Updates

3 Wheelers met for the ride to Reepham on a good autumnal day for a bike ride.   Dry roads, sunshine and a gentle breeze combined to make really nice conditions.  It was a westerly route via Holt, Melton Constable and Hindolveston before lunching alfresco at The Old Station.  At Hindolveston, we turned south east.  Now, with a following wind and really quiet roads, things were very pleasant indeed.

The chat at lunch was pretty techy with bike computers (Mark has a new one) and electric cars taking centre stage.

The return was a straightforward run home but we went east after Itteringham to pass through Thurgarton and Sustead which offered up some nice lanes.  Graham left us at Sustead leaving Mark and John to complete the run by cycling up Gibbet Lane – always a good way to finish!

The route is shown below.

Overall a great few hours on the bikes.

Graham A, Mark and John S.

38 miles PC to PC

1400 ft ascending and 1400 ft descending.

14 mph average.

It must be something about mellow autumnal days, but today’s run attracted eleven Wheelers, several of whom are themselves mellow and autumnal. Today’s turnout included new man, Neil, who has recently moved up from Cambridge. The relative proximity of Mundesley offered an opportunity to follow a devious route, travelling by way of Lower Gresham, Sustead, Thurgarton, Erpingham, Colby school, Hylton Crossways, Skeyton Goat, Scottow, Frankfort, Dilham, Honing, Edingthorpe and Paston to the Corner House Cafe. It was noted in passing that the Jonet Cafe has reopened. The Corner House staff dealt admirably with the large influx, pulling together a couple of tables and dealing efficiently with eleven orders. The way back climbed up to Trunch and Knapton, crossing the outward route to Dead Man’s Grave, Pigney’s Wood and the little lane to Swafield, swinging back north and west via Bradfield, Southrepps Hall, Northrepps, Sally Bean’s, Mill Road and Metton to splits in the bunch at Gresham church and Red Barn Lane.

Bunch:- Andrew B; Brian; Graham A; Harvey; Jim; Mark; Neil Mc; Neil S: Ben; David; Scott.

Distances (for those starting at PC): 53 miles to 77 miles.

With a decent sized bunch out today, it was again evident that sensible use of downloadable route files makes it feasible to accommodate a wide range of weekend Wheelers, from the steady touring element right through to those who like to push on a bit. Even if only three riders load the route to Garmin and another who knows the route keeps an eye on the rearguard, then everyone can follow the same route, but at variable pace.

Alternative options were offered to try to avoid the worst of the approaching weather, but, in the event, the four Wheelers who met at Pretty Corner opted for the original plan to ride to Jane’s at East Rudham. So Brian, Mark, Jim and Harvey set out in overcast conditions and a rising south easterly by way of Salthouse Heath, Wiveton, Letheringsett, Thornage, Sharrington, Bale, Hindringham, Great Snoring, Thorpland Hall, Fakenham Town, Dunton and Broomsthorpe to the pleasantly located cafe on the village green at Rudham. The forecast rain started at 12.55 while we were in the cafe. The direction of travel of both the weather front and the riders dictated that persistent precipitation pursued the bunch all the way home. The return route took in the Raynhams, Colkirk, Ryburgh, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Hindolveston (where Jim turned for home in Melton), Craymere, Briston and the frequently ridden roads back towards Bodham Hill and West Beckham.

Distances: 65 miles to 76 miles.

On a more general (and optimistic?) note, perhaps circulated route files ARE the answer to the club run problem of trying to accommodate different levels of fitness, an ageing group and newer, Strava-driven members, who can maintain the longer-term vitality of this element of NNW activity. Obviously this would require more people making a bit of an effort to utilise this facility, which doesn’t necessarily require loading to Garmin. It has already been shown this year that these route files do give more freedom to club run participants.

Three Wheelers met at PC on a sunny but breezy day, which in contrast to the previous week felt very autumnal. The route to took us through Baconsthorpe, Edgfield, Briston, Melton Constable, Hindolveston, Fulmodeston, Braney and Thursford Green. We then diverted from the normal route to Walsingham, through Little Snoring and Great Snoring on the old airfield road. At the café we were joined by Jane who had cycled separately. It had been determined beforehand that the café was only open for takeways, on Wednesdays, however, we were allowed to eat this outside and we enjoyed an excellent lunch despite the cold wind. After lunch we made our way back via. Binham, Bale, Gunthorpe, Brinton, Hunworth, Edgefield, Aldborough and Sustead, were Graham left us to make his own way home. The two remaining riders split at Gresham to go their separate ways too. Overall, a good ride despite the strong wind with the rain just about holding off.

PC to PC was 50 miles

Average 14.1 mph and accent/decent 2,100ft

Mark, Graham A and Jane, led by Andrew B

Generally the cafe at Lyng Stores is too small to cater for a weekend club run as well as the locals out for their Saturday treat, so hitherto we have used it only on wet winter Saturdays when only 1,2 or 3 riders were out. However, with at least seven of the regular bunch committed elsewhere, an elite trio of Wheelers took the opportunity to enjoy good food and drink at what certain North Norfolk Wheelers like to refer to as “reasonable prices”. It is also worth noting that Lyng Stores has recently installed several more outside tables and chairs.

Today’s route was a little shorter than normal, travelling directly to Cawston, then Haveringland church, Swannington, Attlebridge, the marl pit climb, the long scenic descent to Ringland, Weston Green, Collin Green and the steep descent of Cadder’s Hill to the cafe. After the break it was follow the Wensum by way of Fustyweed and Bylaugh before climbing over the ridge to Billingford and home via Foulsham, Odessa, Wood Dalling, detouring round the back of Briston past Rookery Farm and Growle Abbey to a conventional last few miles through Baconsthorpe to Bodham Hill and Red Barn Lane.

Mark, Graham J and Harvey enjoyed good autumnal weather for a brisk run out.

Distances: 59 miles to 75 miles.