Club Runs

Four North Norfolk Wheelers at Nelson’s Cafe via Holkham Hall – wondering where the other four have vanished to!

A steady group of four set out a bit early to be pursued by four more Wheelers. However, the handicap system fell apart as soon as Salthouse Heath, where Graham experienced an exploding rear inner tube inside a Vittoria tyre that looked as though it had been fought over by a pair of Rottweilers. So, the PC contenders swept on, following a direct route to The Courtyard Cafe at Holkham Hall, only to be greeted by a ‘Temporarily Closed’ sign. Undaunted, the intrepid foursome continued along the set route, which, conveniently, passed by the old NNW favourite of Nelson’s in Wells, where they reported being well looked after with some excellent nourishment.

Meanwhile, back east, Harvey had to ride into Holt to collect a replacement tyre and a new inner tube. The heavily-delayed semi-bunch eventually headed west, but decided that Walsingham would now have to suffice on a winter’s day. Inexplicably, the ride leader, who had earlier in the week warned the Wednesday Wheelers that their programmed destination at the Norton Centre would be closed this week, led the steady riders to —- the Norton Centre**. So, it was over the Stiffkey ford to O’Brennans in Great Walsingham for fancy pies.

Both contingents enjoyed a lot of tailwind for the return trip. The Holkham/Wells people rode by way of Warham, Binham, Clipstreet, Sharrington, Brinton and Stody to Cross Green for the first split. Close to home, Ian picked up a staple through a tyre, which miraculously remained inflated following careful removal of the said object. The Walsingham group took a more southerly route back to north east Norfolk, despite the repeated protestations of Graham, who strangely insisted that he wanted to go through Briston.

Conditions: cold with a stiff westerly wind, but again more sunshine than forecast.

Riders: Andrew; Chris; Ian; Neil Mc; Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Neil S.

Distances: c.42 miles to 61 miles.

**Psychiatric research has demonstrated that exploding inner tubes can disrupt normal rational thought processes.

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/

North Norfolk Wheelers obviously treat New Year’s resolutions seriously as nine of their number turned out for the this weekend’s club run to the Station Cafe at Reepham. Neil Mc, Mark, Ian, Chris and Andrew set out from Pretty Corner, while a steadier contingent, comprised of Neil S, Jim, Harvey and Brian, met for mutual geographical convenience at Barningham. With the local average monthly rainfall being exceeded during the first five days of 2024, it was a question of fingers crossed that the worst of the road flooding could be avoided, but in the event it proved to be not too challenging. The vanguard group managed fairly rapid progress by way of Saxthorpe, Foulsham, Jordan Green, along the Blackwater and through the hamlet of Whitwell Street for an early refuelling break. The catering at the Station Cafe has always been fairly decent, but seems to have stepped up a couple of notches recently.

The afternoon run back to base was by way of Booton, Great Witchingham, Swannington, Cawston, Oulton Street, Itteringham (from where Neil Mc turned for Mannington and Corpusty), Wolterton, Wickmere, Aldborough and Bessingham. The High Kelling duo headed straight back over Bodham Hill, while the Sheringham pair climbed back up to the morning meeting point. The off the back section split at various points for Melton Constable, Alby, Beeston Regis and Holt. They also however added an extra leg to the route, detouring round by Upgate and Felthorpe church, thereby encountering the biggest flood of the day.

Conditions: – Cold northerly wind. Cold light showers. Much more sun than forecast.

The PC to PC distance was just shy of 50 miles. Individual distances ranged from 40 miles to 65 mile

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/

Winter fun at Edingthorpe.

On a dank and drizzly December’s day, punctuated by some heavier patches of precipitation, only Mark and Neil Mc departed from Pretty Corner. They were soon to be joined, however, by Andrew and Clive (from Chester). So, a fast-moving foursome headed for the east coast. To avoid Neil having to traipse home alone in the final hour, the sensible decision was made to reverse the set route for the day. At Edingthorpe the smooth rhythm was interrupted when fate interfered to deal Mark his first Gatorskin puncture in 4863 miles. Adding insult to injury, Neil punctured a Durano Plus soon after. The culprits on both occasions were thorns. So, the day’s second sensible decision was taken; head directly to a busy, but dry and warm Watson’s at Bacton, where some good food and hot beverages were suitably appreciated.

On a day notable for sensible decisions, the route was amended further in order to keep the company together as long as possible on the way home. Neil cut off at Aylsham for Corpusty, while the remaining trio continued north westwards via Calthorpe, Plumstead and Hempstead before splitting for Sheringham, High Kelling and Blakeney.

Individual distances varied, but Sheringham to Sheringham was about 56 miles. A day to test the patience and determination of the club cyclist, but at the end of the day there was the righteous glow of solid winter miles and a feeling of well-being.

