Author: asbassett5

A strong South Westerly and light rain greeted today’s two Wheelers at PC for what was a tough 20 mile run down to Coltishall. Despite the route heading in a general SE direction, the wind was relentless and on the odd occasion when the road briefly headed SW, it almost stopped us in our tracks. So the route via Bessingham, Wickmere, Ingworth, Aylsham, Lamas to Coltishall, seemed further than the 20 miles.

The Rising Sun was a welcome stop, with the wood fired pizza oven helping to dry us out and good food including Christmas pud, to fuel us for the next longer leg home.  As we left, the rain had stopped and we were looking forward to the wind on our backs as we headed past Tunstead Church, Worstead, Briggate, skirted around North Walsham to Swafield, Thorpe Market, Hanworth, Gresham to our split at Red Barn Lane.

The unluckiest Wheeler of the day award goes to Malcolm, who had set off to meet us at Coltishall but a combination of a freak gust of wind and a road full of leaf mulch resulted in a crash as he headed towards the Reedham ferry. Bike and rider ended up battered and bruised but fortunately nothing broken, though Malcolm did have to saw off the damaged end of his handlebars when he got home. Think of the weight savings Malcolm, it was not all in vain!

All in all a tough day out with plenty of bike cleaning required once home.

PC to PC was 46 miles with an average of 14mph

Two hardy (or foolish!) Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a cold and windy morning with a forecast of heavy rain later in the day. The route to Banningham took us Gresham, Sustead, Felbrigg, Northrepps, Southrepps, Gimingham, Trunch, Antingham and Felmingham. This took us down some new lanes including a short footpath! On arrival at the pub we realised that it was packed with the first of the Christmas lunches, so it was drinks and snacks for lunch. The manager informed us that they had just been accredited for cyclists and now have a store for clothing and the bike racks have CTV surveillance, which is very encouraging. On leaving the pub we realised that the forecast rain and high winds had arrived. The route back was therefore curtailed somewhat taking us via. Ingworth, Itteringham, Plumstead and Baconsthorpe, were we spilt up to make our separate ways home. Overall a decent ride which seemed longer with the rain and wind.

PC to PC 40 miles

Mark and Andrew B and leading.

Five Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a cold and misty autumnal morning, with a temperature of 3 degree, but no wind. The route to Kelling was necessarily convoluted to get a decent mileage, taking us through Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Aldborough, Edgefield, Briston, Thornage and Glanford. Progress was however delayed when Graham A had a puncture about halfway which proved difficult to repair and the rest of the group to get very cold! However, a good past was set after this and we arrived just before 1:00pm. There was a warm welcome at the Café and we all enjoyed a good lunch, with soup being the main choice. The free refill of teas and coffee was much appreciated (although Andrew failed to realise this and ordered both!). Following lunch the weather had closed in with a damp mist, but no real rain. Graham J and Duncan left us to make their own way home. The remainder of the group continued to Salthouse, a steep climb up Bard Hill, and onwards to High Kelling, Hempstead, Baconsthorpe and back to Gresham, where Andrew B left the remaining two to ride back to PC. Overall a good ride despite the weather and a great route with some impressive scenery.

PC to PC 42 miles

Mark, Duncan, Graham J, Andrew B and Graham A leading.

Four Wheelers met at Pretty Corner for the inaugural ride to The Old Dairy at Stanfield.  The sun was shining and the skies blue, though the 7 degree temperature reminded us that summer was long behind us. A fairly strong westerly was noticeable on the SW leg out but a great help on the return leg. Family commitments unfortunately meant that John S could only join us for the first hour or so, down to Bintree, before heading back to PC. Good to catch up with you again John and see you in a few weeks. The puncture fairy struck at Brisley Green, with Andrew B getting a flint through his nearly new rear Michelin Pro4 Endurance, though he was pleased to discover it was now easier to get off the rim than it had been putting it on new. To keep the route as short as possible to fit into the limited daylight we went PC to Saxthorpe, Wood Dalling, Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree Mill, Broom Green, Brisley Green, Stanfield. The Old Dairy was warm and welcoming, with limited seating inside and more outside. The lunch menu was limited but of good quality as was the coffee, there was also a selection of cakes. The Old Dairy also produces a range of pickles, condiments and mustards, all produced on the premises, which it also sells in the café shop. On the return leg it was Brisley, Gateley, Gt Ryburgh, Stibbard, Wood Norton, Hindolveston, Craymere Beck, Briston, Edgefield, Baconsthorpe, PC.

PC to PC 49 miles

John S, Graham A, Andrew B and Mark leading.

Two Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a warm wet drizzly morning but with little wind and it was unseasonably warm. John S who had planned to lead the ride was unable to attend for family reasons but sent the route. The route to Coltishall took us through Bessingham. Suffield, Felmingham, Skeyton and Wroxam Barns. The rain quickly stopped and we managed a good pace arriving just before 12:00 to a peaceful café. The peace was however short-lived as a large group of rambler arrived shortly after! This was unfortunate as ex-leader Malcolm then arrived and had to wait a long while to be served. However, this gave us time time for a second coffee and catchup. 

The drizzly rain had returned by the time we left the café with the route back to PC taking us via. Badesfield,. Skeyton, Ingworth, Calthorpe, Matlaske and Barningham. The rain quickly relented and the last part of the route was on dry roads. Overall a good if a bit of a wet ride with a good average speed made (I blame Mark for this!). Many thanks to John for the route.

