Updates

Report by Mark M
With injury and holidays depleting numbers, three Wheelers met at PC on a breezy and cool morning. With the forecast suggesting a balmy 20 degrees later in the day, all three were feeling a little underdressed and hoped the sun would soon warm the day up.
With the south westerly wind helping us along as we headed east through Gresham, Metton, Northrepps to Mundesley where we had arranged to pick up Doug. Doug was collecting his bike from Woods Cycles of Mundesley after a bottom bracket replacement and timed it so he could join us and test out the new BB. As a Wheeler he was also pleased to receive a 10% discount on parts and labour from Woods Cycles.

We crossed the golf course on the way to Trunch and Knapton, then through Bacton Wood to Old Hall Road which is still closed to vehicles, though walkers and cyclists can limbo under the barriers at each end to get through. Then it was Crostwight, Ridlington and up to Bacton to a surprisingly quiet Watsons.

Early arrivals at the café were Graham A and Neil S, who had taken a similar though slightly more direct route and had time to have their lunch before we arrived. Neil S showed us a video clip of Brian P looking very well and happy, pedalling away on a stationary bicycle that he had helped to organise. Brian has just started to take some short walks and the bike will help him regain some strength and mobility.
Just as we were thinking of leaving, Malcolm arrived, so I saw that as an excuse for more tea and a piece of cake, while we had a chat and discussed options for new wheels for Ian. Once outside again, of the five bikes remaining, three were titanium, gleaming in the sun, I will admit to having Ti envy!
So we sent Malcolm off to complete his 70ish mile circuit to home, while we headed into a stiff headwind to Spa Common, then down to Worstead, across to Skeyton and up to Colby and across to Calthorpe. Here Doug turned for Aldborough and onwards to Cromer and at Wickmere Neil Mc continued on for Corpusty, leaving two to head for Matlaske and the final split at Red Barn Lane.

PC to PC was 57 miles at a 15.5mph average
Riders: Neil Mc, Ian A, Mark M, Graham A, Neil S, Malcolm S

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 17th April – Hoveton Hall
Saturday 20th April – Fairhaven Tearoom, South Walsham
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Chris S
Only two Wheelers, Mark M and Chris S, met up at PC. Whilst the weather was sunny topping out at around 13 degrees centigrade there was a strong south westerly wind.

Unsurprisingly the outward route headed straight into the wind. A third wheeler, Ian A, was waiting patiently at High Kelling. The outward route took in Wiveton, Glanford, Field Dalling, Bale, Hindringham with an early stop after 19 miles at Binham Palour for a late breakfast/early brunch. The roads were generally dry with only one major flood encountered just after Hindringham. Of course, all three wheelers ordered the superb full breakfast with Mark M also ordering a man-sized pot of tea which unsurprisingly led to the inevitable stop on the route back.

Feeling fully re-energised the three continued further west into the wind through Warham, Wighton, Great & Little Walsingham to West Barsham before turning east to Thursford. Although no longer heading directly into the wind there was still a strong side wind at times. The ride then continued through Gunthorpe, Hunworth and Hempstead where Ian turned off taking a more direct route back to High Kelling. This left just Mark and Chris to ride back to PC passing through Baconsthorpe, Bessingham and Gresham.

Pc to PC 52 miles. Average speed 14.6mph
Riders: Chris S, Mark M, Ian A.

Postscript
Whilst the ride was uneventful after Ian left the ride to return to High Kelling he unfortunately hit a pothole whilst riding downhill south of the pond on the Selbrigg Road. He was trying to avoid the mud and sand on the road at the time. Whilst he managed to stay on the bike the front wheel was badly dented and buckled but still rideable. Good luck Ian bashing out the dent and re-truing the wheel or in the worst case sourcing a new wheel.

