Author: vannicholas09

The composition of the main weekend club run bunch over recent months has enabled us to offer Sunday and Monday alternatives when the weather is dubious or worse on Saturday. This has worked well on three or four occasions, but can be a bit problematic when the distinction is a little less clear cut. This weekend was complicated further when Storm Franklin proved to be not much less vigorous than Storm Eunice, so today’s run was delayed for a while until the big gusts eased back a bit to mid-50s mph. Eventually, two Wheelers got out on the road at 10.15. The pair decided to push the big wind out west for a bit, with a few meanders for occasional relief. So, it was Gresham church, North Barningham, Baconsthorpe, a loop round Hempstead, Selbrigg, Cley, a loop round Wiveton, Glandford, Bridgefoot Lane, Salthouse Heath and the Holgate Hill road to the Garden Terrace. When riding the Monday option it always has to be borne in mind that a lot of refreshment venues will be closed, so the Garden Terrace was a safe bet for this impromptu ride. It has to be admitted that the Wheelers lingered longer than usual over their refreshments after the morning battering from the storm. The wind obviously dropped significantly in the afternoon, but was still brisk enough to provide a fast ride back to Aldborough school, from where one rider had to turn back west into the wind and a few short, but heavy showers.

So, not the best of weekends for cycling club runs, but nothing lost really. Saturday saw one of the mainstream bunch, heeding an off the wall forecast of rain not starting until 15.00, complete the originally scheduled short route from Sheringham to Themelthorpe, while Geoff did his regular ride to Reepham. Rumours that he has shares in the Station Cafe have been denied.

Distances: 37 miles to 50 miles.

This was the third consecutive windy Saturday, although the velocity of the gusts becomes a little bit less each week. Five North Norfolk Wheelers set out from Pretty Corner, picking up Chris B south of Gresham, who was out for a morning ride and accompanied the bunch as far as Antingham. The route to the always welcoming Lighthouse Inn was by way of Hanworth Common, Thorpe Market, Trunch, Edingthorpe Green, Crostwight Heath, Hill 60*, Happisburgh Common and Ostend.

After some high quality nourishment it was in and out of the gusty wind again, following a contorted route via Witton, Bacton Gas Terminal, Paston, the edge of Mundesley, the back lane to Trunch, Stump Cross, Hungry Hill, Sally Bean’s House, Metton and Sustead to a split at Gresham.

*The summit of Hill 60 is reputed to stand sixty feet above sea level at Happisburgh. However, the more recent metric Ordnance Survey denotes 19 metres elevation. North Norfolk Wheelers are therefore looking for a volunteer to knock on the door of Hill 60 cottage to tell the owners that they need to change the name of their bungalow to Hill 62.335958.

Bunch: Brian; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S + Chris B out for a short one as he gets back to full health following an autumn bout of Covid.

Distances: 53 miles to 72 miles.

Brian, Mark, Neil Mc and Harvey set out for No.77 Cafe at Coltishall on another windy Saturday. Obviously not satisfied that the lanes were filthy enough today, the small bunch ran across a sugar beet field carrying their bikes after only two miles on the road*. The morning ride meandered round a lot of lanes by way of Lower Gresham, Aldborough School, the shortcut past Hanworth Timber, Suffield Rectory, Felmingham, Swanton Hill, Sloley, Ashmanaugh and Belaugh Green. The group was supplemented at the cafe by former Wednesday supremo, Malcolm, who had ridden up from his new domicile over the marshes, via the Reedham ferry. The return route to Sheringham featured a lot of changes of direction to avoid the worst of a rising gusty wind and to enable a largely wind assisted last hour. So it was south initially past Heggatt’s Hall before heading home via Frettenham, Stratton Strawless, Buxton, Allison Street, Cawston Eastgate, from where Neil headed for home further west, Oulton, Itteringham, the Barninghams and a split at Red Barn Lane.

One slow puncture (thorn in front Gatorskin).

Distances: 56 miles to 68 miles.

*Two lorries and a sugar beet loader completely blocked the East Beckham to Gresham lane, tight up to the thorn hedge, enforcing drastic diversionary tactics. Despite following a route that passed close to the Cantley refinery, Malcolm’s bike was as clean as a whistle; an enquiry into this phenomenon is called for.

Not many fancied the Dutch hills today, so only five riders set out to tussle with Storm Malik. As so often on such blustery days, the cross winds proved to be nearly as testing as even the more exposed sections of headwind. Jim suffered a rear wheel puncture before reaching PC, so the small bunch detoured to pick him up before heading for Bessingham, Aldborough, Erpingham school, Ingworth, Moorgate, Itteringham Common, Oulton, the hidden detour round Oulton Manor, Heydon Park and Salle, where Geoff was gathered up on his direct route to the cafe. After a chatty refuelling break in the cafe’s new hut, the return route looped out further north west in order to pick up some substantial tailwind. Back to base was via Kerdiston, where the bunch stopped to chat with Mrs Mc and the dog out for a walk, Themelthorpe, Foulsham, Hindolveston, where Jim headed the short distance home, Nethergate, Briston, where Neil headed for home, and conventional ways back to Red Barn Lane for the final split. The latter section was effortlessly fast, aided by a big wind up the back end.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Jim; Harvey; Brian. Geoff was at Reepham and Malcolm was at Coltishall; any further claims should be submitted by Monday evening.

