Author: web1691

Three Wheelers braved the cold conditions to meet at PC. With a lot less frost and ice than forecast and the start delayed to 10:30am, the roads were dry and clear. The cold easterly wind meant temperatures stayed around 4C, with the occasional light snow flurry for good measure.
The route out was south westerly and mainly wind assisted, through Edgefield, Wood Dalling, Foulsham, Billingford and up the Dereham Road to Hamptons Cafe.

Hamptons was very warm, had a great choice of food and cake options, so it was not too surprising that it was busy.
We were given a table so long as we were finished within an hour as it was booked. With our order taken quickly and the food arriving promptly, we had time for sandwiches, jacket potato and then after some deliberation, cake and 2nd coffees, all with time to spare.

It felt a lot colder when we ventured back outside. We soon crossed the A1067 through the hole in the hedge to continue through Bawdeswell and along the Reepham Road to Jordan Green. Then on to Whitwell, past Booton Church and on to Cawston, where Duncan turned for home. The remaining duo continued through Ingworth, Wickmere, Hanworth, Sustead, avoided the crowds as they left Gresham school and back to PC.
All in all a much better day than forecast, with dry roads and no showers.

PC to PC, 51 miles at an average speed of 14.5 mph
Riders: Chris S, Duncan S and Mark M leading.

Upcoming Club Runs –
Saturday 11th – Courtyard Café, Holkham
Wednesday 15th – Artisans Café, Alby
Routes for club runs and Wednesday rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Despite the wet start to the day, four Wheelers braved the weather and met at PC for the ride to Junction 21.
With a moderate NE wind and showers forecast, the riders were prepared with rain jackets and warm clothing. The showers started as soon as we did and continued throughout the day, some were heavy and prolonged and were often followed by blue sky and warm sunshine, so our spirits rose and fell together with the temperature.
Our route to the café would be a wind assisted, long and meandering 32 miles. The first section took us via Erpingham to Ingworth then past the scene of Graham A’s icy crash to Itteringham Common and on to Heydon Park. Here Graham A had a front puncture (Vittoria), fortunately this was one of the sunny periods, so it was warm and peaceful in the park while we watched Graham and offered helpful advice.
Just a mile further on it started to rain heavily as we made our through Cawston, past the church to Booton House (childhood home of Stephen Fry), Brandiston, Swannington and the Witchinghams.
With stomachs rumbling and fingers crossed that the café would be open we set off for the last few miles down Nowhere Lane to Jordan Green and Themelthorpe.

As we arrived we saw Geoff P waving to us from inside. We soon joined Geoff in the warmth, he had seen we were going to Junction 21 and thought he would meet us and we had a good chat as we waited for our lunch. Geoff set off for home as we had our lunch, which was followed by more coffee and cake for some.
It felt cold when we ventured back outside, pulling on wet gloves and setting off for the shorter leg home. Foulsham, Guestwick, Thurning were passed in a mix of rain or sunshine, to Duncan’s turn off point at Town Close. While the remaining three continued to Edgefield, Plumstead, Barningham Winter where Graham turned off, up to Bodham Hill and back to PC.

PC to PC 55 miles at an average speed of 13.2 mph
Riders: Graham A, Chris S, Duncan S, Mark M leading

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 4th – Reepham Station
Wednesday 8th – Hamptons, Bawdeswell
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Five Wheelers met at PC for Harvey’s ride to Pensthorpe, with both Graham A and Graham J only going to ride part of the route.
With showers forecast and a cold and strong NNE wind, Harvey’s figure of eight route minimised the amount of headwind miles, though it was still a tough day out and my legs were pleased to reach the end.
The first 21 miles were easy and downwind and when the sun came out it was very warm. We went on the familiar route to Briston and picked Harvey up around Craymere Beck, then continued through Guestwick. Near the end of Peddlars Turnpike, Graham J had a puncture (Gatorskin), here the group split in two, with the Grahams going to leave the route at Foxley and go to Bawdeswell for coffee anyway and Harvey stopping to assist and then make his own way back home, leaving three to continue to Pensthorpe.
Between Billingford and N Elmham, Chris S decided to stretch his legs and left his companions in his dust. Regrouping in N Elmham we now headed north into the wind to Gately, Great Ryburgh and the testing bergs of Little Ryburgh before joining the main road for the last mile to the cafe.
Despite the wind and the cold, Pensthorpe and the café were fairly busy, though we found a table indoors with the sun streaming in through the window. I think the menu has changed since I last visited and I can recommend the Breakfast Bloomer, we all enjoyed our much needed lunches, knowing it would be harder work getting home. After a photo op in front of a plastic woolly mammoth it was time to head off.

