Author: web1691

Another windy day, this time a strong westerly, though it had brought much milder conditions, touching 12 degrees, quite a contrast to the frosty start of Wednesday.
The first few miles south towards Little Barningham were in a blustery crosswind, then we turned eastwards for a fast run through Aldborough, Gunton Park, Lower Street, Trunch, Knapton, Witton and up to Bacton.
At the café we found Brian and Graham at a large table already tucking into their lunch, so we joined them and had a good chat while our food was being prepared. They then took the opportunity to get a head start on the route home while we had our very good lunches.

As we left we looked at some vintage motorbikes, mainly Ariels, in the car park. Then it was down to Honing, Dilham, Tunstead, Scottow to Swanton Abbott where we met Brian and Graham, who were being creative with their route choice home. We also met them again a few miles further down the road, so they must know all the short cuts! We continued to Colby, Erpingham and back to Aldborough again, where Neil turned for home and then it was the usual route north to Gresham where Ian and Andrew peeled off, leaving two to make it back to PC.
A surprisingly warm day with mainly dry roads, sunshine mainly in the morning and just a few spots of rain in the afternoon, that were quickly blown away by the strong westerly.

PC to PC was 55 miles at an average 15 mph.
Riders: Ian A, Andrew B, Chris S, Neil Mc, Mark M, Graham A, Brian P.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 7th Feb – Artisan Café, Alby
Saturday 10th Feb – Chrysalis Café, Sparhamhill
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 met at PC on a cold morning, made colder by a strong south westerly which gradually increased in strength during the ride. The first few miles as we went to Felbrigg and picked up Graham, were a tailwind, though that soon changed as we headed south west to Hanworth and Aldborough.
Then it was a good few hard miles west through Plumstead, Edgefield to Hunworth, where we finally turned northwards to Letheringsett and then took the long climb up to Bayfield. Then we had a good descent down to Glandford and Cley Newgate before climbing up to Salthouse Heath, followed by the drop down to Kelling and the Old Reading Rooms.
The café was busy though we managed to get the large table and had just got settled when the place started reverberating to the sound of the Iceni Harley Club arriving, well half a dozen of them anyway, also out to enjoy good soup, coffee and cake. I doubt if the wind was causing them too many problems.

After lunch it was uphill into a head wind towards Holt and then down into Weybourne where Graham left us to head on the coast road back to Cromer, for the rest it was uphill past the station and the steep grind to the holiday park and eventually to Bodham.
At the junction with Lower Bodham, Ian turned for home but not before admiring a few early daffodils braving the cold. That left two to set off for North Barningham and Barningham Winter, when the route looped back to Baconsthorpe, Duncan continued on into the headwind for Corpusty. Mark finished the route via Hempstead, Selbrigg Pond, West Beckham to PC.

PC to PC was 49 miles at 13.7 mph average.
The wind combined with the hilly route made for a hard day out.
Riders: Ian A, Duncan S, Graham A, Mark M leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 3rd Feb – Watson’s, Bacton
Wednesday 7th Feb – Artisan Café, Alby
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/

Andrew, Chris and Mark met at PC on a clear, sunny and mild morning, only the very strong westerly wind prevented it from being an ideal cycling day. However as our route initially took us eastwards, picking up Graham at Northrepps Hill and onwards to Trunch, the going was easy.
From Trunch we turned into the wind through Bradfield, Antingham to Suffield, where we made a change to the planned route to give ourselves a better angle to the wind to get to Aylsham.
At Colby we met up with Brian P who was out on his mountain bike for a ride along some of the Weavers Way then onto the Bure Valley trail back to Aylsham.
We split paths at Banningham as we headed straight to Aylsham and made our way to the café at the ACT Community Centre. It is a fairly small café but had a good choice of food and cakes. Wednesday is roast day, so two of us had a full roast lunch with a chocolate pudding desert, while the other two opted for the very generous omelettes. We were all impressed by the new café find and will be back again.
As we left we took a shortcut down a rough track to the Heydon Road and then on through Able Heath to Oulton, where we now turned north and out of the headwind. At Itteringham, Graham turned off for Cromer, having been riding all morning without a puncture! Let’s hope his good luck continued all the way home.
The remaining trio went via Plumstead to Hempstead, then Selbrigg Pond to drop Andrew off close to home, then it was a tail wind again as we went to West Beckham and the direct route home through Upper Sheringham.

Mileage with route changes PC to PC 42 miles. Average speed 13.9 mph
Riders: Andrew B, Chris S, Graham B, Mark M leading.

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 27th Jan – Norton’s, Little Walsingham
Wednesday 31st Jan – Old Reading Rooms, Kelling
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
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/