Distances: 50 miles to 63 miles. The 63 had a perceived effort feel of a genuine 75 plus, so anyone who feels short distanced today can add an extra 20.63 per cent to their logged total.

One puncture (flint in rear Conti).

Only four Wheelers set out from Pretty Corner on this persistently icy morning as a cold north westerly wind kept the glaze on the shady lanes. Brian suffered the misfortune of stripping his freewheel very early in the day, being forced to abandon. He hasn’t enjoyed much luck with components this winter. The victim substituted with three hours on fixed wheel in the early afternoon. Jim headed home early, leaving only the seaside pair of Mark and Neil S to refuel at a quiet Norton Cafe. South of Great Snoring, this fast-moving duo were met by the late-starting veteran, Harvey, who was approaching up the scheduled route in the wrong direction! These three riders enjoyed a lot of tailwind assistance until swinging north after Oulton.

The route for the day was Salthouse Heath, Glandford, Letheringsett, Thornage, Saxlingham, Field Dalling, Binham, the Walsinghams, the Snorings, Thursford, Gunthorpe, Swanton Novers, Hindolveston, Thurning, Heydon Park, Itteringham and the Barninghams (red kite).

One stripped freewheel.

The Sheringham contingent covered the greatest distance today:- 61 miles.

Seven set out on this shorter club run to the Corner House Cafe. There was far less fog than forecast, but it remained murky for much of the day with a nagging chilly south east breeze. However, good bright spells lit up the middle of the day. The route was an anti-clockwise loop by way of Aldborough, Erpingham, Banningham, Tuttington, Felmingham, Antingham, Trunch, Gimingham, Southrepps Lower Street, Northrepps, Metton, Sustead and Gresham church, for a three-way split.

Over the break, someone started a conversation about pop music. It is hoped that the young staff weren’t listening. Phil W turned up after the break and spent some time updating the bunch on the latest from the time trial community. The last two stragglers on the road bumped into Geoff on his way home from Coltishall.

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

Distances: 41 miles to 63 miles.

One puncture: slow and hard to find.

This was a curate’s egg of a club run, which only goes to show that you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

Six riders assembled at Pretty Corner on a benign January morning for the NNW club run to the Fork in Hoe. The route to the refuelling stop went directly to Corpusty, then via Salle and Reepham town, crossing Whitwell Common and climbing over the ridge to the Wensum at Lyng watermill, up the valley to Fustyweed and Elsing, descending to the Pennyspot Beck, clipping through the edge of Swanton Morley and the quiet lanes of Hoe parish before a final mile on the busy Dereham-Fakenham road.

On the ascent of Pennyspot Bank, veteran powerhouse, Neil S, the Erdington Express, demolished another chain. Three went ahead to the cafe, while three hung back to remove a mangled link and rejoin with a Quick Link. The conversation in the cafe hinged around chains, chain wear and optimum chain life. A heated debate developed about whether the main source of wear was bushes, rollers, pins or plate holes. On departure, obviously feeling the January heat, Graham A left his jacket in the cafe.

It was a comfortable tailwind ride back, by way of Worthing, Billingford, Foulsham, Guestwick (from where early starter, Neil Mc, headed the short distance home), Nethergate, Craymere, Briston and the familiar ways to West Beckham for the split.

One damaged and stitched up chain.

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

Distances: 54 miles to 69 miles.

Five Wheelers showed up for the New Year leg stretcher club run on a mild, but windy, day featuring more sunshine than forecast. The proximity of the cafe to Pretty Corner offered an opportunity to tour some of the less used local lanes, which also enabled the small bunch to manoeuvre in and out of the testing wind. Outward bound was Bessingham, Aldborough Hall, Wickmere church, Squallham, Little Barningham, Plumstead Green, Hempstead, Holt Market Place, Cley Road, Kelling village and Croft Hill. The staff at the caff were excellent and the food first class.

The conversation ranged from how zebras repel flies to mending a vacuum cleaner to women’s cage-fighting to a bloody encounter with an angle grinder. All fairly normal then.

After another unhurried seasonal refuelling break, the route back went by way of High Kelling, Selbrigg Pond, Baconsthorpe, Barningham Winter, Mannington, Wolterton, Erpingham, Thwaite church, Aldborough school, Hanworth, the gated road* and Metton, before turning back into the wind to the final split at Gresham church. As a special New Year bonus the riders were rewarded with a 1.6 miles headwind detour to take in Mannington Hall.

*The gated road has now deteriorated to the level of dangerous. As a Cromer resident, Graham has been delegated to call in at the District Council offices to give them what for!

