Author: vannicholas09

Journey to the Centre of Norfolk: Six Wheelers left Pretty Corner to collect one more at Heydon, but one was out only for a short morning lung-opener. The bunch pushed a strong SSW wind via Saxthorpe to Reepham, the valley of the Wensum, Elsing, Etling Green, Cutthroat Lane, Yaxham and the Thorpe Row lane to the King’s Cafe, formerly the King William pub (known locally as the ‘King Billy’). Refreshments were taken out of the wind in a large new gazebo that has appeared since the last time that any of the Wheelers visited. It was a pretty brisk tailwind-assisted ride back by way of Daffy Green, Scarning, under the A47 to Podmore ford and the hidden network of lanes through to Gressenhall. From here it was a relatively short route back, down the Blackwater, over to Billingford, Bintree and Foulsham to Hindolveston and the familiar roads back to Red Barn Lane.

Group: Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil S + Ian W (making his first appearance since 2019, but out only for a short morning expedition).

Distances: 52 miles to 80 miles.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1951514?units=km

On a bright and windy day, seven riders left Pretty Corner to collect one more at Gresham. The longer morning leg went by way of Sustead, Hanworth, Thorpe Market, Bradfield, Swafield, Little London, Edingthorpe Green, Bacton Wood, Honing, Dilham, Cat’s Common, Callow Green, Neatishead, a short stop at Irstead Staithe, Bewilderwood, Hoveton Hall and Belaugh Green, to the No.77 Cafe, where Malcolm was waiting after his ride up via the Reedham Ferry. One Wheeler was out only for the morning, leaving eight sat at two outside tables for their refuelling break. On departure, Malcolm pushed straight back to Wroxham, while the main bunch headed home, assisted by a lot of stiff tailwind, via St James, Mayton Bridge, Frettenham, Stratton Strawless, Buxton, Rippon Hall, Cawston, Heydon (from where Jim headed for home), Corpusty, Plumstead and Barningham Winter to the split on Red Barn Lane.

Group: Brian; Chris S; Graham J; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil S + Graham A out for a morning loosener and Malcolm up from St Olave’s over the ferry. – So, rather more than the 6.25 average for 2022 to date, although that figure includes some wet and/or extremely windy winter days.

One puncture (on anti-puncture ‘winter bike’).

Distances: 67 miles to 80 miles.

As the core club run group evolves, it is worth asking from time to time whether both old and new members are happy to maintain basically the same formula. There are obviously a variety of versions of an ideal model, but we need to strike a balance in order to keep as many people interested as possible. Is it starting to get too fast? Is it still too slow? Are the cafes appropriate? Are the breaks too long? Are the lanes too ‘agricultural’? Are the routes too devious for the Strava and average speed cohort? The pattern is not necessarily set in tablets of stone.

Q. What’s the difference between Friday and Saturday? A. 17 degrees Celsius. This was a remarkable meteorological change in 24 hours.

Four left PC to pick up one more at Kelling Hangs. The bunch of five rode conventionally west over the heaths and up the Downs through to Binham, Wighton and Crabbe Castle. It was then into the less visited territory further west, via the long descent into the Burn valley at North Creake, the long climb over the Shammer Beacon to Stanhoe, before dipping south past Barwick and Hyde Park to the final fast stretch to Bircham windmill cafe. After a few morning spatters, the real rain started on the approach to the mill and this persisted through the refuelling break. The bunch set off on the return leg fairly briskly to generate some warmth in a strengthening north wind and light rain, riding by way of Bagthorpe, Frizzleton, Syderstone, Blenheim Park, South Creake, Waterden, North Barsham, Houghton St Giles ford, the stiff Canister Hall climb over to Great Snoring, Thurning and Gunthorpe to Brinton (from where Jim turned for home), before the familiar villages route back to Bodham Hill and Red Barn Lane. From Syderstone Common over to South Creake and Waterden, the bunch coincided with the band of heavy rain that had been forecast for the area, turning some of the lanes into streams. From North Barsham back it was intermittent light showers. – (Back in the north east of the county, there was barely 1mm in the rain gauge.)

Group: Mark; Jim; Harvey; Chris S; Brian.

Distances: 56 miles to 81 miles.

One puncture: – rear Continental GP 5000, with three inexplicable spaced out cuts.

Six buzzards; weasel with prey; roe deer with two very small fawns; red deer; young tawny owl.