These and more photos can be found here:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

An initial uphill headwind section to Kettlestone was followed by a relatively easy 10 miles of crosswinds through Hindolveston, Thurning to Heydon Park, were we negotiated suicidal sheep before turning north east. This was the hardest leg with hedges providing some shelter from the wind but with the added bonus of being uphill from Itteringham, through Wickmere, Thurgarton, Sustead to Gresham.

As we recovered outside Gresham church, Ian asked about the grasshopper on the village sign, unable to receive a sensible answer from his companions, he said he would undertake painstaking research when he got home.
Three seconds of Google searching later he had fulfilled his quest:

“In 1571, the Royal Exchange opened in London. The building (or rather its Victorian replacement) still bears a golden grasshopper, the emblem of the Exchange’s founder Thomas Gresham. He chose this to commemorate one of his ancestors, who as an illegitimate baby was abandoned in a Norfolk field.”
https://londonist.com/london/secret/why-is-there-a-giant-grasshopper-on-the-royal-exchange

PC to PC was 57 miles at an average speed of 14.3 mph
Riders; Chris S, Ian A, Graham A, Graham J, Harvey, Mark M.

Upcoming Runs –
Wednesday 1st March – Junction 21, Themelthorpe
Saturday 4th March – Reepham Station
Routes for club runs and Wednesday rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

With five Wheelers away with other commitments, Ian A and Mark thought they were the group, so they were surprised and pleased to see Graham J roll up. With Graham not having been on a club ride since October he planned to ride part of the route before heading back but wanted to say hello and let us know he was fit and well and would be joining us for future rides as time permitted.
Unfortunately the first hour of the ride was a lot wetter than forecast with rain and drizzle soaking the roads and requiring rain jackets. As the day progressed and we headed further south, it became dryer and brighter and the roads were mainly dry for the remainder of the ride.
Our route took us to Hanworth, Lower Street, Felmingham and then some different roads through Westwick, up the B1150 to Heath Road, across the A149, Yarmouth Road to Sandy Hills to cross the A149 again.
It was here in the trees that we had another surprise, John S was waiting for us. We had not seen John since our December mince pie feast at the Lighthouse, Walcott, so it was great to see him out as well.
So we headed south through Worstead to Anchor Street to join the busy but wide A1151/A149 for about a mile to Vera’s at Meales Garden Centre. Vera’s didn’t look that busy but many of the tables were booked, though we were found a table that was vacant for the next hour.
Meales is a big garden centre and the café is large and obviously busy and the staff were friendly and efficient but the food and coffee we had was nothing special, it was filling and reasonably priced, so it did the job.
Leaving Vera’s we had another mile on the main road and B1159 before turning onto quieter lanes for East Ruston. Here we deviated from the route to go to Honing Long Lane (the golden mile) to view the daffodils as we had seen patches of daffs in full bloom. Alas the golden mile was only green, we were probably a week too early. So we continued to Witton, where we re-joined the route and at Bacton Wood, John headed for home while we continued on the familiar route north west through Knapton, Trunch, Northrepps, Metton to Gresham for the final split.

PC to PC 52 miles at an average speed of 13.9 mph
Riders: Ian A, Graham J, John S and Mark leading

Upcoming Rides –
Saturday 25th – Pensthorpe
Wednesday 1st March – Junction 21, Themelthorpe
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Ride Report by Graham A

This ride had been postponed from the previous day because of a severe frost which had made many surfaces slippery.

Three riders left Pretty Corner at 10:30, a later start, because the lunch stop was not opening until noon. A direct route was taken to Matlaske crossroads via Red Barn Lane. On the way to Itteringham we were joined by Chris who had left home late and had made a supreme effort to catch up.

After Itteringham the four riders went direct to Cawston, Eastgate and then Buxton having crossed the B1149 and A140. Buxton Mill looked attractive in the sunshine. Passing Lamas and Badersfield the Goat at Skeyton was soon reached and bang on time for its opening. Lunch was somewhat delayed, but food and ambience were very good.

After lunch, Duncan left us to ride back to Corpusty while the three remaining riders rode to Felmingham, Antingham and Southrepps. Graham left for home near Northrepps Hall. The two remaining riders rode back to PC via Crossdale Street, Metton and Gresham.

PC to PC 40 miles.

