Month: August 2024

Ride report by Chris S
Due to holidays, injuries, hospital appointments and other excuses only one wheeler, Chris S, turned up at PC for the official start. Having waited until one minute to 10 on the unlikely off chance that someone else might turn up Chris (alias ‘Billy No Mates’) set off. The weather was good with a high of 25 degrees Celsius forecast . Although the wind was forecast to be south westerly it was more like a north westerly wind heading back making the return journey quite hard work.

The outward leg which was also predominantly downhill went through Hempstead, Plumstead, Itteringham, Aylsham, past Buxton Mill, skirting Coltishall to the north, Ashmanhaugh and onto Smallburgh.

Arriving at The Crown just before 11.45am Chris found Graham A and Ian A had just arrived, Graham having ridden directly from Cromer whilst Ian had ridden to Sheringham then taken the train to North Walsham and ridden from there. Whilst the pub was not particularly busy the food was reasonably priced and the service was good. However both Graham and Ian thought that the mustard had been overdone on their ham ciabattas. Just as the three were finishing lunch Malcolm S arrived having ridden from St Olaves. After a brief chat Graham stayed to chat with him whilst Ian and Chris departed – Ian taking a shorter route back to High Kelling whilst Chris followed the route.

The return journey was harder work due to a predominately head wind and being generally uphill. The route took in Worstead, Swanton Abbot, Felmingham, Banningham, Ingworth, Plumstead and Hempstead. At West Beckham Chris opted for the slightly easier route through Upper Sheringham cutting out PC.

Total mileage (Chris only) 63.6 miles
Average MPH 16.22
Total Ascent 731 metres
Total Descent 721 metres

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 31st August – West Acre – 104miles PC Start at 8am
Wednesday 4th September – TBA
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Ride report by Mark M
As the forecasts for Saturday improved from torrential rain all day to just rain all day, together with light winds, there was no reason to cancel the ride. Though Chris sent out an email which could have been interpreted as looking for an excuse to stay home and dry, though I’m sure was just checking on numbers riding to see if we needed to book a table!
Surprisingly only three Wheelers turned out, Chris and myself at PC during a rare dry spell and then Doug at Gresham Church. Within a few minutes the rain started again, fairly light but persistent for the whole out leg, at this stage the roads were not too wet and puddles could be easily avoided.
We passed Aldborough school on the way to Town Green, past Brian’s (Hi Brian), across the A149 and the lane to the railway crossing. Through North Walsham and on to Honing and past John’s (Hi John) and then to Lessingham, where we went through Hempstead and the Dunes road past the holiday shacks into Sea Palling. From there it was just a few miles to Waxham and Horsey Corner.
As we were nearly as wet inside our jackets as outside, we had a table inside, in the upstairs section that I’d not seen before. Amongst the tables were old radio sets and the ceiling was covered in old Ordnance Survey maps. Whilst we slowly steamed dry, we reminisced about our earliest electrical appliances, as they say, nostalgia is not what it used to be.

The café was busy with people escaping the weather, but we were soon digging into our mess tins of corned beef hash and enjoying copious tea and strong coffee. This visits tea cosy first appeared to be a drunken sailor as his head kept falling to the side but on closer inspection he was covered in tea stains, so naturally was part of Capt Pugwash’s crew, Seaman Staines.

After finishing all the tea, it was time to pull on wet gloves and head off into the rain again. We had barely turned the pedals when Doug went into a narrow pothole and punctured both tyres on the sidewall. As they are tubeless, he quickly stuck a plug into them, pumped them back up and set off again. On the Puncture Leaderboard, Doug is now tying first place with Graham A at 4 each!
Unfortunately the rain on the homeward leg was no longer light and the roads were now soaked, so our plan to see if more of Happisburgh’s car park had fallen into the sea was abandoned and our focus was on getting home. So after Happisburgh we headed for Riddlington, Bacton Wood, Knapton, Trunch and Southrepps. Here the route headed out towards Sidestrand and Hungry Hill to Northrepps, we chose to take the more direct route via Frogshall to Northrepps. Here we sent Doug up Northrepps hill to Cromer, while we again took the direct route to Crossdale Street. By the time we had got up the hill to Felbrigg, I was running on empty and it was a fairly slow ride through Metton, Sustead, Gresham and back to PC, with Chris giving me encouragement and making sure I got back.

