Author: web1691

Report by Ride Leader Chris S
Only three riders turned up at PC on what was probably the coldest day of the year so far with temperatures hovering around the 3 degrees Celsius mark and a light northerly wind.

Whilst the roads were dry there were patches of ice around but nothing that couldn’t be avoided. Chris (leading), Andrew and Ian made good progress with the route taking them through Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Thorpe Market, Bradfield, North Walsham, Worstead and Tunstead.
Just after North Walsham the trio encountered a major sugar beet loading operation which blocked the road to all traffic except the intrepid cyclists who passed it with ease. The only other hazard was a large flood comprising of some very dank black water near Tunstead with no option other than to ride through it!

On arrival at the Rising Sun in Coltishall a table near the roaring Woodburner was very welcome. After some hot food the trio were about to leave when about 20 odd (well they may not have been odd!) people arrived at the bar. Andrew bravely fought through the crowd and paid for lunch (sadly I think he expects to be reimbursed by Chris and Ian – good luck on that one Andrew!).

The return journey into the northerly head wind was relatively uneventful with a photo stop at Oxnead by Ian – never one to miss a photo opportunity!

The three took turns to lead the return journey with Andrew setting a cracking pace for a while. After Matlaske, Andrew and Ian turned left into Rectory Road to take them directly back to High Kelling leaving Chris to take the easy route back to Sheringham via Upper Sheringham.

Mileage 47 to 53 miles. Average speed 14.5mph
Andrew, Ian and Chris leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 20th Jan – Artisan Café, Alby
Wednesday 24th Jan – Orange Blossom Café, Aylsham
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Ian A

With other commitments for some and risk aversion strategies for others, just three riders met at PC on a cold and breezy morning.  Two of the trio had met some unexpected patches of icy slush on the way to PC through Lower Bodham and more patches of treachery were also encountered during the ride.  This often caught us unawares as some of the route was on bone dry roads but we all stayed ‘rubberside down’ despite a few front wheel twitches. 
The route took us via Bodham to High Kelling and over the railway to Newgate, Glandford, Saxlingham, Binham and onto Great Walsingham.  A healthy tailwind (you know what that means for later dear reader!) helped us make good progress, with the ride leader punching the trio through the air to reach O’Brennans soon after 11:30am. 

Despite the dark inside, the cafe was indeed open for its first customers of the day and we enjoyed good bacon/sausage sandwiches and eggs on toast by the (not quite roaring) wood burner. 

True to form Chris repeated his indulgence with the chocolate fudge cake he enjoyed last January.  Though this time he left off the whipped cream and ice-cream he had with it before.  Mindful of his figure perhaps?  And no doubt conscious of his new found affiliation with the racing whippets in the Wheelers’ Triathlon contingent at the Tuesday night spin classes.  Fair play to him.

Saddling up, the route (and tailwind still!)  took us through Little Walsingham and on to the Barshams.  And that, dear reader, is where the fairytale ended.  We turned east for Great Snoring, Thursford, Gunthorpe and onto Hunworth, Edgefield and Hempstead.  All into the headwind now and (as often in a headwind) it all seemed mostly uphill too!  Courteously, we all did a turn on the front on the return leg.  Spurning the opportunity to stop and coo at the swans at Selbrigg Pond, the group split at the top of Selbrigg Road, with Chris turning right to head back to Sheringham while Ian and Andrew turned left for High Kelling. Filthy bikes again, despite some dry roads…

PC to PC was 46 miles at an average speed of 14mph.
Andrew, Chris and Ian leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 13th Jan – Holkham Hall
Wednesday 17th Jan – Rising Sun, Coltishall
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations:  https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos:  https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Andrew B
Four riders met at Pretty Corner for the first run of the year on a damp morning following a night of heavy rainfall. The route took us through East Beckham, Lower Gresham and Sustead where we met up with Graham as pre-arranged. We the continued on through Hanworth, Alby Hill, Alby, Erpingham, Colby and Felmingham through a number of significant floods when Graham had a front puncture just past Corvette Kingdom. This was soon fixed by Mark with the rest of us giving moral support – see photos.

