Club Runs

Club Ride to The Queens Birthday Lane Party – 11 June 2016 

By design, our club run for the 11 June coincided with the Queens official 90^th birthday and the many street parties throughout the land laid on to mark the occasion. The North Norfolk Wheelers celebrated this in fine style with a “Drive and Ride” to Sandringham. For those who have not yet taken advantage of these club runs they are an excellent way of learning new routes on new roads without spending enormous amounts of time getting there. Your mileage can be anything from 60 to over 100 depending on how far you want to ride instead of drive to the start.

For this event, four Wheelers arrived by car at the village car park at Hempstead and one by pedal power for a glorious ride to the Queens estate at Sandringham and perhaps a cake or two if street parties were in full flow.

Our outward ride was via Southmill, Helhoughton, Rudham Grange, Houghton, Anmer, Appleton Water Tower, West Newton, Wolferton and finally the estate of Sandringham.

Sandringham was surprisingly quiet, as it appeared that the Lady was involved in another street party in London and was therefore not available. This suited us fine as we were served quickly at the café and in no time at all we were back on our bikes for the homeward leg which comprised of Vincent Hills, Pott Row, Gayton Thorpe, Litcham Heath, Tittleshall and finally, back to the car park. The homeward leg was slightly longer which was fine as we now had a light tail wind to assist us.

To put it mildly this was “A Great Royal Ride” and enjoyed by all who were able to come.

Hempton to Hempton: 58 miles.

Max: 102 miles.

Weather: Excellent

Roll of Honour: Barry, Ben, Geoff, Scott and Harvey

 

 

 

 

Club Ride to The Rising Sun at Coltishall 4 June 2016 Leader – Dual Act 

With John D unable to lead the club run it fell to Trevor N and Geoff P to improvise a route to the Rising Sun at Coltishall. GP lead the first part of the ride to Banningham and then gleefully pasted over the baton to TN. This was when the ride really started and TN showed his knowledge of the lanes to the benefit of all.

From Banningham we rode left to go to Suffield and then towards Antingham where we turned down the long straight lane to Felmingham. At this point we turned onto the main road to ride round the back of the old airdrome before finally arriving at St James and the pub having by then completed some 28 miles.

At the pub we had the joy of sitting outside by the river and were joined by Maggie and Chris K plus John D making a grand total of nine out.

Time passed too quickly and we were once again on our bikes for the homeward journey. We rode right out of the pub and then left back to St James and then another obscure route round the airfield before going towards Skeyton and then Tuttington, Banningham and minor roads to Sheringham.

Many thanks Trevor for leading the outward ride. It was also good to see our friend Graham back with us from Leicester- always welcome on our club runs.

Roll of Honour: Alan, Chris, Maggie, Geoff, Malcolm, John D, Kevin, Trevor, Graham

Conditions: Warm and sunny on the outward ride – cold and overcast on the homeward ride.

50 miles for most – a lot more for a few

 

Bruce McEwan Memorial Ride – (Tour of the Greens) 4 June 2016

 

Two club members met at Pretty Corner for Bruce’s memorial ride to Yaxham. A further six were waiting at for us at Itteringham making a grand total of eight. It should be noted that other members rode the previous week because they were unable to come today.

The weather, which must be noted, was cold and misty going out but there was the promise of better things once we left the “arctic circle” of Sheringham and headed towards Yaxham.

Our ride out went via Itteringham, Cawston, Great Witchingham, Lenwade, Collin Green, Primrose Green, Green Farm, Peaseland Green, Etling Green, Clint Green, Yaxham.

Waters of Yaxham is always busy which denotes a good café which it is.

A minute’s quiet contemplation was given in memory of Bruce.

After lunch the sun broke through and the temperature moved into promised 20%.

Home was via Brakefield Green, Clippings Green, North Tuddenham, Elsing, Lyng, Reepham, Ollands, Oulton Street.

 

This ride, with its poignant memorise, was really top draw. Our thanks to all those who came this week and last week to pay their respects.

Alan, Chris, Geoff, Harvey, Malcolm, Robin, Scott, Trevor.

PC tp PC: 63 miles

Itt to Itt: 48 miles

Max: 75 miles

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