Club Runs

Club Run on the 1 June 2016 to The Queens Head at Foulsham

GP was late in arriving at Pretty Corner due to the need to change bikes from Summer to Winter mode. He assumed that the club run was well and truly underway and decided to continue on in the hope of meeting them near the lunch stop. He rode down to Briston on roads near to impassable. Also, a torrential downpour forced him to seek abject shelter under a tree which actually afforded him little protection. Further on he encountered fallen trees and more flooded roads but still no sign of the club run.

Over the Beck at Briston and then along to Hindolveston with the roads more like rivers than rivers themselves he continued. Soon it was turn left and head down for Foulsham.

With thoughts of bowls of hot soup and copious flagons of tea his spirit rose. In Foulsham he met up with kindred spirit Trevor Neild who broke the bad news that the pub was closed. Trevor had manage to enter the pub and found one painter and three barking dogs but no food or drink. Like a sketch out of Basil Faulty – its Wednesday so the pub is shut.

We decided to now try our luck at the Royal Oak which was opened especially for us. However, there was no food but the landlord did kindly make tea for us at no charge. He also gave an interesting account of running a pub including wakes, vapour parties and other such initiatives.

Time however did not allow us to reflect on such interesting subjects and we rode back to Foulsham and the spar shop where a cup of instant soup could be purchased.

Then it was homeward bound with Trevor off to Reepham and GP off to Field Dalling.

No sight was made of the club run who may have entered the Bermuda Triangle of North Norfolk.

In all a miserable days ride but good to meet up with Trevor and the homeward bound run was better than the outward ride.

Packed lunch next time we enter this area.

Conditions: Cold, heavy rain most of the way with flooding in many places.

PC to PC 42 miles.

Role of Honour and GOLD merit award: Trevor and Geoff

And From the Official Club Run: “The official” ride was barely better in fact worse due to two punctures on the way out.
Our new member Sue on a heavy old bike had a tough baptism (literally with the heavens open). She however is persistent and completed the ride.
I am told that there is no such thing as bad weather just bad clothing! The 1st June proved the exception to that statement.
Oddly though there was a sort of grim sense of satisfaction justifying double cake rations on returning home.

 

Chris Knowles has asked me to inform you that due to the continuing bad weather and poor visibility tonight’s time trial event at Thursford has been cancelled.

Thank you

Geoff

Club Run on the 25 May 2016 to The Black Lion at Walshingham

Five club members met at Pretty Corner for our ride to The Black Lion at Walsingham. The weather was anything but conducive to a long hard slog on minor roads so a shorter version on a more direct route was taken. The BBC weather forecast (seaweed) indicated that all would be well after 10.00am. This forecast proved to be as helpful to the riders as a third ear is to an elephant.

Leaving PC we rode to Kelling Heath, Langford, The Dome, Binham to Walsingham and then the pub. With the rain still descending we were grateful to find a large fire waiting for us as well as excellent food and service.

After lunch and suitable dried out, we rode homeward going via Hindringham, Bale, Sharrington, Hempstead, Baconsthorpe, West Beckham and finally home.

My thanks to those hard riders who braved the elements and made poor conditions irrelevant.

 

Conditions: Cold, light rain most of the way with a moderate cold wind.

PC to PC 41 miles.

 

Role of Honour: John S, Andrew, Alan, Kevin and Geoff

Club Run on the 21 May 2016 to The Peacocks Teashop at Hoe

Two club members met at Pretty Corner for our ride to the Peacocks Tearoom which is situate just out of Hoe.

At our pick up point in Reepham another club member greeted us and so off we set at a cracking pace despite a strong headwind in our face for most of the outward ride. Our journey took us to Whitwell – going past the station – then Sparham to Bylaugh ( how do you pronounce it ?) and then Robertson Barracks. Here, there were signs warning of “marching troops” but in reality the only marching was of three bikes going flat out for a well-deserved lunch.

For those who have not been to the café it is a real gem.

After lunch we had the added incentive of a strong tailwind most of the way home. Our route now was Hoe church to Woodgate and then Peaseland Green, Collin Green to Attlebridge, Swannington Upgate, Haveringland and finally Cawston (passed the disappearing Rat Catchers) to Itteringham and home

An excellent days riding – fast on the outward bound and even faster on the return.

 

Conditions: Stiff headwind out, strong tailwind home. 

PC to PC 61 miles.

 

Role of Honour: Harvey, Geoff and Malcolm (and still room for a few more riders)

Don’t you just love it when something works out really well.  And so it was with to-day’s ride.  4 Wheelers true met at PC to follow Robert to Mundesley.  Robert had planned the route the night before but it didn’t quite work out as planned which was great – new lanes!  It was basically Aldborough, Erpingham, Colby, Felmingham before turning north to take in Bradfield and Trunch before arriving in Mundesley.  This sounds traditional, but an unorthodox left after the junction between Red Barn Lane and Mill Rd. set the tone for the ride – lots of little unusual twists.

The Corner Cafe at Mundesley is always nice to visit but we usually do so when wringing wet – how nice that the showers which we saw falling around the area left us completely alone.  Malcolm met us at the cafe and joined us for a bit of the ride home.

The route back to PC was straightforward except for the “zig-zags” dialled in by Robert – there was no danger of being torpedoed by enemy submarines!  And we were using little-trodden lanes.

Alan punctured loudly as we approached Gresham – this was notable for the “ever so impressive” use of a gas canister inflator.

The weather was good but a tad windy and we got a slight dusting of rain as we approached PC. Still – we expected a dousing.

A super ride.  Many thanks, Robert.