We then continued through Aylsham via Tuttington with Graham unfortunately discovering he had a slow puncture in the rear tyre. However, he managed to limp to Blickling with the help of Andrew pumping up his tyre!
The cafe was nice and warm and we all enjoyed a good lunch with very quick service.

After lunch Graham discovered that his tyre was completely flat but optimistically pumped it up hoping it would get him back.

We then continued on through Silvergate and yet more floods including a half mile river/road!
However, after a couple of miles Graham realised that the tyre was flat again, so with Mark’s help he finally gave in and replaced the innertube.

The repair work was watched by the rest of us and an interested horse looking over a gate – see photos. We then proceeded on the route via. Oulton Street and Oulton where Graham left us to make his own way back (hopefully puncture free!). The remainder carried on through Corpusty, Ramsgate Street, Edgefield, Hempstead and Selbrigg Pond where Ian and Andrew left off to go back to High Kelling. The remaining two riders then followed the normal route back to PC. A good ride despite the hold ups, floods and intermittent heavy showers.

PC to PC 42 miles
Average speed 13.0 mph
Total Elevation 1500 ft
Mark, Ian, Chris, Graham A and Andrew leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 6th Jan – Reepham Station
Wednesday 10th Jan – Obrennan’s, Gt Walsingham
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Three Wheelers met at PC on a dry and bright day, though a strong westerly wind made it feel chilly. We waited an extra couple of minutes for Chris S, before setting off without him, more on him later.
With all the rain yesterday, the roads remained fairly wet with occasional small flooded sections and still plenty of leaf mulch and mud on the smaller lanes.

Our longer outward leg was mainly south east and wind assisted via Gresham, Bessingham, Aldborough, Alby Common (no sign of Brian), Colby and the Felmingham Road to Corvette Kingdom. Here we were stopped by a traffic jam as multiple vehicles were coming along the back lane to Felmingham as well as two cars and us were trying to get down the lane.
From Felmingham it was straight down to Swanton Abbott and across to Worstead, where we took the less used route of Withergate Road and Sandy Hills to Meeting Hill. At White Horse Common we were surprised and pleased to meet John S, who had come out to join us for lunch. We continued to Spa Common and the climb from Bacton Wood Mill up to the main road at Edingthorpe Green and on to Paston Green were we turned directly into the wind for Knapton and Trunch.

We had booked a table for lunch thinking it might be busy, though we were the only customers on arrival, a few more came in later on.
We had been there about ten minutes when a hot and gasping Chris S arrived. When he could finally speak, he reported that he’d had a puncture/gashed tyre about a mile from home, went back home, swapped to his gravel bike which needed air in the tyres and then set off to follow the route, going past PC 25 minutes behind the main group. Despite his best efforts he never caught us, probably because we were being blown along by the wind and maintaining a fairly high pace because of it. Anyway, Chris gets the Ride Of The Day award for his efforts.

While I enjoyed my festive giant yorkshire and Ian said his pie and mash was good, the sausage rolls that were served looked as if they had been microwaved rather than oven heated and the pastry wasn’t crisp. That didn’t put Andrew off from ordering Christmas pud and cream though, which he said was very good.

After a good leisurely lunch, by which time Chris had recovered, we said goodbye to John as he headed south for home while the rest meandered around the back lanes of Gimingham, Trimingham and Sidestrand to Northrepps.
Here Ian and Andrew decided to take the slightly shorter but head wind direct route back to Gresham and on to High Kelling while Chris and Mark went into Cromer, across to the Zoo and up to and through Felbrigg Park before reaching Gresham and back to PC.

PC to PC was 44.6 miles at an average of 13.9 mph
Riders: Ian A, Andrew B, John S, Mark M leading and Chris S – Ride Of The Day award.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 23rd – Purdy’s, Aylsham
Wednesday 27th – Reepham Station
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by stand in Ride Leader Chris S
With four riders out of a potential six riders calling off the ride, ‘group ride’ on this occasion was perhaps a misnomer. Whilst Ian A, the nominated ride leader, was overdosing on Lemsip, Mark M looking after his poorly mother and Duncan tending his building works, this left only Chris S and Andrew B to fly the NNW flag and brave the weather for the ride.