Saturday 13th April – Watsons, Bacton
Wednesday 17th April – Hoveton Hall
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ian A
On what promised to be a sunny, dry but windy day, three Wheelers met at PC and picked up Ian a couple of miles down the road by Hill Farm at the Rectory Road/New Road junction. He was apologetic for being a minute or two late…
Because of the anticipated strong headwind on the way out, we’d agreed to get all disciplined and ride as a tight bunch and take short turns on the front, rolling to the back for a rest. This worked well and we achieved a good average speed in the morning despite the windy conditions. The route took us southwest via Baconsthorpe, Edgefield, Briston then across to Hindolveston and the Ryburghs. Then a tough stretch south to North Elmham, east-ish to Sparham and up the last hill of the morning (hurray!) directly into the headwind (boo!) to The Chrysalis Cafe at the Bug Parc.

We all enjoyed a very reasonably priced and hearty brunch with plentiful beans, wind quickly becoming the theme of the day. (Yes I saw you pop out of the saddle a few times on the way back – you know who you are…) It was warm enough to sit outside, though the promised full sun had been replaced by complete cloud cover. Unfortunately none of the steady contingent had made it this far south today so it was just the four of us for lunch.
After lunch, the first few miles comprised a few tacks with, into and across the firm southerly before finally becoming a fairly consistent tailwind. We free-formed it a bit more on the way back i.e. didn’t stick so close but regrouped at the top of the hills. Our new (and very welcome) member Doug had perhaps burnt a few too many matches on the outward leg and was paying the price. (With the “windy” conditions on the way back, having no matches was possibly a good thing from a Health & Safety perspective.)
More seriously, the return route took us through Brandiston and up to Cawston and then a fast, straight 1.5 miles up Heydon Road. We swung through Heydon Park, onto Oulton and Itteringham where we pointed Doug in the general direction of Cromer. (I wonder if he did have that cheeky coffee we suggested at the Itteringham Village Shop? – highly recommended.) The remaining three pushed north before Neil waved goodbye and turned left to head back to Corpusty via Mannington Hall. Mark and Ian put the hammer down (only kidding) and continued through North Barningham to the top of Plum Lane where Ian turned left for High Kelling and Mark headed back to PC and then Sheringham.

Riders: Mark M, Neil Mc, Doug H, Ian A.
PC to PC was 54.4 miles at an average speed of 15.2mph
PS – just a footnote to mention that Andrew B didn’t have time to join us as he was packing for Oz, but managed to get out for a solo 38 mile ride to Reepham, and this time had the route with him.

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 10th April – Binham Parlour
Saturday 13th April – Watsons, Bacton
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Andrew B
Four riders met at Pretty Corner on a showery day for a run to Skeyton Goat pub. Things did not start well for the leader as he was unable to find the route on his Garmin! Luckily everyone else had successfully downloaded it from the club website. The route took us through Gresham, Sustead, Hanworth, Suffield, Felmingham, Westwick, Swanton Abbot, Worstead, Tunstead, St James, Lamas and Badfield.
There were a number of floods on the roads which slowed our progress. The leader also discovered he had very little in the way of brakes causing him to overshoot at corners! However, we arrived safely at the pub, quickly found a table and ordered food and drinks. The food was very good and the service excellent. However, there was a problem with the new payment system which delayed our departure. After lunch we made our way back to PC via Tuttington, Aylsham, Ingworth, Itteringham, Mannington, Barningham, Edgefield and Hemstead. Ian spotted some ponies shortly after lunch and insisted on doing a Dr Doolittle impression with them (see pictures).

Ian and Andrew left for home after Sellbrigg Pond leaving the two remaining riders to take the usual route back to PC. Overall, a good day’s ride despite the leader’s ineptitude and lack of brakes.

PC to PC 53 miles
Average speed 14.3 mph
Total Elevation 1800 ft

Mark M, Ian A, Chris S and Andrew B leading.

