't take on the Somalian gangs in St Matthews...

wow, leicester sounds bad, but to be fair, i feel uneasy there these days, i've never found unease on ethnics grounds, but the mix is different now.

The ridings not great, the 'decent' places have been named but theres round staunton harold which is ok.

I dont agree with the crapness of road riding, in my part of leics, there great lanes stretching to hinckley and into warks, you can go east into the wreake and onto rutland and south leics is nice. Really good road scene also.

Ashbyalien

organdonor,

when i was in lri having my elbow reattached i was in abed next to a st matthews scag head. He'd broke his leg jumping over the railings on the inner ring road, got his foot caught in the top and ripped his leg apart.

aa,

nice.

When I was in LRI having a cast taken off my arm, the guy before me in reception to have his (arm) cast removed had the exact same name as me...

Leicester - a place of wonderful coincidences?

lol.

Lri, not a happy place to be.

Lovely aneathnatist (sp) aa i remember

Also, everyone in Leicester is ****ing ugly. During a day out in the city center...One in about 100 women is attractive or non-obese, on a day out in Oxford, even in the parts around Blackbird Leys, it's more like 1 in 10.

I feel attractive in Leicester and I look a bit like Pete Doherty which tells you something.

BTW, where are all these illegal trails? I need to find them! Can anyone suggest some more decent rides in the Leicestershire region? Or want to meet up for a ride? I don't mind dodging rangers.

Swithland woods
Braggy Park
Weston Park
Belvoir loop

That is the sum total of riding here, there is the odd decent bridle way but they join nothing.

If you find said illegal trails tell me where they are.

Bit further out of Leicester between Whitwick and Thringstone, the trails through Cademan and Grace Dieu woods are good, quite a few different routes to choose from. You can also include Whitwick Quarry, Bardon Hill and Blackbrook Reservoir if you want a longer ride. 😉

oi, thats my patch, don't you go bringing outsiders in... 😉

specially them good looking charismatic ones!

Sounds like a few people have had bad experiences of Leicester, but in all honesty it’s not much different from any other city of a similar size in the UK. It has some rough areas, but as a contrast a few of us were in the city centre this Saturday, had a few beers in a couple of nice bars followed by a very decent Italian, all very civilised and completely harmless.

There is loads of mountain biking once you get away from the city, and where I live in South Leics a thriving mountain biking community. It’s not technical, but there are miles and miles of bridleways for XC style riding – and this very quickly gets you into quite beautiful typical English countryside with great pubs. There are a couple of very good cycle clubs, and the FNSS series is great fun.

I’ve lived in the area 12 years now, and I’m pretty well travelled – it really isn’t as bad as some on here would have you believe. One myth though – the curries are pretty average compared to the West Midlands or Bradford!

‘Harry too’ – drop me an email once you get here, we’ll take you out for a ride one evening and show you a few places that will put a smile on your face I’m sure.

Worked in Leicester for a year and a half. Lived in Nottingham, really don't like Leicester. Nothing going for it, when you have Nottingham only 30/40 mins away.

Having said that Leicestershire countryside is nice, no mountains, but nice.

I worked there on/off for 2-3 years, living the full Alan Partridge Travel Tavern experience.

I can't quite explain why (although the Partridge bit didn't help!), but I didn't like the place at all -Much less so than other places I've spent time in, some of which haven't been particularly nice.

It may be superficial (and I may well be wrong), but there didn't seem to be quite the basic friendliness from the locals that you get in most places in the UK, north and south.

One positive: As others have said, riding a road bike around the quiet roads of the amusingly-named villages in the surrounding area can be quite nice.

Given the choice, I'd live nearer to Nottingham.

ive lived in a few places but hail from leicester and its where i live now. i have never felt intimidated here. nights out can get a bit dodgy, as can anywhere else ive lived. but i wouldnt go out in the city centre anywhere on my own.
there is very little mtb action to be had. the places that are mentioned above are ok but just be careful. my advice is stick some slicks on your mtb and go out towards market bosworth. loads of quiet roads for you to while away the evenings.
so far as places to stay, there are loads of hotel in the city centre. having a house here ive never stayed in any. the travel lodge next to the station is very recently refurbished so is probably worth a look. if you want to stay out side the city then the marriot or the hilton that are down near junction 21 are both supposed to be quite nice. again there is a hotel in Blaby
http://www.brook-hotels.co.uk/hotels/brook-westfield-house-hotel-leicester
this is quite nice and is an easy commute into town if you are working in the city centre. especially on the bike as you can do it almost entirely without going on the road on a paved disused railway line.
just like anywhere there are good and bad places to go. but all these tales of it being like somekind of war zone just doesnt match my experience of the city i was born in and continue to live in.

bwaarp, real sorry to hear that about your friend. that is real shitty.

