Club Runs

As many people know, Brian suffered a nasty crash on the A148 during Tuesday’s ’10’. This was a consequence of a car pulling out in front of him at the staggered crossroads between Station Road and Hempstead Road, Holt, somersaulting rider and bike onto the tarmac. Another driver called the ambulance service, who whizzed Brian off to the N&N, where he was checked for neck and internal injuries, as well as a possible broken knee. Thankfully nothing was broken or seriously damaged. The multiple abrasions, including facial, look very sore, an elbow and knee are very swollen and a finger still looks possibly fractured. Longer term, it might prove to be the damaged knee that will take some time to heal.

Brian would like to thank everyone for the good wishes.

Variable forecasts during this unsettled summer, all blown up by news media hype, restricted today’s bunch to three Wheelers. The scheduled East Rudham run was pushed forward a week and replaced by an impromptu trip to the ever-growing and increasingly popular cafe at Whitwell station. This turned out to be a rather unusual anti-clockwise loop, heading west by way of West Beckham, Bodham and Salthouse Heath as far as Wiveton, before turning south and south east to Letheringsett, Thornage, Burgh Stubbs, Hindolveston, Guestwick Green, Themelthorpe and Whitwell Common to the cafe, where the conversation turned once again to the thorny questions of the nature of cycling club runs and the appropriate format for North Norfolk Wheelers club runs?

Conditions: – Following sustained breakfast time rain and warnings of more to come, the morning weather proved to be fair and breezy with sunny spells developing. These pleasant conditions were rudely interrupted at about 1.50 by a stormy cloudburst in the vicinity of Blackwater Equestrian Centre and Great Witchingham. However, despite towering anvil clouds to the south and south east, the bunch were able to remove their rain jackets by Brandiston. The bad weather continued to move towards Norwich and the Broads.

The return route travelled south for a bit before looping east to the Witchinghams, Brandiston, Buxton, Brampton, then heading for home through Tuttington, Banningham, Ingworth, Dark Lane, Wickmere, Thurgarton, Sustead church, Lower Gresham and a three way split at Gresham church, where the Wheelers talked for a while to a former Clarence Wheeler and Herne Hill trackman who used to ride a Flying Scot from Rattrays of Glasgow.

Both the grizzled ultra-veteran Brian and the former Birmingham cyclo-cross man Neil, who is approaching retirement age but still working fifty hours a week as a joiner and handyman, were going like trains today.

Bunch: Brian; Neil; Harvey.

Distances: 60 to 71 miles.

There were four riders who followed Graham’s route to North Elmham, his first ride as leader. There were two guest riders, Dave from Cambridge and Phil from Holt. All enjoyed a dry ride on a stormy day. At Stibbard there were a few spots of rain forcing us to don waterproofs but by the time we got them on there was nothing to worry about. There was a gusty head wind but there was plenty of shelter. Phil punctured at North Elmham pound.  The food at The Teapot was well worth the service wait. Phil had to get back to Holt so rode back solo, while the three remaining riders enjoyed a following wind and sunshine all the way back to PC via Foxley, Guestwick and Corpusty. 

PC to PC was 53 miles

Robert, Dave, and Phil, led by Graham A.

Only Geoff, Brian, Neil and Harvey were able to get out for this 100K run calling at Tabnabs cafe, where the food was up to its usual first class standard. The route was by way of Itteringham, Witchingham, Collin Green, Primrose Green, Peaseland Green, Brakefield Green, Clint Green, Etling Green, Sparham, Guestwick and Briston to a three-way split at West Beckham.

Distances: 65 miles to 77 miles.

Two punctures, including a badly split tyre, which was replaced with a spare Michelin Pro 4.

Next week (31/7) we will probably switch to Jane’s at East Rudham, via Sculthorpe watermill. This is for the benefit of someone who wants to do that ride but can’t make the following week (7/8).

Eight Wheelers met at PC on a perfect summer day – warm sunshine and a light breeze.  Eight was a lucky number as this just happened to be the number that Jane had plucked out of the air when booking an outdoor table at the Crown at Banningham (the pub assured us that booking was essential).  The route was a clockwise circuit taking in Baconsthorpe, Edgefield Street, Heydon (where we cycled through the park without disturbing the bull who was lying happily in the shade with his cows), Aylsham and Banningham where we mostly enjoyed a good, though rather slow, lunch.  Unfortunately Stephen had ordered garlic ciabatta which was announced to be unavailable, but not soon enough for him to order an alternative, he made do with some crisps…. The return leg was through Antingham, Trunch, South & North Repps, Metton and Gresham with Chris, Graham A, Robert and Graham (?) all peeling off at various points before getting back to PC.  

PC to PC was 45 miles, the longest trip was about 73 miles (Stephen, on just a bag of crisps!)

Andrew B, Chris, Graham A, Graham J, Kevin, Robert and Stephen, led by Jane A.

