Author: vannicholas09

Unauthorised deflation at Foulsham.

Mark and Chris met at Pretty Corner before riding down to pick up Neil Mc at Cross Green. Brian and Harvey joined the route at around seven miles. There was a brief encounter with Andrew, who was out for a short ride following laser eye treatment early in the week and whose dark sunglasses gave him the appearance of a late-20th century Italian roadman. Much of the outward route was very familiar to North Norfolk Wheelers, travelling basically south west to Craymere, Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree, Billingford, Worthing and Gressenhall, where three Wheelers were tempted into the Mardler’s Rest by thoughts of warm quiche and hot tea on a dank and drizzly day. The rest of the route for the remaining duo was along less well known lanes via the Podmore ford, Scarning and Daffy Green to the King’s Cafe at Shipdham, at the heart of Norfolk. The return leg took the back ways into Yaxham, then along Cutthroat Lane, up the Stone Road to the eastern fringe of Dereham, Etling Green, Elsing, Fustyweed, Lyng and over the ridge to Reepham before deviating from the plotted route, heading more eastwards towards Brian’s home base. From Gressenhall the main group cut across by way of Woodgate and Hunters Hall to rejoin the set route at Elsing. Neil Mc departed at Corpusty leaving Mark and Chris to negotiate the last of the flooded dips through the Barninghams and back to PC and Sheringham town.

Following Friday’s deluge, it was a day of predominantly light rain with some fairly brief heavier bursts. Basically, the further south west you ventured the wetter it became. The Shipdham contingent were pretty wet by the time they arrived at the cafe. Unsurprisingly, there was a lot of surface water about. The Blackwater, the Wensum and the Tud all filled their natural flood plains with some impressive floods. A few places today would have been impassable six/eight hours earlier, particularly at river crossings, such as the Podmore ford, where it was evident that the water had backed right up the slope to the junction, which would have rendered the footbridge inaccessible during the early hours.

One puncture: Durano Plus.

Distances: 40 miles to 75 miles.

It was a bright and windy day for the club run to No.17 Cafe at Mundesley, which is housed in the front half of the former Cafe Jonet. Four Wheelers met at Pretty Corner, while five more joined the route a bit further down the road. Assisted by a stiff westerly, the longer outward leg was fairly fast, riding by way of Barningham Winter, Thwaite, Alby Common, Suffield, Felmingham, Swanton Abbott, Scottow, Frankfort, Worstead, Meeting Hill, White Horse Common, Spa Common, Knapton and Trunch. No.17 is an interesting enterprise, with sparse accommodation and serving basically baguettes, jacket potatoes and doughnuts. The range of fillings is impressive however, the quality is top class and the prices are surprisingly cheap in these inflationary times.

Stiff climbs and a stiff headwind were features of a return leg that also benefited from beautiful autumn sunshine. It was also a very contorted route, which travelled via Paston, Little London, Swafield, Bradfield, Gimingham, Trimingham (from where the convalescent Graham headed for home), Clapham Dams, Northrepps, Metton, Sustead (where Neil Mc turned off) and Lower Gresham. Some of the steadier riders cut off the plotted route in order to accompany Brian back to Alby Common, before continuing westwards to Thwaite Hill and Aldborough, where Neil S turned north for the coast, leaving two to continue to Plumstead Green, where they split for their respective destinations.

Riders: Neil Mc; Mark; Ian; Chris; Neil S; Jim; Harvey; Graham A; Brian.

Distances: 47 miles to 73 miles.

Only two miles to the cafe.

A short break in Holkham courtyard.

Andrew, Chris and Mark set out from PC to collect Neil Mc at Cross Green for this weekend’s club run to the Courtyard Cafe on the Holkham Estate. They were joined at the cafe by Ian and Harvey, both of whom had ridden the set route solo. The morning ride visited Stody, Brinton, Sharrington, Bale, Hindringham, Great Snoring, three Barshams, Waterden and the Triumphal Arch before the long descent to the refreshment break outside in the courtyard, where Andrew showed his pictures from a recent extended holiday in western Canada.

