Month: January 2023

On a day of ideal winter cycling conditions, cool, dry, with mud free roads, no wind and occasional sun, a total of six Wheelers met at PC for the ride to Binham Parlour.
A traditional route took us through Baconsthorpe, Edgefield and Briston to our most southerly point at Guestwick. As we headed to Wood Norton we met Harvey at Foulsham airfield and he joined us for a few miles until we turned for Swanton Novers. From there it was another 7 miles through Gunthorpe, Field Dalling to Binham Priory and The Parlour, for a pre-lunch total of 26 miles.

Fortunately as they were fairly busy, Harvey had booked a table for six, so we were able to get seated straight away and then warm up, have a good chat and eat plenty of good food and cakes.
Graham A had already decided that he would make his own way home from the lunch stop, so five set off on the hillier route home.
We first headed west to Nutwood Farm, then the rolling road north to Stiffkey, taking in the lowest point of the ride of 7 meters at the ford just across the Warham road. Then it was Langham, Field Dalling and Saxlingham, where Neil S was beginning to feel the lack of recent miles and he decided to continue on to Letheringsett and the main road home.
So, now four, we set off through Sharrington, Stody, enjoyed the climb from Hunworth to Edgefield, then on to Plumstead and Matlaske, where Brian P peeled off for home, leaving three to head north for Bessingham and Gresham, where Ian A turned off, leaving two to return to PC.

Click image to view full size.
More photos can be found here:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

A rare winter ride that saw the bikes return home clean.
PC to PC was 51.6 miles with an average speed of 13.6 mph.
Riders were Chris S, Ian A (photography), Neil S, Graham A, Brian P, Mark M.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 1st Feb – Walsingham Barns
Saturday 4th Feb – Watsons at Bacton
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

With the ride delayed by a day due to ice, our original ride leader was not available, so it was decided that we would save his ride for another day and we would go to Heydon instead.
So, three Wheelers met at PC on a dry, frost free but mainly overcast morning, to head to Gresham to pick up Graham A. We then headed down to Thurgarton and took a long westerly leg to Edgefield, then around Briston, Hindolveston, Foulsham and Guestwick to Heydon.

The owner of the Heydon Tea Shop has been in the EDP recently, asking people to support local businesses in these troubled times. That’s why we decided to visit and it would seem that many others were heading the call too. The place was busy and we were very lucky to get table, with the understanding that the table was already booked and we had 45mins to eat and go. No problem for three Wheelers, teas, coffee, soup, paninis, cake and scone all devoured with time to spare. Alas, one Wheeler preferred to savour and chew his food and so was a little slower and was getting the hurry up from the staff, in the end he only left some rabbit food. So despite the shorter than usual lunch stop, we all agreed that the food was very good and there was plenty of it. We will be back, though will book a table first.

The return leg took us to Corpusty, where Neil Mc left us to try out his new bike washing facilities at his still being renovated house. We continued through Irmingland, Oulton to Blickling, where we started to notice the stiff northerly wind. On to Erpingham, Aldborough with time to look at the old motorbike collection, then Hanworth to Metton, where Graham left us and back to Gresham and PC.

PC to PC was 50 miles
Riders – Chris S, Neil Mc, Graham A and Mark M leading

Upcoming Rides – Saturday 28th, The Parlour, Binham
Wednesday 1st Feb – Walsingham Barns
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

On a day of persistent black ice, one Wheeler did a bit on the gritted A148, then round by Heath Farm and beyond, which was icier than anticipated. The only rider to persevere was Brian, who stuck to the gritted roads, hoping that the ice would ease after 11.00.

Route: A149, B1436, A140, B1436, A148, PC, turning south on the minor roads towards Aldborough, but, with the ice maintaining its grip, it was an enforced break for flapjack and tea at Che’s Spanish Cafeteria at Thurgarton and some Spanish conversation before a slow last few miles home.

19 miles.

Sunday would have been rather better, with a lot of dry roads and only patchy ice.

Four riders met at Pretty Corner on a wet and windy day for a ride to Purdy’s at Woodgate Nursery Aylsham. The planned route took us through East Beckham, Lower Gresham, Sustead, Hansworth, Alby Hill, Erpingham, Felmingham, Tuttington and Burgh Next Aylsham, with Harvey joining us for part of the route. Despite the forecast of heavy rain we only encountered drizzle until we reached Aylsham when the heavens opened up! However, once settled in the cafe we soon warmed up and all enjoyed a good lunch. After lunch we were surprised to find that the rain had stopped and although cold it was a pleasant ride back through Oulton Street, Corputsy, Briston and Edgefielld were Brian left us for home. With threat of rain clear from the sky a slighter shorter route was taken back to PC via. Baconsthorpe, with Andrew departing for home part way through. The rain did arrive giving a damp end to the day but overall a good ride considering the poor forecast with a good lunch stop.