PC to PC was 59.5 miles instead of the planned 61m, so we didn’t save much. At an average of 14.4 mph
Riders: Chris S, Doug H, Mark M

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 28th August – The Crown, Smallburgh
Saturday 31st August – West Acre – 104m Start at PC 8am – Subject to weather
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Ride report by Mark M
On another ideal cycling day, Duncan, Graham A, Mark and Graham J met up for the ride to Purdy’s. It was good to see Graham J joining us again and out on his recently acquired very smart Ridley.
With a good west, south westerly breeze blowing, it helped more than hindered as we headed south east through Sustead, Hanworth, Thwaite, Erpingham, Colby, Hyltons Crossways to our most easterly point at Lodge Farm, Felmingham. Then heading into the wind we made our way to Tuttington, turned in the woods for Burgh and over the roundabout into a very busy Aylsham. As we headed down the Cawston road to our destination, we met Ian, who with his still dodgy knee had taken a shorter route which included a track through Blickling Park, to join us.

We found a table outside shaded by a large tree where we enjoyed good sandwiches, cakes and drinks while we put the world to rights.

For the return journey, Ian had planned another direct route home, though this involved more tracks on the way to Blickling as well as the route back through the park to Itteringham Common. Graham J keen for a more direct route himself joined Ian for a spot of gravel riding through Blickling, Itteringham to the Mannington turn where, Ian turned for home and Graham continued north for Sheringham.
The remaining trio stayed on tarmac and headed for Able Heath, Oulton, Irmingland and Corpusty, where Graham A turned north for Cromer. We then continued to Little London and the lanes to Briston, Edgefield and Hempstead, where Duncan turned for home. I continued to Selbrigg Pond where I stopped to look at the swans, no sign of any new swans this year, though the three from last year seem to be refusing to leave home. Then Bodham and back to PC.

You will have seen the email from Nigel Walsh that he is shortly moving to Nottingham. On Wednesday evening he was buying the beers/saying goodbye at the Lobster in Sheringham. Naturally I wanted to represent the Club Rides, so headed off to enjoy free beer and wish Nigel well for the future. While there it was obvious than Mike Padfield had broken his right collarbone, apparently crashing through High Kelling on Tuesday evening’s time trial. Get well soon Mike.

PC to PC 48 miles at an average 14.9 mph
Riders: Duncan S, Graham A, Graham J, Mark M, Ian A

PS. Chris S was unavailable for the Wednesday ride, but not wanting to miss out, rode the route Monday morning at an impressive 16.6 mph average.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 24th August – Poppylands, Horsey
Wednesday 28th August – The Crown, Smallburgh
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Ride report by Mark M
On a warm, dry morning with a light north wind, Chris, Neil Mc, Andrew and Mark met at PC to head to Gresham Church to pick up Doug and Jim before heading for Metton, Felbrigg and Northrepps Hill where Graham was waiting for us. So now as a group of seven we went to Northrepps, Hungry Hill and the lanes to the edge of Gimmingham and on to the road through Mundesley golf course, then Trunch and Knapton.
Then we had a southern loop through Bacton Woods, Crostwight and Ridlington before entering Bacton from the east. We must have benefited from the northerly wind as we arrived at Watsons at 11:45 and found an outside table sheltered from the wind. We didn’t have long to wait before we were all enjoying a tasty and good value lunch and the café was fairly busy as well.
Chris received a call to fix a shower door in his holiday let before the next guests were due later in the afternoon. Not wanting to miss out on the miles, he set off for home early, following the route. A later update said that he had fixed the door with 10 minutes to spare and had the ridden 62.6 miles door to door at an average speed of 15.8 mph, so he was pushing hard to get home.
Andrew also needed to get home early, so he opted for a shorter more direct route home. That left five to ride through Edingthorpe, White Horse Common, Briggate to Worstead. Then it was Swanton Abbott to Skeyton Church, up to Hyltons Crossways, Corvette Kingdom and Suffield Church. Here Graham continued on for Antingham and Cromer, while we turned for Colby and Erpingham, Wickmere and Matlaske. At the crossroads, Neil continued for Corpusty, Jim headed for Plumstead, Edgefield and home. That left Mark and Doug to head back towards PC with Doug turning for Gresham and back to Cromer.