After a fairly short break, the bunch headed back through the top end of Wells to the Walsingham road before cutting across to Warham and then a southerly loop down to Copy’s Green, Great Walsingham, the Snorings, over the airfield to Thursford Green, Gunthorpe (where Neil Mc turned for home), then north for Sharrington (where Harvey left the route to take a longer, steady ride back), the Thornages, Letheringsett, Wiveton, the long climb out of the Glaven valley, over the heath to High Kelling (where Andrew and Ian headed for home), leaving the last pair to ride the final five miles to PC.

Although the forecast balmy Indian Summer weather never materialised, it was a soft and breezy day for riding a bike along a lot of north Norfolk lanes. There were certainly a lot of bikes about today, including heavily laden tourists, three tandems and what looked like a Dutch Velomobiel Snoek aerodynamic recumbent (at Thursford).

Distances: it was 64 miles from PC to PC, but individual distances ranged from 55 miles to 80 miles.

The club runs section has been labouring under an abundance of commitments recently. These include medical treatment, convalescence, holidays, property maintenance, family visits and a leg of the Round Norfolk Relay. On another excellent late summer’s day, only Mark, Chris, Brian and Harvey could make it for the trip down to the Mardler’s Rest Cafe and the latter pair didn’t join in until Barningham. On a fresh, bright and breezy morning, it was basically tailwind out on a route that was conventional as far as Colkirk, before turning south through Whissonsett to Stanfield, crossing the B1145 to pick up the secluded lane down to the sand and gravel workings at Bittering, turning back east past the lost medieval village of Little Bittering and through Gressenhall village to the museum cafe, which was quiet today. A rising ENE wind, backing NE, made for a hard-working ride back, via Hoe, Swanton Morley, Elsing, along the south side of the Wensum to Attlebridge, turning north up the climb to Swannington and on to Cawston, Itteringham and directly back to Pretty Corner.

Distances: 66 miles to 80 miles.

Next week it is back east again. This time along the lanes to Bacton.

With the sudden demise of No.77 Cafe in the Red Lion at Coltishall, this weekend’s club run was rescheduled to the Courtyard Cafe in the busy Wroxham Barns complex. Other commitments once again kept the Pretty Corner contingent numbers down to three riders, which was reduced to two at Tuttington, from where Neil Mc had to head for home to fulfil domestic commitments in the afternoon. On an unseasonably hot day, tempered by favourable breezes, Mark and Chris enjoyed a brisk ride to the Barns, where they chose to refuel at the Farmyard Cafe rather than the larger Courtyard Cafe. During the break, Chris received a ‘phone call notifying him of a boiler problem that needed sorting asap. So it was a quick turnaround and a 16mph ride back to Sheringham.

Five other Wheelers picked up the route at the five miles point for the ride to the Courtyard Cafe and, unusually, failed to coincide with the PC starters. Unsurprisingly on a day such as this, Wroxham Barns was busy, but the group arrived early for a comfortable break before the cafe filled up with families after 12.30. It was a hot, but wind-assisted, ride back to the parting of the ways at Cross Green.

The route was largely on quiet lanes, directly to Tuttington, over Swanton Hill, Sloley, Tunstead church, Cat’s Common, Neatishead, Irstead, Bewiderwood, Ashmanaugh, Belaugh Green, St. James, Little Hautbois, Frettenham church, Hainford, Buxton, Brampton, Allison Street, Cawston, Corpusty, Ramsgate Street, Baconsthorpe and Bodham Hill. This route benefited from a lot of shade from today’s hot sun, especially through the Broads section.

Riders: Mark; Chris; Neil Mc; Jim; Graham J; Neil S; Brian; Harvey.

Distances: – the main plotted route covered 66 miles, but individual distances ranged from 68 miles to 106 miles.

Some of the bunch at Pensthorpe – or Chris shows Brian and Neil how to put the lid on a teapot.

