Month: December 2025

Ride report by Andrew B

Four riders met at PC on a very cold but dry winters morning for a ride to Blickling. Duncan was sporty his new Trek Gravel bike with its all black livery. The planned route took us through East Beckham, Lower Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Alby Hill, Alby, Erpingham, Colby, Felmingham, Tuttington, Aylsham and onto Blickling. Chris set a good pace on the front and we soon caught up with Ian who was making his own way (and pace) to Blickling. However, after a pee stop he caught us up again! We were also slowed by two horses.

On arrival at the cafe we all selected our choices for lunch, with soup being the front runner. The food was good and served quickly by the friendly staff. However, being a former stable block it was a little cold

Thanks to the high pace and relatively short distance we left the cafe not long after midday. As Ian remarked we sometimes don’t arrive at the lunch stop until this time.

The planned route back took us through Silvergate, Oulton, Corputsy, Ramsgate Street, Hempstead, Sellbrig, Bodham and West Beckham. Unfortunately, about half way back Duncan succumbed to the dreaded new bike syndrome with a rear puncture. In Mark’s absence it was left to Andrew and Chris to assist with the repair. Ian departed at this point with Duncan’s blessing.

Chris again set a fast pace with Duncan and Andrew trying to hang on. Duncan left us for home at Hempstead leaving Andrew trying (and failing!) to keep up with Chris.

Overall, a good ride despite the cold weather and the muddy conditions.

PC to PC 42.3 miles
Average speed 15 mph
Total Elevation 1670 ft

Riders: Chris S, Duncan S, Andy S, Ian A, Andrew B.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 20th December – Watsons, bacton
Wednesday 24th December – No Ride
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 M

Five Wheelers met at PC on a chilly, dry, but sunny December morning. At last the pattern of nice Fridays, but horrible wet Saturdays had been broken after a month of gloom.

We set off toward Baconsthorpe, picking Ian up at the Rectory Road/New Road junction and carrying on through Baconsthorpe, Plumstead and Edgefield to descend through Edgefield Street and across the Melton road to Town Close where we met Andy at the bottom of Heath Road. From here we made our way to Thurning and via the Hindolveston road to Guestwick.

The road from Guestwick to Foulsham was the setting for the first puncture of the day with Andy the unfortunate victim. The culprit proved to be a sizeable flint, but with the assistance of Mark and his proper pump, the deflation was quickly sorted.

Fortunately, there were no further issues as the ride continued through Foulsham to Themelthorpe and the Junction 21 Cafe on Marriot’s way, our lunch stop. Graham was there to meet us and it was nice to see him out and looking fit.

Lunch was quickly ordered, most opting for something fairly light – plus the inevitable cake. Mark bucked the trend by going Full English which looked very tasty. As part of the usual wide-ranging chat Andrew produced the snapped-off tip of his tyre lever, which Mark broke in the process of assisting with the repair of Andrew’s puncture some weeks before and had remained inside the tyre and caused a further puncture a week later. This very unusual occurrence triggered a debate as to who’s yearly total the second puncture should be added – Andrew’s or Mark’s? I think this one will run and run…

Given the nice weather, we left the cafe with less reluctance than usual and bid farewell to Graham who was making his own way back to Cromer. From Themelthorpe we proceeded through the lanes via Jordan Lane, Nowhere Lane and Blackwater Lane to Great Witchingham, Little Witchingham and a brief section on the Reepham Road before turning off toward Brandiston.

From Brandiston we carried on through Cawston toward Oulton where the second puncture of the day arrived. Again, Andy was the unhappy victim, but this time he insisted that we leave him to it as he was close to home and had all the equipment to fix it. Since the conditions were good and he had things well in hand, we said our goodbyes and then carried on to Oulton and Itteringham where Neil turned off to Mannington Hall and back home to Corpusty.

The remaining group carried on through Wickmere and Bessingham to Gresham where Ian and Doug left for home in High Kelling and Cromer respectively. The remaining three carried on through East Beckham back to PC and Home.

A very pleasant winter day’s ride only slightly marred by very muddy roads and punctures.

