Club Runs

Spring (Summer) appeared to have finally come with a warm sunny day hopefully marking the end of what surely has felt to be one of the longest and most miserable winters on record. Our journey on Saturday was to the Barns at Walsingham which is a particular favourite to the day’s leader and to most of the members.

At Pretty Corner we welcomed the return of Geoff the Younger from Potters Bar. Brian P also grabbed the chance of a few more miles to meet with us at the start. Then, down to Itteringham to pick up Robin, Malcome and David C. It was good to see David out again.

Our route was via Mannington Hall, Corpusty, Horseshoe Lane to near Briston and then down the aptly named Sandy Lane. We then turned towards Hindolveston when, wonder of wonders, we met Trevor and Guy. Excellent foresight on there behalf on the route we would take and the timing. 

Down to Kettlestone, across the main road and then past the round church to Walsingham. Here, we added on an additional loop before descending to the café.

 Excellent food and wonderful service added to the weather made for a perfect day and memories of the harsh winter start to fade.

Homeward bound via Hindringham, Sharrington, Edgefield and home.

 

8 met at PC on a glorious Spring morning for Kevin’s ride to Rackheath. Joining us for a second time was Jane and also Paula both of whom are welcome additions to the Wednesday group and hopefully will become regulars.

The downside of the warm south westerly breeze was that it would be against us for at least some of the outward route but you can’t have it all! We passed through Gresham and Metton and having crossed the A140 to join Topshill Road made our way on the long straight stretch to Thorpe Market. On the way we paused for a tube change after a pinch puncture but the group were happy to stop and chat in the warm sunshine. After Lower Street and Bradfield the narrow twisting lanes took us to Swafield and shortly after, via the B1145 and Little London Road, to the North Walsham Road in the direction of Edingthorpe Green.

We then descended through Bacton Woods and eventually to Honing where we said goodbye to Jane and paused briefly to sort what we thought was a simple mechanical. Kevin’s “loose saddle” turned out to be a broken rail however. What to do but to carry on and hope that both rider and saddle lasted the distance!

The route now took in Dilham, Sloley, and Tunstead, turning right just after the village centre into Tunstead Road, over the railway line and eventually to St James and Coltishall. Already 27 miles since PC – we were building up a good appetite! At Horstead we took a left into Mill Road (where we passed Trevor cycling in the other direction) on to Granny Bard’s Lane and more back lanes before we reached the Wroxham Road and the short sprint to our lunch stop.

While Hill Top is great in cooler/wetter times it is perhaps not the best for alfresco style eating as both the noise and dust from the busy main road is a bit of a pain. Nonetheless we all welcomed our refuel before we set off on the return leg via Swash Lane, retracing our steps along Dobbs Lane and Primrose Lane, before heading towards Frettenham and Buxton where we said goodbye to Peter and Paula.

The 5 remaining Wheelers passed through Oxnead and up to Church Road where we left Robin and on to Tutttington where Malcolm peeled off down Beck Lane towards North Walsham leaving just 3 to make their way to Banningham and a familiar route back to PC and beyond.

Thank you to Kevin for leading today’s ride. Both Kevin and his saddle made it home; he recovered, unfortunately his saddle didn’t and is now confined to the great bike bits scrapyard in the sky (ie the garage) – well you never know there might be a use for it!!!

Alan, Andrew, Jane, Kevin, Malcolm, Paula, Peter and Robin enjoyed the sunshine.

Distances covered varied from 55 miles PC to PC to up to about 65 miles for some.

PS The group wish John S a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him again soon.

 

 

6 Wheelers (plus one soon to become a Wheeler hopefully) met at PC on a very murky morning for Andrew’s run to Salthouse. Foggy conditions bring their own particular hazards so we knew we would need to take a bit more care than usual today!

We passed through Baconsthorpe, Plumstead and Edgefield and just before reaching Briston turned towards Stody, Brinton and Sharrington. The holiday traffic made crossing the A148 slightly tricky but safely across we descended to Binham and Cockthorpe before turning into a headwind to Langham, Glandford and Wiveton.

By now we were all feeling a bit damp (but at least not too cold) and looking forward to the usual good food and hospitality at the Dun Cow. There to meet us was Trevor who had been waiting for some time as our arrival had been delayed by an unfortunate puncture just a few miles from the lunch stop!

Trevor had left earlier for a solo pedal home and on departure, Jane and Peter also left us leaving just 5 to climb up to Wood Lane where we parted with our leader to follow a familiar route back towards PC. Barry left us a couple of miles from Holt and what remained of the original group continued up Bridge Road via High Kelling, over the A148 and eventually to the junction of Mill Lane and Red Barn Lane where Malcolm headed off to Gresham and beyond while Alan and John S dipped, dived and climbed the last couple of miles back to PC.

