Club Runs

As two waited for one more at PC the lonesome rider appeared, struggling slightly with a dodgy freewheel – yes freewheel and not freehub – he was on a retro steel framed bike! We hoped that we could make it to the pick up point at Erpingham and indeed we did via Lower Gresham and Aldborough.

We picked up one more at Erpingham and decided that a bike swap would be a good idea as Brian lives only a short distance away. However the freewheel seemed to be behaving itself so we made our way, led by Malcolm, to the Blickling Road passing through Ingworth on the way. The freewheel gave up again so Brian did the decent thing and told us to carry on and he would “limp” back home.

Our route took us to Silvergate, Oulton Street, Cawston, Eastgate, Buxton, Badersfield, Swanton Abbott and on to a new lunchtime destination (thanks to Geoff for the suggestion). Brian rejoined us and David also turned up for the social gathering before he headed off to Wroxham.

John also had things to do and left early leaving just 3 to complete the return leg; Lyngate, Briggate, Honing, Crostwight, Edingthorpe Street, Paston Green, Knapton and then the B1145 to Swafield and the outskirts of North Walsham (before turning off the by-pass into Lyngate Road).

We followed the back lanes stopping briefly opposite the Antingham Ponds as we seemed to have lost one rider after he had stopped for a call of nature, We soon caught up with each other again and proceeded to Antingham, Suffield and the perimeter of Gunton Park before taking the Hanworth Timber Co shortcut to the A140, crossing to join the road to Aldborough. Brian then took us on a detour on back lanes and there was a split as one rider headed back to PC and home while the other two retraced their tracks to Suffield and home.

Brian, Geoff, John S, Malcolm. David C at the pub

54 miles PC to PC (66 miles max)

Dry roads but plenty of mud to clog up the mudguards!

7 Wheelers met at PC for Robert’s ride to this popular pub.

Conditions were relatively mild and misty/cloudy with barely a westerly and with no rain for several days the roads were pretty good – certainly a contrast to last week.

Robert took a direct route to Itteringham, then up to the Blickling Road before turning off for Oulton Street. Shortly after passing through Cawston one rider announced a deflating front tyre but we made it to The Ratcatcher’s car park before stopping to check things out. More air seemed to do the trick so may be a dodgy valve.

Long straight stretches of road took us through Haveringland and on to Stratton Strawless and Buxton. We were making good time and eventually arrived at our lunchtime venue well before the usual 12.30pm.

The Goat always serves up good value food and today was no exception. Everyone was pleased when Trevor arrived to say hallo and he joined us for a few miles on the return leg. As we left the pub Malcolm suggested avoiding a straight on up Blackhorse Road as the previous day it was covered with hedge trimmings; however, turning left to take us to All Saints Church proved only marginally better as we got stuck behind the hedge trimmer and we had to carefully pick our way through up to the crossroads.

Thereafter it was Tuttington, Banningham and Ingworth, where Malcolm peeled off leaving the group of 6 to make their ways back to PC and beyond via Calthorpe, Wickmere and Matlaske.

Many thanks to Robert and he wins the Gold Star award for leading rides on successive days having led the NVL group on Tuesday!

Alan, Andrew B, Andrew C, Graham, Kevin, Malcolm, Robert, Trevor at the pub!

40 miles PC to PC

We will meet at the Weavers Way Car Park at the old Honing Station (which is closer to Briggate).  We will ride off at 10:30 am as normal.

You will most likely be approaching from North Walsham on the A149.  Take the left turn into Station Road towards Honing.  The turn is signposted Honing and Briggate.  To the right is Worstead.  This is a junction most of you will recognise.  Pass through Briggate and over the small bridge over the North Walsham and Dilham canal.  The car park is about 200m on the left after you have gone over the canal.  It’s easy to spot.  Putting NR28 9QX into your sat. nav. will get you close.

Here’s a Street View image of the entrance.

See you there!

 

 

Words by Geoff – leader for the day

Three out from Pretty Corner rode down to Itteringham Bridge where we were to pick up a fourth rider. We then back-tracked to go via Mannington Hall and then down to Corpusty, where we picked up the back roads to take us towards Briston. Turning off at Sandy Lane we made our way to Hindolveston and then Fulmodeston with a hard push to ride to Kettlestone.

