Club Runs

Two Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a cold but dry autumnal morning for a ride to Watsons cafe following a route provided by Harvey. The route took us through Gresham, Crossdale Street, Northrepps, Overstrand and Sidestrand where we met Harvey who then rode with us for a few miles. We then proceeded through Trimingham, Mundsley, Trunch, Knapton, Edingthorpe and Bacton. At the cafe we both chose the vegetarian all day breakfast option which was excellent. The route back took us through Ridlington, Honing, Worstead, Swanton Abbott, Burgh next Aylsham, Aylsham, Ingworth and Aldborough, where Brian left to make his own way home. The lone rider then proceeded through Gresham before making their way home. An excellent days cycling along a good route in sunny conditions.

PC to PC 50 miles

Andrew B and Brian.

Two wheelers met at PC for a ride to the Old Reading Room, Kelling on a sunny autumn morning. The route took us through East Beckham, Matlaske, Plumstead, Edgfield, Briston, Stody, Brinton, Gunthorpe, Thursford, Hindringham and onto Binham. As it had started to rain by the time we reached Binham and Ian had no waterproof (never trust forecasts!) we decided to stop for coffee and cakes at the Priory Parlour cafe. The cafe was welcoming and the food and drink were excellent. It was still raining slightly when we left the cafe so we decided to head straight back without stopping at Kelling. The route back was through Langham, Wiveton, Kelling and onto High Kelling where Ian left to make is own way home. I then continued back to PC via. Baconsthorpe and West Beckham. A nice ride despite the unscheduled rain.

PC to PC 40 miles

Average speed 14.5 mph           Total Elevation 1500 ft

Ian and Andrew Bassett leading.

Ride Report by Chris S
Once again the weather was surprisingly dry and warm for mid November. However the turn out for the ride was low mainly because a number of the usual group had other commitments and also Mark M had finally succumbed to Covid.
Therefore I found myself to be be the only rider starting from Pretty Corner. Following the route I picked up Ian A in High Kelling at the junction with Cromer Road. We continued along the route when just before Glandford we found Harvey T waiting by the side of the road. After a short chat Harvey joined us for approximately 6-7 miles before peeling off and going his own way. Ian and myself continued to Reepham with some light head winds arriving just before midday.
Departing at around 12.30 after a bite to eat at the Station Cafe we had an enjoyable ride back in sunshine with Ian turning off towards High Kelling shortly before Pretty Corner. I arrived back at Pretty Corner at approximately 1425 hrs having covered some 52 miles at an average speed of 14.7mph.

Four riders left Pretty Corner at the revised time of 10am on route for Wells Beach Cafe. The planned route was somewhat different to begin with as it took riders to Weybourne via Bodham. Holgate Hill warmed us up for the rest of the journey which took in the usual villages of Glandford, Binham and Warham. Rain threatened us at one point but the only evidence was wet roads from Wiveton Downs onwards. After 21 miles and some strong breeze at times the cafe was reached, and light refreshment was enjoyed. We walked up the slope to view the new lifeboat building with glimpses of the newest and fastest lifeboat.

Returning to Wells on Beach Road we met Jane A who was hoping to meet us for lunch. This was rather disappointing for her and for us but there was no immediate remedy only lessons to learn for future meet ups. After a short chat with Jane the four riders continued to Wells S and SW along the Holkham estate wall, fighting a strong headwind. Turning E it was easy going to Wighton, Copys Green and Hindringham. We went via Bale, Sharrington, Brinton and Stody where Neil Mc left for home and the three remaining riders arrived at Hunworth.

We took a steep  idyllic route at Hunworth starting at a ford and through woods bordering Hunworth Common. The track was invisible, being carpeted with leaves but it was firm under our wheels, possibly having a tarmac surface. That was our rough stuff for the day! Then we went to Holt and through the houses to Hempstead Road. Andrew B left after Selbrigg pond and the remaining two of us soon reached Pretty Corner.

PC to PC 49.5 miles

Average speed 13.7 mph

Andrew, Mark, Neil and Graham A leading

Four Wheelers, Chris S, Neil S, Brian and Mark set off from PC in cool and dry conditions, though the overcast sky kept providing a few spits of rain during the day. We picked up Jim H and Chris B in Gresham and set off via some lesser used lanes for Erpingham, then Aylsham’s Dunkirk to Tuttington and Brampton.