On a glorious day for cycling, three Wheelers set out from Anglian Water, while three more joined the route at Cross Green. It was what Geoff would call ‘the traditional route’ as far as Craymere, before heading south through Guestwick and Foulsham to Bintree watermill, along the short stretch of B1110 to Broom Green and a westerly leg over Great Heath to Potthorpe, Horningtoft and Whissonsett, back east to Gately church, north over the undulations to Great Ryburgh and the final kick over the Little Ryburgh bergs to the Courtyard Cafe for a refuelling break. Usually, late summer in the Pensthorpe courtyard is a wasp fest, but only a single vespa made an appearance today. The paucity of wasps question was answered on the way back at Oulton Hall when a small swarm of them attacked Neil’s energy gel, while Brian fixed a puncture. It was probably a bad idea for Neil to have laid his Hetchins on the entrance to a subterranean wasps’ nest.

The route home was conventional as far as Hindolveston, from where a big loop south and east was taken, by way of Foulsham airfield, Skitfield, Odessa, Crabgate, through Heydon Park to Oulton and Itteringham, up the climb to Wolterton and via Wickmere, Thurgarton and Bessingham to Gresham church.

Group: Chris; Ian; Mark; Brian; Neil S; Harvey.

Distances: 63 miles to 70 miles.

One puncture: rear Continental GP 5000.

Holidays, medical problems and family affairs combined to keep the numbers low on this August Bank Holiday weekend. Only Mark and Neil Mc set out from Pretty Corner, while Harvey joined the route at Gresham church. It was a fine day for riding north east Norfolk’s quiet network of narrow lanes.

‘Gimingham, Trimingham, Knapton and Trunch, Northrepps, Southrepps lie all in a bunch.’ (Anon)

After Knapton it was on to Edingthorpe Green, Spa Common, White Horse Common, Briggate, Honing, squeezing past seven separate Anglian Water barriers along the closed road through East Ruston onto Brumstead Common, Lessingham Star, Happisburgh Common, Hill 60 and Ostend to the Lighthouse Inn to refuel in the beer garden.. Fifteen minutes later Malcolm arrived after riding up from the southern Broads via Great Yarmouth. As so often, the conversation amongst the finely-tuned athletes of North Norfolk Wheelers turned to illness and medical matters. Following the rest and refreshments Malcolm headed back south via Stalham, Catfield, Potter Heigham, Martham and Yarmouth, completing 62 miles for the day. The other three headed inland by way of Witton bridge to Honing and Dilham, from where Harvey continued westwards on a shorter route in order to get back for 3.30. The two PC starters continued along the plotted route round by Beeston St Lawrence, Tunstead church and Sloley before travelling directly westwards to Aylsham, Abel Heath and Oulton, where Neil Mc continued west to Corpusty and Mark turned north for Itteringham, Barningham and the rolling roads back to Sheringham, passing the PC meeting place at 68.5 miles. Storm clouds gathered ominously during the latter part of this ride. Mark managed to avoid the eastern edge of the unstable weather, while Harvey caught only about six or seven minutes rain further west, along the southern edge of it all, before the heavier rain arrived from about 3.45.

Riding this route today it occurred that some of the absentees would have really enjoyed this ride on quiet dry lanes in fresh, bright late summer weather. It is probably worth repeating the run on some mutually convenient day; perhaps in good weather in late spring.

Distances today: 62 miles to 81 miles.

Mark, Ian A and Graham A left Pretty Corner to pick up Neil Mc at Cross Green. Still awaiting his postponed hospital treatment, Graham was riding only as far as a refreshment stop at Fakenham Garden Centre before heading home via a more direct route. Brian, Jim and Harvey joined a few miles into the route. Neil S’s recurrent back problem prevented him from meeting the latter trio. Luckily, the heavy overnight rainstorms had abated, although early lying water ensured that ‘winter bikes’ were more evident than is usual for August.

It was a conventionally direct route out to Ryburgh and Colkirk before turning north to Hempton and up the Wensum valley to Shereford, where the Wheelers were relieved to turn out of a strong south westerly headwind, crossing the river at Sculthorpe Mill. From here, we were able to pick up more favourable winds, past the eastern edge of Sculthorpe Airfield, a fast ten minutes on the B1355, turning along the lane to Waterden Bottom to join a section of the Roman road that runs from Toftrees, south west of Fakenham, to Burnham harbour*. The final three miles to the Courtyard Cafe climbed up the Chantry Hills and through the Triumphal Arch before a magnificent descent through the holm oaks, fallow deer and tourists.