Editor’s note – Determined to take the Puncture Challenge lead, Andy’s removal of his tyre liners, ensured his double rear punctures pushed him to the top of the leaderboard. With just a few rides left, will he hold on until the year end?

Riders: Andrew B, Mark M, Chris S, Doug H, Ian A, Andy S, Neil Mc and Graham A at cafe.
Distance: 44.6 miles
Average: 14.6 mph

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 17th December -Stables Café, Blickling
Saturday 20th December – Watsons, 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/

Ride report by Mark M

After all the recent wet rides, it was a joy to see clear blue skies and sunshine as four Wheelers met at PC. We even tried to ignore the strong south westerly wind, though it would remain constant throughout the day.
Ian joined us in West Beckham for a change in order to get a few more miles in before lunch as he was under strict instructions to get home early as the shops of Cambridge were calling.
Then it was Bodham, Hempstead and Pond Hills to Edgefield. Dropping down to Hunworth, the second Glaven ford was underwater for the first time for a long while, so we expected the flood at the ford on the way to Thornage, not too deep though some opted for the dry bridge route. On to Sharrington, across a quiet A148 to Field Dalling. Finally the wind was behind us as we made good progress to Saxlingham, Wiveton and into Cley, along Church Lane to Newgate. After the steady climb from Newgate, there was a burst of activity as we neared the summit of Bridgefoot lane, with Mark, Andrew and Ian in a line across the road, with Ian finally taking the honours. Chris was claiming that he would have won but couldn’t find a way through!

At the busy café we found Graham had claimed a table for all of us, and we all enjoyed hot soup, loads of doorstop bread and plenty of tea, Ian had tea and cake and was gone again. We discussed the local hot topic of Sheringham bus shelter and how far across the country you could get with a bus pass.
Eventually we paid our modest bills and ventured outside, with Graham heading back to Cromer and for Andrew to find a soft rear tyre. We pumped it up and hoped for the best as we headed into the wind to Holt and onwards to Hunworth.

Here we had to change the tube after finding a long cut in the rear Conti GP5000AS, which had nicked the side of the tube. Andrew had unwittingly resolved a triple tie in the puncture challenge as Andrew, Ian and Andy each had 3 punctures, so now Andrew leads with only 4 or 5 rides left this year. Needless to say, Chris didn’t hang around and was off to get some faster miles in!

On our way again, to Stody, Briston and a wind assisted ride to Edgefield, where Andy turned for home, leaving two to visit Plumstead, Hempstead, Baconsthorpe and back to PC and the sun was still shining.

PC to PC was 44.1 miles at an average 14.2 mph
Riders: Andy S, Chris S, Andrew B, Mark M, Ian A, Graham A

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 13th December – Junction 21, Themelthorpe
Wednesday 17th December – Blickling
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

There was a moment in all of the Wheelers’ minds, as they set out from their respective homes to the start of today’s ride, when they wondered: Will this happen? Followed by, Just how wet am I going to be at the start? And, Darn it, it will be dry for the rest of the day, so there’s no excuse not to go. So, as the first four riders arrived at Pretty Corner—Mark, Chris, Andy, and Doug—all were slightly damp but hopeful the rest of the day would be dry.

They set off into a headwind towards East Beckham and on to Gresham, picking up an equally damp Ian, following the road south through Bessingham and through Aldborough. At the Spread Eagle in Erpingham we picked up Neil, who had timed leaving his house to perfection, arriving completely dry. With the full peloton, we then headed towards Banningham, Felmingham, Tuttington, Westwick, on to Tunstead, and then to the lunch stop at the Rising Sun in Coltishall. Despite the headwind, the flooded roads, and the large amount of detritus, the ride went well, and the lunch stop arrived faster than expected.

Lunch was great, with the addition of a festive twist to the loaded fries that involved a deep-fried Brussels sprout. The food was good, but the discussion of the life cycle of the ferret and polecat was the pick of the day, with a reference to Nora Batty from Last of the Summer Wine coming a close second.