Chris S bravely stepped into Ian’s shoes and took over as ride leader whilst Andrew took over as official group photographer albeit with a little bit of help from the staff at the Horseshoes Inn.

Anyway to cut a long story short the two intrepid cyclists met at PC on a somewhat overcast damp but windless morning and set off. At High Kelling they met Harvey travelling in the opposite direction who was out for a short ‘ride around the block’. The ride then continued through Wiveton, Letheringsett, Saxlingham, Field Dalling and past Binham priory. After the copious amounts of recent rain the roads were very wet and muddy with one major flood encountered in the Letheringsett area.

An early arrival at the Horseshoes Inn meant a slight wait for lunch. Although the Inn was fully booked the very accommodating staff managed to squeeze us in. Andrew B enjoyed a venison pie whilst Chris had the festive turkey pie – all very good.

During lunch the weather appeared to change dramatically resulting in the return journey enduring a strong north easterly head on wind and some periods of rain. Apart from almost being squashed by a teleporter which refused to slow down the return journey was uneventful following a route through Wighton, Hindringham, Gunthorpe and Stody. At Hempstead Andrew opted to take a shorter route back to High Kelling leaving the ride leader to head back to PC. In view of the weather Chris took the slightly easier route back through Upper Sheringham rather than back to PC.

Riders: Andrew B and Chris S (unofficial ride leader)
Mileage: 50 miles total. Average speed 14.11mph

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 16th Dec – Chrysalis Café, Sparhamhill
Wednesday20th Dec – The Crown, Trunch
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Andrew B
On arrival at Pretty Corner on a cold but sunny day I was surprised to find that I was the only rider. In retrospect I remembered that both Mark and Ian had said that they were unavailable. As I had planned to meet Graham at the lunchtime venue I decided to carry on.
The planned route took me through East Beckham, Gresham, Bessingham, Thurgarton, Wickmere, Calthorpe, Erpingham and Ingworth. However, at Ingworth I realised that I had a rear puncture (another!) which took about 20 minutes to fix, not helped by the amount of mud on the bike! I then continued on to Blickling, Silvergate, Cawston, Eastgate and Booton and onto Reepham, with a slight variation from the planned route at the end to save time. On arrival at the Dial House/Bread Sauce Cafe, Graham was already there sitting outside in the sun and had already eaten. I quickly got something to eat and joined him. We both enjoyed a good lunch, with Graham deciding to join me on the cake round!
As my refitted tyre was not fully seated and made for an uncomfortable ride (due to being unable to get enough pressure with a small pump), I was keen to take a short route back. We therefore proceeded to PC via. Booton, Cawston, Oulton Street and Itteringham where Graham left me to make his own way home. I then continued through Plumpstead, Hempstead, Sellbrigg and the usual route back to PC (well actually I did this bit in the morning!). Overall a good ride despite the puncture and lack of riders!

PC to PC 40 miles
Average speed 13.1 mph
Total Elevation 1300 ft
Graham A and Andrew leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 9th Dec – No 17 Café, Mundesley
Wednesday 13th Dec – Warham Horseshoes
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Ian A
This is the one where the ride leader neither started or finished at PC… Well the offer was made to meet at the Selbrigg Road junction which is close to home and gave me more time to chip the early morning frozen sleet off my bike.
So Mark and Chris set off from PC on a very chilly morning with the promise of a few showers later in the morning (which we duly got) and some flooded roads (which we also ‘enjoyed’) and meandered via West Beckham and Lower Bodham to pick up Ian. Ian then led the way through Hempstead, Plumstead, Edgefield, then heading west to skirt Briston, continuing through Melton Constable, where we turned north through the pretty village of Briningham, then onto Brinton and Sharrington.
A few miles back we’d removed our rain jackets as the weak sun had managed to warm us up (a bit), but at the A148 junction at Sharrington, Mark and I put ours back on as it was now raining. Chris, however, was test-riding his new DHB Aeron Lab All Winter Polartec Jacket which claims to be warm, breathable and waterproof so kept his rain jacket stowed. (And later in the pub Chris declared it indeed was all three. Mind you, he had about 17 baselayers underneath…)
Onwards then through pretty Saxlingham and Field Dalling. On reaching Binham, we took the Stiffkey Road towards, well, Stiffkey, but turned right to hurtle through Cockthorpe, past Langham Dome, and then via Langham, Blakeney and Wiveton to reach the Three Swallows after 33 miles. We parked our bikes in the garden (nicely decked out but not really a day to be sat outside!) and entered the bar area. We spurned the open fire (far too cosy), and found a table near the bar. They do a ‘lunch spesh’ – a choice of food and a drink for £11. Ham, Egg & Chips and a pint of Landlord seemed a no brainer for two of us and was excellent. Chris opted for soup and a pot of tea. Hmm… Not sure what was the smallest, the soup bowl, the teacup or the teapot.

