Updates

Malcolm’s Annual Report

Total of 49 Runs (3 runs cancelled, 2 due to unsafe conditions, 1 due to Christmas Day)

Total of 360 appearances (including guest riders)

Largest group 14

Smallest group 3

Total mileage PC to PC 2145

Average mileage per run approximately 44 miles

19 different venues (11 pubs and 8 cafes – must find some new cafes!)

The mileage covered by individuals both on particular runs and in total over the year did of course vary.

Some of the Wednesday group also rode with the Saturday group which in one case at least increased his NNWCC mileage over the year substantially!

While not an exact science the above gives a good picture of the last year but what can’t be measured is the enjoyment of being out on your bike and of being with a great bunch of people; hopefully this was conveyed to some extent in the weekly reports.

Many thanks again to all who helped to make the Wednesday Club Runs a success and in particular to those who lead rides and guided us around the lanes and byways of North Norfolk. Here’s to another great year in 2020!

5 Wheelers met at PC for the last Wednesday Club Run of the year! John S promised us an intriguing (or was that an interesting) route to the village with a railway line but no station but happily with a decent pub. While most roads were fairly dry, some lanes were at their wettest worst which we were about to discover.

Descending gradually from the Cromer Ridge we eventually reached Barningham and then pedalled south-eastwards taking in (the outskirts of) Aldborough and Alby; then across the A140 and the shortcut to White Post Road. As we were passing Gunton Park Geoff became totally disengaged (no not a senior moment!) as his bike’s freehub packed up! He resigned himself to a walk home* and told us to carry on.

Turning right off White Post Road we hit the first of the seriously wet lanes but it wasn’t long before we reached Colby, although Malcolm held things up a bit being his normal cautious self through the mud and floods! After a brief foray on the B1145 we continued the theme by following a route through to Beck Lane and thereafter drier land at All Saints Church, Skeyton. Swanton Abbott, Sloley and more back (Beck!!) lanes took us to our lunchtime destination.

The menu is quite varied at the Horse and Groom and we enjoyed a pleasant lunch before setting off on the return leg. This was a more familiar route as we passed through Scottow, Swanton Abbott, Skeyton, Tuttington and up to Banningham where Malcolm left the group to head to Felmingham and home while the trio returned to PC via Ingworth, Wickmere and Matlaske.

Many thanks to John for leading today’s run. Bike cleaning duties for all today!

41 miles PC to PC (with Andrew C winning gold stars for mileage covered and muddy clothes!)

Andrew B, Andrew C, Geoff, John S, Malcolm

* Geoff had been walking for 20 minutes or so when a passing motorist stopped and offered him (and his bike) a lift home. It turned out that the good Samaritan lives only a couple of doors away from fellow Wheeler Kevin and is himself a keen off-roader!

8 Wheelers met at PC on a sunny early winter’s day for Mark’s ride to Reepham, our leader hoping that mince pies would be on offer at our lunchtime destination!

Against an easing south-westerly we travelled a virtually (almost exactly!!!) straight path to Little Barningham, Itteringham, Oulton Street, Cawston, Brandiston and Swannington before taking a right on to the Reepham Road. We passed Alderford Common and followed Hall Road to its junction with Porter’s Lane at which point we pedalled along some lovely lanes up to the Reepham Road via Whitwell Street and then the final mile to Kerri’s.

There to meet us was Geoff and soon after our arrival John and Kay D joined us and we all enjoyed great service and food (but alas no mince pies!) before 9 Wheelers left to head for Wood Dalling and J&K wound their own way homewards. At Thurning we were momentarily leaderless as Mark turned towards Hindolveston and thereafter Fakenham. Malcolm lead the group to Briston where there was the first split as 2 riders followed the Holt Road towards the coast leaving 6 to go in the direction of Edgefield. Just before Edgefield there was another split as 4 headed back to PC via Baconsthorpe and West Beckham while 2 went cross-country to Barningham Green, Thurgarton, Suffield and home.

Many thanks to Mark for leading the ride and making it a great day out on the bikes!

38 miles PC to PC (Andrew C, Jane and Mark will have to share the gold star for most miles covered today)

Andrew B, Andrew C, Brian, Geoff, Jane, John S, Kevin, Malcolm, Mark. John and Kay D at the café.

When the sun is shining you just have to be on your bike! Clearly that’s what 7 Wheelers thought as they met at PC for David’s ride to The Goat! One or two introductions were in order before we set off as Brian (Saturday Club Run and TT stalwart) had joined us!

Wishing to avoid the worst of the mud and debris from hedge trimming David took the group on a familiar path to Erpingham before tracking back to Aldborough followed by Alby and Suffield (by way of the Hanworth Timber Co shortcut). Corvette Kingdom looked closed for the day so having not feasted our eyes on the sleek machines we reached Felmingham and then a direct route to our lunchtime destination.

The service and food at The Goat was to their normal high standards and fuelled for the return leg we left via Long Road minus one Wheeler who followed his own path home! After Tuttington we turned west towards the A140 and used a very short section of this busy road to link with The Banningham Road and then Drabblegate.

Just after Ingworth there was a split as 4 Wheelers turned into Eagle Lane to return to PC via Erpingham and Matlaske while 2 carried on up to the A140 and then Colby, Suffield and home.

Many thanks to David for leading today’s ride – let’s hope we have a few more sunny days like this!

36 miles PC to PC

Andrew C, Brian, David, Jane, John S, Kevin, Malcolm

Just 3 Wheelers braved the elements and met at PC for Malcolm’s ride to the ever popular ATN – a change to the programme as The Conservatory at Aylsham now closes on a Wednesday! Having spoken to JD about Tuesday’s NVL ride Malcolm was keen to avoid the mud that they encountered but the frequency of flooded roads to and from Cawston did mean that impromptu bike cleaning was always possible!

