Author: vannicholas09

There were five takers for the weekend club run to The Victorious at Little Walsingham. There was some early black ice, but this cleared by about 9.45. This relatively short ride went by way of West Beckham, Bodham, Salthouse Heath, up the Downs, a southerly detour to Langham, across the common to Cockthorpe, Binham, the Hindringham by-road, Copy’s Green and the Great Walsingham ford. The fare at the cafe consisted of a choice between thick pumpkin soup and doorstep sandwiches. The even shorter post-prandial route climbed to Great Snoring, over to Hindringham and the succession of villages that trip of North Norfolk Wheelers’ tongues (Bale, Sharrington, Brinton, Stody, Briston and Baconsthorpe), over Bodham Hill and a final loop via Upper Sheringham and Cranfield Road. A short club run that enabled everyone to get home before the earliest sunset of the winter.

Group: Brian; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 47 miles to 64 miles.

One puncture: Rear 28 mm Marathon Plus! An iron hard thorn that had worked through thick layers of butyl and kevlar. The culprit was so firmly embedded in these inflexible layers that it defied efforts to push it it through with both sewing machine screwdriver and camping tin opener. It finally succumbed to a small bent rusty nail that Brian found and has added to his comprehensive collection of tools.

Addendum 12/12/21: – (From Cycling UK Forum). “One thing I have found with thorn punctures with the Marathon Plus is that when you get a thorn in that causes a puncture it can be really difficult to remove the thorn and I’ve ended up having to replace a tyre as a thorn broke and a bit remained in the tyre.”

The early morning rain gave way to clearing skies before six Wheelers left Pretty Corner in a stiff and rising westerly tailwind. Unsurprisingly there were a lot of filthy and flooded lanes en route to the comfortable and welcoming Lighthouse Inn, by way of Hanworth Timber, Suffield church, Bradfield church, White Horse Common, Crostwight Heath, Hill 60 and Ostend. After a warming break the bunch pushed back into the westerly via Witton Bridge, Edingthorpe, Dead Man’s Grave, Knapton, Trunch, Gimingham, Hungry Hill, Northrepps, Sally Bean’s and Metton to the main split at Gresham church.

Conditions: More sun than anticipated and a strong cold west wind. The last straggler on the road caught some late afternoon rain when pushing into the rising wind over the last seven miles.

Group: Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 54 miles to 68 miles.

During the weekend of Storm Arwyn there was a general consensus to postpone the club run to Monday. In the event there were four Wheelers left Pretty Corner for the Fork in Hoe cafe. On a bright, but cold and windy morning, the route into mid-Norfolk went by way of Plumstead, Corpusty, Tyby, Guestwick, Foulsham, Billingford, Worthing watermill and the Manor Farm detour to the Fork at Corner’s Nursery, where the food and the service were first class. There was some fairly substantial patchy ice on the roads in the Hoe-Dereham area, apparently causing a few early morning accidents. The ‘feels like’ temperature never rose above zero all day. Today was the first time in 71 years of cycling that one Wheeler can remember thinking in November – “roll on spring!”. A lad in the cafe said he felt cold just “thinking about you boys riding back to Sheringham”. He was wearing a fur-lined hat, obviously fashionable in Hoe (“wear the fox hat!”). There was still a bit of ice in the afternoon, so a bit of a wary eye was needed. Homeward-bound looped round by Gorgate, then Hoe church, Woodgate, Pennyspot, Elsing, Sparham, Eade’s watermill, Reepham town (Neil Mc had ridden 14 miles to PC in the morning, so departed here for Kerdiston). The remaining trio pushed on to Salle Manor, Heydon Park, Itteringham and Barningham Winter to a split beyond North Barningham church.

Group: Graham J; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 55 miles to 68 miles.