After lunch and a quick photoshoot, we took the main drag up to Holt where we detoured to check progress on Duncan’s build – both front and rear perspectives so a thorough examination. Looks like a great party house (hint) and a modern looking building with an impressive array of solar panels now the roof is on.
Spurning the temptation to wave farewell to the others and turn for High Kelling at this point, the ride leader dutifully led the trio onwards across the bypass and up the Hempstead Road (actually I think Mark was leading the peloton by now) into Baconsthorpe and on to North Barningham where yes, dear reader, Plum Lane is STILL under about 8 inches of water. Oh well, better to find out near home rather than near the start. At the top of Plum Lane I turned left to head back to High Kelling, leaving Mark & Chris to continue back to PC via Red Barn Lane.

PC to PC was 46 miles at an average speed of 14.4mph
Riders: Chris S, Mark M with Ian A leading
That Jacket: https://www.wiggle.com/p/dhb-aeron-lab-mens-all-winter-polartec-jacket

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 2nd Dec – Holkham
Wednesday 6th Dec – Reepham
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Four riders met at PC on a dry, dull but breezy morning for our first visit to the Recruiting Sergeant in Horstead, just over the bridge from Coltishall and another popular lunch spot, The Rising Sun.
With the shorter rides at this time of year, it was a longer 28 mile leg out to get us there for 12 noon when lunch started. So it was a meandering ride south on mainly dry roads taking in Aldborough, Itteringham, Ingworth to Aylsham. With the sky getting brighter and spirits rising we continued to Brampton, Stratton Strawless, Frettenham across the busy B1150 to Horstead Mill, where a couple of kayakers were enjoying the increased river flow and to our destination.
We were able to get from the carpark into the pub courtyard and large garden to safely leave our bikes before heading into the dimly lit/atmospheric pub.
It is obviously a popular pub as it was already fairly busy when we arrived at 12 and continued to fill up over our stay, impressive for a Wednesday lunch in November.
We were spoiled for choice with the extensive menu and impressed by the generous portions and quality of the food when it arrived. I had a traditional steamed suet steak and kidney pudding with mash and peas and it was enough to feed two people, which was excellent, though I did have to leave some of the pastry, fearing I may not be able to cycle home.

We had been expecting Malcolm to join us, he later reported that he had a late start and would probably have missed us, but he still enjoyed the dry weather and managed a 53 mile loop before getting home for tea and mince pies.

Our route back was a slower and shorter 20 mile route out of Horstead to Mayton Wood, Lamas, Banningham, Gunton Park, Hanworth to Gresham, where our routes split with Ian and Andrew continuing west and Chris and I heading back to PC.