Saturday 6th April – Chrysalis Café, Sparhamhill
Wednesday 10th April – Binham Parlour
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Chris S
Four wheelers, Mark, Chris, Neil and Clive met up at PC for the ride to East Rudham picking up a fifth wheeler, Ian, some two miles into the route. Weather conditions were for once very favourable with a very light almost non existent south easterly breeze, a temperature ranging between 9 and 12 degrees Celsius and even some sunshine!
The outward route was uneventful apart from Mark spotting some Llamas/Alpacas in a field and took the group through Edgefield, Briston, Hindolveston, Fulmodeston, the Ryburghs, East Raynham and onto East Rudham.
Biagio’s café was busy due the Easter bank holiday weekend. Luckily we were able to get a table inside and have a light lunch.

Shortly into the return journey Ian, the Wheeler’s resident ornithologist and also photographer, spotted a bunch of twitchers on the roadside and stopped to speak to them. He was very disappointed to learn that he had missed seeing a Rustic Bunting by about twenty minutes. Anyway just for Ian here is a picture of a Rustic Bunting (not to be confused with a Reed Bunting, Little Bunting or a Common Sparrow) so all is not lost!

The ride continued onto Whissonsett and Bintree where a short detour was taken to see Bintree Mill. Water levels were still high, but the mill and the water meadows looked idyllic in the sunshine with hundreds of daffodils in full bloom.

The remaining route passed through Guestwick, Corpusty (where Neil left the group as we passed the end of his road), and North Barningham. Ian and Clive then turned left into Mill Road heading back to High Kelling and Blakeney respectively. This left Mark and Chris to complete the ride returning to PC.

Riders: Mark M, Neil Mc, Chris S, Clive A and Ian A
Total Distance 62 miles. Average speed 15.35mph

Upcoming Rides –
Wednesday 3rd April – Skeyton Goat
Saturday 6th April – Chrysalis Café, Sparham Hill
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

Report by Ride Leader Mark M
Another windy and chilly morning greeted the three Wheelers meeting at PC. Today it was a strong southerly wind that would make the outward leg hard work but promised an easier leg home.
We headed south through Gresham, Aldborough, Erpingham to Colby then Banningham. Just north of Banningham we stopped at the scene of Brian P’s accident of Feb 24th to look for Andrew’s Buff that he had left behind in all the excitement and surprisingly he found it amongst the mud and weeds, a quick wash and it should be as good as new. We also noticed that the hole that Brian had hit, was now dry but still not filled in, instead it had a traffic cone dropped into it, which is better than nothing.
Then it was onto Buxton, Lamas, around the north of Coltishall, past Hoveton Hall to RAF Neatishead, where the Trimmingham Golf Ball radar has moved to, then a quick detour to Irstead Staithe to look at the boats.

From Neatishead village we had a tail wind and a fast and easy ride for the last four miles to the Crosskeys.
Both Graham A and Graham J were already at the pub, having taken a shorter but just as windy route south. The staff seemed surprised to see customers, they had no milk for coffee and the only menu was the Sunday roast menu. We all had a roast and between us had, beef, pork and chicken, which was presented well and filled us up.

Another time we will give the nearby Smallburgh Crown a try.
After lunch we headed north and did get a good tail wind as we went through Honing and along the Golden Mile to look at the daffodils. Unfortunately they were well past their best, so we didn’t stop for any photos this year. We skirted around North Walsham to Swafield, Bradfield and Thorpe Market to Hanworth, where both the Graham’s turned for home. The remaining three continued to Bessingham, Barningham Winter and to the top of Bodham hill, where Andrew and Clive turned for High Kelling and Blakeney and Mark finished the loop at PC.

PC to PC was 56 miles at 14.6mph average
Riders: Andrew B, Clive A, Mark M, Graham A and Graham J

Saturday 30th March – Biagios, East Rudham
Wednesday 3rd April – Skeyton Goat
Routes for rides on the website under Dates and Destinations: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/
Visit the Clubs Runs Gallery for larger and more photos: https://nnwheelers.co.uk/club-runs/club-runs-photo-gallery/

The club was interviewed last week and the results will go out over the Easter Weekend, most likely on Good Friday to promote the club runs and time trials. Will post details here when we know the timings.