Meanwhile, back in Shannocktown, Neil S had suffered an early morning blowout and a consequent visit to Black Bikes for a replacement tyre and tube. He later rode to Great Snoring to try to intercept the run, but arrived too early, obviously unable to anticipate the puncture repairs being carried out south of Syderstone.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1936504?units=km

Several Wheelers were out of action this week so a small field was anticipated. Four left Pretty Corner to collect one more at Oulton, from where the small bunch rode in warm sun and a strong south westerly to the Fork in Hoe by way of Cawston, the Witchinghams, Lenwade, Easthaugh, Fustyweed, Bylaugh and Robertson Barracks. Refreshments were taken on the verandah on two deep comfortable couches. Michelle headed home to Fakenham from here, leaving four to head back north east via Swanton Morley Eastgate, Pennyspot Hill, Elsing, the dreaded concrete road, which has now been patched with tarmac to the dismay of any two-wheeled masochists, the descent of Cadder’s Hill, Lyng, Blackwater Equestrian, Eade’s Mill, Furze Lane and Reepham to Wood Dalling for a split that left only two to finish off on the little lanes to Crabgate, Red Pits, Holly Heath, Ramsgate Street and unscheduled detours over the Pond Hills to Hempstead, Selbrigg and Bodham.

Bunch: Neil Mc; Michelle H (who is training for the Bolton Ironman); Mark; Jason; Harvey.

Distances: 47 miles to 78 miles.

Context. – On 16/6/2018 Heather McEwen wrote to NNW as follows:

‘I would just like to say how we as a family (myself, Will and Ed) appreciate knowing you do the Bruce McEwen Memorial Ride. It was great to catch up with some of you on the 2nd June at our church gate, it means a lot to us. Bruce always liked his club runs on Saturdays and also the Wednesday runs. He would tell me all about each trip out. But he did not like it if it was windy! I just read the club run 2/6 report and yes, Bruce would really have liked the idea of being remembered in this way. Thank you’.

Illness, holidays and family commitments meant only five Wheelers assembled at Pretty Corner, while Malcolm and David rode straight to the Felmingham pick up point before the bunch headed out on a contorted back lanes route that went by way of Swanton Hill, Sloley, Worstead, Meeting Hill, Witton Heath and Rookery Farm to a busy Lighthouse Inn. A strong, cold north easterly and overcast conditions ensured that the beer garden remained deserted. The way back took in Walcott Hall, Hill 60, East Ruston, Crostwight, Bacton, Edingthorpe, Mundesley, Trunch, two Repps, Metton and Sustead to the split at Gresham church.

One puncture: front Gatorskin (thorn).

Group: Brian; Graham J; Harvey; Malcolm; Mark; Neil S + David, who cut across to Mundesley for ice cream with the family.

Once again, aluminium, carbon, steel and titanium were all out.

Distances: 64 miles to 75 miles.

PS – Geoff sends his apologies for missing by a few minutes the rendezvous at Felmingham, where he paid his respects.

Only five met at Pretty Corner before riding directly to Stody to collect one more. It was then the familiar succession of villages to Hindringham and Great Snoring, the sharp descent into the Stiffkey valley through two of the Barshams, along the end of Sculthorpe airfield to cross the upper Wensum at Sculthorpe watermill, past the former railway station alongside the river at Doughton, over the ridge to Broomsthorpe and the steady descent to Jane’s Coffee Corner, where Rachel and her staff were their usual helpful and efficient selves. One Wheeler found a wallet on the village green, containing all sorts of cards and personal papers, giving the owner’s name and full address and showing that he was born in Brighton in 1977, but no sign of a ‘phone number; Rachel will get in touch with him at an address about ten miles further north west. The return route followed a loop round West Rudham and Rudham Grange, through two of the Raynhams, Whissonsett, Horningtoft, Gately, the high road above the valley, before descending to cross the Wensum at Ryburgh, the long climb over to Stibbard, Pedlar’s Lane, Hindolveston, Thurning (where Jim turned north for home), Crow Hill (from where Neil Mc headed back to base), Corpusty and Barningham Winter to a split in the diminished group at Red Barn Lane.

On a day of strong north west wind, the group were able to take advantage of a surprisingly high proportion of wind assistance.

The answer to Jim’s question about the composition of the group lies in his own description of the composition of the group. Neil S wearing a pink top (Maglia Rosa) is not the solution to this perceived problem.

