Club Runs

Eight riders, including new man Chris S (ex-Wymondham), left Pretty Corner for the club run to the Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn, where they were joined by Malcolm on his sortie up from south Norfolk via Yarmouth. The group pushed a strong east south east wind much of the way out, via Erpingham, Banningham, Tuttington, Swanton Abbott, Worstead, Honing, Brumstead Common, Ingworth (where they coincided with a Yarmouth-Cromer-Yarmouth sportif), Calthorpe Fen and Sea Palling to the always busy, but very efficient Dunes Cafe. During the refuelling break, one rider had a glove pinched by a large wet dog. The back home leg was notable for long stretches of strong tailwind, retracing to Calthorpe Fen, then Hickling Heath, Sutton windmill, Lessingham, Happisburgh Hall, Ridlington, Bacton Wood, Dead Man’s Grave, Knapton, Trunch and Bradfield, to connect to the familiar route back from the east coast over Tops Hill to Hanworth and Bessingham.

Bunch: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Jim; Harvey; Graham A; Chris S; Brian. Malcolm at the cafe.

Distances: 65 miles to 81 miles.

Three riders left Pretty Corner at a brisk touring pace hoping to beat the rain forecast for about 2 pm. The route went to Saxthorpe via Baconsthorpe and Edgefield. The road was closed by AW at Edgefield Street but the contractors kindly allowed us through if we carried our bikes over their trenches. The day was fine with a noticeable breeze in our faces as we made good progress towards Aylsham Garden Centre. On the way we passed Irmingland Hall before reaching Oulton Chapel and enjoying a ride through Heydon Park. There was an unplanned deviation (navigation error) which meant using some B1149 and a fast finish on the B1145. Aylsham Garden Centre was busy with the usual suspects but we found a table and enjoyed a good lunch before taking the cycle path south beside the A140 towards Marsham. We passed Bolwick Hall ( not sure how this is pronounced!), went over the Bure Valley Railway. Northwards we now went with a helpful following wind via Burgh to Tuttington, Banningham, Colby, Suffield Green to Hanworth where Graham peeled off to Cromer leaving the other two riders to reach Pretty Corner by their preferred route. And we did not get wet!

PC to PC 40 miles

Mark, John and Graham Aldous leading.

Six Wheelers assembled at Pretty Corner for the club run to Junction 21 cafe, situated at the head of the Themelthorpe Loop on Marriott’s Way. The group included Graham J on his first visit of the year, although he was limited to a morning ride this time round. The remaining bunch of five was supplemented at the cafe by Geoff, who was on his lone weekend ride. In typically bright and windy March conditions the riders went by way of Baconsthorpe, Briston, Stody, Brinton, the high road to Gunthorpe, a loop round the back of Thursford church, Barney, Fulmodeston, Stibbard, Wood Norton and Foulsham. Unsurprisingly, the refreshment break conversation was dominated by the history of local railways. A rather longer return route, assisted eventually by a lot of good tailwind, headed off initially into the wind, descending to cross the Wensum at Mill Street, running down the valley to cross back over at Attlebridge, climbing over to Swannington, on to the Ratcatcher’s (from where Neil headed for home), Itteringham (from where Graham A headed for home) and a conventional run in to Red Barn Lane for the final split. Today’s route incorporated two hole-in-the-hedge shortcuts (viz. Thursford-Barney and Bawdeswell).

Bunch: Brian; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 60 miles to 72 miles.

Graham A and Mark were pleased to be joined at PC by Robert N, out on his first Wheelers ride of the year. As we stood in the sun, sheltered from the fairly strong Southerly wind, we were all feeling overdressed in our winter kit. As the day progressed, we had more sunshine than forecast and the roads remained dry apart from two flooded sections, so I could have worn shorts and leg warmers and a light shirt under my jacket and been warm enough.