Riders: Graham A – leader, Duncan S, Mark M and Chris S.

Please note: Andrew B and Ian A did the ride on Wednesday 8th February leaving for Skeyton Goat when most of the ice had melted.  They had other commitments on the Thursday.

Upcoming Ride – Wednesday 15th – Old Reading Rooms, Kelling

Routes for club runs and some Wednesday rides on the website under Dates and Destinations:  https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/  

On a dry, calm, relatively mild but overcast day, five Wheelers met at PC for another of Harvey’s Saturday routes. This time it was to Watsons of Bacton, which has been under new ownership for a little over a year and is cycle friendly.
Our clockwise route took us through Hanworth and Harvey joined us on the road to Metton, then it was North and Southrepps, Trimingham, Mundesley, Edingthorpe to Bacton.
We arrived and ordered at the right time as Watsons kept getting busier as time went by, it certainly seems a popular place. The menu choice was wide and they had a good selection of cakes, all at reasonable prices. When we had finally emptied the generous teapots, it was time to head out for the longer leg home.

These and more photos can be found here:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

We went through Worstead and Sloley to our southernmost point where we joined the Tunstead Road and turned northwest through Scottow to the Coltishall road, where Graham A turned off. Around Skeyton, Harvey also peeled off for home, leaving four to continue through Dunkirk, Ingworth and Itteringham.
At the Mannington turn, Neil Mc turned off and we continued north to Red Barn Lane where Ian A turned off, so two finished the ride at PC.
As we left PC to return into Sheringham, Mark M realised that his rear Gatorskin was flat, so he stopped to fix that while Chris S continued on. As he was pumping up the tyre, the pump failed, which required a quick strip down to get it to work long enough to get the tyre fairly hard before it failed again.
Will that be the end of the nearly 20 year old trusty frame pump? They don’t make them to last anymore!

PC to PC was 53.6 miles at an average speed of 14 mph
Another ride with the bikes returning home clean
Riders – Chris S, Ian A (photography), Neil Mc, Graham A, Mark M and Harvey.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 8th Feb – Skeyton Goat
Saturday 11th Feb – Norton’s at Walsingham
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Three Wheelers met at PC on a dry, occasionally sunny morning, though with a strong westerly wind for the ride west to Great Walsingham.
The route either by luck or foresight managed to avoid the worst of the wind as it tacked across North Norfolk by way of High Kelling, Cley Newgate, Glandford (with a stop to view a long eared owl, though the owl wasn’t there), Saxlingham, Field Dalling to Binham. The Binham to Great Walsingham stretch was the hardest as the road is on high ground and very exposed.

As it was only 19 miles to the Barns or Obrennans as it is now called, we were in time to order breakfast. Chris decided that he didn’t need the calories and would have the healthy omelette option, he then promptly ordered hot chocolate fudge cake with cream as well. Maybe chocolate calories don’t count?

After lunch we crossed the ford to Little Walsingham and saw the burnt out shell of the village hall which was destroyed by fire on Monday. Then followed the river Stiffkey to East Barsham and now with the wind behind us, took on the undulating route via Great Snoring, Thursford Green, Gunthorpe, Hanworth to Edgefield. To drop Ian off we went through Hempstead, past Selbrigg lake (the swans were there), then to Red Barn Lane and PC.

These and more photos can be found here:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

PC to PC 46.2 miles with an average speed of 13.5 mph and 1975ft/602m of climbing.
Riders – Chris S, Ian A (photography) and Mark M leading.

Upcoming Rides – Saturday 4th, Watson’s, Bacton
Wednesday 8th – Skeyton Goat
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

On a day of ideal winter cycling conditions, cool, dry, with mud free roads, no wind and occasional sun, a total of six Wheelers met at PC for the ride to Binham Parlour.
A traditional route took us through Baconsthorpe, Edgefield and Briston to our most southerly point at Guestwick. As we headed to Wood Norton we met Harvey at Foulsham airfield and he joined us for a few miles until we turned for Swanton Novers. From there it was another 7 miles through Gunthorpe, Field Dalling to Binham Priory and The Parlour, for a pre-lunch total of 26 miles.

