Month: July 2021

Seven North Norfolk Wheelers turned out for the 100K crescent-shaped route to Jane’s Coffee Corner. It was good to see Chris B getting back into the swing of things after the trials and tribulations of recent years.

Outward bound went straight to Corpusty, then Wood Dalling, Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Great Heath, Horningtoft, Whissonsett, South and West Raynham to the cafe on the village green at East Rudham. The return face of the crescent was via Broomsthorpe, Helhoughton, Raynham Hall, East Raynham, Colkirk, Ryburgh, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Hindolveston, Briston, Baconsthorpe and Bodham Hill to a parting of the ways at West Beckham.

Apart from a few spots, the weather remained pleasantly cool and dry until close to home where light rain set in for twenty minutes, but the bunch managed to avoid the evident downpour that had soaked the Beckham and Bodham area.

Group: Neil; Mark; Harvey; Graham A; Geoff; Chris; Brian.

Distances: from mid-60s up to 77 miles.

And finally, the answer to Geoff’s East Rudham club run question is ————- Chris Humble.

Six riders met at Pretty Corner for the ride to the ever popular Station Café at Reepham (now open 7days/week). It was good to welcome back Chris B after a long absence, riding his great looking titanium/carbon Merlin. Setting off into a noticeable SSW wind and ominous clouds, the clockwise route via, Gresham, Metton, Hanworth, Calthorpe, Ingworth, Silvergate to Oulton Street, avoided most of the wind.  The run from Oulton Street to Swannington was unable to avoid the breeze, but then we headed west and north through Alderford and the back lanes into Reepham. Despite the lack of sun, the day was warm and we enjoyed our lunch outside. As the Tour was tacking two ascents of Mont Ventoux, Kevin was sporting a Mont Ventoux shirt he got after cycling up it himself, chapeau Kevin.

Jane had met us at the café and joined the ride home, while Chris headed back to Aylsham, which kept the numbers the same. Opting for the less travelled route back to Briston, via Kerdiston and Guestwick, our navigator mistook a goat track for a road, though with the mud, gravel and grass growing down the middle of many back lanes, they can be hard to tell apart, or so he claims! At Briston, John S opted to head directly to PC, reluctantly missing out on the Stody, Hunworth, Edgefield hill climbing section! At Stody, Graham A decided a rest was required and arranged a puncture (Vittoria Rubino Pro for those keeping score at home). Suitably rested we tackled the hill to Edgefield and on to Baconsthorpe, West Beckham and back to PC. 

PC to PC was 48 miles and no showers.

Andrew B, Graham A, Kevin, John S, Chris B, Jane and led by Mark

A combination of unsettled weather and a range of commitments meant that numbers varied and tended to be a little lower than the post-lockdown surge during the April drought.

28/5 – this was the Bruce Memorial Ride. John H joined five of the regulars for a ride that called at Felmingham church for a chat with Heather before following a lot of lanes to the Lighthouse Inn to refuel in the beer garden. With the route file loaded into their Garmins a vanguard of two were well into their pints of Spanish and Belgian beer before the others arrived. The return route headed inland before heading north to Mundesley and the quiet lanes by way of N and S Repps, Sally Bean’s, Metton and Felbrigg.

Ben; Brian; Geoff; Harvey; Malcolm; Mark.

5/6 – Brian was away sailing at a busy Rutland Water, while Ben, Scott and others were committed to work or family, so only four enjoyed a brilliantly varied route via Frettenham and Mayton bridge, calling at Coltishall for large Dollie’s Buns, tea and coffee.

One early puncture in a front Rubino at Lower Gresham.

Mark; Harvey; Graham; Geoff.

12/6 – there were nine at Pretty Corner on a bright and breezy day with a lot of sun and a west north westerly moving northerly – i.e. lovely clear conditions. The route went over the Heaths and the Downs to Cockthorpe Common, Binham, Copy’s Green, Crabbe Castle, Quarles and Egmere before descending back to the Stiffkey valley at Little Walsingham for refreshments on the courtyard. In-bye came via Hindringham, Thursford, Gunthorpe, Pigg’s Grave, a bit of the B1110 to Briningham, then Burgh Parva, Hindolveston, Guestwick, Odessa, Heydon Road, Saxthorpe and the split at Barningham Winter.

Brian; Geoff; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Ian; Mark; Neil; Scott covered a range of distances up to 74 miles.

2 ferrets fighting at Lower Bodham. 2 red kites in the South Holkham area, one very close and impressive in the excellent light.