Seven Wheelers were all set to depart from PC at 10.00 when Jim discovered yet another unauthorised deflation of his front tyre*. At the top of Red Barn Lane, a dicky chain forced Neil S back to Beeston Regis for a change of bike. While Mark assisted Jim with the last stages of puncture repair, four set off at steady pace as far as Salthouse Heath, where they were rejoined by the duo of pursuers. The bunch then followed a scenic route taking in the Bayfield dual carriageway (probably the world’s roughest dual carriageway), Wall’s Lane, Letheringsett ford, Sharrington, Briningham, Hindolveston, Foulsham, Guestwick (where Jim was forced by a combination of gyppy guts and malfunctioning rear mech to turn for home) and Kerdiston to the Station Cafe, where someone decided that eating alfresco in late November was a good idea! Neil S had arrived already via a direct route. We were joined by veteran club run stalwart, Geoff, the recent recipient of the prestigious best allotment in Sheringham award; a justified reward for sixteen years of diligent pig manuring. Sticking with the GMT theme of riding a lot of the less familiar local lanes, the bunch then headed home by way of Whitwell Street, Eade’s Mill, the Witchinghams, Brandiston, Eastgate, Cawston, Oulton (from where Neil Mc headed for home), Abel Heath (where we stopped for a chat with Robin, who was out on his afternoon training ride), Silvergate, Ingworth, Erpingham, Calthorpe, Wickmere and Thurgarton (from where Graham A headed for home) for the final miles via Gresham church and East Beckham.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Jim; Harvey; Graham A; Brian + Geoff at the break.

Two punctures, one non-meshing chain and one malfunctioning rear mech.

Distances: 42 miles to 73 miles.

*PS – and yet another soon after splitting with the bunch.

Five departed from the Pretty Corner meeting point in thick drizzle. Apart from a couple of bright flashes, mainly while in the cafe, and a heavier band of rain early afternoon, that’s the way it stayed all day. The short outward leg to the Courtyard Cafe went by way of Plumstead Green, the ridge road past Range Farm, Edgefield, Briston, Hindolveston, Stibbard and the Lower Clipstone detour, before the lung-opening kicks up the notorious Ryburgh bergs and the short main road run in to an early refreshment break. As in days of old, the initial couple of miles of the return trip joined the heavy traffic on the A1067 to the turn off for Thorpland Hall and Great Snoring. The longer leg back then visited Thursford, Gunthorpe, Briningham, Burgh Parva, Hindolveston (having ridden the 13 miles to PC in the morning, Neil Mc headed off home to Kerdiston from here), Burnthouse, Thurning mill, Growle Abbey and the back ways round Briston to pick up a more conventional last few miles, via the iron sombreros, to West Beckham for a two-way split – (for those who were there, the main reason that the mileage was less than advertised is that the leader forgot to detour round by Blackwater Lane and Rookery Farm).

Riders: Andrew; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 56 miles to 71 miles.

Eight Wheelers assembled at Pretty Corner for the weekend run out to the Corner Cafe on the east coast. Today’s very convoluted route was the the Spaghetti Eastern, starring Flint Westwood (alias Brian, whose bottom bracket sounded like a Gatling gun). North east Norfolk is of course threaded with lots of little lanes, so why not use them, especially when the roads are generally dry? After numerous twists and turns, the bunch eventually made it to Trunch, much to the surprise of the Erdington Express, Neil S. From there it was a lovely sunlit descent towards the coast and a final climb up over the ridge through the former isolation hospital. Just south of Stump Cross a new club record was set with no less than six riders behind the hedge.

To Neil’s surprise the return ride found another way into Trunch, before crossing the outward route and heading home by way of Southrepps, Antingham, Rugg’s Hall, Suffield rectory, the shortcut through Hanworth Timber, Thwaite Common and Bessingham to the split at Gresham, where Jim suffered his second front wheel puncture on consecutive club runs.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Jim; Harvey; Graham A; Brian; Andrew.

Distances: 51 miles to 71 miles.

Conditions: A pleasantly benign cycling day for November, with more sun than forecast, a rising south westerly and light rain from 3.55.

Four left Pretty Corner in light rain, but apart from a couple of heavier bursts, there was far less precipitation than anticipated. Riding roughly parallel to the coast, the westbound route went by way of Bodham, Salthouse Heath, Glandford ford, up the Downs, Langham, Cockthorpe, Binham, Wighton, Crabbe Castle and a glorious tailwind assisted descent down through Holkham Park to the coast road. The final stretch out of the Park was highlighted by a remarkable light show as the sun behind us lit up the thick black clouds over the sea and highlighted the autumnal avenue of trees along Lady Ann’s Drive. This was also a welcome sign that most of the forecast rain was now out over the sea. Both Holkham and Wells were very busy with half term holidaymakers.

