Author: vannicholas09

Waxham Dunes Cafe:- Mark, Malcolm, Harvey, Neil S, Chris B, Chris S, Neil Mc + Ian behind camera.

Andrew, Chris S, Harvey, Ian, Mark and Neil S, out from Pretty Corner, picked up Chris B at Bessingham and Neil Mc at Ingworth for this club run to Waxham Great Barn. Unfortunately, Andrew’s new chain failed to mesh in adequately so he turned back from Drabblegate. The remaining bunch of seven enjoyed a fast, generally wind-assisted ride to the refreshment stop, skirting south of Banningham to the Tuttington turn off. From here it was a lot of lanes via Skeyton church, Swanton Abbott, Worstead, Honing, East Ruston Common, Stalham, Sutton, Hickling and Sea Palling. Malcolm arrived almost simultaneously after his ride up from south Norfolk, via Yarmouth and the coast road. With a stiff north easterly wind and overcast skies keeping the temperature down to early March levels, there were no takers for the courtyard tables, so the inside of the cafe was packed, but the Wheelers managed to commandeer a couple of tables.

Following the break, Malcolm didn’t fancy any detours today, so headed south again. The main group tacked in and out of the brisk wind along a shorter return route that took them to Calthorpe Fen, Ingham, Brumstead Common and the east side of East Ruston Common, where Chris B, short of the essential winter and early spring miles, decided that it was sensible to cut across country back to his base in Burgh. Neil S and Harvey thought it prudent to keep him company. This left only four to continue on to Fox Hill, Crostwight, Ridlington Street, Witton, Bacton Wood, Knapton, Trunch, Bradfield, Thorpe Market, Topshill and Hanworth, where Neil Mc headed back the last eight miles to his new base in Corpusty. The Sheringham and High Kelling contingent finished off an invigorating day out by way of Sustead, Lower Gresham and Gibbet Lane.

Distances: 64 miles to 84 miles.

For a few years now, the circulation of downloadable route files has enabled the club run bunch to split naturally on the road into a keen vanguard group and a more senior steady riding rearguard. With two of the regulars currently undergoing courses of medical treatment, the need for sensibly regulated effort from the poursuivants has become more critical. So, the carefully considered plan today was for six steady, but sustained, riders to join the plotted route at the 4.6 miles mark, allow the anticipated five hard riders to sweep them up, then follow the route for some time before splitting, in order to head for two separate destinations for the refuelling break.

Problem: only three of the hard riders turned out today and one of them (Ian) was going only as far as Reepham before turning for his home base in High Kelling. Consequence: only Mark and Chris completed the scheduled club run, riding by way of Corpusty, Reepham, Whitwell, Lyng, Cadder’s Hill, East Tuddenham, Welborne, Barnham Broom and the stiff climb up to Colton church to a quiet Goat Shed Cafe to the south of Honingham, where they enjoyed substantial refreshments, while watching the new season’s kids enjoying the mild spring weather. The return route took them round the back of Mattishall, the A47 bridge, Elsing Hall, Sparham, Kerdiston and the quiet lanes via Briston, Edgefield and Baconsthorpe. A good solid ride of 63 miles.

Meanwhile, the touring element stuck to a lot of lanes, climbing over to Peaseland Green and Primrose Green before descending to the quiet cafe at Lyng Stores. The return ride climbed again to the high plains before crossing the Wensum and keeping on the back lanes through Swannington, Brandiston, Cawston, Itteringham, Wolterton, Wickmere, Matlaske, Bessingham and Gresham. Just south of Swannington, Neil S suffered a front tyre sidewall blowout, which required careful patching. Three of the bunch assumed that the explosive noise emanated from a misfiring passing motor bike, before they realised that something was amiss. The damage resulted from improperly balanced vintage brakes causing the 13.6 mm deep cuboid Mafac blocks to rub along the side of the tyre.

This secondary (larger) group, consisting of Brian, Graham A, Graham J, Neil S and Harvey, covered distances ranging from 52 miles to 60 miles.