The ride so far had been into a hard head wind but with little flooding or mud and no ice.

An alternative route here would have been to ride down to Stibbard and then to Great Ryburgh and up the hills. However, wiser heads decided against this as we had escaped the worst of the flooding so far and the climb out of Great Ryburgh may have been problematic with mud. Instead, from Kettlestone, we made a quick ride to the Pensthorpe Café which was its usual excellent self – fast service and an extensive menu.

Our route back was via Fakenham roundabouts to Hindringham and then Sharringtom, Briston and then home to Sheringham.

Excellent weather – good tail wind on the return.

Our commiserations and best wishes to club member Mark who was pole axed by ice coming out to join us. Damage to his bike meant that he could not continue and he had to return home.

Riders : Brian, Malcolm, Graham and Geoff ( Mark in spirit )

PC to PC 50 miles

After last week’s first Wednesday Run of the year, this week Andrew B led us on his first run in the “leader’s jersey” to what is becoming a firm favourite for a lunch stop. A couple of days before, Andrew was concerned that the forecast rain could create some serious flooding on his chosen route – and he was about right!

After just a few miles as 8 Wheelers headed southwards from PC a concerned motorist warned of floods ahead but we had already been through two so we nonchalantly rode on.

We passed through Plumstead, Edgefield and Stody and then in fairly quick succession 2 riders punctured. Neither held us up for long and we continued on bypassing Brinton, Sharrington and Bale to Binham. By the way did I mention the floods?

After Binham it was a straightforward route via Copys Green and Great Walsingham to welcome refreshments at the Norton Café.

Mark left us as he had some wiring to inspect so 7 retraced their steps to Great Walsingham and followed the long Walsingham Road to Binham and thereafter Langham. The group was together at this point but split after Malcolm punctured courtesy of two thorns, one of which was refusing to budge and caused a longer stop than he had hoped for. Thanks to Alan for staying back to help out.

Coincidentally our leader had also punctured a bit further up the road. As a result of all this 3 rode on towards home while a group of 4 eventually pedalled on to Wiveton and up to High Kelling. Here came split number 3 with just 3 continuing the gradual climb up to Geoff’s Corner. They went together as far as the junction with Red Barn Lane and the final split as 2 completed the circuit to PC and the other descended to Gresham and homewards.

Many thanks to Andrew for leading today’s ride and we look forward to the next time.

I did mention the floods didn’t I?

This week’s gold star award goes to Alan who, after a considerable lay-off with an ankle injury, has returned to the group and is pedalling like he’s never been away!

Alan, Andrew B, Andrew C, Jane, John S, Kevin, Malcolm, Mark

40 miles PC to PC (60 miles max)

4 Wheelers met at PC to pick up one more at Erpingham for a bright and breezy run to the ever popular Cart Gap Café.

While some roads were drying out there was still plenty of standing water to be found as we made our way via Banningham, Tuttington, Beck Lane, Skeyton, Scottow, Sloley and the lanes to Mill Road, Chapel Road and Smallburgh. Then came Dilham, Honing and East Ruston. After crossing the B1159 we followed more lanes passing by Brumstead and Lessingham reaching the café after some 30 miles from PC.

There to meet us was Geoff. The café was busy but the service efficient and friendly and after a good refuel we left for the return leg,

The route back was Whimpwell Green, Walcott Green, Ridlington Street, Edingthorpe Street, Paston Green, Knapton, Trunch, Lower Street and Thorpe Market. At Hanworth the group split with 2 heading for Aldborough and completing the Erpingham to Erpingham circuit with the remainder pedalling back to PC.

Brian, Geoff, Harvey, Kevin, Malcolm, Scott

45.5 miles Erpingham to Erpingham

55 miles PC to PC

Take a look at the updated club run information and try and join in a ride sometime this year. CLICK  HERE

The inaugural Wednesday Run of 2020, on familiar roads to a familiar location, led by Malcolm, what could possibly go wrong?

Perhaps the weather for a start which was wetter than forecast but not to worry we thought as 7 set off from PC. However it wasn’t long (less than 1/4 mile) before the group was brought to a halt after one rider experienced an alarming shimmy from the front end of his bike. Unfortunately he had to return to PC but fortunately his car was parked there.

