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Four Wheelers met at Pretty Corner for a ride to Pensthorpe on a milder and mostly sunny winter day. Good progress was made through Matlaske, Edgefield, Hindelveston and Wood Norton, until the group arrived at Little Ryburgh, less than three miles from the lunch venue. The narrow road was closed for tree surgery and passing was prohibited. So the disappointed riders had to go back up the hill to the Stibbard crossroads now followed by Graham (Duke of York, not). On the A1067, Pensthorpe was soon reached. The return route took the group north of the A148 to Little Snoring airfield and then south to Gunthorpe and Sharrington, crossing the B1110 at Thornage to Hunworth. Then a steep hill to Holt failed to slow Mark who always demonstrates an example of what is expected from relative youth. 

PC to PC 48 miles

Average speed 14.2 mph           Total Elevation 1,781 ft

Andrew B, Mark, Duncan and Graham A leading.

Only four Wheelers set out from Pretty Corner on this persistently icy morning as a cold north westerly wind kept the glaze on the shady lanes. Brian suffered the misfortune of stripping his freewheel very early in the day, being forced to abandon. He hasn’t enjoyed much luck with components this winter. The victim substituted with three hours on fixed wheel in the early afternoon. Jim headed home early, leaving only the seaside pair of Mark and Neil S to refuel at a quiet Norton Cafe. South of Great Snoring, this fast-moving duo were met by the late-starting veteran, Harvey, who was approaching up the scheduled route in the wrong direction! These three riders enjoyed a lot of tailwind assistance until swinging north after Oulton.

The route for the day was Salthouse Heath, Glandford, Letheringsett, Thornage, Saxlingham, Field Dalling, Binham, the Walsinghams, the Snorings, Thursford, Gunthorpe, Swanton Novers, Hindolveston, Thurning, Heydon Park, Itteringham and the Barninghams (red kite).

One stripped freewheel.

The Sheringham contingent covered the greatest distance today:- 61 miles.

Five Wheelers set off from PC in sunny but cool conditions, fortunately the overnight cloud had prevented a repeat of the previous night’s icy conditions. Joining the Wednesday ride for the first time was Neil M, a regular Saturday group rider, hope you can join us again Neil.

Andrew B had the only puncture of the day, less than 4 miles from PC. Unable to find the cause of the deflation, a new tube was fitted and fingers crossed and fortunately the tyre held up for the rest of the ride. Front Michelin Pro Endurance for those keeping score!

Our outward leg of about 25 miles took us via Gresham, Hanworth, Gunton, Bradfield, Swafield, around the eastern edge of North Walsham, White Horse Common, Briggate, Worstead, the International Farm, Tunstead crossing to Coltishall and The Rising Sun.

The staff at the pub looked after us very well, we had a table to seat eight, with a view over the river and also of the bikes. The food was filling and good value and it was with some reluctance that we left the warmth of the pub to set off for home.

While the return leg was shorter at about 20 miles, it was soon apparent that the North Westerly wind had increased and most of the road seemed to be uphill and into the wind!

Our route home was St John, Great Hautbois, Lamas, Buxton, Brampton, Aylsham, Drabblegate, Ingworth, Calthorpe, where Graham A seeking a more favourable wind direction set off for Cromer. The remaining trio then pushed hard into the wind for the remaining 5 miles to the split at Gresham church.

All in all, a good day for a ride, intermittent sun meant the temperature was variable but ok for January and we enjoyed good food and company.

The roads were mainly dry but there was plenty of wet mud about to ensure a good coating over the bikes.

PC to PC was 46 miles

Andrew B, Duncan S, Graham A, Neil M and Mark leading.

Seven set out on this shorter club run to the Corner House Cafe. There was far less fog than forecast, but it remained murky for much of the day with a nagging chilly south east breeze. However, good bright spells lit up the middle of the day. The route was an anti-clockwise loop by way of Aldborough, Erpingham, Banningham, Tuttington, Felmingham, Antingham, Trunch, Gimingham, Southrepps Lower Street, Northrepps, Metton, Sustead and Gresham church, for a three-way split.

Over the break, someone started a conversation about pop music. It is hoped that the young staff weren’t listening. Phil W turned up after the break and spent some time updating the bunch on the latest from the time trial community. The last two stragglers on the road bumped into Geoff on his way home from Coltishall.

Bunch: Andrew; Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S.

Distances: 41 miles to 63 miles.

One puncture: slow and hard to find.

