Month: October 2022

Six Wheelers met at PC for the last Saturday ride before the clocks change and the afternoons become shorter.
Early morning rain had stopped by departure time, though the sky remained cloudy for a lot of the day with a weak sun failing to provide the forecast 18-20c temps. Wet roads, leaf mulch and the usual beet season mud meant all bikes needed a wash by the end of the ride.
The forecast South East becoming Southerly wind was non-existent for the initial leg to Edgefield and then it increased to provide a tail wind on the route West through Hunworth, Gunthorpe, Gt Snoring to East Barsham. We then followed the river Skiffkey through the Barshams to the Slipper Chapel where we caught up with a motorist in a stinking diesel van creeping along the road and stopping and berating every motorist coming the other way for driving too fast.

We eventually reached the café, to find that it was full and everything except baguettes and cake was sold out. Fortunately the sheltered courtyard meant we could enjoy our baguettes and Brian the last jacket spud, outside without getting cold.

Our route back was now into the wind from Gt Walsingham, Hindringham, Barney to Stibbard before turning East through Wood Norton to Guestwick where Neil Mc turned off for home. From Wood Dalling we headed mainly North, dropping off Brian and Chris B at Little London, so they could head further East for home. The remaining trio continued via Edgefield, Hempstead to Selbrigg lake where we caught sight of the swans and on to West Beckham and down Lodge Hill to Upper Sheringham to check out the mermaids on the village sign before going our separate ways in Sheringham.

Harvey, our regular Saturday ride leader and route planner extraordinaire has decided to take a rest from the Saturday rides over the winter, though you may well see him out and about on his bike during the week. He has very generously offered to continue his excellent planning of Saturday ride routes for our enjoyment.

Group: Brian, Chris S, Neil Mc, Graham A, Chris B, Mark

PC to PC 58 miles

Four wheelers met at PC for a ride to the Rising Sun pub at Coltishall on a warm but windy autumn morning. The route took us through Lower Gresham, Sustead, Aldborough, Swanton Abbot and Worstead, were we met up with John S, arriving a little late due to the strong wind and road closures. The group then continued to Coltishall via. Smallburgh and Ashmanhaugh. On arrival at the pub we were met by Malcom. As we all enjoyed a good lunch heavy rain started which looked alarmingly of it was set in for the afternoon. However, after a slightly extended lunch stop the rain stopped. This was fortunate as most of us had no waterproofs! The route back was through Baderfield, Burgh Next Aylsham, Tuttington, Banningham, Ingworth and Calthorpe, were Graham left us for home. We then continued to through Matlaske back to PC. Some slight re-routing was required due to more road closures. Remarkably we all arrived back dry.

PC to PC 47 miles

Average speed 14.4 mph           Total Elevation 1360 ft

Mark, Graham A, Ian and Andrew Bassett leading.

Seven North Norfolk Wheelers left Pretty Corner to pick up one at Gresham church and two more at Felmingham church, from where, after sorting out a puncture, the group of ten headed out through the lanes via Swanton Hill, Worstead and East Ruston to pick up the main coast road at Lessingham and a fast last five miles to the Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn. It had been anticipated that Malcolm would join us from the south, until we remembered that he had been down recently with a dose of Covid. Apparently however, despite the aftereffects of the virus as well as recent root canal treatment, he felt up for it this morning, set out for the Waxham rendezvous, but compromised en route, settling for refuelling at Martham Co-op, finishing up with a forty odd mile run out via the ferry.

The return route from Waxham travelled by way of Calthorpe Fen, Ingworth, Brunstead, Dilham, Sloley, the dual carriageway, Swanton Abbott, the ‘Skeyton Alps’ (where Neil S suffered severe cramping of quads and calves in both legs), Burgh (where Chris B departed), Aylsham and points north west and west, depending on the final destination of various individuals.

Group: Andrew; Brian (back from his long Iberian tour); Chris B; Chris S; Harvey; Ian A; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 39 miles to 79 miles.

Two punctures: One Schwalbe and one Gatorskin.

Healthy bunch of ten today: – Club run participation numbers dropped off significantly from around 2014 following a four or five year boom. Through 2015 to 2017 longer term viability seemed to be in serious doubt, with some club runs attracting as few as one to three riders. Since then, numbers have fluctuated unpredictably. For a range of reasons, principally associated with anno domini, we lost Geoff, Robin, Bruce, Trevor, Malcolm, David C, Barry, Ian S, Graham J, Scott and Ben. However, on the weekend before GMT, today’s bunch of ten seems to indicate that the current cohort, supplemented by several keen newer recruits, has consolidated to create a situation in which the group will be increasingly viable through into 2023 and beyond.

Two Wheelers, Duncan S and Mark set off from PC, heading west with a strong east wind on their backs, picking up Ian A at the Selbrigg junction, before passing the pond (no swans today) and on to Holt.
From the Cley road we took the rough road up to Bayfield Brecks and down to Glandford, up to Wiveton Downs and then to make up the miles we went through Saxlingham, Field Dalling, Langham, Cockthorpe, Binham, along the Wighton road to Nutwood Farm then to Fiddler’s Hill and onto the Warham road.

