53-11 Cycling Club Norwich

With surprisingly dry and clear roads given yesterday's deluge, we enjoyed a ride out to North Elmham. We just missed breakfast at the cafe, but the coffee and cake were a decent alternative. On the return journey we discovered a local narcotics production, who knew!

Being very aware of the due rain but less certain of the timings, we played it safe and did a chatty loop of Norwich. A few new roads for me which is always a bonus. We sensibly opted out of a cafe stop to ensure we were back in time, however a bike ride is just not the same without one!

An enjoyable bright and breezy ride out to that quirky little tearoom Junction 21. Rewarded with lovely freshly baked scones and hot coffee. It was a nice route with the roads and lanes we chose not too grubby after the recent rains.

Friday's ride was through SW Norwich, a lot of new roads and lanes for me which made it a bit of a magical mystery tour. We eventually ended up at Cavick House Farm. A really lovely spot, coffee is good with a great selection of food, but in my opinion let down by drinks being served in disposable cups and food being served in paper bags, I'm a china cup and plate kind of guy🤓. Prior to heading home we stopped for a browse at the farmers food market in Wymondham.

Is there something self-righteous riding in the rain 🤓😇. A mostly wet ride on the way to the cafe but mostly dry on the return. However the wet was rewarded by a lovely coffee and cake at Bread Source in Aylsham 😋.

A glorious day to be out on the bike! We stopped at a new cafe for me, Earsham Street Cafe in Bungay, worth a visit but note that you have to wheel your bike through the cafe to the back. Thanks to Andrew for organising a most enjoyable route - even if his Garmin frequently tried its best to send us off route!

We had an enjoyable ride out to Cavick House Farm in Wymondham. A bit of a mystery tour for me as I had little recollection of the route and no recollection of ever visiting the cafe but we made it safely! We even took the opportunity to visit the nearby farmers market :~). The cafe had a nice selection of cakes and good coffee, slightly disappointing that the drinks were served in disposable cups - we have standards you know!!!

We enjoyed a ride out to the Pickle & Pie cafe at Yaxham. With the easterly wind, it was breezy on the way out but we took advantage of it on the way back. A very swift puncture repair was the only drama on the way out, on the return, due to road closures, the detour took us onto a new section of the A47 near the church. Fortunately it was reasonably quiet and we swiftly jumped off at Easton and returned via the dereham road.

Don't believe the weather forecast! 4 of us out for what was forecast to be a sunny ride, it wasn't! Kudos to Andrew who went with shorts, not sure that was a good idea 🥶.
Despite the weather, a most enjoyable ride to Potter Heigham.

On saturday, a couple of club members braved the rain, wind and low temperatures and rode the Suffolk Gravel X. The event, organised by 'Glorious Gravel', comprised a 40 mile or 60 mile route through Thetford Forest and the surrounding area. Although we'd booked the 60 mile route, on the day we opted for the 40 miler.

Although it was of course great to be out on the bikes, and I wouldn't have ridden otherwise given the conditions, unfortunately the route was disappointing, not enough gravel, too much road!