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/

On a day of persistent black ice, one Wheeler did a bit on the gritted A148, then round by Heath Farm and beyond, which was icier than anticipated. The only rider to persevere was Brian, who stuck to the gritted roads, hoping that the ice would ease after 11.00.

Route: A149, B1436, A140, B1436, A148, PC, turning south on the minor roads towards Aldborough, but, with the ice maintaining its grip, it was an enforced break for flapjack and tea at Che’s Spanish Cafeteria at Thurgarton and some Spanish conversation before a slow last few miles home.

19 miles.

Sunday would have been rather better, with a lot of dry roads and only patchy ice.

Four riders met at Pretty Corner on a wet and windy day for a ride to Purdy’s at Woodgate Nursery Aylsham. The planned route took us through East Beckham, Lower Gresham, Sustead, Hansworth, Alby Hill, Erpingham, Felmingham, Tuttington and Burgh Next Aylsham, with Harvey joining us for part of the route. Despite the forecast of heavy rain we only encountered drizzle until we reached Aylsham when the heavens opened up! However, once settled in the cafe we soon warmed up and all enjoyed a good lunch. After lunch we were surprised to find that the rain had stopped and although cold it was a pleasant ride back through Oulton Street, Corputsy, Briston and Edgefielld were Brian left us for home. With threat of rain clear from the sky a slighter shorter route was taken back to PC via. Baconsthorpe, with Andrew departing for home part way through. The rain did arrive giving a damp end to the day but overall a good ride considering the poor forecast with a good lunch stop.

PC to PC 45.5 miles

Average speed 13.1 mph

Total Elevation 2450ft

Andrew B, Mark, Chris and Brian

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/

Three Wheelers met at PC on a mild and dry morning that was dominated by a strong southerly wind. Showers were forecast and we had a couple during the ride but they blew through very quickly. At the end of Red Barn Lane we met Harvey who joined us for a good 20 miles, including our stop at the mill.
We had an easy ride north west through Kelling, Wiveton to Blakeney quay, followed by a much harder leg uphill and into the wind to Langham, then Field Dalling, where Harvey slipped away on a shortcut. By the time we had reached Sharrington we decided to take our own shortcut direct to Letheringsett, in order to miss out the leg towards Glandford and back into the wind to Letheringsett. So Harvey was surprised to see us sat in the mill when he arrived!

The café served light lunches and between us we had soup, quiche, sausage roll and cakes plus tea and coffee, which was all very good. The café was also fairly busy and included a couple of other cyclists, so we weren’t the only ones out in the wind.

So after a leisurely lunch we headed uphill and south again, this time to Thornage, at the Stody turn Harvey headed for home leaving three to climb to Melton Constable and on to Hindolveston. Then it was a mainly easterly leg via Thurning to Heydon where we finally turned north and had the wind on our backs, through Heydon Park to Oulton and Itteringham. Here Chris had a front puncture (Marathon Plus) which was a good sized thorn. When that was fixed, he must have been trying to make up for lost time as he left us in his dust as we headed home via Thurgarton, Gresham, where Andrew turned off and back to PC.

PC to PC with our shortcut was 46.8 miles (instead of the planned 49.7) with an average speed of 13.3 mph.
Riders were Chris S, Andrew B, Mark M and Harvey.
It was agreed that it was a good ride out, mainly dry, testing into the wind but a great tailwind.

Next rides and club runs – Wednesday 11th to the Crown at Trunch and Saturday 14th Purdy’s at Aylsham
See: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

Ride Report by Andrew A
Two riders met at Pretty Corner on a blustery day for the first ride of the year to the newly opened cafe at Elsing. The planned route took us through East Beckham, Gresham, Bessingham, Matalaske and Itteringham, against a strong head wind.
As pre-arranged we met up with Graham A, just before Itteringham. However, after just a mile Andrew had a puncture which was quickly fixed but failed again within a few hundred yards (on a second attempt at a repair a piece of flint was found embedded in the Marathon Plus tyre).
The remaining route took us through Oulton Street, Cawston, Brandiston, Swanninton, Attlebridge and Weston Longville.
The cafe was busy and welcoming (see photos) and we enjoyed a good lunch. The picturesque route back took us through Mill Street, Sparham, Reepham, Salle, Corputsy and Little Barningham, with rapid progress being made as the wind was on our backs and the sun shining. Graham left us for home at this point and the remaining two carried onto PC via Plumstead and Baconsthorpe. A good ride despite the strong wind with an excellent route provided by Mark.

