Club Runs

Unexpected and oily looking black clouds approached over the coast on the north east wind as riders arrived at the Pretty Corner assembly point. Fortunately the holiday weekend small bunch soon rode into clearer conditions as they headed inland. The coastal strip however did receive some rain, as evidenced by 1.2mm in the rain gauge back in N.E. Norfolk.

Only four Wheelers headed south via Corpusty and Reepham, where they were caught by new man Ian A, ex Dittons Velo, who meet at The Bear in Esher, Surrey. Ian had been delayed by a recalcitrant garage door lock at his new house, so followed a short cut in a vain attempt to cut off the bunch and then, guided by the downloadable route file for the day, set off on a 12 mile chase to join the group.

Good progress was made on quiet lanes as far as Gressenhall church, from where even quieter lanes were anticipated over Bushey Common and the Podmore ford. Instead the small bunch were confronted by dozens of vehicles travelling in both directions on tiny lanes barely wide enough to take a single vehicle. Lesson: don’t organise a club run down these lanes on the weekend of the Maui Waui Festival of Dub, Techno, Trance, Electro and Reggae at Hill Farm, featuring China Bull Shop, Dub Pistols, Teapad Orchestra, The Iron Bootscrapers and Captain Flatcap. Once away from the cultural hot spot of Dereham however, it was plain sailing via Daffy Green to the King’s Cafe at Shipdham, at 5.2 kms the longest village in Norfolk. The cafe was converted nine years ago (seems longer) from one of a former total of 27 pubs in Shipdham. Only the Golden Dog remains today.

It was a slightly longer route back into a lot of north easterly wind, via Garvestone, Mattishall, Elsing, Bawdeswell, Foxley, Themelthorpe and Craymere ford to the familiar lanes back from Briston.

Group: Mark; Jim; Ian A; Harvey; Brian.

Distances: 69 miles to 83 miles.

Two riders left Pretty Corner for a ride to Sculthorpe Mill. There was a noticeable breeze from the SW and it was quite warm and humid, although overcast until noon. The route took the riders on familiar roads to Briston via Plumstead, then Craymere Beck to Hindolveston where the opportunity was taken to look at the old station. Onwards the route was followed to Fulmodeston, Stibbard and Gt Ryburgh. Turning left at the church it was an uphill way to Gateley and Horningtoft. Apart from a few cottages and a farm there was little evidence to see of the lost village of Oxwick before the Fakenham road was reached. Beacon Hill gave a rewarding and fast descent to Toftrees where the A1065 was crossed. A less familiar road then took the riders direct to Shereford and Sculthorpe Mill.

The venue was not ideal for cyclists who prefer a bar meal. The two riders decided not to order from menu and wine list, opting for pints of Barsham Brewery ale, the manufacturing source of which was later passed in a couple of miles. The route was followed to Sharrington via Gt Snoring, Hindringham and Bale. After Sharrington, feeling peckish, the riders rode off the planned route to the A148 and enjoyed some afternoon refreshment at “Back to the Garden”. It then made sense to continue the deviation on the A148 to Holt, through the town and back to Pretty Corner on familiar minor roads.

Graham Aldous (ride leader), Mark McVeigh. PC to PC was 56 miles.

Six Wheelers set out from Pretty Corner into a rising south-westerly on a bright, fresh late summer morning. The longer outward leg of 35.5 miles (from PC) went by way of the direct route to Stody and the familiar villages to Hindringham and Walsingham. From the war memorial it was the stiff climb out of the Stiffkey valley to Egmere, the long descent into the Burn valley at South Creake, the long drag over Bloodgate Hill to Syderstone, the rolling lanes to North Pole crossroads and the last short section over Tofts Hill to Bircham windmill cafe. Over some excellent food, shared with the usual late summer wasps, the conversation focused on Mike Burrows and on acquiring new bikes. The stiff tailwind home was well worth waiting for on a route travelling via Stanhoe, North Creake, South Holkham, Wighton, Binham, Langham, Wiveton Downs, Salthouse Heath, Bodham and West Beckham.

Group: Brian; Chris; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil S.

Distances: 72 miles to 84 miles. // 3176 feet of climbing.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1984294?units=km

Seven riders congregated at the reservoir gates, but one was already on his way home while another turned back at 11.00. So, five completed the club run to the Fork in Hoe cafe, following a route that included a south easterly detour round by Ringland and Weston Green. The bunch enjoyed a comfortable refreshment break on the verandah before pushing the rising headwind home via Gressenhall, Bilney, Brisley, Great Heath, Guist, Wood Norton and Guestwick (where Neil Mc headed for home from the top of Skitfield Lane). The remaining four then stuck to a lot of very minor lanes in order to avoid over-familiarity.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Harvey; Chris; Brian + Jim out for a short one.

Distances: 45 miles to 80 miles.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1980227?units=km

Two Wheelers met at PC for a ride to the Three Swallows Clay on a very hot mid summer day. The route took us through Gresham, Sustead, Aldborough, Itteringham, Corpusty, Hidelveston, Fulmodeston, Barney, Hindringham, Binham, Langham and Wiveton. We enjoyed a good meal at the pub which has been recently renovated although there was a long wait for the food. After lunch we made our way back to PC via. Kelling and up to High Kelling, were we decided to shorten the route as by then it was very hot.

