Month: May 2025

Ride report by Andy S
What is happening with the weather? After months of dry weather we are back to wet weather .

Three members met at P.C (Mark M, Andrew B and Ian A). Andy S attempted to join at PC, but after leaving Corpusty managed to get a rear puncture (Vittoria Rubino Pro) at West Beckham, so missed the peloton leaving PC.

The peloton left towards Gresham where Ian went through a puddle which turned out to be a pothole. With two punctures (Continental 4 Seasons) and a potential buckled wheel, Ian decided to ring the Broom Wagon(Sue) to come and pick him up for an early shower.

The depleted peloton carried on towards Felbrigg Hall, Cromer Zoo and Northrepps where they met Graham A . Picking their way through the wet, sandy, gravel strewn roads they made their way through Southrepps, Antingham, Aylsham, Oulton and onto Heydon for lunch.

At a busy Heydon Tea Room a table was found within the back garden. Ian had got back home and jumped on his Holdsworth gravel bike and made his way straight to Heydon. He bagged a table and the peloton came along shortly after with Andy S following on 15 minutes later due to his puncture.

After sandwiches , coffee and tea all round , now with a full group of riders we left a busy Heydon to head towards Thurning. Graham left the group toward Saxthorpe and on towards Cromer. The rest of the group went through Thurning, Town Close ( Corpusty) where Andy S turned off for home.

The rest of the group went off through Edgefield, Plumstead, Bodham and back to PC.

In the end no rain was had all ride but the roads were a bit sketchy early on but became drier as the day went on . A good day out!

PC to PC was 49 miles at an average 14.1 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Ian A, Mark M, Graham A, Andy S

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 31st May – The Old Store, Snettisham
Wednesday 4th June – Star Inn, Lessingham
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
Waking up to the first rain in weeks, it took a leap of faith to believe the weather forecast’s claims of a dry, overcast day with temps in the high teens, though the westerly wind was warmer than the recent northerlies.
With numbers reduced due to holidays, a stag weekend (pension books at the ready lads) and waiting for a tide, it was at Gresham Church where Doug and Ian were waiting that we increased the peloton to three. With the warm wind and damp conditions, humidity was very high and it was easy to feel overdressed.
Onwards through Matlaske, past Mannington Hall to Corpusty to collect Neil. Both Ian and Neil removed rain jackets before setting off due to the sticky conditions, we would have a few spots of light rain along the way but nothing troublesome.
Through Thurning to Nethergate, where after six dry and puncture free weeks, the puncture fairy returned and picked on Ian. Helping him by talking amongst ourselves, with the odd word of encouragement, he changed tubes (only one required this time!), pulled out a sliver of flint from the front tyre (Conti 4 Seasons) and we continued.

Dropping down to Guist we crossed the A1067 for Broom Green then headed back uphill to Gateley, crossing the Dereham road for Horningtoft and Whissonsett. As Neil didn’t have time for the full ride and the return leg also went through Whissonsett, he followed the route for home, while we continued to Tittleshall and into Litcham.
Leaving our bikes in the churchyard next door, we received a friendly welcome in the café and found ourselves a large trestle table. While ordering, Doug once again managed to put his Spatz shod foot in it, I don’t know what he said but the two ladies running the place thought it was hilarious. Doug’s defence was that he is still jetlagged (we heard that a lot, mainly at the top of climbs).

After an excellent lunch and delicious chocolate brownie (Ian abstained), it was time to head off into the last headwind leg, across Litcham common (no ponies today) and to Great Dunham. Turning for Great Fransham we finally picked up a tailwind and on good roads we made fast progress, past Beeston Ploughshare pub where we had lunch last August, past Bittering gravel works and up to the Stanfield crossroads on the B1145.
Doug could be heard mumbling something about jetlag and matches, I don’t know if they were burnt or lost but they seemed to be missing.
So at an easier pace we continued back to Whissonsett, Colkirk, the ups and downs to Great Ryburgh, stopping for a breather at the top of the hill before crossing the A1067. Then it was Stibbard, back through Wood Norton, turning for Hindolveston, Craymere Beck, Briston and the compulsory sprint to Edgefield White Horse, where Ian acted as lead out man (I think that was his intention).
Ian turned off for home via Hempstead, at the top of Red Barn Lane, Doug continued for Cromer and I headed back to PC.
A good days ride reaching areas we don’t get to very often and in warm, mainly dry conditions.