18/6 – Early drizzle and a lot of surface water from Friday’s deluge kept the numbers down. Brian, Mark and Harvey set off for the Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall, following an unconventional route taking in Baconsthorpe, Briston, Thurning, Guestwick, Themelthorpe, Foxley, Bylaugh, Worthing and Gorgate. To the south of Worthing, the trio noticed a cyclist in a gateway fixing an unauthorised deflation. This turned out to be none other than 2019 NNW punctures champion Geoff (“these are good tyres”) P, who joined us for the rest of the trip. The menu at the Mardler’s Rest cafe was temporarily restricted to sandwiches, sausage rolls and scones. The bunch of four headed home in improving weather by way of Beetley, Hoe (pulling into another private drive for GP to fix a second puncture, while another member of the group watered the rhododendrons in the garden free of charge; a more civilised member of the bunch hopped over the adjacent wall into the churchyard to water the nettles). The rest of route was Swanton Morley Eastgate, Elsing, up onto the high ground through Peaseland Green and Primrose Green via the dreaded concrete road (recently patched up with fresh tarmac, which was a nice surprise), the sharp descent to the Wensum, crossing at Lyng, and then the lanes to Witchingham, Furze Lane, Reepham Moor, Salle, Heydon and Itteringham.

Distances up to 72 miles.

2 punctures, front and rear to add to the front deflation suffered by the victim the last time out, on Wednesday.

25/6 – it was a murky start with some drizzle mid morning, but eight Wheelers were out, enjoying improving conditions culminating in good sunny spells.

The group took a fairly direct and reasonably fast route out to the now very popular Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn, thereby avoiding this establishment’s peak. Graham J, Neil and Brian sat outside in the north easterly, while Malcolm, Graham A, Mark, Geoff and Harvey stayed in the cafe. It was a longer and more varied way back, heading inland from Sea Palling to Hickling Heath, Sutton, Stalham, Brumstead and East Ruston Commons, Fox Hill, Crostwight, Edingthorpe Green, Pigney’s Wood, Swafield, Bradfield, Antingham, the Hanworth Timber short cut, Thwaite, Bessingham, Gresham and the final split at Red Barn Lane.

This was Malcolm’s last club run and everyone wished him all the best for a stress-free shift on the 30th.

4/7 – impromptu Sunday run to Reepham. The forecasts for Saturday were generally dire. The reality was little worse than poor, with periodic and localised chances of a soaking. Sunday was far better with a lot of sun and two short showers. Unfortunately, at least three of those who would have been out were otherwise committed. Four met at Gresham church, taking advantage of the well-situated bench to sit in the sun for 10 minutes before departure. It is tempting to switch the meeting point here, especially in summer, although only three can fit on the bench.

Brian, Geoff, Harvey and Neil followed a very impromptu anti-clockwise loop around the lanes, calling at Reepham station for re-victualling out front, where one member made the dubious claim that the hills of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire are the equivalent of the Buttertubs Pass between Swaledale and Wensleydale. The bunch then climbed over the ridge to the south to descend to cross the Wensum and turn home through Easthaugh to Attlebridge, climbing over to Swannington and back home via Haveringland church, Cawston, Itteringham, Wickmere and Bessingham before a couple of detours round Gresham and West Beckham to enable one rider to complete his 70 miles for the day. He is still recovering from the shock of arriving home to a reading of 69.88 miles on his Cateye!

Geoff; Neil; Brian; Harvey.

On the sharp climb at Easthaugh the bunch caught supercyclist Martin B, testing out his night tourer in preparation for the overnight London-Brighton in mid-July.

Approaching Lower Bodham there was a meeting with Chris B, who had been sharpening his toxophilitic skills at High Kelling. Chris, who was riding a 1980 British Racing Green King of Mercia, is threatening to join a few club runs before too long.

Seven riders met at PC on a drizzly summer’s day for a trip south to the Broads at Horning. The route to Coltishall took us through Sustead, Northrepps and Southrepps and then onto North Walsham. There was a slight detour at Walsingham to say goodbye to our ex-leader Malcolm who was moving house the same day. Alas we were too late! The group then carried onto Coltishall via Tunstead through quiet, and some very muddy lanes. Malcolm would not have been happy!

We were able to take lunch outside at Dollies and all enjoyed the substantially filled buns and beverages. After lunch John Sharples made his way home separately to nurse his ankle injury. The remainder of us made our way back via Lamas, Buxton, skirting around Aylsham on towards Aldborough. The group split shortly afterwards to make their different routes home.

PC to PC was 46 miles

Graham A, John S, Andrew B, Mark, Graham S and Kevin, led by Robert.