With lunch petering out, Chris was away early, with the prospect of the Thursday chain-gang and keeping up at the front in his head, and he was off. The five remaining Wheelers took a more leisurely approach to the journey home. With a bit of sun and a tailwind, it was a lovely return. We travelled through Buxton and Burgh, and with a diversion to avoid a closed road at Aylsham, we travelled north to Blickling, then through Erpingham again, where we said goodbye to Neil and Andy.
We continued north through Aldborough, and shortly after, Doug headed back to Cromer via Hanworth, with Ian and Mark heading back to Pretty Corner.

Overall, a lovely day of cycling, and we were all glad we braved the rain to get to the start!

PC to PC was 45.6 miles at an average 14.3mph
Riders: Chris S, Andy S, Mark M, Doug H, Ian A, Neil M

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 10th December – Old Reading Rooms, Kelling
Saturday 13th December – Junction 21, Themelthorpe
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

No pre-ride emails, just all braced for a cold but sunny day out. Unfortunately the sun wasn’t coming out to play just yet due to a mist that persisted for most of the morning when five wheelers met at PC. The mist certainly kept the lid on the temperature too. It also meant that the roads were wet and muddy in places. But at least the wind was light.
The new Kalas club kit had been delivered earlier in the week and Chris was wearing his new “40th Anniversary Edition” NNW Bib Tights. He’d bought them with room for expansion as they are a tad flappy. But with his current training programme of an intensive spin class Tuesday evenings, club rides Wednesdays/Saturdays and fast ‘chain gang’ ride Thursdays, who knows how big his legs might get!
Once Andy had finished talking to the tractor driving hedge cutter fella (coincidentally his tenant at his ‘other’ house) it transpired that we’d do best to deviate from the planned route via East Beckham due to extensive hedge cutting yesterday which would make it ‘puncture alley’ for sure. So we took the slightly longer route via the top of Red Barn Lane and down the hill to pick up Clive at Gresham Church. The route then took us via Sustead, Hanworth, Aldborough and down to Erpingham where soon after we crossed the main Cromer Road and on to Colby.
At Aldborough we had bumped into Brian P, Neil S and Phil S, who we haven’t crossed paths with for ages so it was good to catch up. They were out for an off-road ride. We continued past the Banningham Crown and then skirted Aylsham before arriving at the cafe around 11:40am. All things certainly were VERY nice. As a further bonus, Graham A was already there having made his own way from Cromer. The other good news was that they were still serving breakfasts so we all ordered breakfast baps, some filled and some open with more toppings. Chris had the soup.
While we were there, Neil and Phil turned up having done 22 miles off-road to get there, which was a good effort given the conditions. (Brian had diverted off to his Spanish conversation group.) So nine Wheelers in all which I think is the most at a cafe stop for some considerable time. After lunch we said farewell to Neil & Phil who were still eating. Graham hung around to admire the view a bit longer as the Christmas decorations were up.
Just south of Cawston we turned west for Reepham and soon after were on a mainly northwards trajectory which meant we had the light southerly wind behind us most of the way back. which increased our average speed – but it always seems harder work after lunch! Shortly before Reepham Andrew detected a slow rear puncture. Mark donated a bit of air and that held it up for a while, but Andrew had to admit defeat when we got to Wood Dalling so we stopped so he (well Mark actually) could fix it with a new tube. As usual Chris had ‘things to get back for’ and Andy was fairly close to home by this point so we excused them both, leaving Ian and Clive to lend moral support to Andrew & Mark.

Repair done, we headed on to Edgefield via the climb up Ramsgate Street and crossed the Holt Road where soon after Clive diverted back to Blakeney via Pond Hills Road and Hempstead/Holt. A little further on, Andrew stopped again. This time to take a phone call (but probably to save any embarrassment if there was a race up to the mast at Bodham Hill…) But Mark and Ian chose not to race it. At Hill Farm Ian turned left to return to High Kelling leaving Mark to ride solo back to PC. A nice ride in the end with a very pleasant stop and the sun coming out shortly before lunch and staying out for the rest of the day.

PC to PC was 42 miles at an average of 14.1 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Andy S, Chris S, Clive A, Ian A, Mark M, with Graham A, Neil S and Phil S, joining us for lunch.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 6th December – Rising Sun, Coltishall
Wednesday 10th December – Old Reading Rooms, Kelling
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/