PC to PC 47.4 miles at an average speed of 14.7mph
Riders: Andrew B, Ian A, Chris S, Mark M leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 25th Nov – Pensthorpe
Wednesday 29th Nov – Three Swallows, Cley
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Well, I guess nobody else had new wet weather gear they wanted to test, because today was ideal, not too cold, nicely wet and roads like rivers.
At PC the strong southerly was blowing sheets of heavy drizzle across the fields as I set off, but that didn’t last too long and by the time I reached Hanworth it had stopped for a while. That meant it was dry when I stopped to have a chat with Harvey, who was making his way home after going out early to catch more of the morning rain.
The steady group had opted to ride on the calm and sunny Friday, in the end it was Harvey and Brian and they went to the excellent Chrysalis Café at Sparhamhill.
On my way east via Thorpe Market, Trunch, Knapton, Bacton Church to Witton, as well as light showers there were plenty of floods across the road, but all fairly shallow and could be coasted or pedalled through and the new overshoes were working well.
At Witton, almost within sight of the pub, there was the usual bonus loop, which on this occasion went south to East Ruston Gardens before heading back up to Happisburgh, Ostend and finally to The Lighthouse. For good measure it rained continuously on this loop and then on the main road (it had a white line instead of grass in the middle) between Happisburgh and the Ostend turning, I went through a flood that went halfway up my shins and nearly stopped me. I have to report that the new overshoes failed the submariner test and some water trickled in. At least I would be able to dry out while I had lunch.
I arrived at The Lighthouse bang on 12 noon and was the only person in there until I was leaving and one other person came in. The Lighthouse was doing its bit for net zero by apparently not turning on the heating, yay! To take my mind off the fact that I was neither warming up or drying out, I had the Chef’s Special ribeye steak and a couple of pints of Wherry, excellent.
Reinvigorated I set off into the afternoon gloom, pleased to see that the rain had stopped, in fact it stayed dry all the way home. The route took me south through Honing to Dilham and then onto the westward leg. When I reached Upper Street, I decided to see if the coffee truck at the Squirrelwood equestrian centre on the Sloley road was open, having been past a number of times and never stopped. It was open and I had a good Americano and a Millionaires Slice, dessert done.

After Skeyton I turned north, finally getting a tail wind and I took my rain jacket off so I didn’t get too hot, then it was up to Colby, Erpingham where I’m sure I saw some sun and then the usual Aldborough route back to PC.

New rain jacket, that worked well and was reasonably breathable: Galibier Tempest 2 https://www.galibier.cc/product/tempest-pro-2-cycling-jacket/
New winter overshoes, did a good job, taller and better leg seal than my previous overshoes.: Galibier Arctic 3 Overshoe https://www.galibier.cc/product/arctic-3-cycling-overshoes/

PC to PC 55 miles at an average 14.4 mph
Riders: Mark M, Harvey T enroute.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 22nd Nov – Recruiting Sergeant, Horstead
Saturday 25th Nov – Pensthorpe
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Chris S
There was a good turn out with five riders meeting up at Pretty Corner. The weather was dry and sunny for a change but with a brisk to strong south westerly wind which increased in strength throughout the day.

The outward leg took the group through Gresham and Susted where Graham A joined the group then onwards through Aldborough, Suffield, Swanton Abbot, Sloley and on to Wroxham Barns. The condition of some of the smaller lanes was poor to say the least with a mixture of mud and wet leaves making the surface very slippery and slowing down the group.

Although the original destination was Hoveton Hall this was changed to the Courtyard Café at Wroxham Barns on account of the former being closed for the winter. However after arriving at the café early at approximately 11.45am a good hot lunch was enjoyed. Malcolm also turned up having cycled from St Olaves.

The return journey was via Coltishall with a steady climb along Hautbois Road to Badersfield. The wind strengthened veering west making it harder work. At Skeyton, Graham opted to take a sorter and less windy route back to Cromer. The rest of the group continued onto Tuttington, Banningham, Ingham and Calthorpe where Duncan then turned off. The ride then continued to Matlaske and onto Barningham Road where Andrew and Ian turned off left to head back to High Kelling. This left only Mark and Chris to finish the ride to PC

Total Distance 46.7 miles Average 14.3mph
Riders: Chris S (Leader), Duncan S, Mark M, Andrew B, Ian A, Graham A and Malcolm S at lunch, (Malcolm’s total was 53miles)

Reminder to complete the short Club Survey:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/2023/11/15/the-club-invites-you-to-take-this-short-questionnaire-to-help-inform-the-committee-thanks/

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 18th Nov – Lighthouse, Walcott
Wednesday 22nd Nov – Recruiting Sergeant, Horstead
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/