The route followed a familiar path through Bessingham, Thurgarton and Aldborough and then up to the A140. Crossing the main road we took a short cut via the track passing Hanworth Timber Co. to White Post Road and on to Suffield, Colby and Banningham by which point Malcolm had just about managed to force his gloves back on – don’t ask!

Tempting as The Crown was we continued to Tuttington and Oxnead before joining the Cawston Road, slightly heavy going due to the headwind, and to our lunchtime destination. The Café served up its usual delicious fare and we were able to enjoy it in reasonably dry clothes as the rain had stopped en route!

After lunch Mark headed west and homewards while the dynamic duo decided on the B1145 Trans-Norfolk to take them to Aylsham. A reckless, impatient or stupid (or combination of all three) driver who did his best to collide with an oncoming car and take out 2 Wheelers in the process didn’t delay their progress and aided by a tailwind they soon reached the Blickling Road and thereafter Ingworth. At Eagle Lane there was a parting of the ways as one turned for Erpingham, Gresham, PC and home while the other reconnected with Colby and Suffield before heading south-east for home!

A good ride and good company and surprisingly clean bikes (mud free anyway!)

Kevin, Malcolm, Mark

39 miles PC to PC (50 – 60 miles max)

7 Wheelers met at PC on a cool (becoming colder as the day went on) and cloudy (becoming sunnier as the day went on) morning.

Kevin lead us through Little Barningham to Itteringham and the lanes to the B1149 and then Corpusty. We passed Wood Dalling, Guestwick, Wood Norton, Stibbard, Fulmodeston, Barney and Thursford en route to our lunchtime destination at Little Walsingham. Just under 30 miles for the outward leg!

The Norton was its usual excellent self, good food and friendly and efficient staff, and we prepared for the return leg minus Mark and Andrew C who made their own ways home!

Kevin promised a more direct route back and so it was as we took in Binham, Field Dalling, Saxlingham, Wiveton, High Kelling and, after the brief dip, the continued gentle climb up to Geoff’s Corner.

All but one of the group peeled off at different points leaving just John to do the decent thing and complete the circuit to PC.

Many thanks to Kevin for his usual sterling leadership and apparently he introduced some new lanes into the Wednesday itinerary (John, our resident statistician, keeps a log of such things!)

Andrew B, Andrew C, Jane, John S, Kevin, Mark, Malcolm

49 miles PC to PC (70 miles max)

4 Wheelers met at PC on a gloriously sunny day for Malcolm’s ride to a venue with new owners, a new name and a new menu!

As this was quite a long run south eastwards Malcolm tried to keep both the outward and return legs as direct as possible and by and large was fairly successful!

So Bessingham, Aldborough, Erpingham, Colby, Banningham, Tuttington, Skeyton, Swanton Abbott, Scottow, Tunstead and then the long straight St Peter’s Lane and even longer Long Lane took us (almost) to our lunchtime destination (Ropes Hill and Lower Street completing the outward route).

We hadn’t reserved but space wasn’t a problem even though the tables did start to fill up after we had ordered. When asked the owner did say that the customer base was good and growing so best of luck to them for the future.

After an enjoyable lunch we returned via Neatishead, Smallburgh, Dilham, Honing, Crostwight, Edingthorpe Street, Paston Green, Knapton, Trunch, Southrepps, Northrepps and then Crossdale Street to Felbrigg. At this point we regrouped, took a deep breath and continued on through Metton to Lower Gresham where Malcolm made an about turn for Sustead, Hanworth, Suffield and home while the others completed the circuit back to PC and then home.

Good company and a good ride on a great day to be on your bike – a shame that a few more weren’t able to join us!

Andrew B, Andrew C, Kevin, Malcolm

50 miles PC to PC

Andrew wins this week’s gold star having covered the best part of 70 miles.

On his way back Malcolm caught up with CJ at Hanworth – he was also out on his bike enjoying the last of the afternoon’s sunshine!

 

So much for weather forecasts – the promised dry day with perhaps an odd shower was anything but – well for the outward leg at least!

Thankfully there was no wind to speak of as Malcolm lead the group of 4 to Matlaske followed by Erpingham, at which point he surprised everyone by turning north towards Aldborough and Sustead. The rain was steady if not particularly heavy but it was all a bit much for Andrew, nursing a chest infection, and he left us at Felbrigg to pedal a lonely furrow home!

We ploughed on through rain and mud to Northrepps, Southrepps and eventually to our seaside destination where we received the usual friendly welcome.

Well fed and watered we set off for Knapton and followed a long straight path via Old Hall Street and Pigneys Wood to the North Walsham Road and took a left taking us up and past Edingthorpe Green before a right and the drop down through Bacton Woods to the lower North Walsham Road.

After Ebridge Mill, White Horse Common and North Walsham the route was Tungate, Skeyton, Burgh and Aylsham. Then possibly the longest muddy stretch of road I have ever cycled on at the rear of the Blickling Estate to take us to Itteringham where there was a 2 way split as the leader turned off for Erpingham (no not for a second circuit) and home while the remaining 2 riders ascended Church Road towards Little Barningham after which there was a final split as one headed for the North Coast and the other back to Pretty Corner.

Good company and a good ride out in less than sparkling  conditions. Best wishes to Andrew for a speedy recovery and we hope the ride home on his own wasn’t too gruelling.

Andrew C, Jane, Kevin, Malcolm

46 miles PC to Itteringham (to PC 54 miles)

(Jane wins this week’s gold star having covered the best part of 70 miles or maybe even just over)