Not ideal conditions but a great outward route from Andrew and of course good company. Thank you to all.

Alan, Andrew, Barry, Jane, John S, Malcolm, Peter. Trevor (at the pub)

Approx 40 miles PC to PC

As the 7 Wheelers waited for any latecomers before departing PC they wondered just how strong the southerly would be blowing on the outward route to Mundesley. At least there was a good chance of missing any later showers even if there were a few floods here and there from the previous days’ rain!

“It will probably be a bit of a boring route today” Trevor announced. Surely not, a ride out with the Wheelers is never boring!

As we passed through Aldborough and then Erpingham everything was pretty routine and remarkably mud free but on the approach to the A140 crossing we encountered our first flood of the day – not too deep fortunately! On the Banningham to Tuttington stretch we felt the strength of that wind but we escaped into Beck Lane making our way via Skeyton and Swanton Abbott to Worstead and then Briggate. A steady climb eventually took us over the North Walsham Road to Edingthorpe, Bacton, Paston, Paston Street and to our lunch stop at the Corner House Café.

There to meet us with the reserved table all to himself was CJ. The usual diverse mixture of topics fed the banter as we fed ourselves with the good value food on offer. Not wanting to linger too long we were soon back on the bikes and headed in the direction of Trunch. We followed the traditional (but not boring!) route via Bradfield and Lower Street, where we said goodbye to Robin, to Thorpe Market. No help from a tailwind here as the southerly came in from our near sides!

On reaching the A140 Trevor and Malcolm left the main group and took their chances with the traffic and the strong headwind on this busy road and pedalled towards Suffield, then Felmingham and home while the remaining 5 continued on to Hanworth then PC and routes beyond to get them home.

Thanks to Trevor for leading today’s ride.

Alan, Andrew, CJ, John S, Malcolm, Robert, Robin and Trevor

41.5 miles PC to PC (max of around 60 miles for some)

The forecast showers did eventually arrive but later in the afternoon after everyone should have got back home!

With 2 Wheelers sidelined with illness the run to Rackheath had to be postponed. Alan agreed to lead today’s run in what has to be said were less than perfect conditions. So many thanks Alan.

Alan’s Report

Meeting at PC, 7 stalwart riders (5 septuagenarians + 2 younger members) braved the wind and rain for the rearranged ride to Cawston.

We headed down to Gresham, Metton, Hanworth then across the A140 to Thorpe Market and South Repps Common at which point Robert aborted leaving 6 to press on to Bradfield.

By-passing North Walsham we headed down through North Walsham woods towards Skeyton and the Old Goat Inn where Trevor suggested a warm fire might be on offer but we proceeded through Buxton over the A140 again, through Eastgate on to our now desperately needed hot lunch.

However on arrival at All Things Nice it was all things bad. Unfortunately due to staff shortages the cafe was not open!!!!!!! However we were offered hot drinks and pasties – an offer that was gratefully taken up.

Having warmed ourselves up we split up for journeys home. Robin had left us on arrival, Trevor headed east to home, Andrew headed northeast leaving 3 to head towards PC by way of Oulton Street and Itteringham where Brian left eastwards with Geoff and Alan alone for the last leg heading into a cold and very wet northerly wind.

40 miles PC to PC.

Thanks Geoff, Andrew, Robin, Robert, Brian and Trevor for your company.

I’ll try for some sun next time.

First half commentary by John D

Barely 18 hours into Spring 2018 and nine riders assembled at PC in bright sunshine and positively tropical (well in comparison to recent weeks!) weather.

As the ride was destined for the Railway Café at Reepham it seemed appropriate to visit a few of the defunct lines in this part of the county. First however we headed into the wind through West Beckham almost to High Kelling before turning south to our first rail crossing – the old Melton Constable to Corpusty line at Briston. It was then past the church of St Peter at Guestwick by way of Bray’s Lane (remember the pork pies that were once produced near here?) and under the Aylsham to Fakenham and then Norwich to Fakenham lines (now Marriott’s Way). We crossed back under the latter of these near Whitwell Station having descended Nowhere Lane first.

There were several muddy bits and the roads seemed to be showing the ravages of the recent winter weather as we spotted and mostly missed some big potholes. The general feeling was now that we had Reepham pretty much encircled, we should head along Mill Lane and through Booton to the café.

The men dined – excellent service at this busy eaterie – and then, re-fuelled, took the road through Booton where the peloton was left to its own devices to return home.

PC to Lunch; 24 miles, several very large tractors, and 13.4 mph.

Second half commentary by Malcolm

Andrew said goodbye at the café as he was pedalling back directly to the North Coast.

They thought it was all over as the leader announced that he wouldn’t be taking us back to PC. This duty defaulted to Malcolm who was hoping we wouldn’t go into extra time.