PC to PC 41.5 miles, 1092 feet/333 m of climbing and average speed of 15 mph

Mark and Andrew B leading

Two Wheelers and Malcolm E (a house guest of Andrew B) met at Pretty Corner on a cold windy but sunny morning but with a forecast of heavy rain which had clearly put some off. The route to Little Walsingham took us through Plumstead, Edgfield, Stody, Brinton, Field Dalling, Binham and Wighton. The rain held off for the first hour but there were then a series of heavy showers punctuated by sunny periods. On arrival at the Victorious we were joined by Andrew and Malcom’s better halves, and enjoyed and excellent, if rather substantial lunch. The rain had fully set in by then and we decided we would have to brave it! In view of the weather we took the fastest route back to PC through Great Walsingham, Binham, Langham, Wiveton and High Kelling. Andrew B and Malcom E left Mark at High Kelling to return home. Overall a good, if rather wet ride.

PC to PC 40 miles, 1585 feet/431 m of climbing and average speed of 12.1 mph

Mark, Malcolm E and Andrew B leading

Five Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a warm, dry but windy day for Mark’s ride to the Art Café at Glandford. It has been a few years since the last visit and the cafe has certainly improved. Plenty of staff ensured a quick service and though the range of food was limited, the quality was good. Coffee, cake and a comfy sofa in front of a log burner, resulted in one Wheeler being very reluctant to leave!

Our 25 mile outward leg took us on a tour of the backlanes via Gresham, Bessingham, Wickmere, Plumstead, Edgefield, Stody, Gunthorpe, Bale, Field Dalling, Saxlingham to Glandford.

The shorter return leg was via the regular Wiveton, Salthouse Heath route to High Kelling, where Andrew B on his shiny new titanium Van Nicholas decided not to head home but to enjoy the extra miles back to PC, then the headwind back to High Kelling.  Our route back included Hempstead, Baconsthorpe and West Beckham to finish at PC for a total of 40 miles. 

PC to PC 40 miles, 1938 feet/591m of climbing and average speed of 14.0 mph

Andrew B, Graham A, Graham J, John S and Mark leading

Strangely, only three Wheelers braved the overnight deluge, forecast strong SW winds and heavy thunderstorms to meet up at Pretty Corner, for Jane’s planned ride to Mundesley. Jane, wisely had passed the route onto Andrew B and decided to stay somewhere warmer and dryer.  Mark, however foreseeing the likely reduction in numbers had pre-planned an alternative 37mile route via Mundesley so Jane can lead her route another time, Yay! You can thank Mark later Jane!

After an earlier dry and sunny spell to fool the optimistic, 10:30 at Pretty Corner saw torrential rain and a howling South Westerly, surely it can only get better said the three wise men. Eventually it did get better and we saw blue skies and sunshine but that was after negotiating many flooded roads of varying and unknown depths (it were only half way up the ducks, claimed the yokel) also removing two large branches blocking some obscure road, only to have a motorist sail down the road moments later, oblivious of our good deed.

So our southerly route took us through West Beckham, Barningham Winter, Alby Hill, Erpingham, Colby, Bradfield, Trunch and eventually, after Graham’s shoes could take no more water, we arrived at Mundesley and decided to try the former Jonet restaurant, now The View. The food was tasty, but maybe smaller portions and a little pricier than usual. Surprisingly, by now the sun was beating through the window and drying out the Wheelers and their gear prior to the next and shorter home leg of the journey.

As we headed NW out of Mundesley, around Gimingham we came across another flood, which Mark as usual blindly rode into at speed, only to discover the water above his knees and it becoming increasingly difficult to maintain any momentum, eventually after much panic induced pedalling the water became shallower and dry tarmac came into view. Once his fellow Wheelers had composed themselves, they wisely took to the adjoining field to bypass the flood.

After that, the ride was uneventful, with Graham heading off to Cromer north of Northrepps, the remaining duo avoiding the flooded car under Crossdale Street railway bridge and battled against the ferocious headwind to Metton, followed by the downpour around Gresham, where Mark bravely turned north to Sheringham leaving Andrew to enjoy the crosswind to Kelling

PC to PC 37miles, 1575 feet of climbing and six waterlogged feet

Andrew B, Graham A, led by Mark

Three Wheelers met at PC on a sunny but breezy day, which in contrast to the previous week felt very autumnal. The route to took us through Baconsthorpe, Edgfield, Briston, Melton Constable, Hindolveston, Fulmodeston, Braney and Thursford Green. We then diverted from the normal route to Walsingham, through Little Snoring and Great Snoring on the old airfield road. At the café we were joined by Jane who had cycled separately. It had been determined beforehand that the café was only open for takeways, on Wednesdays, however, we were allowed to eat this outside and we enjoyed an excellent lunch despite the cold wind. After lunch we made our way back via. Binham, Bale, Gunthorpe, Brinton, Hunworth, Edgefield, Aldborough and Sustead, were Graham left us to make his own way home. The two remaining riders split at Gresham to go their separate ways too. Overall, a good ride despite the strong wind with the rain just about holding off.

PC to PC was 50 miles

Average 14.1 mph and accent/decent 2,100ft

Mark, Graham A and Jane, led by Andrew B

Four Wheelers met at PC on a fine late summer day. We were also joined briefly on the ride by Ian a former regular, who came along to say hello. He told us that he started riding with the wheelers over 40 years ago! The route to Banningham took us to West Beckham, Bodham, Baconsthorpe, Hemstead, Edgfield, Briston, Corputsy, Itteringham and Ingworth. Although the roads were mainly dry, some of the lanes were sandy/gritty which made for some cautious riding. On arrival at the pub we found a table outside in the shade and enjoyed an excellent lunch with local ales. The route back was straightforward, going via. Colby, Hanworth, Sustead, and Gresham. Robert left near the end of the route to make his way home. Overall a good days cycling in fine weather.

PC to PC was 37 miles

Andrew B, Andrew C and Mark, led by Robert