Club Runs

Eleven headed towards Itteringham on a cool and initially wet Wednesday morning to start Robert’s ride to Skeyton.

With most wearing water (or at least wind) proof tops the NNW logo was only just on display; overshoes were worn by some for possibly the first time this year; and there were two diehards in shorts – good for them and just as well the NE wind wasn’t cooler and stronger!

After Itteringham and en route to Cawston Robert announced that today’s run was going to be a straightforward loop on good roads. Good choice Robert! The other Saturday when we were joined by Owen of Cycling Weekly he did ask if we changed our lanes and byway routes after or during bad weather and in the winter months when the road conditions deteriorate. After all it generally means safer riding conditions, less punctures and less time cleaning your bike!

Fortunately the rain didn’t continue today and the bunch arrived at Cawston nicely warmed up. Crossing the B1145 we then followed The Norwich Road as far as Easton way where we paused to reflect on the new Ratcatcher’s Inn. Mixed feelings on its new appearance – it did have a good reputation in the past – we’ll see when it re-opens!

Onward along Haveringland Road, where we said goodbye to John D, into Shorthorn Road and eventually Stratton Strawless. Then Buxton before arriving at The Goat Inn at the same time as a beer delivery – is this what is meant by serendipity! Trevor left us as he had a busy afternoon ahead.

Once inside most of us resisted the temptation of the ales on offer and enjoyed a good lunch before setting off up Long Road. Reaching Church Road we carried straight on to Tuttington and then Banningham where Malcolm left the group and the remaining 8 Wheelers headed in the direction of Ingworth.

From there Calthorpe, Wickmere, Bessingham (at which point Robert lead himself home), Gresham and finally PC.

Thank you to Robert for leading today’s ride.

Alan, Alban, Andrew, John D, John S, Kevin, Malcolm, Robert, Robin, Stephen, Trevor.

PC to PC 40 miles

Just to let you know that in this weeks Cycling Weekly there is four pages on the North Norfolk Wheelers.

Great pictures and write up !

Geoff

 

 

Seven Wheelers met at PC for the run to Reepham.  It was quite windy with a stiff south-westerly blowing – we were headed south-west!  We welcomed visitor Chris from Lincolnshire who last rode with us three years ago.  Shorts were still in evidence, but most plumped for long tights.

Off we set for Bodham and Holt before turning southish for Briston – the wind was now a bit troublesome.  Some delightful lanes then followed for the second half of the outward leg.  Robert punctured under half a mile from the café – he suggested we press on but we stayed to enjoy the show.  However, Robert was actually quite speedy and we were on our way in no time.

The café was really quiet on our arrival so service was swift.  Conversation turned to the as yet unfulfilled aspiration to tackle the Marriot’s Way (not on road bikes!) – next summer perhaps. Trevor joined us at the venue, taking the total of Wheelers out to eight.  With three regulars away, this was a good turn-out.

With the sun breaking through, we set of for PC – the wind now generally behind us.  The average speed shot up.  There were again nice lanes to savour, with the highlight being the section through Heydon Estate.  It was to the north for the return home.  A loop around Baconsthorpe was planned to get the miles close to 40, but this involved turning back into the wind a bit, so it was dropped.

You really can really revel in the Norfolk countryside on a day like this – it looks fantastic in the autumnal sunshine; we do cycle in a fabulous part of the country!

Alban, Chris (from Lincolnshire), David C, John S, Kevin, Robert, Stephen and Trevor.

35 miles PC to PC.

Seven Wheelers met at PC on a cool and breezy morning for Alan’s ride to Binham. Most had wisely chosen either 3/4 or full bib tights but a hardy two were still in shorts.

Red Barn lane into Plum Lane before a right turn taking us to Baconsthorpe followed by Edgefield, Hunworth, Stody and Brinton. Pausing at Gunthorpe for a few minutes Andrew suggested taking the lead as Alan had been taking the full hit of the headwind up to this point. We made our way up to and across the A148 and then Little Walsingham, Wighton and finally Binham. We were looking forward to the warmth of the pub!