This was a curate’s egg of a club run, which only goes to show that you can please some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

Four Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a cold but sunny morning with little or no wind. The route to Blakeney took us through Matlaske, Plumstead, Edgefield, Briston, Brinton, Sharington, Binham, Cockthorpe and Langaham. Unfortunately, the group spilt in two after Binham as the back two missed the turn to Cockthorpe, however both ended up at the Magpies at about the same time! On arrival we were able to find a table easily, which given the popularity of the Café was a relief and we were served quickly. The food was very good with generous portions (a little to generous when riding on!). The route back to PC was via. Wiveton and up to Salthouse Heath, were Duncan left us for Holt and the then down Long Lane to Kelling were Graham left us for home. The two remaining riders then continued up to High Kelling, and back towards PC via. Hempstead, Baconsthorpe and West Beckham. Although the lanes were very muddy a great ride in beautiful winter weather.

PC to PC 39 miles

Average speed 14.6 mph           Total Elevation 1,506 ft

Mark, Duncan, Graham A and Andrew B leading.

Six riders assembled at Pretty Corner on a benign January morning for the NNW club run to the Fork in Hoe. The route to the refuelling stop went directly to Corpusty, then via Salle and Reepham town, crossing Whitwell Common and climbing over the ridge to the Wensum at Lyng watermill, up the valley to Fustyweed and Elsing, descending to the Pennyspot Beck, clipping through the edge of Swanton Morley and the quiet lanes of Hoe parish before a final mile on the busy Dereham-Fakenham road.

On the ascent of Pennyspot Bank, veteran powerhouse, Neil S, the Erdington Express, demolished another chain. Three went ahead to the cafe, while three hung back to remove a mangled link and rejoin with a Quick Link. The conversation in the cafe hinged around chains, chain wear and optimum chain life. A heated debate developed about whether the main source of wear was bushes, rollers, pins or plate holes. On departure, obviously feeling the January heat, Graham A left his jacket in the cafe.

It was a comfortable tailwind ride back, by way of Worthing, Billingford, Foulsham, Guestwick (from where early starter, Neil Mc, headed the short distance home), Nethergate, Craymere, Briston and the familiar ways to West Beckham for the split.

One damaged and stitched up chain.

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Harvey; Graham A; Brian.

Distances: 54 miles to 69 miles.

Five Wheelers showed up for the New Year leg stretcher club run on a mild, but windy, day featuring more sunshine than forecast. The proximity of the cafe to Pretty Corner offered an opportunity to tour some of the less used local lanes, which also enabled the small bunch to manoeuvre in and out of the testing wind. Outward bound was Bessingham, Aldborough Hall, Wickmere church, Squallham, Little Barningham, Plumstead Green, Hempstead, Holt Market Place, Cley Road, Kelling village and Croft Hill. The staff at the caff were excellent and the food first class.

The conversation ranged from how zebras repel flies to mending a vacuum cleaner to women’s cage-fighting to a bloody encounter with an angle grinder. All fairly normal then.

After another unhurried seasonal refuelling break, the route back went by way of High Kelling, Selbrigg Pond, Baconsthorpe, Barningham Winter, Mannington, Wolterton, Erpingham, Thwaite church, Aldborough school, Hanworth, the gated road* and Metton, before turning back into the wind to the final split at Gresham church. As a special New Year bonus the riders were rewarded with a 1.6 miles headwind detour to take in Mannington Hall.

*The gated road has now deteriorated to the level of dangerous. As a Cromer resident, Graham has been delegated to call in at the District Council offices to give them what for!

One puncture, which was fixed in the front courtyard of Holt Methodist Chapel.

Group: Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Mark; Neil Mc.

Distances: 48 miles to 64 miles.

Only three Wheelers could make it for the last run of the year. Brian, Mark and Harvey set out from PC on a mild midwinter morning to ride to the Lighthouse Inn via Metton, Northrepps and Southrepps Halls, Trunch, Knapton, the back way to Bacton, Ridlington Street and Walcott Hall. As befits the midwinter festival season it was an unhurried refreshment break. Soon after setting out for home, the trio had a surprise encounter with a racing pig. This particular porcine athlete, apparently a member of the rare Monaleigh breed, beat the Wheelers for speed on the lane between Barrington rare breeds farm and The Rookery Special Needs Centre, where it turned into the car park. It is supposed that this creature lies in wait for unwary and overconfident cyclists before showing them a clean pair of trotters. Following this exciting episode the thickening mist turned to light rain, but a nice brisk tailwind assisted the group back to base by way of Ebridge mill, Spa Common, Little London, Swafield, Bradfield, Tops Hill, Hanworth and Bessingham to a parting of the ways at Gresham church.

Distances: 51 miles to 65 miles.

Review of 2021: After a start delayed until 10th April, there was a total of 38 weekend runs.

Most runs completed by a single rider: 37 // Highest average distance per run: 72.2 miles.