PC to PC was 71 miles at an average 15.2 mph (14.6 out & 15.6 back)
Riders: Ian A, Doug H, Mark M, Neil Mc

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 28th May – Heydon
Saturday 31st May – The Old Store, Snettisham
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 Ian A
On yet another chilly morning with a northerly breeze keeping the lid on the temperature, five riders met at PC for the ride to Badersfield and the Javabean Cafe at Scottow Business Park (formerly the site of RAF Coltishall). Chris told us his legs were feeling the effects of last night’s Wheelers 25km Time Trial. This was a good thing as it deterred him from making his usual ‘sprint off the front’ during the ride which normally manages to scatter the peloton along the road!
A tailwind in the morning meant we made good progress and Gresham, Sustead and Hanworth were little more than a blur. Then it was across the busy-ish A140 at Thorpe Market and on to Trunch where we spotted signs for the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend beer festival. Well what thirsty cyclists wouldn’t be interested… Dreaming of cold beers (actually probably a nice warm coffee given the weather) we pedalled on to Knapton before swinging south and skirting North Walsham to arrive shortly afterwards at Worstead and onwards to Ashmanhaugh. Here we swung west to Coltishall before then heading north for the push to Badersfield (now into a headwind and a taste of what was to come on the return leg). Turning into Scottow Business Park (as quiet as ever) we arrived at the cafe with the RAF Jaguar jet parked up alongside.
The coffee is good here, and most of us opted for the very good value Big Baps with a choice of bacon, sausage, egg or hash browns. Or in Mark and Chris’s case, all four fillings… Andrew went off piste with a brie and bacon toastie (that’s ‘Blakeney Posh’ for you) but which left him room for cake. The cafe looked to be roasting coffee beans while we were there as there was some whirring coming from the machinery and lots of sacks of beans around, but after Ian enquired it turned out it was just the roaster ‘heating up’ (which takes a while apparently). The grinding is a bit noisier but the ‘stone removal thingy’ is the noisiest. (Note: There are no stones in coffee beans, just unwanted detritus that collects as part of the picking/sacking process we guess.) Anyway, you don’t want stones in your grinding machine. After lunch, there was a quick inspection of the Jaguar while Mark re-secured his saddle bag and made running repairs, as one of his straps had worn through. I believe he also adjusted his stowed cable lock as it had been interfering with his bottom on the way out. (Not sure if that’s a ‘mechanical’ or a ‘mecharsical’?)
After lunch the route went via Skeyton, Tuttington and Banningham where we crossed the now even busier A140 to Ingworth where we continued between the River Bure and Blickling Park.

At Itteringham Common we stopped to wave Andy off but he was having none of it! He was enjoying our company so much that he stayed with us through Itteringham and up to Little Barningham where he took the Matlaske Road to head back home to Corpusty. The remaining four riders continued on to Plumstead, Baconsthorpe and the Bodham Hill climb (notorious for causing an unnecessary sprint to the top!) Bizarrely, Andrew stopped and said he had to take a call shortly before the climb and that we should carry on, thus he missed out on the chance to take the day’s “Polka Dot Jersey”. Or not wanting to get involved? Who knows. In the event, there was no sprint so honours even. At the foot of New Road, Ian turned left for High Kelling leaving Mark and Chris to head back to PC.
A good day’s ride in chilly but dry conditions and no crashes. The oilseed rape flowers are mostly over, but it was nice to see the poppies coming out and several fields of linseed in full bloom. Andy has a ‘stag weekend’ in the Peak District and Chris is off on a three week Motorcycling Tour to Europe so we wish them well – not sure which activity is the most dangerous.

PC to PC was 55.5 miles
Average speed 15.4 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Andy S, Chris S, Ian A, Mark M

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 24th May – Litcham Deli
Wednesday 28th May – Heydon
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 Neil Mc
Three wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a cool morning with a chilly north wind. Neil and Graham were collected shortly at Gresham church and then in a moment of freestyle route planning the left turn was missed and an impromptu diversion to Bessingham was taken. The Aldborough road was quickly reached to get back on the route though, so no problem. Jim was waiting for us on the turn for Calthorpe so the peloton was then complete. The route carried on through Erpingham and down to Ingworth where we managed to negotiate a road closure. Cue grumbling about the massive amount of roadworks and closures currently in North Norfolk.