So 6 followed a straight path to Itteringham and thereafter Ingworth, Aylsham, and Tuttington. We soon joined the Skeyton Road and expected a smooth run up to North Walsham but the puncture gremlins struck twice and delayed us by 20 minutes or more. A quick courtesy call to the café was required but back on the road we passed through North Walsham and on to White Horse Common and Ebridge Mill. Shortly after, with Malcolm pressing on, a call went out that Stephen and Andrew were well off the back – another mechanical!  The foursome was told to carry on and they arrived at the café to be met by Alan who was on another bike and wondering where we had got to! No sign of Andrew or Stephen during lunch so they must have headed back home after all.

The weather had cleared up quite well and the group of 5 followed a direct route back towards PC via Bacton, Edingthorpe, Paston Green, Knapton, Trunch, Bradfield, Lower Street, Thorpe Market and Hanworth, where there was a two way split as one half returned to PC and the other towards Thurgarton and thereafter the coast for one and North Walsham the other.

In spite of the incidents it was a good ride out and a quick update on Andrew and Stephen who did indeed head back but both arrived home safely sharing out their meagre rations on the way!

We’ve yet to hear the final outcome of Alan’s earlier mechanical but the favourite (if not at all desirable) is that the fork steerer had started to detach itself from the blades – just as well that the failure occurred at low speed!

Alan, Andrew C, Jane, John S, Kevin, Malcolm, Stephen

45.5 miles PC to PC

Several riders exceeded 60 miles today but the gold star award goes to Jane.

Malcolm’s Annual Report

Total of 49 Runs (3 runs cancelled, 2 due to unsafe conditions, 1 due to Christmas Day)

Total of 360 appearances (including guest riders)

Largest group 14

Smallest group 3

Total mileage PC to PC 2145

Average mileage per run approximately 44 miles

19 different venues (11 pubs and 8 cafes – must find some new cafes!)

The mileage covered by individuals both on particular runs and in total over the year did of course vary.

Some of the Wednesday group also rode with the Saturday group which in one case at least increased his NNWCC mileage over the year substantially!

While not an exact science the above gives a good picture of the last year but what can’t be measured is the enjoyment of being out on your bike and of being with a great bunch of people; hopefully this was conveyed to some extent in the weekly reports.

Many thanks again to all who helped to make the Wednesday Club Runs a success and in particular to those who lead rides and guided us around the lanes and byways of North Norfolk. Here’s to another great year in 2020!

5 Wheelers met at PC for the last Wednesday Club Run of the year! John S promised us an intriguing (or was that an interesting) route to the village with a railway line but no station but happily with a decent pub. While most roads were fairly dry, some lanes were at their wettest worst which we were about to discover.

Descending gradually from the Cromer Ridge we eventually reached Barningham and then pedalled south-eastwards taking in (the outskirts of) Aldborough and Alby; then across the A140 and the shortcut to White Post Road. As we were passing Gunton Park Geoff became totally disengaged (no not a senior moment!) as his bike’s freehub packed up! He resigned himself to a walk home* and told us to carry on.

Turning right off White Post Road we hit the first of the seriously wet lanes but it wasn’t long before we reached Colby, although Malcolm held things up a bit being his normal cautious self through the mud and floods! After a brief foray on the B1145 we continued the theme by following a route through to Beck Lane and thereafter drier land at All Saints Church, Skeyton. Swanton Abbott, Sloley and more back (Beck!!) lanes took us to our lunchtime destination.

The menu is quite varied at the Horse and Groom and we enjoyed a pleasant lunch before setting off on the return leg. This was a more familiar route as we passed through Scottow, Swanton Abbott, Skeyton, Tuttington and up to Banningham where Malcolm left the group to head to Felmingham and home while the trio returned to PC via Ingworth, Wickmere and Matlaske.

Many thanks to John for leading today’s run. Bike cleaning duties for all today!

41 miles PC to PC (with Andrew C winning gold stars for mileage covered and muddy clothes!)

Andrew B, Andrew C, Geoff, John S, Malcolm

* Geoff had been walking for 20 minutes or so when a passing motorist stopped and offered him (and his bike) a lift home. It turned out that the good Samaritan lives only a couple of doors away from fellow Wheeler Kevin and is himself a keen off-roader!