Nine Wheelers turned out for this 60 odd miles tour of some of north east Norfolk’s smaller lanes. The bright and breezy conditions were ideal for riding these ‘agricultural’ roads. When riding a route such as this it is always interesting to hear people who have been cycling in the area for twenty years and more remark that they have no idea where they are. I won’t spoil their fun by disclosing where they were, but we did visit Wickmere Lower Street, Great Wood Mausoleum, Meeting House Hill, Hill 60, the Harvey Estate and Sally Bean’s House.

Refuelling was in the beer garden at the Lighthouse Inn.

One slow unauthorised deflation. One strained knee. One rider hearing voices.

One rider from nine made it back to the finish, representing a failure rate of 88.8888%.

Bunch: – Ben; Brian; Chris; Geoff; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Mark; Matty.

Obviously distances varied a lot, but the Mutton lads put in 87 miles. A clear case of Muttons performing like lambs.

Four riders met at PC on an overcast and windy summer’s day. Unfortunately, Robert had to abandon due to mechanical problems before the start. The route to Walcott took us through Matlaske, Calthorpe and then Banningham (to avoid Aylsham town centre), then onto Swanton Abbot, Honing (avoiding John’s house!), finally arriving at the Lighthouse Café at just gone noon having made good progress with the wind behind us.

We decided to sit outside for lunch which in retrospect was a mistake given the cold wind. The British seaside in July! However, it was a good meal and the portions certainly set us up for the trip back!  John S left us a few miles after starting the route back to make his way home. By then it was evident that we would have to battle against a strong head wind all the way back. The remaining two of us made our way back, taking turns on front  through Knapton, Trunch, Southrepps, Northrepps, Metton and Gresham, where we split for our different routes home.

Many thanks to Jane A who provided, and test rode an excellent route but was unable to attend on the day.

PC to PC was 45 miles

John S, Mark and Robert, led by Andrew B.

Seven North Norfolk Wheelers turned out for the 100K crescent-shaped route to Jane’s Coffee Corner. It was good to see Chris B getting back into the swing of things after the trials and tribulations of recent years.

Outward bound went straight to Corpusty, then Wood Dalling, Guestwick, Foulsham, Bintree watermill, Great Heath, Horningtoft, Whissonsett, South and West Raynham to the cafe on the village green at East Rudham. The return face of the crescent was via Broomsthorpe, Helhoughton, Raynham Hall, East Raynham, Colkirk, Ryburgh, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Hindolveston, Briston, Baconsthorpe and Bodham Hill to a parting of the ways at West Beckham.

Apart from a few spots, the weather remained pleasantly cool and dry until close to home where light rain set in for twenty minutes, but the bunch managed to avoid the evident downpour that had soaked the Beckham and Bodham area.

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

Distances: from mid-60s up to 77 miles.

And finally, the answer to Geoff’s East Rudham club run question is ————- Chris Humble.

Six riders met at Pretty Corner for the ride to the ever popular Station Café at Reepham (now open 7days/week). It was good to welcome back Chris B after a long absence, riding his great looking titanium/carbon Merlin. Setting off into a noticeable SSW wind and ominous clouds, the clockwise route via, Gresham, Metton, Hanworth, Calthorpe, Ingworth, Silvergate to Oulton Street, avoided most of the wind.  The run from Oulton Street to Swannington was unable to avoid the breeze, but then we headed west and north through Alderford and the back lanes into Reepham. Despite the lack of sun, the day was warm and we enjoyed our lunch outside. As the Tour was tacking two ascents of Mont Ventoux, Kevin was sporting a Mont Ventoux shirt he got after cycling up it himself, chapeau Kevin.

Jane had met us at the café and joined the ride home, while Chris headed back to Aylsham, which kept the numbers the same. Opting for the less travelled route back to Briston, via Kerdiston and Guestwick, our navigator mistook a goat track for a road, though with the mud, gravel and grass growing down the middle of many back lanes, they can be hard to tell apart, or so he claims! At Briston, John S opted to head directly to PC, reluctantly missing out on the Stody, Hunworth, Edgefield hill climbing section! At Stody, Graham A decided a rest was required and arranged a puncture (Vittoria Rubino Pro for those keeping score at home). Suitably rested we tackled the hill to Edgefield and on to Baconsthorpe, West Beckham and back to PC. 

PC to PC was 48 miles and no showers.

Andrew B, Graham A, Kevin, John S, Chris B, Jane and led by Mark

A combination of unsettled weather and a range of commitments meant that numbers varied and tended to be a little lower than the post-lockdown surge during the April drought.

28/5 – this was the Bruce Memorial Ride. John H joined five of the regulars for a ride that called at Felmingham church for a chat with Heather before following a lot of lanes to the Lighthouse Inn to refuel in the beer garden. With the route file loaded into their Garmins a vanguard of two were well into their pints of Spanish and Belgian beer before the others arrived. The return route headed inland before heading north to Mundesley and the quiet lanes by way of N and S Repps, Sally Bean’s, Metton and Felbrigg.

Ben; Brian; Geoff; Harvey; Malcolm; Mark.

