Club Runs

Alternative options were offered to try to avoid the worst of the approaching weather, but, in the event, the four Wheelers who met at Pretty Corner opted for the original plan to ride to Jane’s at East Rudham. So Brian, Mark, Jim and Harvey set out in overcast conditions and a rising south easterly by way of Salthouse Heath, Wiveton, Letheringsett, Thornage, Sharrington, Bale, Hindringham, Great Snoring, Thorpland Hall, Fakenham Town, Dunton and Broomsthorpe to the pleasantly located cafe on the village green at Rudham. The forecast rain started at 12.55 while we were in the cafe. The direction of travel of both the weather front and the riders dictated that persistent precipitation pursued the bunch all the way home. The return route took in the Raynhams, Colkirk, Ryburgh, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Hindolveston (where Jim turned for home in Melton), Craymere, Briston and the frequently ridden roads back towards Bodham Hill and West Beckham.

Distances: 65 miles to 76 miles.

On a more general (and optimistic?) note, perhaps circulated route files ARE the answer to the club run problem of trying to accommodate different levels of fitness, an ageing group and newer, Strava-driven members, who can maintain the longer-term vitality of this element of NNW activity. Obviously this would require more people making a bit of an effort to utilise this facility, which doesn’t necessarily require loading to Garmin. It has already been shown this year that these route files do give more freedom to club run participants.

Three Wheelers met at PC on a sunny but breezy day, which in contrast to the previous week felt very autumnal. The route to took us through Baconsthorpe, Edgfield, Briston, Melton Constable, Hindolveston, Fulmodeston, Braney and Thursford Green. We then diverted from the normal route to Walsingham, through Little Snoring and Great Snoring on the old airfield road. At the café we were joined by Jane who had cycled separately. It had been determined beforehand that the café was only open for takeways, on Wednesdays, however, we were allowed to eat this outside and we enjoyed an excellent lunch despite the cold wind. After lunch we made our way back via. Binham, Bale, Gunthorpe, Brinton, Hunworth, Edgefield, Aldborough and Sustead, were Graham left us to make his own way home. The two remaining riders split at Gresham to go their separate ways too. Overall, a good ride despite the strong wind with the rain just about holding off.

PC to PC was 50 miles

Average 14.1 mph and accent/decent 2,100ft

Mark, Graham A and Jane, led by Andrew B

Generally the cafe at Lyng Stores is too small to cater for a weekend club run as well as the locals out for their Saturday treat, so hitherto we have used it only on wet winter Saturdays when only 1,2 or 3 riders were out. However, with at least seven of the regular bunch committed elsewhere, an elite trio of Wheelers took the opportunity to enjoy good food and drink at what certain North Norfolk Wheelers like to refer to as “reasonable prices”. It is also worth noting that Lyng Stores has recently installed several more outside tables and chairs.

Today’s route was a little shorter than normal, travelling directly to Cawston, then Haveringland church, Swannington, Attlebridge, the marl pit climb, the long scenic descent to Ringland, Weston Green, Collin Green and the steep descent of Cadder’s Hill to the cafe. After the break it was follow the Wensum by way of Fustyweed and Bylaugh before climbing over the ridge to Billingford and home via Foulsham, Odessa, Wood Dalling, detouring round the back of Briston past Rookery Farm and Growle Abbey to a conventional last few miles through Baconsthorpe to Bodham Hill and Red Barn Lane.

Mark, Graham J and Harvey enjoyed good autumnal weather for a brisk run out.

Distances: 59 miles to 75 miles.

Four Wheelers met at PC on a fine late summer day. We were also joined briefly on the ride by Ian a former regular, who came along to say hello. He told us that he started riding with the wheelers over 40 years ago! The route to Banningham took us to West Beckham, Bodham, Baconsthorpe, Hemstead, Edgfield, Briston, Corputsy, Itteringham and Ingworth. Although the roads were mainly dry, some of the lanes were sandy/gritty which made for some cautious riding. On arrival at the pub we found a table outside in the shade and enjoyed an excellent lunch with local ales. The route back was straightforward, going via. Colby, Hanworth, Sustead, and Gresham. Robert left near the end of the route to make his way home. Overall a good days cycling in fine weather.