From Ingworth we cut through onto the Blickling road and turned off just before Blickling Hall and headed through Silvergate to Abel Heath and onward via Oulton Street to Cawston. Graham left here to head toward North Walsham and home as he had only planned a short ride. The remaining 5 carried on through Brandiston and Swannington to the usual stop on the bridge at Attlebridge to look at the river Wensum.

We left the river to the ducks and carried on across the Norwich Road and up the hill to Weston Longville and across the plateau to Elsing. Chris managed to plough into one of the many potholes on the way, but fortunately no accident ensued. Hopefully that is the end of our unlucky streak of crashes over the last few weeks.

From Elsing it wasn’t too far to our lunch stop at Darby’s, Swanton Morley. This was a surprisingly busy pub and got busier still, so we arrived just in time to get a table inside. No sandwiches were on offer, but there was a “light bites” menu. The name was certainly appropriate for the quiche portions that three Wheelers had, although “one bite” menu would have been more accurate. The ham, egg & chips and scampi & chips that Neil and Andy chose were much more satisfactory.

The landlord needed to open up the outside bar where we had inconveniently parked our bikes, so we quickly paid up and headed back out on the road toward Bawdeswell, but turning off to take the back route past the Wensum and Swanton Morley lakes into Billingford then on to Foxley to cross the Fakenham Road.

From Foxley we took the usual route through Themelthorpe, Guestwick and Craymere Beck to Briston where Jim left for Melton Constable and home. The remaining 4 carried on up the hill to Edgefield where Neil and Andy turned downhill for Edgefield Street and back to Corpusty. The final 2 continued on through Baconsthorpe and West Beckham to Pretty Corner and home in Sheringham.

A nice day’s cycling with decent weather that warmed up throughout the day, but the cold wind stopped it being properly warm.

Wheelers: Mark M, Chris S, Andy S, Jim H, Neil Mc, Graham A.
Distance: 56.4 miles
Average Speed: 15.4mph

Editor’s Note: Had a chat with Geoff P in town, he’s not been cycling over the winter but getting out and about now and enjoying the good weather. He sends his regards to fellow Wheelers. Hope to meet up with you on the road or in a cafe soon Geoff.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 21st May – Javabean Café, Coltishall Airfield
Saturday 24th May – Litcham Deli
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 Chris S
Only 3 riders started from PC. They were Mark, Chris and Andy. Other club members were either in Australia, returning from Madrid or waiting for the tide to turn to go sailing. Having survived a tussle with a hedge and stinging nettles on the last ride Chris’s bike was back in fine order. The weather was the best yet this year with full sunshine and a high of 18 degrees C. An moderate easterly wind resulted in a predominantly cross wind on both the outgoing and homeward bound routes.

At Gresham church Ian was patiently waiting to join the ride which then headed in a southerly direction passing Aldborough, Ingham, Banningham and then through the Bure valley crossing the river Bure at Oxnead. From here it then skirted just north of the northern distributor road (NDR) passing through Hainford and Spixworth before turning east to Woodbastwick, the home of Woodforde’s Brewery which was named after Parson James Woodforde, an 18th century clergyman and diarist who had a passion for fine dining and beer. A quick stop was made at Ranworth / Malthouse Broad to enjoy the view and enable Ian to take photos.

Just after arriving at Fairhaven Garden café after some 30 miles in the saddle, Malcolm S arrived having ridden up from St Olaves. Lunch was enjoyed sitting outside.

At around one pm the four wheelers set off for the return journey leaving Malcolm to head home. The route initially headed west to Little Plumstead taking full advantage of the easterly wind before turning north to Salhouse, Skeyton and Frettenham. Just after Frettenham, Andy experienced a spectacular crash having hit a bump caused by a tree root in the road. Luckily although bruised Andy continued the ride. More importantly his bike was unscathed. This was the second wheelers’ crash in under a week with Chris having crashed on the previous Wednesday. Hopefully it will be the last!