PC to PC 42 miles

Average speed 14.7 mph           Total Elevation 1400 ft

Graham A and Andrew B leading.

Brian, Chris, Mark, Neil S and Harvey left Pretty Corner to collect Neil Mc at Ingworth church. So it was a bunch of six that set off south assisted by a freshening and pleasantly cool north westerly as far as Horning and Ludham before turning into the stiff wind over How Hill, through Catfield, skirting Lessingham and over Hill 60 to the Lighthouse Inn at Walcott, where Malcolm was waiting after his ride up from St. Olave’s via the ferry. The service and the food at the Lighthouse were up to their usual high standard. With 41 miles covered on the outward leg, it was an easy afternoon of 21 miles back to PC by way of Bacton church, Edingthorpe, Knapton, Trunch, the two Repps and Metton.

One puncture: a big bleb in the tube, but no sign of damage to the Gatorskin tyre.

Distances: 66 miles to 77 miles.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1975995?units=km

Three Wheelers and holiday guest Ben met at PC on a hot and humid morning for the long and hilly ride out to Great Bircham Mill café.
Fortunately the forecast clouds soon rolled in and provided a break from the intense sun and the strong south westerly provided a cooling breeze at the same time as increasing the workload as we headed mainly west.
Our route out took us along the inner coast road through Wiveton, Langham, Binham, Wighton, Burnham Thorpe and to Burnham Market.
From Burnham we used the quiet though direct Docking Road to climb up to Docking, the highest point in North West Norfolk and then got to enjoy the long descent down to Fring, well three of us did, Graham A managed to get a rear puncture (Vittoria Rubino), near the top which delayed his progress.
After a good 35 miles we all arrived at the café and sat outside under a shady canopy. Our visit coincided with feeding time for all the local wasps and they were particularly keen on Grahams huge iced bun, armed with two fly swatters he bravely battled away and was finally able to eat more of the bun than the wasps did.
After this minor victory, it was time to head for home, now with the wind in our favour and it made a huge difference in the effort required compared to the morning leg.
This leg took us to Syderstone, South Creake (through the shallow ford), Houghton St Giles (through the not so shallow ford, one wet foot), Great Snoring, Gunthorpe, Hunworth, Edgefield and the regular way back to PC.

PC to PC was a hilly 66 miles with 3051ft/930m of climbing at an average speed of 14.5mph
Andrew B, Graham A, guest Ben and Mark leading.

The club run to Jane’s Coffee Corner attracted seven riders, including new man Richard from Iceni Velo. The route to the Raynhams and the Rudhams rode into and through a band of light rain approaching from the south west. This recently rare meteorological phenomenon had passed over by 11.50 however, allowing the Wheelers to sit out in the open facing East Rudham village green. The return trip went via Whissonsett, Gateley, Bintree watermill, Foulsham, Guestwick (from where Neil Mc turned for home) and Tyby (from where Jim headed for home) before diving into some of the little known lanes in the Wood Dalling Triangle, en route to Corpusty and then directly back to Red Barn Lane for the main split. A half mile stretch of verges, hedges and trees along both sides of Heydon Road, between Cropton Hall and the shooting range, had been burned dramatically by wildfire during the recent tinder box conditions.

Group: Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Richard.

Distances: 57 miles to 78 miles.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1974761?units=km

Three Wheelers met at PC for the inaugural run to the Artisan Café at Alby. For a change we went through Felbrigg park, down to Cromer Zoo and through many residential roads to get onto the hill, first up then down to Northrepps. From there it was Trunch, Bradfield, across the A149 to Colby Corner and on to Erpingham, Thwaite Common and up a small track to Alby Craft’s car park.
We were able to get a shaded outside table in the courtyard and were quickly served some great tasting food and coffee from an impressive selection of meals and cakes.
Suitable rested and refreshed we headed south via Ingworth to Blickling park and rode half way around the park perimeter on a fairly new cycle and walkway track and in many places it was smoother than the local roads!
We joined the road again at Itteringham Common and at Itteringham, Duncan headed for Corpusty via Mannington, leaving two to continue via Wickmere and Matlaske Wood to Bodham Hill for the final split.

PC to PC was 48 miles including two National Trust parks, some light gravel and 2116ft/645m of climbs.
Andrew B, Duncan S and Mark leading.

Two regulars were away, but nine still turned out for the club run to Holkham Courtyard Cafe. The outward route followed the undulations across the heaths and Wiveton Downs, Cockthorpe Common, various detours to Great Walsingham, the long climb up Bunker’s Hill, Whin Hill, Chantry Hill and the long descent through the Holkham estate, where the bunch sat out in the courtyard for refreshments. It was reported that former NNW member Tom Coke (aka Earl of Leicester) is still cycling. Back to base was by way of Wells, Wighton, Copy’s Green, Hindringham, Gunthorpe, Sharrington, Little Thornage, the Glandford ford and the long pull up Rectory Road from Cley Green.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Harvey; Graham J; Graham A; Chris S; Ben; Andrew.

Distances: 62 miles to 79 miles.

Over 3,000 feet of climbing (basic route), which is well above average for a NNW club run.

https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1970147?units=km