PC to PC was 37 miles

Andrew B, Andrew C and Mark, led by Robert

Andrew B, Ben, Geoff, Harvey, Mark and Neil rode the run to Walsingham on a lovely late summer’s day with warm sun and a fresh south easterly. It was pretty much straight out west parallel to the coast as far as North Creake in the morning, before climbing back over to Walsingham for the refreshment break in the courtyard of the Norton. There were some testing little climbs on the way back too, including the lumpy bits through the Barshams and over to the Snorings, then over the airfield to Thursford, through the hole in the hedge (HitH) to Barney, into the wind down to Stibbard, finally working back round to pick up a lot of tailwind by way of Nethergate, Craymere, Briston, the Pond Hills undulations, Hempstead and Baconsthorpe.

Geoff managed to survive an unprovoked attack by a chicken on the light railway bridge at Wighton.

Distances: 63 miles to 80 miles.

Observation (over a period of time): – as things stand, and being realistic, the regular bunch is becoming less and less capable of completing Saturday’s 60 odd milers at a decent pace and still being back in Sheringham at a reasonable time. One of the objectives of advertised club runs has always been to attract new members to NNW. Inevitably some of the old stalwarts pass on for various reasons and some are replaced by new people. However, much more significant numbers of people make enquiries, turn up for a couple of weeks and then vanish without trace. Why? Obviously because they don’t like what is on offer. It might be sensible to re-badge what is currently on offer. This could be along the lines of fit and very fit veterans group (VC Vetus Velox), but all ages welcome and downloadable route files available for those who want to push on a bit. A veterans group would also be less tied to Saturdays and the evidently increasing problems with cafes at weekends. Friday might prove to be a better option, although a couple of the younger members (Ben and Scott?) might justifiably protest. Given the size of the Strava group on the NNW website, it always seems surprising that there is no demand for a younger, more dynamic Strava–driven group, more suitable to 21st century cycling boomers.

Four Wheelers met at PC on a surprisingly good day, considering the previous day’s unrelenting rain and the North Westerly wind was warm and had dried the roads completely. The first leg of this longer than normal ride was into the wind, through High Kelling and onto Wiveton, but then we turned South West to Langham, Binham, the Walsinghams to North Barsham. From North Barsham, Waterden to South Creake, uphill to Syderstone across the B1454 Docking road and down to East Rudham and Jane’s Café at exactly 30 miles. Here we found that the tables on the green had been removed for the winter but one was available outside the café and with an umbrella to shade us from the sun! The food and service was up to the usual high standard and once refreshed we set off for home. We initially stayed south of the A148, on the lanes through Broomsthorpe and Shereford to Sculthorpe Mill where we crossed the Wensum and then across the A148 to West and East Barsham and up the hill to Great Snoring. At Thursford, Jane headed North to Blakeney, with the rest heading East to Gunthorpe, Brinton, Stody and Hunworth, where Andrew headed home for an appointment with the dentist. That left just two to enjoy the climb up to Edgefield, then the run to Baconsthorpe, West Beckham and back to PC for a total of 60 miles.

Some route stats – We climbed 2785 ft/850m, descended 2785 ft/850m, 40% of the route was uphill, 40% was downhill and 20% flat.  If the uphill and downhill cancel themselves out, then 100% of the route was flat, see Norfolk is flat! Our ride time from PC to Jane’s was 2hrs 4mins with an average speed of 14.5mph, the return leg was 2hrs 12min with an average of 13.6mph, so cake does slow you down.

PC to PC was 60 miles

Graham A, Andrew B and Jane, led by Mark

Six North Norfolk Wheelers met at Pretty Corner for this week’s run to the Rose and Crown at Frettenham, which is a leading contender for the most comfortable refreshment break venue. Today was a good opportunity to combine a lot of familiar and less familiar lanes in unfamiliar fashion. It was fairly conventional to Briston and Craymere, but then deviating to Burnthouse and Thurning, clipping through the edge of Reepham before turning east through Booton, along Allison Street to Brampton and Buxton, then south to Little Hautbois and south west over medieval Mayton bridge and the narrow lanes into Frettenham. The fare was any combination of sausage roll with Bakewell Tart, chocolate cake or fruit scone, although, to be fair, the sausage rolls came in four different varieties. After a fairly short, but comfortable break, it was a more easterly route back to the north coast, by way of Heggatt Hall, Coltishall, Belaugh Green, Tunstead church, Sloley, the Norfolk dual carriageway, Swanton Hill, Skeyton Corner, Felmingham, Colby, Thwaite Common, Alby Hill, Bessingham and a split at Gresham. The group managed to avoid various stormy looking cloud formations, which deposited a lot of water in the Thwaite and Aldborough area, while enjoying the bonus of quite a lot of unexpected sunshine in the final miles.