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

PC to PC 46 miles
Average speed 12.9 mph
Total Elevation 2000ft

Riders – Ian A (photography), Graham A and Andrew B leading

Three riders met at Pretty Corner for the last ride of the year to the Lighthouse Walcott on a warm but breezy day. Shortly after leaving we met Harvey who also joined us for a few miles. The planned route took us through East Beckham, Sustead, Thorpe Market, Bradfield, Swafield, Trunch, Knapton and onto Walcott. Shortly before arrival at the Inn we met the local hunt in full regalia. The arrival was good timing as it had just begun to rain as forecast. Graham A who is still recovering from his rib injury met us there as pre-arranged and we all enjoyed a good lunch. By the time we left the rain had really set in for the day so there was no choice but to go for it. The route back took us through Ridlington, White Horse Common, Meeting House Hill, Worstead, Swanton Abbott, Tuttington, Banningham, Ingworth, Erpingham and Alborough where Brian left us for home. The two remaining riders then made their way back to PC through Bessingham and Gresham. A good ride despite the soaking in the afternoon.

PC to PC 48 miles

Average speed 12.5 mph

Total Elevation 1500ft

Andrew, Brian and Chris leading

With the regular Wednesday Wheelers busy with family or recovering from injuries and with the forecast set to rain all day, it was no surprise that only the ride leader waited in the rain at PC.

As a shorter winter ride, it was a fairly direct clockwise route via Hanworth, Thorpe Market, North Walsham to Briggate. From here the strong south westerly wind became more noticeable as the route turned into it, through Worstead, past Tunstead Church and on to Coltishall.
After a brief stop outside the Rising Sun to check no other Wheelers had arrived and deciding that I’d skip the lunch stop as I had eaten plenty over Christmas, I headed for home, with the bonus of the wind on my back.

Again the route was direct and familiar, St James, Lamas, Brampton, Aylsham, Ingworth, Wickmere, Gresham to PC.
The ride was uneventful, though the forecast was correct, it rained the whole ride and there was a lot of standing water and leaf mulch on the roads, though the day was surprisingly mild.

PC to PC was 45.1 miles with an average speed of 14.3mph.
Rider – Mark M

Upcoming Rides – Saturday 31st to the Lighthouse, Walcott
Wednesday 4th January to a new venue, the Lemon & Rosemary Yard, Elsing (formerly the Mermaid pub)
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/

The pre-Christmas run was scheduled initially for the 23rd, but Friday’s all day rain caused a sensible postponement to a beautiful sunny Christmas Eve. Only the ever-keen Brian and a diminishingly keen Harvey could make it for what became an impromptu ride to the Grey Seal Coffee House in the Bayfield estate’s converted barns at Glandford.

It was a fairly devious route out to the Glaven valley, taking in Bodham Hill, Baconsthorpe, Selbrigg, Salthouse Heath, Swan Lodge, Cley Newgate, the Glandford ford (stopping on the footbridge to discuss the value of water to the bushmen of the Kalahari Desert), the long climb up the back of the Downs, the descent to Wiveton village, Wiveton Hall cafe (closed until 10th February) and back through Wiveton to the Grey Seal for excellent coffee and a snack. It was than back over the ford, up onto the heath, Bridge Road, Lower Bodham, a split at Red Barn Lane and home early.

47 miles.

After some pre-ride discussions about the quantity of precipitation and the subsequent reassurances from the ride leader and chief meteorologist that very soon the clouds would give way to uninterrupted sunshine, four Wheelers met at PC in light rain, which then continued for the rest of the morning. In fact the sun remained elusive until somewhere around Southrepps on the return leg, but we did see the sun, so I will count that as a win.

As it was the shortest day of the year, our route was fairly direct, heading south east through Hunworth, Suffield, Felmingham to Swanton Abbott where we were pleased to be joined by John S, braving the weather to have lunch with us.
We continued through Worstead, then north via Honing, and Pollard Street looking forward to warmth and sustenance at our planned destination Watsons of Bacton, alas the Christmas holidays had come early and they were shut.

We quickly decided to go to Café Carmel (Brian P’s favourite café), it is very small and they were full, so we moved on again into driving rain to the Kingfisher café at Walcott, now closed for the season. With dissent in the ranks growing, we headed to the ever reliable Lighthouse Inn at Walcott, which was open, mutiny averted.

While everyone else ordered warming soup, the ride leader decided that the steak and ale pie was too good to miss and when it arrived it looked as if it was a portion for two. Every last morsel was delicious! We then decided that mince pies would round off the meal nicely, so we tested the kitchen by ordering them with a choice of cream, brandy butter, ice cream or custard. With one Wheeler choosing both brandy butter and ice cream (Chris). See Ian’s photo evidence in the Club Run Gallery: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

As we reluctantly left, we were pleased to see that the rain had stopped and the wind was in our favour, though it remained cold. John S headed back south as we made our way to Bacton and picked up the original route home.

Around the back of the gas terminal to Paston and then through a very deserted Mundesley, onto Gimmingham, along the recently reopened Wellspring Road (closed for years due to Badgers- it’s true), Northrepps, Metton to the split at Gresham.
Did I mention the sun had come out.

PC to PC with our lunch detour was 47.6 miles at a 14.1mph average.
Riders – Andrew A, Chris S, Ian A (photography), John S and Mark M leading.

Upcoming Rides – Saturday 24th to Letheringsett
Wednesday 28th, the Rising Sun, Coltishall – I have checked it is open and serving food!
Routes for both rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/