It was here that both Chris B and Jim H decided that they were not feeling up to the full ride and would head home, they had of course already completed a good few miles in getting up to Gresham to join us.
So, the remaining four made their way to Coltishall, encountering some light rain on the way. As we arrived, so did Malcolm, having used the Reedham ferry to come up from St Olaves.

No.77 was nicely warm with the usual good food and service. Brian was showing off his new phone, this one can take photos! After we had all featured in Brian’s selfies, it was time to head for home, with Malcolm heading east for Wroxham and the rest going west to Horstead and Frettenham.
From Stratton Strawless we took the long straight road through the woods to the outskirts of Felthorpe, then north through Haveringland, the edge of Swannington airfield to Cawston and beyond.
At Itteringham, as Brian and Neil S turned right to make their way home, Neil Mc appeared, out for a quick ride between house renovation tasks, so he joined us for a couple of miles before making his way back home. Leaving the final two to continue back to PC.

Group: Chris S, Neil S, Brian, Mark, Jim H, Chris B and brief appearance by Neil Mc.

PC to PC 54 miles at an average speed of 14.4 mph.

Next week’s ride (12th) is to The Station Café, Reepham.

Three Wheelers met at PC for the first of the earlier Wednesday Winter rides with a start time of 10am. It was a sunny though cool morning with a strong South Westerly wind.
Our clockwise route took us through Felbrigg park on the way to Cromer zoo, then through some residential areas before the climb of Northrepps hill. On the way to Southrepps we negotiated the seemingly permanently closed section of Wellspring road, then on to Antingham, Colby, Erpingham and Thwaite Common to our lunch destination.

Surprisingly the café was full of old codgers, so the additional three that had arrived by bike had to sit outside and share the sheltered courtyard with a couple of very tame peacocks. After enjoying a good lunch (cyclists not the peacocks), we continued down to Blickling and across to Oulton before turning north and getting the wind on our backs.
Wind assisted we blew through Itteringham and on to Wickmere where Graham A turned off for Cromer. Leaving two to skirt around Barningham Winter, Up Wood to the top of Bodham Hill, where Andrew A turned off and one rider returned to PC.

PC to PC was 45.6 miles and with a steady 13.3 average speed, the earlier start time meant that all riders were home before 3pm.
Andrew B, Graham A, Mark leading.

Next week’s ride (9th), also starting at 10am, is to the Beach Café in Wells, buckets and spades optional.

Six Wheelers met at PC for the last Saturday ride before the clocks change and the afternoons become shorter.
Early morning rain had stopped by departure time, though the sky remained cloudy for a lot of the day with a weak sun failing to provide the forecast 18-20c temps. Wet roads, leaf mulch and the usual beet season mud meant all bikes needed a wash by the end of the ride.
The forecast South East becoming Southerly wind was non-existent for the initial leg to Edgefield and then it increased to provide a tail wind on the route West through Hunworth, Gunthorpe, Gt Snoring to East Barsham. We then followed the river Skiffkey through the Barshams to the Slipper Chapel where we caught up with a motorist in a stinking diesel van creeping along the road and stopping and berating every motorist coming the other way for driving too fast.

We eventually reached the café, to find that it was full and everything except baguettes and cake was sold out. Fortunately the sheltered courtyard meant we could enjoy our baguettes and Brian the last jacket spud, outside without getting cold.

Our route back was now into the wind from Gt Walsingham, Hindringham, Barney to Stibbard before turning East through Wood Norton to Guestwick where Neil Mc turned off for home. From Wood Dalling we headed mainly North, dropping off Brian and Chris B at Little London, so they could head further East for home. The remaining trio continued via Edgefield, Hempstead to Selbrigg lake where we caught sight of the swans and on to West Beckham and down Lodge Hill to Upper Sheringham to check out the mermaids on the village sign before going our separate ways in Sheringham.

Harvey, our regular Saturday ride leader and route planner extraordinaire has decided to take a rest from the Saturday rides over the winter, though you may well see him out and about on his bike during the week. He has very generously offered to continue his excellent planning of Saturday ride routes for our enjoyment.