We arrived at the pub in good time and were given a large table by the warming fire. We were expecting Geoff P to join us but he apparently had a cleat issue and had to seek outside assistance in Briston and so disqualified himself from any lunch.
Instead, Geoff’s empty seat was taken by the surprise appearance of Jane A who had seen the venue on the website and decided to join us for a chat and a pie. It was great to see you again Jane, thanks for joining us.
After a long and enjoyable lunch it was time to venture back out into the wind and this time it wasn’t behind us.
An easy run south to Great Walsingham was followed by a harder more easterly route to Hindringham, Bale, Gunthorpe, Sharrington and Thornage before turning southwards through Hunworth, Edgefield Street to Corpusty. Where we dropped Duncan off before heading northwards visiting Mannington Hall, Squallham and Matlaske on the way back to PC.
Fortunately the hedges still in full leaf provided good shelter from a lot of the wind, which made the return journey a little easier.

PC to PC 53 miles with 2431ft/741m of climbing at a surprising 14.6mph average, it was a fast outward leg.
Duncan S, Ian A, Jane A and Mark M leading.
Next week’s ride (26th) is to the Rising Sun in Coltishall.

Four from Pretty Corner set out in emerging sunshine and strong south west wind to collect one more at Briston, but one was out only for a morning ride, turning off at Guestwick church. Feeling the aftereffects of a recent infection, another of the starters headed home early from Billingford, but Geoff turned up at the cafe on one of his regular Saturday 50-milers. The Mardler’s Rest was unexpectedly busy, but the food was up to its recent high standard.

The full route travelled by way of Growle Abbey, Craymere Beck, Themelthorpe, Foxley, Billingford, Waterfall Farm and the valley of the Blackwater to the break, returning with a welcome tailwind via Swanton Morley, Pennyspot Hill, Elsing, Bylaugh, Sparham, Kerdiston (where Neil Mc turned for home), Odessa, Wood Dalling (Jim headed north here to Melton Constable), Heydon Park, Itteringham and Baconsthorpe. Only Mark completed PC to PC today. More Wheelers are expected back next week to replenish the bunch.

On the route at some stage today were Neil Mc, Mark, Jim, Harvey, Graham A. Geoff made his own way to the Mardler’s cafe, which NNW have been visiting for many years now.

Distances: 40 miles to 64 miles.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2048580?units=km

Four Wheelers and holiday guest rider Ian R met at PC on an ideal autumn morning. It was dry with a moderate southerly wind but chilly to start the ride (two riders still in shorts!) though the occasional appearance of the sun helped warm things up.
While we were waiting to start, Geoff P stopped for a chat, he was in good spirits and was off on a 50 mile ride with a break at the Banningham Crown.
Our outward leg took us down to Hanworth and then across to Gunton Station, Bradfield, Lyngate into North Walsham, White Horse Common, Briggate and Honing, where we were pleased to meet up with John S, who was joining us for a ride and lunch .
From Honing it was Dilham and then a different route via Anchor Street and small lanes to Neatishead, Ashmanhaugh and then Hoveton Hall café.

The café was fairly busy and we were pleased that we had booked a table indoors to enjoy our leisurely lunch. It proved to be a bit too leisurely for Andrew B who had an appointment to keep and he had to set off for home earlier than the rest of the group, don’t worry he had his lunch!

The five remaining riders made their way up to Worstead then to Honing Station, were we dropped off John as we continued north through Bacton wood, only for Duncan to have a loud and sudden rear puncture (Bontrager). The usual helpful advice was patiently ignored and before long we continued on our way on the familiar route to Knapton, Trunch and Southrepps, where Duncan turned off for Corpusty.
Just a couple of miles further on Graham A and guest Ian headed north for Cromer and Overstrand, while Mark M was the only one left to go back to PC via Felbrigg and Metton.

PC to PC 57 miles with a 14.3 mph average.
Andrew B, Graham A, Duncan S, John S, guest Ian R and Mark M leading
Next week’s ride (19th) is to Warham Three Horseshoes

Only five Wheelers could make it for the run over to Jane’s Coffee Corner. This compact group followed a fairly straightforward route out into the brisk westerly by way of Corpusty, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Gately, Whissonsett and South Raynham. Once again we were looked after extremely well at the refuelling stop. The wind dropped a bit during the afternoon, but still provided a lot of welcome assistance back to Pretty Corner, via Broomsthorpe, Doughton, Pudding Norton, Ryburgh, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Hindolveston (from where Neil Mc headed back to base), Craymere, Briston and Baconsthorpe.

Group: Chris; Harvey; Mark, Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 64 miles to 76 miles.

One puncture: – hard as nails thorn through front Marathon Plus 25mm.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/2051742?units=km