Similar to last week, it was a brisk but easy ride back, assisted by a dominant tailwind. Initially on the rough road to the East Lodge, then through the southern edge of Wells town and the traditional route to Warham and Binham before cutting south eastwards to Field Dalling and Saxlingham, where Jim touched a wheel and ended up on his back still clipped in to his Merida. Luckily, the wide grass verge absorbed much of the impact, although the rider still suffered a cut knee and a bruised shoulder. From here, it was across the A148 into Sharrington and the lanes to Thornage (where Jim turned south to Melton), King’s Street down to the ford over the Thornage Beck, where a very substantial new footbridge has been installed to replace the virtually collapsed older version, Hunworth, Starling’s Hill, Edgefield (where Neil Mc departed), Plumstead Green, Baconsthorpe, North Barningham, the top of Plum Lane (where Ian split for home) and Red Barn Lane.

Distances: 48 miles to 68 miles.

*This ancient route connects at Toftrees south westwards, via Little Dunham, to the Peddars Way at North Pickenham and eastwards, via Billingford to Brampton, with its major Roman potteries.

The joys of cycling.

Ian, Neil Mc, Chris, Mark and Geoff met at Pretty Corner on a bright and windy August morning. Geoff was out only for a steady run down to his favourite watering hole at Cawston. Brian, Jim and Harvey joined the route down the road a piece. Neil S would have joined them, but was called up at the last minute for unscheduled domestic duties.

A stiff, gusty south westerly made for a hard-working ride out, taking a direct line through to Reepham and Whitwell Common, before looping over to Sparham, where Ian suffered a snakebite puncture (aka pinch puncture), Elsing, North Tuddenham and Mattishall. From here it was mainly unknown territory for most of the Wheelers, hitting the lost lanes by way of Garvestone, Reymerston Hall, High Common, Swathing and Blackmoor Row to the friendly King’s Cafe in the large mid-Norfolk village of Shipdham. The group of seven refuelled in the roomy wooden shelter at the back of this former pub.

Warm sun and a strong tailwind made it a brisk and pleasant ride back through Thorpe Row, Daffy Green, Scarning, Podmore, Bushy Common, Gressenhall, Worthing, Billingford (where two mature white-bearded Wheelers were asked how they are so fit), Bintree, Foulsham, Skitfield and a direct route back through the lanes via Briston, shedding riders en route.

One puncture:- rear Continental ‘4 Seasons’.

Distances: 60 miles to 74 miles.

On another disappointing summer’s day three Wheelers met at Pretty Corner. Judging by the conversation, two of them had managed to extract the most optimistic forecast from a bad bunch. Fortunately they did coincide with the best of the conditions (relative), with most of the heavier stuff falling early and late and the wind not getting up until late afternoon. Mark, Chris and Harvey set out from PC, although the latter was out only for a couple of hours leg-loosener. The remaining duo rode briskly to the windmill cafe, following the conventional direct route out to Binham and Wighton, then over the higher ground to North Creake, the long climb up to Stanhoe and the back lanes through the Barwicks to the Great Bircham road. Unsurprisingly, the poor weather during the school holidays meant that the venue was busy with families. After refuelling, M and C took a more southerly route back via Bagthorpe, Syderstone, South Creake, the stiff hills over to Egmere, the fast descent to the Stiffkey valley through the Walsinghams, then Hindringham, Bale, Stody, Hunworth, some more serious ascending up Starling’s Hill to Cross Green, Baconsthorpe, the drag onto Bodham Hill and of course the final kick up to PC before descending into Sheringham. Both riders felt pretty done in at the end of a hilly day in cold summer conditions.

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The more ‘senior’ steady riding contingent had decided to ride on Friday and enjoyed a good run out on a bright and windy day. Graham would have been out, but is still awaiting his hospital treatment. Jim had a 10K race at Aylsham on Friday evening (52 minutes in the M75 category). So, Neil, Brian and Harvey set out en route for Bircham, but decided to cut things short by doubling back to the Norton Centre at Little Walsingham, where they took a leisurely break before a longish impromptu run back through the lanes before splitting at Barningham Winter.

Distances (both days): 62 miles to 70 miles.