Fortunately as they were fairly busy, Harvey had booked a table for six, so we were able to get seated straight away and then warm up, have a good chat and eat plenty of good food and cakes.
Graham A had already decided that he would make his own way home from the lunch stop, so five set off on the hillier route home.
We first headed west to Nutwood Farm, then the rolling road north to Stiffkey, taking in the lowest point of the ride of 7 meters at the ford just across the Warham road. Then it was Langham, Field Dalling and Saxlingham, where Neil S was beginning to feel the lack of recent miles and he decided to continue on to Letheringsett and the main road home.
So, now four, we set off through Sharrington, Stody, enjoyed the climb from Hunworth to Edgefield, then on to Plumstead and Matlaske, where Brian P peeled off for home, leaving three to head north for Bessingham and Gresham, where Ian A turned off, leaving two to return to PC.

Click image to view full size.
More photos can be found here:
https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

A rare winter ride that saw the bikes return home clean.
PC to PC was 51.6 miles with an average speed of 13.6 mph.
Riders were Chris S, Ian A (photography), Neil S, Graham A, Brian P, Mark M.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 1st Feb – Walsingham Barns
Saturday 4th Feb – Watsons at Bacton
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

With the ride delayed by a day due to ice, our original ride leader was not available, so it was decided that we would save his ride for another day and we would go to Heydon instead.
So, three Wheelers met at PC on a dry, frost free but mainly overcast morning, to head to Gresham to pick up Graham A. We then headed down to Thurgarton and took a long westerly leg to Edgefield, then around Briston, Hindolveston, Foulsham and Guestwick to Heydon.

The owner of the Heydon Tea Shop has been in the EDP recently, asking people to support local businesses in these troubled times. That’s why we decided to visit and it would seem that many others were heading the call too. The place was busy and we were very lucky to get table, with the understanding that the table was already booked and we had 45mins to eat and go. No problem for three Wheelers, teas, coffee, soup, paninis, cake and scone all devoured with time to spare. Alas, one Wheeler preferred to savour and chew his food and so was a little slower and was getting the hurry up from the staff, in the end he only left some rabbit food. So despite the shorter than usual lunch stop, we all agreed that the food was very good and there was plenty of it. We will be back, though will book a table first.

The return leg took us to Corpusty, where Neil Mc left us to try out his new bike washing facilities at his still being renovated house. We continued through Irmingland, Oulton to Blickling, where we started to notice the stiff northerly wind. On to Erpingham, Aldborough with time to look at the old motorbike collection, then Hanworth to Metton, where Graham left us and back to Gresham and PC.

PC to PC was 50 miles
Riders – Chris S, Neil Mc, Graham A and Mark M leading

Upcoming Rides – Saturday 28th, The Parlour, Binham
Wednesday 1st Feb – Walsingham Barns
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

A dry and sunny morning with a strong south westerly, greeted four Wheelers at PC and then another at Gresham Church, for our first visit to Trunch Crown. A pub that we often pass at either end of a ride but has not been our destination until today. Our ride leader had spotted that they were offering a choice of pies and veg for £10 during January, so a route was planned.
To ensure that we ready for pies, the route to Trunch was 32 miles. It used a lot of back lanes, which after yesterday’s heavy rain were flooded in places and very muddy. In particular was the lane past Brian P’s which looked as if it had already been ploughed and then a branch, part attached to a tree was blocking the road. We were able to get past by taking to the verge and carrying bikes over the obstruction, but no vehicles would be able to get through.

Shortly after at Colby, Andrew B had a rear puncture (Marathon Plus), so three riders continued on the route while two spent 19 minutes removing a large thorn before continuing.

The route meandered through Felmingham, Swanton Abbott, Worstead, then a less used route across the North Walsham bypass and Sandy Hills to Meeting Hill, then Spa Common, Mill Road to Knapton and Trunch.
The two laggards, fearing all the pies would be eaten, had pressed on, straight-lining the route to Swanton Abbott and at Spa Common continuing through North Walsham, Swafield to Trunch, cutting 3miles off the route, arriving at the pub first!

For a Wednesday in January, the pub was busy with people having lunch and locals giving their dogs a rest. The food was very good and the pie portions large. I’m sure we will visit again.
With rain forecast for late afternoon, we reluctantly left and found the sun had gone and the wind had increased making the short return leg fairly tough.
We went via Gimingham, Hungry Hill, Northrepps, into Cromer dropping off Graham A, past the zoo, up to and through Felbrigg park and on to Gresham for the split, with two heading west and two heading north to PC.

PC to PC was 50 miles
Riders – Andrew B, Ian A, Chris S, Graham A and Mark M

Upcoming Club Run – Saturday 14th, Purdy’s at Aylsham
Further Ride – Wednesday 18th – Old Reading Rooms at Kelling
Routes for club runs and rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/