Group: Ben; Graham A; Graham J; Geoff; Harvey; Neil.

Distances: 66 miles to 79 miles.

One chute – Graham J (unavoidable emergency change of direction on gritty Church Lane, Frettenham – bruised left forearm).

Seven riders met at Honing Station car park on a glorious summers day for this special ride led by John, including Danny a holiday visitor from Sheffield. Most had driven there, but Mark and Graham had both cycled from Cromer. The route to the Horning ferry took us through Dilham, Smallburgh and Neatishead. At the ferry we met Jane who had also cycled from home, and the bikes were loaded up for the short crossing. On the other bank we met Malcolm who had cycled from his new home on the Broads. We then all made our way to the Ferry Inn via. Ranworth, South Walsham, Pilson Green, Acle, Moulton St Mary and Freethorpe. We all enjoyed a good lunch and refreshments at the Inn on the terrace overlooking the river. 

After lunch Malcolm and Jane took the Reedham ferry, the latter to continue her short touring holiday. The rest us made our way back through Limpenhoe, Strumpshaw, Blofield, Pedham, Woodbastwick, Wroxam, Hoveton, Ashmanhaugh, Sloley and Worstead. Mark and Graham spilt of on route to ride home, a long day in the saddle for them! Although, the pace slowed a little as the heat began to take a toll, all the rest made it safely back. Overall a great ride.

Total distance was 51 miles

Andrew B, Mark, Graham A, Dave, Robert, Andrew C, Jane A, Malcolm led by John S.

With Brian unfortunately stricken with CFS, Graham riding audax in South Norfolk and Suffolk and various others either working or injured, it was assumed that today’s bunch would be a small one for the run down to Tabnabs. In the event however, eight riders met at Pretty Corner, including Andrew B, who had decided that today was as good a day as any to sample a weekend club run. The situation was complicated further when it transpired that Ben, Matty and Neil had to be back early, so eventually it was a bunch of five who made it to the refreshment stop. The biggest shock of the day was caused by the golden orb in the sky putting in several appearances. For a number of reasons, the group of eight and then five became split even more than usual today. The south bound route took in Corpusty, Themelthorpe, Foxley, Elsing, Dereham Town FC, Clint Green and Brakefield Green. The food at Tabnabs is still the best, but has become much more difficult to acquire than in former days. The return leg was more direct, travelling by way of North Tuddenham, Peaseland Green, Primrose Green, Collin Green, Attlebridge, Swannington Upgate and points north to Cawston, Itteringham, Bodham Hill and West Beckham, although with a few small detours thrown in for variety.

Bunch: Mark; Harvey; Graham J; Geoff; Andrew B to the cafe. Neil; Matty; Ben on a shorter day out.

Distances: 62 miles to 75 miles.

One puncture: – rear Michelin Pro 4 (tiny sliver of flint).

Three riders, led by Graham A, set off southwards from Pretty Corner with a light following wind and a promise of patchy light rain. The route was mainly on country lanes passing through villages such as Baconsthorpe, Hempstead, Edgefield and Guestwick before reaching the Wensum valley at Mill Street having avoided riding  on the A1067 at Foxley and Bawdeswell. The Tea Post at North Elmham was quickly reached via Worthing and the group was soon enjoying the tastiest of coffee and home cooked food. 

The return route was on some unfamiliar roads and included the villages of Gateley, Gt Ryburgh, Stibbard, Wood Norton and Briston. Any drizzle was not enough to warrant putting on a waterproof and the ride was an uneventful but pleasing 51 miles.

PC to PC was 51 miles

Andrew B and Mark, led by Graham A.