5/6 – Brian was away sailing at a busy Rutland Water, while Ben, Scott and others were committed to work or family, so only four enjoyed a brilliantly varied route via Frettenham and Mayton bridge, calling at Coltishall for large Dollie’s Buns, tea and coffee.

One early puncture in a front Rubino at Lower Gresham.

Mark; Harvey; Graham; Geoff.

12/6 – there were nine at Pretty Corner on a bright and breezy day with a lot of sun and a west north westerly moving northerly – i.e. lovely clear conditions. The route went over the Heaths and the Downs to Cockthorpe Common, Binham, Copy’s Green, Crabbe Castle, Quarles and Egmere before descending back to the Stiffkey valley at Little Walsingham for refreshments on the courtyard. In-bye came via Hindringham, Thursford, Gunthorpe, Pigg’s Grave, a bit of the B1110 to Briningham, then Burgh Parva, Hindolveston, Guestwick, Odessa, Heydon Road, Saxthorpe and the split at Barningham Winter.

Brian; Geoff; Graham A; Graham J; Harvey; Ian; Mark; Neil; Scott covered a range of distances up to 74 miles.

2 ferrets fighting at Lower Bodham. 2 red kites in the South Holkham area, one very close and impressive in the excellent light.

18/6 – Early drizzle and a lot of surface water from Friday’s deluge kept the numbers down. Brian, Mark and Harvey set off for the Rural Life Museum at Gressenhall, following an unconventional route taking in Baconsthorpe, Briston, Thurning, Guestwick, Themelthorpe, Foxley, Bylaugh, Worthing and Gorgate. To the south of Worthing, the trio noticed a cyclist in a gateway fixing an unauthorised deflation. This turned out to be none other than 2019 NNW punctures champion Geoff (“these are good tyres”) P, who joined us for the rest of the trip. The menu at the Mardler’s Rest cafe was temporarily restricted to sandwiches, sausage rolls and scones. The bunch of four headed home in improving weather by way of Beetley, Hoe (pulling into another private drive for GP to fix a second puncture, while another member of the group watered the rhododendrons in the garden free of charge; a more civilised member of the bunch hopped over the adjacent wall into the churchyard to water the nettles). The rest of route was Swanton Morley Eastgate, Elsing, up onto the high ground through Peaseland Green and Primrose Green via the dreaded concrete road (recently patched up with fresh tarmac, which was a nice surprise), the sharp descent to the Wensum, crossing at Lyng, and then the lanes to Witchingham, Furze Lane, Reepham Moor, Salle, Heydon and Itteringham.

Distances up to 72 miles.

2 punctures, front and rear to add to the front deflation suffered by the victim the last time out, on Wednesday.

25/6 – it was a murky start with some drizzle mid morning, but eight Wheelers were out, enjoying improving conditions culminating in good sunny spells.

The group took a fairly direct and reasonably fast route out to the now very popular Dunes Cafe at Waxham Great Barn, thereby avoiding this establishment’s peak. Graham J, Neil and Brian sat outside in the north easterly, while Malcolm, Graham A, Mark, Geoff and Harvey stayed in the cafe. It was a longer and more varied way back, heading inland from Sea Palling to Hickling Heath, Sutton, Stalham, Brumstead and East Ruston Commons, Fox Hill, Crostwight, Edingthorpe Green, Pigney’s Wood, Swafield, Bradfield, Antingham, the Hanworth Timber short cut, Thwaite, Bessingham, Gresham and the final split at Red Barn Lane.

This was Malcolm’s last club run and everyone wished him all the best for a stress-free shift on the 30th.

4/7 – impromptu Sunday run to Reepham. The forecasts for Saturday were generally dire. The reality was little worse than poor, with periodic and localised chances of a soaking. Sunday was far better with a lot of sun and two short showers. Unfortunately, at least three of those who would have been out were otherwise committed. Four met at Gresham church, taking advantage of the well-situated bench to sit in the sun for 10 minutes before departure. It is tempting to switch the meeting point here, especially in summer, although only three can fit on the bench.

Brian, Geoff, Harvey and Neil followed a very impromptu anti-clockwise loop around the lanes, calling at Reepham station for re-victualling out front, where one member made the dubious claim that the hills of Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire are the equivalent of the Buttertubs Pass between Swaledale and Wensleydale. The bunch then climbed over the ridge to the south to descend to cross the Wensum and turn home through Easthaugh to Attlebridge, climbing over to Swannington and back home via Haveringland church, Cawston, Itteringham, Wickmere and Bessingham before a couple of detours round Gresham and West Beckham to enable one rider to complete his 70 miles for the day. He is still recovering from the shock of arriving home to a reading of 69.88 miles on his Cateye!

Geoff; Neil; Brian; Harvey.

On the sharp climb at Easthaugh the bunch caught supercyclist Martin B, testing out his night tourer in preparation for the overnight London-Brighton in mid-July.

Approaching Lower Bodham there was a meeting with Chris B, who had been sharpening his toxophilitic skills at High Kelling. Chris, who was riding a 1980 British Racing Green King of Mercia, is threatening to join a few club runs before too long.