Month: September 2022

With the Wednesday ride postponed a day due to bad weather, four Wheelers met at PC on a bright and calm Thursday morning, for the inaugural visit to the recently re-opened Gressenhall White Swan. With the roads dry, the only evidence of the previous day’s deluge was a lot of debris washed into the roads.
Our fairly direct route took us south to Itteringham, through Heydon Park, Reepham, across the A1067 at Sparham, down to Elsing and then west to Swanton Morley, Hoe and Gressenhall.

The White Swan is now run as a community pub and has undergone a full renovation and is now a very comfortable and well-appointed venue, with plenty of tables inside and out, a wide menu choice, good coffee and a number of local beers.
As a result we enjoyed a leisurely lunch and were all impressed with our meals. Eventually we had to leave and head home and with less sun in the afternoon it was a little cooler but still a great day to be out enjoying the Norfolk countryside.
Our route home took us to East Bilney, Brisley, where the Bell car park looked full, Bintree Mill and up the climb, where at the top we saw the first sugarbeet heap of the season. Then on to Foulsham, Briston, Edgefield and a tour of the ponds at Hempstead and Selbrigg, where two turned left for High Kelling and two turned right to return to PC.

PC to PC was 56 miles, with 2350ft/716m of climbing at a fairly leisurely 13.8 mph average.
Andrew B, Ian A, Graham A and Mark leading.

A group of six Wheelers managed to dodge all the localised heavy showers, at least until the last rider on the road caught up with a downpour in the last mile and a half. The route west to the Courtyard Cafe went by way of the Heaths, the Downs and Cockthorpe Common, dropping steeply towards Stiffkey to climb back out over Battledore Hill (ranked 155,850th UK climb) to Fiddler’s Hill crossroads, Wighton, Crabbe Castle, descending Whin Hill, climbing back up to South Holkham and the long descent through the Holkham estate. It was warm enough to sit outside for the break and discuss ‘winter’ tyres. Both Holkham and Wells were very busy today.

The rather longer route home headed inland from Wells Quay, through Warham, Binham, Sharrington, Brinton, Briningham, Burgh Parva, Hindolveston, Nethergate (where Neil Mc headed for home), Thurning, the Rookery Farm detour to Briston, over the Pond Hills to Hempstead and the last few miles via Baconsthorpe to a split at Red Barn Lane.

Climbing the long drag from Briston to Edgefield one rider was stung on the throat by a wasp and instinctively unzipped the neck of his jacket to remove the culprit. On arriving home and taking off the the jacket however a wasp flew out and buzzed round his ear.

Group: Chris; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 65 miles to 77 miles // 2982 feet of climbing on PC to PC 62 miles route.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2024076?units=km

Four Wheelers met at PC, including regular Saturday rider Neil S, although he could only join us for a short distance as he had a busy day planned but was able to get a few miles into his legs.
The remaining three continued on a tour of small villages and even smaller roads, which would have been even better if the forecast sun had made an appearance and taken the chill off the day, however there was no wind at all which was appreciated after last Saturday’s windy ride.
Our route took us through Lower Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Alby Hill, Thwaite, the back road to Ingworth, Itteringham Common where Graham A had a front puncture (flint, Michelin Lithion), Irmingland, Little London, Briston, Stody, Thornage and a short ride on the A148 to our lunch stop.
The café was fairly busy for a Wednesday lunchtime, however, the service was good, the coffee was praised and our filled ciabattas were excellent.
So, after a leisurely break, we reversed our route back to Thornage, then went to Hunworth, up the hill ( a favourite of Graham’s) to Edgefield, back to Little London, Saxthorpe, past the Mannington and Wolterton estates, Lower Street, Barningham Winter, Up Wood and past the pylon.
As Ian turned left for High Kelling, the remaining duo went through West Beckham back to PC.

PC to PC 48 miles – An enjoyable ride out on dry, occasionally gravelly roads with good company.
Graham A, Ian A, Neil S briefly and Mark leading.