Bunch: Neil Mc; Neil S; Jim; Harvey; Chris S; Brian.

Distances (for PC starters): 71 miles to 81 miles.

Seven Wheelers departed from Pretty Corner to ride by way of Baconsthorpe and Plumstead Green to Briston, where they picked up Jim and Jason. So a bunch of nine headed for the Mardler’s Rest via Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Great Heath, Brisley, East Bilney, Willow Grange, Bittering and Dunfer Hole. The cafe was surprisingly quiet, so the staff were pleased to see a substantial group. After a few unscheduled laps of the car park, the bunch headed back along the Gorgate lane, down the Blackwater to Worthing, along the Wensum to Bylaugh, Mill Street, Fustyweed, Lyng, Easthaugh and Attlebridge before climbing over to Swannington (from where Jason turned for home), Clay Lane, the Ratcatcher’s (Neil headed for home from here), Cawston and the direct route back via Itteringham (Graham A departed here for Cromer). The bunch chatted on Itteringham bridge with Chris Knowles, returned from his two year exile in Northampton.

Steel, aluminium, carbon and titanium were all in evidence today.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Jim (out only for the morning); Jason; Harvey; Graham J; Graham A; Chris S; Brian.

Distances (for PC starters) 62 miles to 82 miles.

One regular went down with a last minute lurgi, leaving seven to ride the club run down to the Goat Shed south of Honingham. The first hour was a direct ride south through Reepham, over Whitwell Common and the Wensum crossing at Lyng watermill. It was then the stiff climb of Cadder’s Hill and into the lanes leading to Mattishall, Welborne and Runhall, down the upper reaches of the Yare, round by the Barnham Broom Country Club, up the short, but brutal Bickerston bank, left at Colton church and past the Norfolk Lurcher to the cafe, where the bunch sat out front absorbing the aroma of goat. The homeward leg looped the long way round the lanes to East Tuddenham, skirted the southern fringes of Mattishall, crossed the A47 at North Tuddenham, Elsing Hall, to cross the Wensum at Mill Street, ascend the long drag to Bawdeswell, through the hole in the fence at Foxley and the fairly familiar lanes via Foxley Wood, Themelthorpe, Guestwick (from where Neil Mc turned for home), Craymere ford, Briston, Baconsthorpe and West Beckham.

Bunch: Chris S; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Three punctures (one rear Continental Ultra Sport and two legs) – fortunately concerted group action managed to repair all three of these unauthorised deflations sufficiently to get back to base.

Distances: 65 miles to 79 miles.

Luckily the much-needed rain fell during the night, although there was a chilly fog when six Wheelers departed from Pretty Corner for the weekend club run to the Norton Centre cafe. This soon gave way however to a gloriously fresh May day with lots of warm sunshine. The bunch headed out over the heaths to Cley Green, up the valley to Glandford, over the steep ridge to Letheringsett and Thornage, taking the long drag up the B1110 to Norfolk’s second highest point, clipping through the edge of Swanton Novers, the back lane round by secretive Thursford church, two Snorings and three Barshams to finish off down the Stiffkey valley into a busy Walsingham, where Neil S devoured two large cakes. Someone suggested that Malcolm was a lazy so ‘n’ so for not riding up to meet the bunch again. Brian took his fellow Wheelers on a nostalgic trip back to the Sheffield folk club scene of the 1960s. Two riders claim to have seen Geoff approaching Walsingham, although he wasn’t seen again, so this might have been a phantom Geoff** in search of the fabled Great Walsingham pies.

It was welcome warm sunshine for much of the way back on a route that went by way of Hindringham*, Thursford, Barney, Stibbard, Wood Norton, Wade’s Farm (two large roe deer ran in front of the bunch), Foulsham, Guestwick, Wood Dalling, Saxthorpe full mill, Ramsgate Street and the direct way back to Red Barn Lane over Bodham Hill.

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

Distances: 58 miles to 76 miles. – *(Hindringham) – reminding the leader that the advertised route was meant to be a slightly longer way to Hindringham, so about a mile to deduct here.

**PS – Phantom materialises: – apparently Geoff was indeed in the Walsinghams, but things didn’t go to plan. His Garmin packed up first and then his ‘phone, preventing the customary (since Maureen’s illness) mid-ride call home. So, it was a quick coffee, no pies and straight back to base.