Neil Mc, Mark & Andrew at the Mardler’s Rest. (Off camera – Ian, Chris, Neil S, Harvey & Graham A).

Eight North Norfolk Wheelers headed out from PC to enjoy some ideal spring weather on the road to Gressenhall Museum. The 29.4 miles (from PC) outward route went by way of Plumstead Green, over the Range to Edgefield, descended to Briston, over the Craymere ford, Burnthouse, Guestwick, Foxley, Bawdeswell and Elsing Lane (Graham A departed from the bunch here to refuel at Elsing before completing his planned 55 miles ride for the day. Everyone wishes him well for his upcoming course of treatment). The remaining seven then followed the valleys of the Wensum and the Blackwater through Bylaugh, Worthing and Gorgate to the Mardler’s Rest cafe, where they are still managing to peg prices back to pre-‘cost of living crisis’ levels.

The rather longer homeward leg progressed in mesmerising spring weather, featuring a genuine warmth not experienced since early October. After the rolling roads through Hoe, Swanton Morley and Elsing, it was along some of the lower stretches of the Wensum, as far as the old bridge at Attlebridge, before climbing over to Upgate and Swannington, a detour to Haveringland church and the Ratcatcher’s and then a straight run back to PC via Cawston and Itteringham.

Distances: 64 miles to 74 miles.

Eight riders met at Pretty Corner on a cool spring morning for the weekend club run to No.77 Cafe at the back of Coltishall Red Lion. The route down to the north east sector of the Broads went by way of Gresham, Bessingham, Alby Hill, Suffield, little used lanes through to Swanton Abbott, Sloley, Tunstead, Crowgate, Beeston St. Lawrence, Neatishead, Irstead (three malingerers cut off 1.5 miles here by nipping round the back of Threehammer Common), Hoveton Hall and Belaugh Green. The cafe was busy as usual, but two inside tables were available. Over the refuelling break the conversation ranged from coronations to the Cisco Kid.

Increasing warm sunshine made for a pleasant ride back, starting off round the back of St. James to Hautbois, through a couple of Saturday rat runs to get back onto quieter lanes around Hainford and Stratton Strawless, the edge of Buxton, Dudwick and Botany Bay to Cawston (Neil Mc’s point of departure), Heydon Park, Oulton, Irmingland (the malingering trio cut out the loop here to get back ahead of the lead bunch), Corpusty and a direct eight miles back to PC.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Ian; Harvey; Chris; Brian + Clive from Chester.

Distances: 62 miles to 77 miles.

Somewhere en route today one rider passed the 50,000 miles mark on NNW weekend club runs (plus an unspecified number of the Wednesday rides back in the days when CJ and Maggie K, as well as two Geoff Ps were regular participants). This cumulative distance includes eleven rides of 100 miles or more, either solely as club run or club run with extras.

During this period, other past and present Wheelers who have completed one or more century rides on a club run or club run plus are: – Ben M; Brian P; Bruce Mac; Duncan E; Duncan O; Guy T; Ian S; John H; Luke M; Neil S; Paul B.

L-R: – Clive, Neil Mc, Chris, Neil S, Brian, A.N. Other + Mark (out the back) & Ian (camera)

Eight Wheelers turned out at Pretty Corner for a club run down to the Courtyard Cafe at Pensthorpe. Only a few miles into the route three of the group decided to take a shortcut to rendezvous with the vanguard at the cafe. This soon became a double shortcut after one of the trio punctured on Wiveton bridge. The main bunch of five pushed on west via Langham, Cockthorpe Common, Battledore Hill, Warham, Walsingham, the Stiffkey valley, the Barshams, Sculthorpe watermill, Hempton and the south east corner of Fakenham. It was good to sit out in the spring sunshine in the courtyard, which was sheltered from a fresh north easterly wind.

Group: Andrew; Brian; Chris; Graham J; Harvey; Ian A; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 59 miles to 67 miles.

Two punctures (both Gatorskins).