Six met at PC on a windy, showery morning for a club run to the Station Cafe at Reepham by way of a long loop out to the east coast at Mundesley. The cafe was busy, but the food was good. The planned shorter leg home was a southerly detour into the Wensum valley, but some people didn’t fancy shoving the strong northerly for the last twenty miles back to the north coast, so an on the cog impromptu route was followed, via Great Witchingham, Blackwater Equestrian Centre, Jordan Green, Themelthorpe, Foulsham, Guestwick (from where Neil Mc turned for home), Nethergate, Burnthouse, Craymere, Briston, Baconsthorpe and the final drag up Bodham Hill to Red Barn Lane.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Ian W; Ian A; Harvey; Chris.

Distances: 57 miles to 73 miles.

One puncture: – Large flint in front Gatorskin. This was only four miles into a thirty eight miles morning leg, so it was decided that the bunch would continue, while the victim sorted the problem before short-cutting to the break. During the course of the shortcut John Morgan and his training ride partners were crossed.

Four wheelers (including a new member Ian) met at PC for a ride to the Stiffkey Stores Cafe on a calm warm day. The route took us through Gresham, Bessingham, Matlaske, Itteringham, Corputsy, Hindolveston, Fulmodeston, Barney, Thursford, Hindringham and Wighton. A good pace was kept up and on arrival at the café we found a good table outside. The choice of food was limited but good quality and we all ordered tea/coffees with cakes form the large selection. This was all good and the brownies were particularly popular, no doubt due to their size! The route back at a much slower pace as it included five climbs, taking us was through Binham, Langham, Blakeney, Wiveton, Salthouse, Kelling and High Kelling. The route through Salthouse was a slight deviation to the original plan being suggested by Mark which afforded some great views of the coast. An enjoyable ride in excellent weather.

PC to PC 51 miles

Average speed 14.9 mph           Total Elevation 1789ft

Mark, Ian, Graham A and Andrew Bassett leading.

For a range of reasons, there were several Wheelers missing today, so five set out from PC on a contorted route that would take them to the Courtyard Cafe at Pensthorpe via Little Thornage and Little Snoring airfield. They were joined at the cafe by Geoff on one of his twice weekly fifty milers. The bunch were able to sit out in the courtyard for their break as the heavy clouds over Fakenham and the Wensum valley failed to produce any precipitation. In fact, at the end of an unsettled week of thundery showers, today proved to be a good cycling day, featuring warm sun, impressive cloud formations and a fresh northerly wind. After the refuelling stop, Geoff headed home on the traditional route, while the bunch of five followed a more southerly route back by way of Wood Norton, Foulsham and Guestwick, from where Neil Mc turned south for home.

Group: Chris; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S + Geoff at Pensthorpe.

Distances: 62 miles to 75 miles.

One shipped chain (nineteen times). Probable diagnosis: too much chain for the chosen drive train set up, which the victim/miscreant was ‘test riding’ – viz. 36 tooth chainring, Regina 5 block, old rear mec and new chain. In hindsight, it would have been more sensible to check the chain length at the cafe and cut out a few links. – PS. It turned out to be sticking pawls in ‘new’ Regina freewheel.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2026070?units=km

Four riders, led by Graham A set off from Pretty Corner on route to Guist to visit the cafe at the Post Office. The route went on familiar roads to Edgefield, Hunworth, Stody, Brinton. At Gunthorpe the riders turned to ride to Swanton Novers and the B1110 for a short distance. Soon a left turn was made to Hindolveston and southwards reaching Wood Norton. From here navigational uncertainties began. From Twyford the route intended went to Upper Guist and Andrew followed this. The other three intrepid riders took advice from Mark and took a direct route to Guist on a disused and overgrown metalled road, braving some nettles. We all reached the PO cafe together. After refreshment Andrew left for Holt alone to meet a planned appointment and the three remaining riders went back via Bintree Mill to Foulsham and Themelthorpe. Using various lanes passing Odessa Farm, Saxthorpe was reached. Rather than going directly back to PC on the planned route it was decided to go via Irmingland and Itteringham to Matlaske and then back to PC.

PC to PC 49.5 miles

Graham J, Mark, Andrew and Graham A leading