PC to PC 45.5 miles

Average speed 13.1 mph

Total Elevation 2450ft

Andrew B, Mark, Chris and Brian

A dry and sunny morning with a strong south westerly, greeted four Wheelers at PC and then another at Gresham Church, for our first visit to Trunch Crown. A pub that we often pass at either end of a ride but has not been our destination until today. Our ride leader had spotted that they were offering a choice of pies and veg for £10 during January, so a route was planned.
To ensure that we ready for pies, the route to Trunch was 32 miles. It used a lot of back lanes, which after yesterday’s heavy rain were flooded in places and very muddy. In particular was the lane past Brian P’s which looked as if it had already been ploughed and then a branch, part attached to a tree was blocking the road. We were able to get past by taking to the verge and carrying bikes over the obstruction, but no vehicles would be able to get through.

Shortly after at Colby, Andrew B had a rear puncture (Marathon Plus), so three riders continued on the route while two spent 19 minutes removing a large thorn before continuing.

The route meandered through Felmingham, Swanton Abbott, Worstead, then a less used route across the North Walsham bypass and Sandy Hills to Meeting Hill, then Spa Common, Mill Road to Knapton and Trunch.
The two laggards, fearing all the pies would be eaten, had pressed on, straight-lining the route to Swanton Abbott and at Spa Common continuing through North Walsham, Swafield to Trunch, cutting 3miles off the route, arriving at the pub first!

For a Wednesday in January, the pub was busy with people having lunch and locals giving their dogs a rest. The food was very good and the pie portions large. I’m sure we will visit again.
With rain forecast for late afternoon, we reluctantly left and found the sun had gone and the wind had increased making the short return leg fairly tough.
We went via Gimingham, Hungry Hill, Northrepps, into Cromer dropping off Graham A, past the zoo, up to and through Felbrigg park and on to Gresham for the split, with two heading west and two heading north to PC.

PC to PC was 50 miles
Riders – Andrew B, Ian A, Chris S, Graham A and Mark M

Upcoming Club Run – Saturday 14th, Purdy’s at Aylsham
Further Ride – Wednesday 18th – Old Reading Rooms at Kelling
Routes for club runs and rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Three Wheelers met at PC on a mild and dry morning that was dominated by a strong southerly wind. Showers were forecast and we had a couple during the ride but they blew through very quickly. At the end of Red Barn Lane we met Harvey who joined us for a good 20 miles, including our stop at the mill.
We had an easy ride north west through Kelling, Wiveton to Blakeney quay, followed by a much harder leg uphill and into the wind to Langham, then Field Dalling, where Harvey slipped away on a shortcut. By the time we had reached Sharrington we decided to take our own shortcut direct to Letheringsett, in order to miss out the leg towards Glandford and back into the wind to Letheringsett. So Harvey was surprised to see us sat in the mill when he arrived!

The café served light lunches and between us we had soup, quiche, sausage roll and cakes plus tea and coffee, which was all very good. The café was also fairly busy and included a couple of other cyclists, so we weren’t the only ones out in the wind.

So after a leisurely lunch we headed uphill and south again, this time to Thornage, at the Stody turn Harvey headed for home leaving three to climb to Melton Constable and on to Hindolveston. Then it was a mainly easterly leg via Thurning to Heydon where we finally turned north and had the wind on our backs, through Heydon Park to Oulton and Itteringham. Here Chris had a front puncture (Marathon Plus) which was a good sized thorn. When that was fixed, he must have been trying to make up for lost time as he left us in his dust as we headed home via Thurgarton, Gresham, where Andrew turned off and back to PC.

PC to PC with our shortcut was 46.8 miles (instead of the planned 49.7) with an average speed of 13.3 mph.
Riders were Chris S, Andrew B, Mark M and Harvey.
It was agreed that it was a good ride out, mainly dry, testing into the wind but a great tailwind.

Next rides and club runs – Wednesday 11th to the Crown at Trunch and Saturday 14th Purdy’s at Aylsham
See: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Ride Report by Andrew A
Two riders met at Pretty Corner on a blustery day for the first ride of the year to the newly opened cafe at Elsing. The planned route took us through East Beckham, Gresham, Bessingham, Matalaske and Itteringham, against a strong head wind.
As pre-arranged we met up with Graham A, just before Itteringham. However, after just a mile Andrew had a puncture which was quickly fixed but failed again within a few hundred yards (on a second attempt at a repair a piece of flint was found embedded in the Marathon Plus tyre).
The remaining route took us through Oulton Street, Cawston, Brandiston, Swanninton, Attlebridge and Weston Longville.
The cafe was busy and welcoming (see photos) and we enjoyed a good lunch. The picturesque route back took us through Mill Street, Sparham, Reepham, Salle, Corputsy and Little Barningham, with rapid progress being made as the wind was on our backs and the sun shining. Graham left us for home at this point and the remaining two carried onto PC via Plumstead and Baconsthorpe. A good ride despite the strong wind with an excellent route provided by Mark.

These and more photos can be found here:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

PC to PC 46 miles
Average speed 12.9 mph
Total Elevation 2000ft

Riders – Ian A (photography), Graham A and Andrew B leading