The riders then continued onto Little Hautbois, Felmingham and Suffield. After crossing the very busy A140 towards Matlaske Andy turned off to Corpusty. This left Mark, Ian and Chris to race each other to the top of New Road. Unfortunately, nearing the top of the hill, with Ian on the inside line, a car coming in the opposite direction caused Chris to drop back otherwise it would have been a draw at the very least! Ian then headed back to High Kelling leaving Chris and Mark to return to PC

Total Distance 64 miles
Average Speed 16.1mph (Unusually both out and back legs were equal at 16.1 mph)
Riders: Chris S, Mark M, Andy S, Ian A and Malcolm S

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 14th May – Holkham Hall
Saturday 17th May – Darby’s Swanton Morley
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
Five riders met at PC on a largely overcast morning with a cold easterly wind for a run to Garden Kitchen Café, Hoveton.
The planned route took us through East Beckham, Gresham (where we picked up Ian), Sustead, Hanworth, Suffield, Antingham, North Walsham, Spa Common, Briggate, Honing, Dilham, Beeston St Lawrence, Neatishead and Ashmanhaugh. This passed mainly without incident apart from Chis landing in a hedge in his efforts to fend of an insect (unidentified but large apparently) resulting in some minor scratches and a remodelled brake lever!

On arrival at the Cafe we decided to go inside as the wind was still cold and the sun had gone in. The cafe was busy but we were given a table on the mezzanine floor and enjoyed some excellent food. There was a good choice of high end snacks, a good selection of large cakes and good coffee.

Unfortunately the late order for more coffee and cake caused a significant delay as the Cafe had got very busy by then.

On leaving the Cafe we all felt cold and a brisk pace was set by Mark and Chris. The route took us through, Belaugh Green, Tunstead, Worstead, Lyngate, Edingthorpe, Knapton, Trunch, Southrepps, Northrepps, Crossdale Street, Felbrigg, Metton, and Gresham.
Clive, Andy S and Ian left us at this point to make their own way home and the remaining three proceeded back to PC via. East Beckham. Overall a good day out with a nice route.

PC to PC 56 miles
Average speed 15.2 mph
Total Elevation 1757 ft

Riders: Mark M, Andrew B, Andy S, Chris S, Ian A and Clive A.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 10th May – Fairhaven Gardens, South Walsham
Wednesday 14th May – Holkham Hall
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 Doug H

On another ‘not sure what to wear’ day, two Wheelers, Mark and Doug, set off from PC. Within moments it was decided it was colder than expected and that may be one of us should be more open to carrying extra clothes, rather than worrying about watts! We headed towards East Beckham picking up Ian who at the time thought he had overdressed, who later became the better dressed individual of the ride. So the three Wheelers, one too hot, one too cold and one just right took advantage of a slight tail wind and went through Gresham, Baconsthorpe, Hunworth, Briston, and Gunthorpe.
There was a slight pause near Thursford, as it was the first Saturday of the month we considered the church coffee and cake stop, but then decided with quite a long ride ahead, it would be too early. So we went on through Great Snoring, East Barsham, Cranmer, then down through Shereford, Helhoughton and then finally stopping at Great Massingham at the Cartshed Tearoom. Which surprisingly was very busy with a collection of motorbikes, cyclists and walkers giving the place a very lively atmosphere, including the sound of drilling!

At this point we ordered food and began the deconstruction of Ian’s bike fit. Which all-in-all was considered helpful indeed. A slight change in reach, a little more upward seating positioning and the lend of a very nice and very comfortable saddle, and with all said and done the bike fit was a success.

Once the lunch was completed we started again back towards PC, now into a headwind and into a much colder environment. So off to Weasenham, through Tittleshall, Stanfield, Brisley, Broom Green and on to Bintree. At this point we considered a second stop which we all agreed to very quickly. It also gave us a chance to check out the new Algy’s Farm Shop. Which we discovered would have an operational Cafe in about two months, and we all agreed it should be added to our itinerary. With  completion of the takeouts we headed off to Foulsham, through Bates Moor, Guestwick, Corpusty, Saxthorpe, and Plumsted. Shortly after we said goodbye to Ian, and carried on to Red Barn Lane where Mark carried on to PC and Doug made his way back to Cromer, covering 128.77 km or exactly 80 miles, I think miles would be the best expression of distance in this case. So all in all a great ride and a lovely day.

PC to PC was 69.7 miles at an average speed of 15.3 mph, with Doug completing 80 miles.
Riders: Ian A, Mark M, Doug H

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 7th May – Garden Kitchen Café, Hoveton Hall
Saturday 10th May – Fairhaven Gardens, South Walsham
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/