On Friday four more of the North Norfolk Wheelers took a steady ride in bright, but very windy conditions to the original venue at Walcott’s Lighthouse Inn. Brian, Neil S and Harvey enjoyed a lot of wind assistance, particularly during the second half of the outward leg. Getting his New Year’s resolutions in early, Malcolm rode up from St Olave’s, via Stalham and Catfield. After the break, the northerly trio had a bit of a slog back into the wind, although they have to admit that the lanes afforded significant shelter and that the wind was easing slowly during the afternoon. Malcolm followed the coast road for most of the way home, reporting unusually heavy traffic en route.

The set route was 49 miles, although two riders completed more than 60 for the day, with Malcolm putting in 64.

With most of the younger Wheelers in party mode, it was left to the senior section to maintain the tradition of the annual mince pie run (minus the mince pies). This cultural phenomenon isn’t too traditional though, as the original version can be traced back only as far as 1978 at Long Whatton in north Leicestershire. The only exception from the younger group was Ian, who was in delayed party mode, completing the route alone in order to get home early to prepare for the drive to Cambridge for the festivities.

Jim, Brian and Harvey maintained a steady pace to Purdy’s Tea Room, where they had a quick chat with Ian before he pushed off home into the gusty westerly. Jim left the homeward route at Corpusty, continuing westwards for Melton Constable. Harvey accompanied Brian as far as Thurgarton before continuing north and then west via Sustead, Felmingham Woods, Gresham and Lower Bodham.

Set route: Upper Gresham, Lower Gresham, Metton, Northrepps, Southrepps, Antingham, Suffield, Colby, Erpingham church, Ingworth, Drabblegate, the hidden back lanes of Aylsham, Woodgate Nursery (break), Abel Heath, Oulton, Irmingland, Corpusty, Little London, Ramsgate Street, Cross Green, Baconsthorpe and Bodham Hill.

Conditions: Very strong and blustery westerly, which eased slowly during the afternoon. It was pleasantly mild for ‘midwinter’, with increasing sunshine for the return leg.

Distances: 49 miles to 61 miles.

MERRY CHRISTMAS.

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/

Early festive Wheelers.                   (+ Mark on new camera).

Three Wheelers set out from from the traditional meeting place at Pretty Corner for a relatively short ride down to the excellent Chrysalis Cafe, located just to the north of the Fakenham Road at Sparhamhill. On a very benign mid-December day, they pushed a south westerly out via Edgefield, Briston, Craymere, Hindolveston, Foulsham, Guestwick church, Kerdiston and Nowhere Lane for a comfortable break over some top class food. Meanwhile, a steadier riding trio were following a more easterly route by way of Bessingham, Matlaske, Wolterton, Corpusty and Wood Dalling, which enabled them to intercept the vanguard at 11.20 at Guestwick church; serendipity or sheer genius? – make up your own mind.

The route back dropped down to the Blackwater, wandered round by the Witchinghams, cut over Brandiston Common to the Haveringland road before turning north through Cawston and Oulton to Itteringham, where Neil Mc continued to Mannington and the turn for home. The final few miles climbed up to Wolterton, descended to Wickmere, up over the ridge to Thurgarton to split for various destinations east, north and west to complete a not too demanding winter’s run out, despite the Wheelers having to carry their bikes round no less than five road barriers.

Riders: Chris; Mark; Neil Mc; Brian (still stacking up the miles as he approaches his 79th birthday); Graham A; Harvey.

Distances ridden ranged from 44 miles to 57 miles. The basic plotted route from PC to PC was a little over 46 miles.

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/

Though milder this weekend after the cold snap, last Saturday’s ice and freezing fog were succeeded by rain and strong wind. There were no takers for the traditional Saturday club run. However, some of the more senior flexitime Wheelers took advantage of Friday’s sunshine to complete a version of the scheduled ride out to Mundesley’s No.17 Cafe. Brian, Neil S and Harvey set out a little later than usual to follow the basic route by way of Sustead, Northrepps, Clapham Dams, Trimingham, Gimingham, the Harvey Estate and Trunch to the cafe on the coast, which was, unsurprisingly much quieter on a December Friday (literally one man and his dog) than for the previous visit on an October Saturday. Waiting patiently?! at the cafe was Graham A, who had missed the start by a minute or two and ridden directly to Mundesley; on reflection, this was probably because the starting trio had set out in an unscheduled direction, while the victim would be assuming he would be approaching them on the published plotted route if he happened to be delayed for any reason. Being sheltered from a stiff south westerly, Mundesley was surprisingly warm for December. On departure, the bunch followed a more southerly loop as far as Briggate, where Graham punctured a rear Vittoria. Back on the road again, it was via Worstead and Skeyton to Felmingham, where Graham continued north, destination Cromer, while the others turned down Brick Kiln Lane for Suffield, Colby, Erpingham and Aldborough for the split, from where one rider (having failed to fit lights only twelve days short of the Winter Solstice) had to engage the big ring and race the fading light for a final eleven miles home.

Distances ranged from 40 miles to 65 miles.