Ride report by Duncan S
3 riders (Mark M, Chris S and Duncan S) met at Pretty Corner on a rainy but not too chilly morning with light south westerly winds. We expected Andrew B to join us and to meet Ian A at the Three Horseshoes, Warham. However, 10am came and went so the peloton (if you can call 3 riders a peloton) set off south to the Red Barn Lane/Mill Road T-Junction. There we turned right and headed for Baconsthorpe and the Plumstead Road. We then turned right in Plumstead towards the B1149 at Edgefield. Continuing on to the top of Ramsgate Street, Mark suggested a deviation from the planned route to avoid the anticipated mud and swollen fords, so we continued down the Briston Road. We crossed the Briston-Holt Road and then through Stody to Brinton before turning southwest before Sharrington to Gunthorpe. Heading west, we crossed the A148 and then rode through Thursford Green towards Great Snoring. The rain had been pretty constant, so Mark offered a short cut to Walsingham but the intrepid trio agreed to do the full route. We continued west towards the Barshams, then turning north east to the Walsinghams and then to Warham.
Arriving at the Three Horseshoes, there was no sign of Ian’s bike, so we spent a few minutes wringing out our gloves and shaking off our rain jackets before going inside. Drinks and food were ordered and then we saw the messages from Ian and Andrew explaining that the weather had dampened the mojo and they had each taken a rain check on the ride. There was lots of sympathy and understanding from the intrepid trio around the table for the missing duo!
BLTs and soup duly arrived and discussion ranged from the merits of various tyres and liners to the contrast between the Thursford Christmas Spectacular and the Cromer End of Pier show. The rain seemed to have stopped and the sun briefly emerged over lunch, but the rain began again as we donned wet gloves and set off up the Binham Road. We turned right down Long Lane and left at the T-Junction to Westgate, Field Dalling and Saxlingham. Then Chris discovered he couldn’t shift out of the smallest cogs on his cassette and soon after, Mark suffered a rear puncture (Conti GP 5000 AS tyre with tyre liner). As Chris was likely to be slower, he went on ahead, expecting to be caught by the remaining 2 later. However, the cause of the puncture proved tricky to remove from the tyre, turning out to be small piece of wire. We did not see Chris again.
Fortunately the rain had stopped during this interlude and with a new tube in the tyre, we set off to Wiveton, Newgate up the Holt Road hill and across Salthouse Heath to Bridge Road and High Kelling. Duncan elected to accompany Mark to PC rather than turn to Holt, legs feeling good and not having done a 60 miler for some time (and just in case Mark had another puncture!). The remainder of the ride (Church Road, Hart Lane to Bodham, West Beckham, PC) went without incident. A good ride, despite the very wet weather.
PC to PC was 49.2 miles at ana average 14.4 mph
Riders: Mark M, Chris S, Duncan S
P.S. Award winners at the annual Wheelers Social on Sat 7th Feb included Graham A receiving the Geoff Paice Peddlers trophy, for his solo cycling adventure to Holland between his hospital treatments and Chris S. In his first time trial season he won the trophy for the fastest 25 mile time (on handicap). I’m sure there is no truth in the rumor that money changed hands!
Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 14th February – Crown, Banningham (Coast Café, Trimingham is closed until the 26th Feb)
Wednesday 18th February – All Things Nice, Cawston
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 