One Wheeler was sensibly taking it easy while awaiting the full results of recent medical tests. Two more had holiday weekend commitments. Seven assembled at Pretty Corner on a cold dry morning, but Neil Mc and Scott were out for the morning only, heading for home from the Corpusty area. It was a pleasant surprise to see Scott out again following a long absence from the bunch. For the remaining five, the route down to The King’s Cafe was largely wind-assisted, heading generally south westwards to the centre of Norfolk through Reepham, over Whitwell Common to Sparham, descending to cross the Wensum and on through Elsing, North Tuddenham, Mattishall, along Cutthroat Lane to Yaxham and the little lanes leading to the large village of Shipdham and the former King’s Head pub, known locally as The King Billy*. It was an inside table today, out of the chilly north easterly. On exiting the cafe, Brian became involved in bartering for a classic bike made in Dronfield, North Derbyshire.

The group then pushed the breeze back along the lanes by way of Daffy Green to the A47 underpass at Scarning to access the Podmore ford on the quiet back roads to Gressenhall, from where it was a fairly direct route up the Blackwater to Worthing watermill, Billingford, Foulsham, Guestwick, Craymere ford, Briston and the familiar direct route to Bodham Hill and Red Barn Lane. Having downloaded the day’s route file, Mark and Chris pushed on for home from the Gressenhall area, while the rump of three followed on, enjoying the welcome afternoon sunshine.

Group: Brian; Chris; Harvey; Mark; Neil S + Neil Mc and Scott out for the morning.

Distances: 67 miles to 78 miles (Brian, building up the miles following his recent intrusive medical treatment).

*Which, on 9th August 1900 ‘was found to be in a filthy state with two horses (sic) heads and other horse parts strewn about. Some pigs were feeding on the horse flesh. … He (Isaac Skipper) was ordered to abate the nuisance at once and pay the costs of 15s’.

One Wheeler was still rather sore following recent medical treatment, another had managed to pick up a virus, while a third saw this cold, damp and windy Saturday as an opportunity to put in some work building his vintage curly Hetchins. A fourth rider set out to follow a shorter route to the refuelling stop, but ended up doing fifty miles straight round non-stop; he later regretted not going to the cafe.

So, only Mark Mc and Neil Mc completed the club run route to the Chrysalis Cafe at BugzUK, located on the climb of Nowhere Lane, between Blackwater Equestrian and the main Fakenham Road at Sparhamhill. This new venue enjoys a good reputation as a refreshment break for cyclists and the Wheelers duo confirmed this.

The longer outward route was assisted by a lot of strong north north easterly wind, travelling by way of Briston, Hindolveston, Wood Norton, Stibbard, Ryburgh, the Wensum valley, North Elmham, the valley of the Blackwater and Bylaugh, before turning into the very cold northerly on the long climb up to Sparham village and the descent to Nowhere Lane. The homeward leg turned east and then south east for a while, via the Witchinghams, before a cold slog back north into the stiff wind while anticipating hopefully some signs of seasonal warmth.

PC to PC was 55 miles. Average speed 14.4 mph. Considerably faster out than back.

A last minute notification that staff shortages at Jane’s, East Rudham had enforced Saturday closure led to a switch of venue to the Lighthouse Inn, which is always a reliable alternative. With a very strong and gusty westerly blowing, as well as a threat of squally showers, only four Wheelers were out from Pretty Corner, collecting one more on the Burgh Road at Aylsham. From here it was a fast wind-assisted ride out to the east coast, by way of Burgh, Skeyton, Swanton Abbott, Sloley, Frankfort, Dilham, Honing, the mile-long avenue of cream daffodils and Witton Bridge to the pub. The group of five lost a member near Crostwight church, where Harvey, not wanting to stop today, headed back west into the persistent gusty wind.

After a comfortable break with the usual high quality food, the foursome followed the plotted return route as far as Bacton Woods, where Mark and Neil decided to continue west as far as Hanworth, thereby giving the latter a shorter route back home to Kerdiston, as the wind slowly eased, but the heavy showers intensified. Club runs into the north eastern segment of Norfolk have always been a bit awkward for Neil, but he is soon to move house to within eight miles of PC. Meanwhile Chris and Ian continued along the planned contorted route via Gimingham, Trimingham, Southrepps Hall, Northrepps Hall, Metton, Sustead and Aylmerton to Gresham church. So, a rather scrappy day, but at least a few people managed to fit in a hard-working ride on the last day of GMT.