Group: Brian, Chris S, Neil Mc, Graham A, Chris B, Mark

PC to PC 58 miles

Four wheelers met at PC for a ride to the Rising Sun pub at Coltishall on a warm but windy autumn morning. The route took us through Lower Gresham, Sustead, Aldborough, Swanton Abbot and Worstead, were we met up with John S, arriving a little late due to the strong wind and road closures. The group then continued to Coltishall via. Smallburgh and Ashmanhaugh. On arrival at the pub we were met by Malcom. As we all enjoyed a good lunch heavy rain started which looked alarmingly of it was set in for the afternoon. However, after a slightly extended lunch stop the rain stopped. This was fortunate as most of us had no waterproofs! The route back was through Baderfield, Burgh Next Aylsham, Tuttington, Banningham, Ingworth and Calthorpe, were Graham left us for home. We then continued to through Matlaske back to PC. Some slight re-routing was required due to more road closures. Remarkably we all arrived back dry.

PC to PC 47 miles

Average speed 14.4 mph           Total Elevation 1360 ft

Mark, Graham A, Ian and Andrew Bassett leading.

Seven North Norfolk Wheelers left Pretty Corner to pick up one at Gresham church and two more at Felmingham church, from where, after sorting out a puncture, the group of ten headed out through the lanes via Swanton Hill, Worstead and East Ruston to pick up the main coast road at Lessingham and a fast last five miles to the Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn. It had been anticipated that Malcolm would join us from the south, until we remembered that he had been down recently with a dose of Covid. Apparently however, despite the aftereffects of the virus as well as recent root canal treatment, he felt up for it this morning, set out for the Waxham rendezvous, but compromised en route, settling for refuelling at Martham Co-op, finishing up with a forty odd mile run out via the ferry.

The return route from Waxham travelled by way of Calthorpe Fen, Ingworth, Brunstead, Dilham, Sloley, the dual carriageway, Swanton Abbott, the ‘Skeyton Alps’ (where Neil S suffered severe cramping of quads and calves in both legs), Burgh (where Chris B departed), Aylsham and points north west and west, depending on the final destination of various individuals.

Group: Andrew; Brian (back from his long Iberian tour); Chris B; Chris S; Harvey; Ian A; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 39 miles to 79 miles.

Two punctures: One Schwalbe and one Gatorskin.

Healthy bunch of ten today: – Club run participation numbers dropped off significantly from around 2014 following a four or five year boom. Through 2015 to 2017 longer term viability seemed to be in serious doubt, with some club runs attracting as few as one to three riders. Since then, numbers have fluctuated unpredictably. For a range of reasons, principally associated with anno domini, we lost Geoff, Robin, Bruce, Trevor, Malcolm, David C, Barry, Ian S, Graham J, Scott and Ben. However, on the weekend before GMT, today’s bunch of ten seems to indicate that the current cohort, supplemented by several keen newer recruits, has consolidated to create a situation in which the group will be increasingly viable through into 2023 and beyond.

Two Wheelers, Duncan S and Mark set off from PC, heading west with a strong east wind on their backs, picking up Ian A at the Selbrigg junction, before passing the pond (no swans today) and on to Holt.
From the Cley road we took the rough road up to Bayfield Brecks and down to Glandford, up to Wiveton Downs and then to make up the miles we went through Saxlingham, Field Dalling, Langham, Cockthorpe, Binham, along the Wighton road to Nutwood Farm then to Fiddler’s Hill and onto the Warham road.

We arrived at the pub in good time and were given a large table by the warming fire. We were expecting Geoff P to join us but he apparently had a cleat issue and had to seek outside assistance in Briston and so disqualified himself from any lunch.
Instead, Geoff’s empty seat was taken by the surprise appearance of Jane A who had seen the venue on the website and decided to join us for a chat and a pie. It was great to see you again Jane, thanks for joining us.
After a long and enjoyable lunch it was time to venture back out into the wind and this time it wasn’t behind us.
An easy run south to Great Walsingham was followed by a harder more easterly route to Hindringham, Bale, Gunthorpe, Sharrington and Thornage before turning southwards through Hunworth, Edgefield Street to Corpusty. Where we dropped Duncan off before heading northwards visiting Mannington Hall, Squallham and Matlaske on the way back to PC.
Fortunately the hedges still in full leaf provided good shelter from a lot of the wind, which made the return journey a little easier.

PC to PC 53 miles with 2431ft/741m of climbing at a surprising 14.6mph average, it was a fast outward leg.
Duncan S, Ian A, Jane A and Mark M leading.
Next week’s ride (26th) is to the Rising Sun in Coltishall.