It was good to see an old Wheelers’ favourite, Nelson’s Cafe, restored to full working order after the combined tribulations of a major fire and Covid. Neil felt bloated just looking at Mark’s steak and kidney pie with chips, broccoli, carrots and gravy.

The weather gods proved to be doubly generous for the return trip, providing total sunshine as well as shifting the strong southerly to a helpful south westerly. Back to Sheringham was via Warham, Field Dalling, Saxlingham, Sharrington, Brinton and generally conventional ways back up to PC.

Group: Graham J; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 53 miles to 72 miles.

Seven departed from Pretty Corner for a brisk run down to the Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn. After a short delay for a ‘phone call, the bunch went by way of Gresham, Erpingham, the familiar lanes to Swanton Hill, Worstead and Honing, over East Ruston and Brumstead Commons, the back way to the recently renovated Ingham Swan, Calthorpe Fen and the final push down the coast to Waxham, where the Wheelers were joined by Malcolm, who had ridden up from his hideaway in the southern Broads. The conversation over the refuelling break turned to the best way to heat the home. Malcolm stuck with the group as far as Hickling before continuing south via Ludham and the Reedham ferry. The Wheelers turned off for Sutton to connect into the little lanes leading up to Lessingham, Happisburgh Common, Hill 60, the secret way into Ridlington and past Hoole House, before finishing off on a ‘traditional’ NNW route through Trunch and Thorpe Market for Hanworth, Gresham and the split.

Group: Brian; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil S + Malcolm.

Distances: 64 miles to 85 miles (Jim H as a part of the stamina building phase in his marathon training regime).

One puncture – (front Conti, just south of Sea Palling).

Alan from south Warwickshire club, Wellesbourne Wheelers (93 members), joined five North Norfolk Wheelers for the run down to the Mardlers’ Rest cafe. It was a relatively short outward route, travelling by way of Bodham Hill, Up Wood, Plumstead, Saxthorpe, Salle, Reepham, Blackwater, Sparham, Bylaugh, Robertson Barracks and Hoe. The conversation at the break turned to the relative merits of Kalas and Gear Club clothing. For the second week running Brian snaffled the last jacket potato. It was a gloriously sunny, warm and tailwind-assisted afternoon for the return leg via East Bilney, Brisley, Great Heath, North Elmham, Billingford, Foxley, Themelthorpe, Guestwick, Odessa, Wood Dalling, Heydon Park (where Neil S thought he was in paradise), Oulton, Itteringham and the very familiar last eight miles back to Sheringham.

Bunch: – Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Harvey; Brian; Alan R.

Distances: – 59 miles to 75 miles.

It must be something about mellow autumnal days, but today’s run attracted eleven Wheelers, several of whom are themselves mellow and autumnal. Today’s turnout included new man, Neil, who has recently moved up from Cambridge. The relative proximity of Mundesley offered an opportunity to follow a devious route, travelling by way of Lower Gresham, Sustead, Thurgarton, Erpingham, Colby school, Hylton Crossways, Skeyton Goat, Scottow, Frankfort, Dilham, Honing, Edingthorpe and Paston to the Corner House Cafe. It was noted in passing that the Jonet Cafe has reopened. The Corner House staff dealt admirably with the large influx, pulling together a couple of tables and dealing efficiently with eleven orders. The way back climbed up to Trunch and Knapton, crossing the outward route to Dead Man’s Grave, Pigney’s Wood and the little lane to Swafield, swinging back north and west via Bradfield, Southrepps Hall, Northrepps, Sally Bean’s, Mill Road and Metton to splits in the bunch at Gresham church and Red Barn Lane.

Bunch:- Andrew B; Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S: Ben; David; Scott.

Distances (for those starting at PC): 53 miles to 77 miles.

With a decent sized bunch out today, it was again evident that sensible use of downloadable route files makes it feasible to accommodate a wide range of weekend Wheelers, from the steady touring element right through to those who like to push on a bit. Even if only three riders load the route to Garmin and another who knows the route keeps an eye on the rearguard, then everyone can follow the same route, but at variable pace.