Our route to Waxham was mainly south easterly with a cross wind on the right shoulder. Via Bessingham, Hanworth, Suffield, Bradfield, North Walsham to Briggate, where we picked up John S. John only had a couple of hours free, but he wanted to join us for lunch and to get in a few miles.
From Honing it was East Ruston to Ingham, where we stayed on the main road to Waxham to keep the mileage for the out leg to 28 miles.

At the Café as we were putting our bikes into the new cycle racks, we saw ex-ride leader Malcolm S, who had taken advantage of the great weather and strong tailwind to join us from St Olaves. I expect the journey home was not so easy!

As the courtyard of the barn was fairly sheltered we decided to sit outside and enjoy a good lunch, coffee and a chat. John had to leave us first, then after another twenty minutes or so of chatting, we were all beginning to feel the cold, so after bidding farewell to Malcolm, we set off for home.

For a change, we went down the beach road at Sea Palling, past the wooden chalets and beach homes, an area that seems as if time has stood still, but would have all been washed away in the 1953 floods and is now behind the new sea defences.

Then it was Lessingham, Witton, Knapton, Trunch to Southrepps Lower Street, where Graham and Robert turned off for Cromer and Mark went to Thorpe Market, Hanworth, Sustead, Gresham back to PC.

PC to PC 55 miles

Graham A, Robert N and Mark leading, with guest appearances by John S and Malcolm S

On a day of persistent light rain and a cold northerly breeze, only three Wheelers completed the run down to No.77 Cafe in the King’s Head, while a fourth member of the group settled for a non- stop morning session.

The route wandered in and out of numerous road floods by way of Bessingham, Thurgarton, Wickmere, Calthorpe, Erpingham, Colby school, Hylton Crossways, Skeyton church, The Goat and Little Hautbois to the cafe, where there was a longer break than scheduled due to the waitress forgetting to take the order to the kitchen. Never mind, it allowed more time for the rain to ease. Back home was via an easterly loop to Belaugh Green, Tunstead, Ashmanaugh, Neatishead, a further loop by Barton Turf, before swinging back west and north west to Anchor Street, Worstead, Swanton Abbott (from where Neil Mc pushed on home beyond Reepham), Felmingham, Suffield, Alby Common, Aldborough school, Bessingham and Gresham church.

Group: Neil Mc; Mark; Brian + Harvey straight round.

Distances: 45 miles to 60 miles.

One broken saddle (an old Brooks B17 with copper rivets). One saddle sore.

Three Wheelers met at PC on a chilly and overcast morning for the inaugural Wednesday run to the Junction 21 café at Themelthorpe. Geoff P stopped to say he would meet us there for lunch too.

The route out took us via Gresham, Bessingham, Matlaske and Wickmere to Itteringham, then the traditional route down to Cawston. From Cawston the roads became smaller and well coated in mud and water as we went via Brandiston, Little and Great Witchingham, Jordan Green to Themelthorpe.

As we arrived at the café, we found a forlorn looking Geoff P wandering the garden as the café was shut for the day due to a ‘mechanical problem’. Not to be beaten, we headed to the ever reliable Station café at Reepham and managed to get an inside table for the four of us. An inside table not only gives the benefit of warmth but also real crockery and grown-ups cutlery!

Suitably refreshed we headed off. Geoff on his own route and the rest heading up to Thurning to join up with the original route home. This took us through Edgefield Street, Plumstead, Baconsthorpe and Bodham Hill back to PC for a total of 45 miles.

Andrew B, Graham A, Mark leading and Geoff P joining us for lunch.

Pc to PC was 45 miles

Eight Wheelers left Pretty Corner for the run down to the Courtyard Cafe on a lovely late winter’s day after early frost and some patches of ice in the heavily shaded areas. The route out pushed a stiff south west wind by way of Bodham, Salthouse Heath, Glandford, Letheringsett, Sharrington, Bale, Hindringham and Little Snoring airfield. Jim suffered a defaillance en route, so he turned for home. A combination of running training and racing, cycling training and numerous trips away from home is definitely a heavy schedule for an ultraveteran, plus Jim had put in a good few miles before joining the bunch at PC. The wind was shifting to a solid and rising southerly through the middle of the day, so the bunch was deprived of genuine tailwind until they turned north at Thurning, from where the rest of the route crossed the Blackwater and the upper Bure, climbed up Ramsgate Street, looped round Hempstead village to Baconsthorpe and then the familiar drag up to Bodham Hill and West Beckham.