Group: Chris; Harvey; Ian; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 52 miles to 63 miles (Ian). Despite significantly higher levels of energy being expended on the return leg, it turned out to be 2.6 mph slower.

Seven Wheelers set off from Pretty Corner to pick up one more around the nine mile mark at Ingworth. The bunch pushed into a fresh S.S.E. wind in mild showery conditions, by way of Banningham, Tuttington, Swanton Hill, Worstead, Honing, Brumstead Common, Ingham and Sea Palling to the Dunes Cafe, where Malcolm was waiting after his ride up from the Broads. The cafe was quieter than usual, which presumably had something to do with a poorish forecast for today succeeded by an excellent forecast for Sunday. During the refreshment break, Ian A took the opportunity to claim his prize as the winner of the recent ‘Spot the Bird’ competition.

To avoid the traffic snarling up behind us, the nine rider bunch split into three bits for the first couple of miles main road section to the turn off north west of Sea Palling. As a consequence of these splits, Malcolm and Neil S failed to see the leaders turn right at Calthorpe Fen, while the duo off the back were unable to whistle/shout them back. After waiting a few minutes for the anticipated return of Neil, Brian and Harvey had to chase him down in order to save him detouring via Acle en route to his Beeston Regis destination. Bidding farewell to the southbound Malcolm, the trio set out to rejoin the planned route at Ingham. It was all plain sailing on a helpful wind until Crostwight, where Neil’s rear mech, which had looked hazardously bent all day, sheared off at the hanger. So, it was split the chain, remove thirteen links**, detach the derailleur, tie the cable to the seat stays, rejoin the chain with a Quick Link, and thereby convert the bike to a 39-25 single gear machine. It was then a shorter route back, dropping off Brian at Alby Common, leaving Harvey to guide Neil to a point where he could shortcut home via Aylmerton and West Runton.

Meanwhile the main group continued on the planned route to Calthorpe Street, Lessingham, Crostwight, Ebridge Mill, White Horse Common, Swafield, Thorpe Market, Hanworth Common and Sustead church to Gresham church. Lone ranger Malcolm completed a circuit by way of Yarmouth, Hemsby, Waxham, Hickling, Potter Heigham, Acle and Halvergate church.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Ian A; Harvey; Chris S; Brian; Andrew. + Malcolm at the cafe and a few miles of the return route.

Distances: 53 miles to 80 miles.

** PS – The Chain Length Calculator reckons 100 links for 39-25 on 410 mm chain stays.

With sub-zero overnight temperatures following Friday’s snow and sleet and a yellow warning for ice on wet roads, this week’s club run was postponed until Sunday. Many of the more shaded lanes were indeed icy until at least 11.00.

At least three potential riders were abroad this week and two more were committed to family affairs, so only four Wheelers met at Pretty Corner for the run to the Courtyard Cafe. It was a hard slog out into the strong W.S.W. wind, over the heaths and Wiveton Downs to Langham and Binham, then via Walsingham ford, Bunker’s Hill, Blunt’s Corner and the long descent to North Creake, where, after 24 miles, the small group turned first north and then east to pick up a strong tailwind from Burnham Thorpe up the long climb to South Holkham and the descent to the refreshment stop. After a comfortable break dominated by discussions about curly Hetchins and the relative merits of 52/42, 53/39 and 50/34 chainsets, it was out through the East Lodge gate and a wind-assisted ride back by way of Wells, Warham, Binham, Field Dalling, Saxlingham, Sharrington, Brinton, Stody, Briston, Edgefield, Plumstead and North Barningham.

Group: Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil S. – Brian fitted in a couple of hours on the sunny Saturday afternoon.

Distances: 60 miles to 72 miles.