One puncture, which was fixed in the front courtyard of Holt Methodist Chapel.

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

Distances: 48 miles to 64 miles.

Only three Wheelers could make it for the last run of the year. Brian, Mark and Harvey set out from PC on a mild midwinter morning to ride to the Lighthouse Inn via Metton, Northrepps and Southrepps Halls, Trunch, Knapton, the back way to Bacton, Ridlington Street and Walcott Hall. As befits the midwinter festival season it was an unhurried refreshment break. Soon after setting out for home, the trio had a surprise encounter with a racing pig. This particular porcine athlete, apparently a member of the rare Monaleigh breed, beat the Wheelers for speed on the lane between Barrington rare breeds farm and The Rookery Special Needs Centre, where it turned into the car park. It is supposed that this creature lies in wait for unwary and overconfident cyclists before showing them a clean pair of trotters. Following this exciting episode the thickening mist turned to light rain, but a nice brisk tailwind assisted the group back to base by way of Ebridge mill, Spa Common, Little London, Swafield, Bradfield, Tops Hill, Hanworth and Bessingham to a parting of the ways at Gresham church.

Distances: 51 miles to 65 miles.

Review of 2021: After a start delayed until 10th April, there was a total of 38 weekend runs.

Most runs completed by a single rider: 37 // Highest average distance per run: 72.2 miles.

Twenty different riders put in an appearance, including Alan from Wellesbourne Wheelers (Warks). Malcolm moved down to St. Olave’s in early summer, but managed a couple of forays from his wetlands retreat to rendezvous with the bunch at Waxham Great Barn. Similar meetings are anticipated in 2022 and perhaps Wymondham is a practical proposition.

Despite a number of serious challenges this year, Brian managed to hold on to Number One position in the WC Boggs Trophy. This was due largely to completing more rides than almost anyone else.

With some of the more mature club run stalwarts beginning to ease off to varying degrees, it was good to see the main group replenished by the arrival of Neil S, Jim H, Neil Mc and Dan K.

Seventeen different refreshment venues were visited. Although we are definitely fortunate to have so many options for refuelling, three or four of the old favourite venues have become problematic on Saturdays.

Looking forward optimistically to 2022, I remain convinced that there is clear potential for a pacey vanguard group to make good use of our downloadable route files. This group could then head off up the road a bit without having to worry about the generally more mature rearguard group. Everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, but with a different rhythm.

Rather less optimistically – our routes follow lots of little lanes, demanding numerous decelerations and accelerations that undoubtedly reduce average speed while requiring at least as much effort, so is it not possible for techno fans to forget for a day Strava’s average moving speed and rely more on perceived effort? Whilst realising that this is vital to 21st century cycling culture, it also seems evident that a substantial number of strong riders are keen to ride in a dynamic group of a similar (obviously not the same) level of fitness (and motivation). The hope is that this can secure the future of NNW club runs. What’s the evidence? Even in this short year, it has been obvious that the following group and possibly others are looking for a pacey base training ride with a social dimension: – Andrew B, Ben, Dan, Duncan O, Mark, Neil Mc, Scott, Stuart W. Obviously this doesn’t exclude several others who might want to jump off up the road, but are also happy to drift back to the steady bunch when needed. Could it be time for some of the ‘mature club run stalwarts’ to get back up to Pretty Corner or Itteringham and Erpingham occasional pickup points?

None of this is meant to be exclusive, but it could guarantee a healthy future for the longer club runs.

Six riders, including new man Dan, assembled in the fog for the run down to No. 77 Cafe in the Red Lion at Coltishall. The first leg was the very familiar direct route to Erpingham, on to Ingworth, down Drabblegate, some cyclo-cross at Dunkirk, the Burgh Hall Lane, the Skeyton Alps, The Goat, Scottow, Tunstead and Belaugh Green. There are less tables and chairs at this third incarnation of the Red Lion caff, but the Wheelers were accommodated in a cosy corner with a table, two benches and a couple of easy chairs. During the latter part of the morning a murky version of the golden globe in the sky made an appearance for about ninety seconds. Unfortunately Neil S chose to comment on this phenomenon, thereby guaranteeing that even thicker fog would descend in the afternoon. It was a fairly short ride back, via St. James, Hautbois, medieval Mayton bridge, where the lane was particularly busy (the reason for the heavy traffic was revealed a mile or so up the road, where we discovered the new Saturday afternoon sport of queuing at the Mayton Wood Recycling Centre). It was then a couple of unavoidable short stretches of main road before hitting the lanes through Hainford and Stratton Strawless to Buxton, Brampton, Tuttington, Banningham, Colby, Thwaite Common, Alby Hill, Sustead church and the run in to the split at Gresham church.

The roads were atrocious. One puncture (rear Gatorskin).

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Harvey; Dan K; Brian.

Distances: 51 miles to 66 miles.

Belated seasonal wishes to Neil Mc, who most of us didn’t see turn for home from north of Buxton.