Bunch: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Jim; Harvey; Graham; Brian; Andrew.

Distances: 53 miles to 69 miles.

Three wheelers met for a ride to Warham on a windy but relatively mild winter day. The route took us through High Kelling, Wiveton, Langham, Stiffkey and Wighton. This was bit of a surprise for the leader as he had intended to come back on this route! However, this worked out okay and we arrived in good time for lunch despite the strong wind. The pub was very welcoming and we all enjoyed good food, with Mark tucking into one of their famous pies. The route back took us to Binham, Hindringham and Thursford against a strong head wind. As the proposed route then involved using a main road (whoops!) we returned to PC via. Gunthorpe, Brinton, Briston, Edgefield and Baconsthorpe. The skies were very dark towards the end of the ride but it held off. Overall a good days cycling despite the navigation errors and the strong wind.

PC to PC 41 miles

Average speed 14 mph  Total Elevation 1,722 ft

Mark, Graham and Andrew B leading.

The composition of the main weekend club run bunch over recent months has enabled us to offer Sunday and Monday alternatives when the weather is dubious or worse on Saturday. This has worked well on three or four occasions, but can be a bit problematic when the distinction is a little less clear cut. This weekend was complicated further when Storm Franklin proved to be not much less vigorous than Storm Eunice, so today’s run was delayed for a while until the big gusts eased back a bit to mid-50s mph. Eventually, two Wheelers got out on the road at 10.15. The pair decided to push the big wind out west for a bit, with a few meanders for occasional relief. So, it was Gresham church, North Barningham, Baconsthorpe, a loop round Hempstead, Selbrigg, Cley, a loop round Wiveton, Glandford, Bridgefoot Lane, Salthouse Heath and the Holgate Hill road to the Garden Terrace. When riding the Monday option it always has to be borne in mind that a lot of refreshment venues will be closed, so the Garden Terrace was a safe bet for this impromptu ride. It has to be admitted that the Wheelers lingered longer than usual over their refreshments after the morning battering from the storm. The wind obviously dropped significantly in the afternoon, but was still brisk enough to provide a fast ride back to Aldborough school, from where one rider had to turn back west into the wind and a few short, but heavy showers.

So, not the best of weekends for cycling club runs, but nothing lost really. Saturday saw one of the mainstream bunch, heeding an off the wall forecast of rain not starting until 15.00, complete the originally scheduled short route from Sheringham to Themelthorpe, while Geoff did his regular ride to Reepham. Rumours that he has shares in the Station Cafe have been denied.

Distances: 37 miles to 50 miles.

After much discussion about wind strength, four riders met at Pretty Corner. The ride leader Graham Aldous, who has a wind phobia, wanted to do the ride, prompting a view that his email had been taken over by impostors! It was a mild day with sun at times. There was a head wind on the way to North Elmham but apart from the open road to Corpusty there was shelter from hedges on mostly minor roads. The route took the riders to Foulsham, Bintree and Billingford. The riders enjoyed a “Danish” lake district view over the Wensum valley and flooded gravel pits en route to Mill Street and Worthing. A well deserved excellent lunch was enjoyed. The route back was easy with the following wind, but it did not help the steep ride past Bintree Mill. Andrew had to dismount after a missed gear. The route then took riders to Twyford, Foulsham and near Thurning Andrew picked up a thorn puncture while on his Thorn steel bike and Marathon tyres. The rain held off and the ride was enjoyed, even with the wind.

PC to PC 47 miles

Average speed 13.5 mph           Total Elevation 1,660 ft

Andrew B, Mark, Duncan and Graham A leading.