Ride report by Mark M
Having woken up to a frost, yet with a forecast for light winds, sun all day and temps around 14c, choosing what to wear was difficult, though most Wheelers arrived at the same conclusion, shorts and a long sleeved jersey or jacket. After an initial chilly start, the day soon warmed up and made for ideal cycling conditions as Andy, Chris, Andrew and Mark headed from PC to Hanworth to pick up Graham A. Graham must have been looking at the previous day’s forecast as he was well wrapped up!
We made good progress as we continued to Suffield, Felmingham and Swanton Abbot, Chris who had been remarking on how hard the previous evening’s spin class had been, kept shooting off in the distance, obviously it wasn’t hard enough to slow him down.
At Worstead we took the lesser used route via the station and the Albert Bartlett plant, then across Sloley Common and the railway line again to reach Upper Street and the remote Tunstead Church. As we approached Coltishall, road works at St James forced a diversion down to the river and through the village before picking up the route again for the final few miles up to Lamas and Skeyton.
Arriving in the garden to park up, we found Ian already enjoying a coffee in the sun and the sunny sheltered patio area was the obvious place to have lunch.
Ian had taken a shorter route as he is riding the Glorious Gravel Thetford event on Saturday and was in his tapering phase prior to the big event, let’s hope he wakes up in time to get there! We have been promised a post event report …
The Goat has some good value light lunches that are also filling and a few of us also enjoyed a pint in the sun, but before we could have a quiet nap, Chris was chivying us up for the homeward leg.
Setting off for Tuttington, across a very busy A140, through the hole in the hedge to Dunkirk, where Graham headed off on a more direct route to Cromer, while we took the Itteringham Common road to Itteringham then past Mannington Hall to the Matlaske Road.
Andy took the opportunity to head back to Corpusty, while we went to Little Barningham and the rolling hills to Edgefield, as we approached the junction Chris finally came off Andrew’s wheel and made a successful sprint for glory! After that effort it was an easier ride to Hempstead and Selbrigg Pond, where Ian, out on his summer bike for the first time this year, seemed confused by having two chainrings again and managed to drop his chain, just yards from turning for home.
That left three to head back to PC, when Chris didn’t turn for Upper Sheringham, we knew he was feeling good and wanted to take on the final challenge of East Beckham hill back to PC, apparently it was a very close contest between Chris and Andrew, with Chris just getting ahead in the final yards.
It was new build bike day for me and despite Ian’s obvious photo implication, it is not made from recycled beer kegs.
PC to PC was 53.6 miles at an average 15.0 mph, surprisingly the return leg, post lunch and uphill was exactly the same speed as the out leg.
Riders: Andy S, Chris S, Andrew B, Mark M, Graham A, Ian A
Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 22nd March – Norton’s, Walsingham
Wednesday 26th March – Nelsons, Wells
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/
North Norfolk Wheelers 