PC to PC was 57 miles at an average of 15.3 mph
Long distance award goes to Jim with 70.4 miles at 15.2mph average, door to door from Melton Constable.
Riders: Neil Mc, Chris S, Andrew B, Jim H, Doug H, Graham A, Mark M.
With the latest deliveries of Club Kit, five riders sported Wheelers tops today.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 21st August – Purdy’s Café, Aylsham
Saturday 24th August – Poppylands, Horsey
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Ride report by Andrew B
Four riders met at PC for a ride to Bayfield Hall on a slightly overcast and breezy, but warm summer’s day. With Mark leading, the four set off at a steady pace on the planned route through East Beckham, Bessingham, Thurgarton, Wickmere, Wolterton, Itteringham, Corpusty, Thurning, Nethergate, Hindolveston, Melton Constable, Briningham, Brinton, Sharrington and Letheringsett.
On arrival at the Natural Surrounds Cafe, Ian had already arrived and had bagged a table, which was fortunate as it was busy. The drinks and some of the food arrived fairly promptly.

However, it transpired that the cheese toasty which was already being eaten was intended for another table! There was then a delay for the rest of the food, which was unfortunate, but good when it arrived. The Bray’s pork pie, made locally at Bayfield Brecks, was excellent.

A tactical error was then made by the author in ordering more drinks and a cake which also took a while. Ian therefore decided to depart having arrived before us and eaten first, as he had always intended to make his own way back. The route back took us through Saxlingham, Sharrington, Bale, Field Dalling, Langham and Blakeney, where Clive left us for home. The remaining three then proceeded via. Wiveton, Newgate, and up to High Kelling where I departed for home. This left the two riders to make the way back to PC. An excellent route and a good day’s cycling.

PC to PC 50 miles
Average speed 14.9 mph
Total Elevation 1900 ft

Andrew, Chris, Clive, Ian and Mark leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 17th August – Watson’s, Bacton
Wednesday 21st August – Purdy’s, Aylsham
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Ride Report by Mark M
Five Wheelers met at PC on an already hot and humid morning. Fortunately it was overcast which helped keep the temperature down and there was a fairly strong westerly wind. While we were waiting, Geoff P cycled past and stopped for a chat, he was also on his way to Norton’s, so we would meet there later.
So we set off for High Kelling and Cley and after 6 miles at the junction of the Kelling and Holt Weybourne road we came across a two vehicle collision that had just happened, leaving a VW camper van on its side. As I called the police, the others helped get the family out of the van, getting them to kick out the windscreen and getting the rear door open. Remarkably other than being a bit dazed and confused, nobody in the either vehicle was injured, the only injury sustained was to Neil S who hurt his back getting the rear door open and had to head home shortly after.
With the ok from the police we set off again for Cley Newgate, Glandford, where we came across four old Landrovers having just crossed the ford, one of them in great condition had a pre-suffix registration, meaning that it was pre 1963. Then Saxlingham, Binham, Hindringham, Thursford Castle (where Graham headed direct to Walsingham) Gt Snoring, the Barshams, Waterden, Egmere and into Little Walsingham after 32 windy and hilly miles.
We were pleased to see that Graham had claimed a large table in a shady spot as Norton’s was busy with tourists and other cyclists. We met up with Geoff again though he didn’t stop for long, I don’t think he even had a cake!
After a good lunch we set of for Great Walsingham and a splash through the shallow ford, then Hindringham, where Graham turned for home, while the rest headed south for Gunthorpe and Swanton Novers. Then we turned for Hindolveston, Thurning Mill and Little London where Neil turned off, up the hill to Edgefield where Chris took great delight in having to wait for me at the top, then Baconsfield and PC.

PC to PC 59.3 miles at an average 15.2 mph
Riders: Neil Mc, Graham A, Chris S, Neil S, Mark M and Geoff P

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 14th August – Bayfield Hall, Glandford
Saturday 17th August – Watson’s, Bacton
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/