The Chequers is now a Community Pub so we’re glad to be able to support it in our small way. The service was efficient and friendly and the food good quality. Stephen left us after a quick refreshment and, after lunch, the six continued on their way bypassing Field Dalling and Bale before arriving at Sharrington.

At Letheringsett we could and, in retrospect, should have joined the A148. Instead we chose to ride the footpath alongside which was strewn with cuttings from the recently trimmed hedgerow. Surely this could only end in tears! Firstly Andrew double punctured (front and rear that is) before we even reached the main road. He was happy for us to carry on without him. Geoff left us at Holt.

Then on the stretch to Hempstead David C punctured, then Alban – both without doubt the result of thorns or other debris picked up on that footpath – Alan and Malcolm carried out a further check of their tyres – at this rate we might run out of inner tubes!

Alban left us at Hempstead and the three pedalled on to Baconsthorpe. Shortly after David C and Malcolm bade farewell to Alan who made his way back to PC and they carried on to Gresham before going their separate ways home.

Thank you to Alan for leading today’s ride.

Alan, Alban, Andrew, David C, Geoff (not our Geoff but a welcome visitor), Malcolm, Stephen

40 miles PC to PC; 50 – 60 miles for some.

With the prospect of a fine dry day nine met at PC for Trevor’s ride to the always popular pub on the Broads at Coltishall.

We started with the familiar route down as far as Barningham Park but then rather than continuing along Church Road we took the Wickmere and Wollerton Roads to Itteringham. Then round the back of Blickling Park to follow the course of The Bure to Ingworth. At this point we parted company with the mighty Bure and indeed with the mighty Robin who had things to do and people to see!

Onwards to Banningham then along Bridge Road and past Colby School on to the B1145 – not for long however before turning right and continuing due south to pass over The Weaver’s Way. The Swanton Abbott Road led us to Scottow Road and then a great route through the lanes to Frankfort, Ashmanhaugh, Belaugh Green and eventually Coltishall. On the way there was a lot of field activity with the potato harvest but with no recent rain the roads were pretty good – a fair bit of hard dried mud and other debris however so we had to take care!

David C met us at the pub having reserved a couple of outside tables. Unfortunately the sun disappeared for a while – but despite that we had a pleasant enough lunch before leaving via St James up to Sco Ruston and the B1150. We missed the left turn into The Hill which would have avoided cycling along the often busy B1150 but with a tailwind and on the whole considerate drivers it wasn’t too bad. Along to Scottow where we turned left to follow the relatively quiet roads to Swanton Abbott and a loop round to Skeyton (well just up the hill from Skeyton). Trevor bade us farewell and Malcolm then lead the group via Back Lane to Tuttington. With the wind behind us the drag up to Banningham was barely noticeable! Malcolm left the group at High Noon Road heading off in the direction of Suffield and home while the remaining 7 Wheelers pedalled the familiar route via Erpingham back to PC.

Thank you to Trevor for leading the ride today.

Alban, Alan, David C, Graham, John S, Malcolm, Robert, Robin, Stephen, Trevor

49 miles PC to PC

With only one waif and stray (no offence Graham!) to collect at PC Geoff arrived at the Banningham pick up point to meet two more Wheelers for Malcolm’s ride to Cart Gap. Although it had been a slightly chilly and damp start to the day the weather was improving rapidly and the four of us were looking forward to it.

Pretty standard Tuttington, Skeyton, Worstead and Briggate before a left turn just after the North Walsham and Dilham Canal into Corner Common Road and then a steady climb with lovely views across towards North Walsham. It is slightly puzzling how you can cross one North Walsham Road to reach another North Walsham Road; however this is what we did turning right and shortly left into Sandy Lane to take us to Bacton Village before descending to the coast road. We cut back inland following the lanes to Ridlington and then straight to Happisburgh and the café stop. About 21 miles from Banningham but all four had put in extra miles to get to the pick up point.