5 out.  37 miles PC to PC. 1 puncture (impressively dealt with).

Club Run on the 14 May 2016 to The Olive Branch at Tunstead – Leader Geoff Poulter

Riding up to Pretty Corner GP found only one person – Charlie from the Cotswold Cycle Club – ready to join him. We rode directly to Banningham where we were greeted by Robin Rush. A discussion then followed on the length of the route to take. This was curtailed slightly from the planned one due to the persistent cold wind that showed no sign of abating.  

Our way out was Tuttington, Skeyton, Swanton Abbott, to Worstead and then Briggate, Honing , Dilham Church, Dilham, Anchor Street and then back lanes to Tunstead.

At the café we were joined by Malcolm. 

Food was good as usual at this cyclists café and our visitor was suitable impressed at the cycling memorabilia on display as well as the bikes for sale at the end of the café.Break over. It was now a hard slog into a bitter NNW wind all the way home which was via the only dual carriage way in Norfolk then Tuttington, Banningham and finally Sheringham.

Our guest thanked us for our hospitality and commented that this was one of the most scenic rides he had been on.  

We hope he will join us again for a further excursion into deepest Norfolk !. 

Conditions: hard and bitter cold wind – not much fun on the way out and certainly not much fun back. 

50 miles

Role of Honour: Robin, Charlie, Geoff and Malcolm – at café.

Update from David Carrier who asked me to share this with you:
No operation, but standard procedure for such spinal cord bruising is 2-3 weeks lying flat straight on a very hard bed. At times it’s been absolute agony and completely degrading. That’s over now and I’m pain free. Rehab has started. Never lost any feeling in my legs, although I landed heavily on the left leg pulling all the muscles in the groin, so I’m only just able to put some body weight through it.
Unfortunately, what they don’t tell you is the incredible amount of muscle wastage that occurs when you lie in bed for so long and how the brain stops sending signals to the leg muscles about not only how to stand,but also how to walk! Added to which, standing upright feels like you’re on one of those spinning chairs at the funfair! Astronauts suffer exactly the same symptoms when returning to Earth apparently and they to have to be taught how to walk again.
Sat in a chair 3 days ago for the first time and it was like I’d just run a marathon. Much better today. Can sit in a chair much easier and I’m just starting to be able to put weight through the left leg, plus I went to the toilet without aid for the first time. Even taking a few steps seems to increase muscle tone and it’s almost as if some muscle bulk has reappeared over night!
So we’re on the road to recovery.

Many thanks for the update David – we all wish you well

Club Run on the 11 May 2016 to the Forget Me Not Café at Lenwade. – Leader Alan Fisher

Hard work on preparing a club run always pays dividends. This was certainly true of the club’s Wednesday ride to Lenwade which totalled some 51 miles.

Six club members rallied to Alan’s call for a spirited ride to one of the cheapest cafes in the County.

Leaving Pretty Corner we rode first of all to Little Barningham, then Saxthorpe and then onto Guestwick. On route we picked up John M out for a ride. He decided to join us for a while.

Next it was onto Foxley Wood (land of the blue bells) and then Billingsford. We then rode from Billingsford through the beautiful Bylaugh Park and on to Mill Street then Lyng and finally the café.

Large quantities of sustenance later we were ready for the return leg going via Branston, Cawston, Oulton Street and then finally Itteringham and home.

An excellent ride and thank you Alan. 

Conditions: Brilliant – except for the occasional muddy lane which gave consternation to one club member…….. 

Café: Good and cheap

Min: 51 miles

Role of Honour: John S, John M – part way, Alan, Robert, Kevin, Barry, Malcolm – at café.

 

 

 

Message from Chris Knowles:

Chris Knowles and Geoff Paice  have agreed that providing the weather stays as it currently is tonight’s time trial will go ahead as planned.

They stress however, once again, the importance of competitors having a rear light for increased visibility.

Thank you

 

   We have waited months for a break in the cold wet dismal weather of winter and finally we got it on this Saturday. With summer bikes polished and summer gear on three club members met at the Park and Ride destination of Hempton for a glorious tour of the lanes of West Norfolk. On our travels we were able to see the Wash in the distance as well as view the imposing church spire of Sedgeford. Also, we saw the majestic building of Houghton Hall.

Best of all was however, the number of “new lanes”we were introduced to on this club run.

Our outward journey was via Shereford, Broomsthorpe, Bagthorpe, Stanhoe, Docking, Fring, Inmere, Sedgeford, Fring and finally, Bircham Mill and then the café.

 The pace was good on the outward journey and we were assisted by a reasonable tail wind. Bircham Mill is surely one of the cyclist’s favourite cafes – there is a good selection of food at reasonable prices and the service is hospitable.

The homeward bound route was via Houghton, Weasenham, Lexham, Litcham, Wellingham, the Raynhams, Oxwick and finally, Beacon Hill.

On this leg GP had the misfortune to collect a side slit in his tyre from an evil flint which effected a burst which could possibly be heard in Sheringham. This minor problem was soon rectified by a make do patch (thanks Harvey) and a long pump (thanks Barry).

With no more mishaps it was homeward to Hempton.

A glorious days cycling, quality miles in the legs as a reward. For those who could not make it, sorry this was a real cracker, but take heart, another journey to the West is already being planned.

Conditions: Brilliant

Café: First Class

Min: 59 miles

Max: 97 miles Note: This route also has the options to be considerable shorter if time is short or legs are tired.

Quote from Barry “reckoned it was the best ride he has had in Norfolk”.

Role of Honour: Harvey, Barry and Geoff