As Malcolm lead the group through Booton he was sure that he could hear John D’s voice in conversation with a fellow Wheeler; however his dulcet tones faded away as he carried straight on in Buxton direction as we turned off to Cawston. We also said goodbye to Trevor at this point.

So the 6 pointed their front wheels northwards and passed through Cawston, Itteringham and up to Little Barningham where Brian and Malcolm peeled off towards Erpingham. Graham now became the leader of the group of 4 as they climbed and descended and climbed and descended the short distance back to PC.

Thank you to John D for a sterling performance in the first half and to all who came out on a day which did feel as if it really was the first Spring Club run of the year!

“A game of two halves Jeff!”

“You can’t say fairer than that Chris!”

Alan, Andrew, Brian. Graham, John D, John S, Malcolm, Robert, Trevor.

40 miles PC to PC

 

 

A gusting south easterly was likely to make the going slightly tougher as 6 set out from PC on Malcolm’s ride to Walcott. It was planned to go to Cart Gap but Smallsticks is closed Tues-Thurs like a few other cafés at the moment.

We negotiated a flood just after the Mill Road crossroads and hoped that this wasn’t a sign of things to come and continued on to Matlaske followed by Erpingham, Colby and Banningham. At Tuttington we turned into Beck Lane and even here it was relatively dry!

As we cycled up to Church Road we felt the strength of the wind in our legs but on regrouping adjacent to All Saints Church the leader reassured everyone that it would be easier pedalling to the lunch stop as we wouldn’t be going any further south.

Swanton Abbott, Worstead, Briggate and Honing came and went and as we travelled along Honing Long Lane towards Crostwight it was apparent that it wouldn’t be long before the daffodils opened up. See Club Runs Photo gallery (5th photo down) on the website for how colourful this stretch looks in Spring!

We passed through Ridlington (only slightly flooded) and then, with a good tailwind, sped towards the Café. It was just as well we had reserved a table as this popular venue was packed. CJ’s arrival made 7 but we were all able to squeeze around the table. The good quality and good value refreshments came very quickly and the staff were very friendly and attentive despite the fact that they were extremely busy.

John S headed for home just after departure and the 6 struggled slightly with a strong side wind up the steady drag to Pollard Street and then along to the right turn to Edingthorpe Street.

Paston Green, Knapton, Trunch and then Brewery Lane took us to Bradfield Road where we said goodbye to Trevor. A short distance later at Lower Street we said goodbye to Robin and then just the 4 continued on past Gunton Station to Thorpe Market then across the A140 to Hanworth. Malcolm bade the group farewell at this point and the 3 headed off north to PC and beyond.

Andrew, CJ, John S, Kevin, Malcolm, Robin and Trevor

Just under 50 miles PC to PC although it perhaps felt a bit further!

 

Six hardy souls met at PC for John S’s ride to Woodgate Nursery.  Rain was forecast and we were getting wet right from the off.  Still, the weather was better than it had been of late and riders were chomping at the bit for a run out.  It might have been wiser to take closer note of the (now filthy) snow piled by the side of the road at the start point!

Off we set to West Beckham, but Malcolm was being bothered by a “mechanical”.  This was rooted out and found to be a loose rear brake calliper – fixed by Alan’s allen key. It was remarked that a bit more dirt might help to keep things tight!

We were now wet but pushed on to Edgefield and took the always filthy road at the end of Ramsgate Street towards Wood Dalling.  Snow was still piled high by the side of the lanes and indeed snow was, in places, a hazard we had to avoid.  However, the North Norfolk “glacial run-off” was washing our bikes as we went – result!  Malcolm got detached from the group (probably being extra cautious in the tricky conditions) and took an alternative route to Aylsham via Corpusty, Oulton and Oulton Street.

As the main group approached Cawston, we thought it prudent to ditch the planned route (which involved more small lanes) and take the B1145 to lunch.  And boy, were we glad to get inside.  Pints of water were wrung from our gloves – we really do need to find a truly water-proof option.  Trevor was now really regretting not having worn a water-proof jacket!

We were made very welcome by the Purdy’s Tearoom staff and other customers alike – they might have felt for us!  We dined well and warmed ourselves but, still sporting wet gear, we opted for a direct route home.  Alan led us out of Aylsham to come home via Ingworth, Erpingham and points north.  Malcolm and Trevor left us just after Aylsham and Kevin and Barry headed for their homes just before Gresham.  This left Alan and John S to climb a really mucky Gibbet Lane.

So, not great conditions, but actually, and surprisingly, quite a nice day out!

6 out.  Just a tad under 33 miles PC to PC.

Editor’s Note

Today’s report was written mostly by John S with a few added words by nnrider. The description of the run as being “quite a nice day out” was the reflection of the run leader. Other members of the group had their own words to describe the conditions we experienced!

Anyway many thanks to John a true advocate of the “Just go” spirit.