Twenty different riders put in an appearance, including Alan from Wellesbourne Wheelers (Warks). Malcolm moved down to St. Olave’s in early summer, but managed a couple of forays from his wetlands retreat to rendezvous with the bunch at Waxham Great Barn. Similar meetings are anticipated in 2022 and perhaps Wymondham is a practical proposition.

Despite a number of serious challenges this year, Brian managed to hold on to Number One position in the WC Boggs Trophy. This was due largely to completing more rides than almost anyone else.

With some of the more mature club run stalwarts beginning to ease off to varying degrees, it was good to see the main group replenished by the arrival of Neil S, Jim H, Neil Mc and Dan K.

Seventeen different refreshment venues were visited. Although we are definitely fortunate to have so many options for refuelling, three or four of the old favourite venues have become problematic on Saturdays.

Looking forward optimistically to 2022, I remain convinced that there is clear potential for a pacey vanguard group to make good use of our downloadable route files. This group could then head off up the road a bit without having to worry about the generally more mature rearguard group. Everyone singing from the same hymn sheet, but with a different rhythm.

Rather less optimistically – our routes follow lots of little lanes, demanding numerous decelerations and accelerations that undoubtedly reduce average speed while requiring at least as much effort, so is it not possible for techno fans to forget for a day Strava’s average moving speed and rely more on perceived effort? Whilst realising that this is vital to 21st century cycling culture, it also seems evident that a substantial number of strong riders are keen to ride in a dynamic group of a similar (obviously not the same) level of fitness (and motivation). The hope is that this can secure the future of NNW club runs. What’s the evidence? Even in this short year, it has been obvious that the following group and possibly others are looking for a pacey base training ride with a social dimension: – Andrew B, Ben, Dan, Duncan O, Mark, Neil Mc, Scott, Stuart W. Obviously this doesn’t exclude several others who might want to jump off up the road, but are also happy to drift back to the steady bunch when needed. Could it be time for some of the ‘mature club run stalwarts’ to get back up to Pretty Corner or Itteringham and Erpingham occasional pickup points?

None of this is meant to be exclusive, but it could guarantee a healthy future for the longer club runs.

Four Wheelers met at Pretty Corner on a cold and frosty morning, with the temperature barley above freezing but no wind. The route to Mundsley (courtesy of Jane A) took us through West Beckham, Baconsthorpe, Plumstead, Itteringham, Ingworth, Banningham, Bradfield and Trunch. Good progress was made with fine views and a watery sun. However, in the last five miles John began to have problems with his break lever and then within a hundred yards of the café a puncture! However, he was able to walk the rest of the way and carry out a repair while we ordered for him. We all enjoyed a good lunch with plenty of hot drinks to warm us up. The route back took us along the coast to Trimingham and Sidestrand, where we turned inland to Northrepps and onto Crossdale Street where Graham left is for home. The remainder continued onto Gresham where John left us nursing his dodging break lever back to PC. Overall an excellent ride despite the cold weather.

PC to PC 42 miles

Average speed 14.2mph

Mark, Graham A, John S and Andrew B leading.

Six riders, including new man Dan, assembled in the fog for the run down to No. 77 Cafe in the Red Lion at Coltishall. The first leg was the very familiar direct route to Erpingham, on to Ingworth, down Drabblegate, some cyclo-cross at Dunkirk, the Burgh Hall Lane, the Skeyton Alps, The Goat, Scottow, Tunstead and Belaugh Green. There are less tables and chairs at this third incarnation of the Red Lion caff, but the Wheelers were accommodated in a cosy corner with a table, two benches and a couple of easy chairs. During the latter part of the morning a murky version of the golden globe in the sky made an appearance for about ninety seconds. Unfortunately Neil S chose to comment on this phenomenon, thereby guaranteeing that even thicker fog would descend in the afternoon. It was a fairly short ride back, via St. James, Hautbois, medieval Mayton bridge, where the lane was particularly busy (the reason for the heavy traffic was revealed a mile or so up the road, where we discovered the new Saturday afternoon sport of queuing at the Mayton Wood Recycling Centre). It was then a couple of unavoidable short stretches of main road before hitting the lanes through Hainford and Stratton Strawless to Buxton, Brampton, Tuttington, Banningham, Colby, Thwaite Common, Alby Hill, Sustead church and the run in to the split at Gresham church.

The roads were atrocious. One puncture (rear Gatorskin).

Group: Neil S; Neil Mc; Mark; Harvey; Dan K; Brian.

Distances: 51 miles to 66 miles.

Belated seasonal wishes to Neil Mc, who most of us didn’t see turn for home from north of Buxton.