With the Saturday ride postponed to Monday due to the recent freezing and icy conditions, plus it being Christmas week, it was not too surprising that only three Wheelers met at PC, and one of those wishing he hadn’t but more on that later.
The overnight rise in temperature was dramatic, with the ice melting and leaving a lot of standing water and messy roads. A warm, strong southerly wind made us feel overdressed as we worked fairly hard on our way south down to Itteringham.
We took some respite from the wind as we turned south east along the Itteringham Common road and all was going well until we reached Blickling Mill. Here the road often floods and we were expecting that, but on this occasion the water was only on the sides of the road and the centre was dry and appeared to be covered in the usual mud, leaves and gravel.
As the leading rider, I noticed a slip from my front wheel as I went over it but assumed it was due to loose gravel, unfortunately it was frozen, icy crud and Graham A lost his front wheel as he went over it and down he went. To add insult to injury, he then ended up in the puddle at the side of the road that he had been trying to avoid.
So we picked him up and dusted him down, checking for any obvious injuries and let him recover from the shock of hitting the tarmac. Once he had gathered himself, he decided it was best to cut the ride short and head back to Cromer via Ingworth and Erpingham, before the inevitable bruising took hold.
So, the remaining duo continued via Blickling, Cawston, Swannington and the Witchinghams to Reepham Station, where we found Harvey, who had already had his lunch, though he joined us for a chat and then for the wind assisted ride back home.
The ride home was a shorter and more direct route, heading out towards Kerdiston then to Wood Dalling, Corpusty, Edgefield and Plumstead, where we all split for our respective homes.
A post ride report from Graham A, said he had got home ok and later went for check-up at Cromer’s minor injury clinic, where an X-Ray found an aggravation to an old injury plus a broken rib. He now has an appointment at the fracture clinic at the Norfolk and Norwich on Friday. Let’s hope he makes a speedy recovery.
PC to PC was 44 miles at an average speed of 12.6 mph.
Riders were Brian P, Graham A, Mark M and Harvey for the return leg.
Next Saturday 24th is Christmas Eve and so the ride has been brought forward to Friday 23rd, 10am start at PC, going to Back to the Garden at Letheringsett. The next Saturday ride will be on January 7th.
There is a post Christmas ride on Wednesday 28th to Coltishall, if you feel the need to burn off a few mince pies.
North Norfolk Wheelers 