We were joined by Trevor and David C and after good food and friendly service we set off under increasing cloud to retrace our steps (or should that be wheel tracks?) to Ridlington. Then Witton Bridge and back to North Walsham Road! Trevor left us to head off home and the five continued along the lanes to Edingthorpe Street, Paston Green and Trunch. David C bade us farewell.

We reached Lower Street where we met two thirsty cyclists (with a dog in a basket) in search of a pint at the Gunton Arms. We pointed them in the right direction which in fact was the direction in which we were going but having said goodbye to Robin we pedalled ahead of the two thankful cyclists reaching Thorpe Market and then eventually the junction with the A140. Geoff was not with us, had he had a mechanical? Malcolm and Graham waited and then cycled back a short distance until we met him.

“Where’s Robin?” said Geoff.

“He left us at Lower Street”

“Oh that’s alright then, I thought we’d lost him”

Malcolm headed off at Hanworth to leave just the two to make their way back to PC.

David C, Geoff, Graham, Malcolm, Robin and Trevor

56 miles PC to PC; 45 miles B to B

Six Wheelers met Malcolm just down (or should that be up!) the road and the seven cycled as one – well they tried to since Andrew was clearly turbocharged today as he led us onwards to Letheringsett.

Plumstead, Barningham Green and Edgefield came and went in an instant before we paused to catch our breath at the B1354 to continue to Thurning and Swanton Novers. Shortly after SN a shout came from the back – had someone punctured? It turned out to be a loose cleat and despite all efforts the only solution was to remove it completely since the offending bolt was knackered – I think that’s the correct technical term. We carried on. “This feels very weird” exclaimed Robert.

After leaning his bike against a tree during the aforementioned mechanical Kevin had picked up a hitchhiker – a snail had decided that the drive side crank of his bike would be a perfect resting place. Not sure how it would feel after falling off a few miles down the road and then taking a month or so to get back home!

Where were we – oh yes Sharrington and then gourmet style lunches at the café which was all very pleasant.

Robert and Stephen left us, heading for home along the main road, while the remaining five left the A148 asap and pedalled on via Thornage, Hunworth, Stody and Briston (almost) to Edgefield and Baconsthorpe. Andrew and Alban headed NW and home at this point leaving just three to chat for a while at the T-junction reflecting on life, the universe and everything before two went broadly in the direction of PC leaving Malcolm to wend his way home.

Thank you to Andrew for leading the ride today.

Alan, Alban, Andrew, Kevin, Malcolm, Robert and Stephen

42 miles PC to PC (65+ miles for some)

We need two marshalls for the club 18.5m hilly TT on Sunday – 2pm to about 3pm. No previous training required. Meet at Henries next to Splash in Sheringham at about 1.30pm. Please email David Carrier if available, thanks.  shortandcrisp@hotmail.co.uk

Club Run 16 September 2017 to Walsingham Barns

Waiting at Pretty Corner was a new potential club member called Geoff, who lived in Potters Bar and had ridden (like the old club members Geoff), both with Hertfordshire Wheelers and the North Road Cycling Club.

Also, waiting was our latest recruit Alban, not put off by the soaking of the previous week.

The weather forecast for the day was however heavy rain and potential thunderstorms. Neither of these predictions concerned our intrepid trio and they set off to the pick-up point at Itteringham where we met Brian who was back from his epic journey to Spain.

We rode to Mannington Hall and then back ways to the outskirts of Briston where we rode down to Hindoveston and then Kettlestone to past the “oldest church in England” and finally, to the pie café.

After excellent lunch we rode back the standard route going via Hindringham to Sharington to Hempstead and home.

Rain ? what rain ? 

A good days cycling despite the predictions made better because of the two new potential Saturday recruits

Miles 50 for most

Brian, Geoff, Alban, Geoff