Lol at the comments here!

To be honest MTB'ing is not great in Leicestershire unless your just interested in XC. There are a few bridlepaths etc but you just have to wonder around and try and find them.

Love the Leicestershire Countryside though for road biking and really miss it now I live in Surrey.

bwaarp.

The 'illegal' stuff is not really the stereotypical trails that only a few people know about in some rich blokes woodland - it is more footpaths and specifically 'no bikes' stuff that can get you into an altercation.

Think Bradgate Park - highest point to lowest point? Beacon hill - same.

You get the idea. Just be there late or early and you should be fine.

The stuff over near Whitwick - especially Cademan and Gracedieu has some really quite good bits in it - and a less snotty attitude.

By the way, I didn't encourage you to do any of this - I don't want a trolling off a load of people who live in areas that are great for riding and can afford to keep to bridleways and waymarked trails.

Oh and one more thing about cycling in Leicester - Julie's Cycles - what a laugh. I've met random riders on two separate occasions in the Peaks and Pennines and got chatting - they were still familiar with this shop - don't go there! They are condescending, cliquey and generally unpleasant and they try to flog all sorts of mis-sized or inappropriate stuff to newbies. I cannot think of a good word to say about the place.

I also agree that Curries in Broadford are generally superior to Leicester (if you go mainstream), but there are some cracking curryhouses in Leicester anyway.

LOL Julie's cycles,,,,,,,,,, Dannyh that is spot on! I had an ex go in there to buy me an xmas prezzy as she thought, humm bike shop, he likes biking etc etc. I got a lg sleeved training top made by speedo.Yes that well known as a cycling brand! Size XXL because im 6,3? The fact i was built like a cyclist (eg 73kg) didnt come into it. Great days,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Thanks Julie's for keeping us guessing at Christmas

i used to work in julies up to 2002. most of the above is spot on. and and major contributing factor in why i left.
that said, websters arent any better. in fact i'd say they are worse.

I've lived in Leicester all my life and now live in a suburb on the edge of Charnwood and agree with what’s been said about the riding, not great for MTB but lovely for road riding.

I will disagree about the violence etc. I've been to a lot of the bigger cities in England on drinking weekends and Leicester isn't really any different. There are some pretty crappy areas to live but you get that in all cities don't you?

Pretty bad picture that some others are painting tbh!

I live in Anstey, about 4 miles as the crow flies from the city centre and the picture most contributors are posting couldn't be more different from my experience. Granted I would never live in the city but it's far from the war zone many would have you believe it is, infact Nottingham is far worse IMO.

As echoed above, MTB is limited to tracks and bridleways, some fun stuff but not MTBing as many would recognise it. the road riding is good though and lots of pretty handy racers have hailed from these parts.

+1 fathomer. it aint all bad in Leicester... Plus there's quite a few strong riders come out of Leic over the years both on and off road so its not all that bad for riding,,,,,,,,,

I disagree about the websters staff,

they have always been spot on and friendly every time i've been in there, the new place is amazing (if not a little bit too specialized)

if thats 'amazing' you have very low standards! 😉

Websters in the old days (90's) was awful. Don't know about these days, but back then it was mainly just Martin sitting there in the dark, practicing the look of someone who's just bitten into something rotten.... abit concept store like, if the concept was, a trolls cave......

Websters were on some itv programme about improving your business. Some expert went in and suggested a load of changes, one of which was cheer up a bit. When they did the revisit some time later, they'd changed nothing. When challenged as to why Martin basically said 'I didnt want to'
I've never met anyone as rude as him. And I used to work for ken at julies!

toppers3933 that is a great story, id love to see that programme.. I think when they opened bike park things started to improve for a short while, but with Mr Rathbone working for them at that time, it was always going to go to back to sh#it in the end... 😉

i did have a look for it to post a link so it didnt sound like i was talking crap. cant find it though. so make of it what you will.