Postcard from Norfolk
POstcard from norfolk
Coming up for air
I have to say it’s a total honour to be reporting for the ASCND road diaries. My postcard from Norwich with associated crew of cyclists is a tale of pleasure about being back amongst the group ride. It’s been a strange past 6 months on the bike, solo outings and local loops in 2’s have been massively valued. Essential social riding with a ‘ride partner’ kept me on a level both fitness wise and mentally. I feel very grateful for having the good fortune and ability to ride like this but as March hit I really began to miss the social side of cycling in numbers. The main reason I love riding is to chat to the person next to me while scenery rolls by. So Good Friday 2021 was indeed a very good Friday. Our group of 6 met at Tombland in Norwich at 8am and the Tombland Cycling Collective (aka Zombies) headed out for an 85km ride to Bungay and back. (I realise this may sound like a Roald Dahl book). The cold temperature didn’t matter, it was dry, there was chat and laughter on the road between us. 40 minutes in there was that moment where 12 wheels on tarmac is all you can hear when the effort’s concentrated, pedal stroke after pedal stroke, hands pointing at the road signalling the holes and the whir of freewheels. Bliss. As we approached Bungay, in my head the tones of Mike Patton entered, screaming CAFFEEEEIIIIINNE!!!, cue coffee at the excellent and mega friendly ‘Front Room’ coffee shop in Bungay. Twenty minutes of distanced cortado tomfoolery on the pavement and we headed back out of Suffolk northbound. Lining out and pushing the pace up was in truth exhilarating and much needed. I’ve missed taking my turn and working as a group. Arriving back into Norwich I felt a real appreciation for power in numbers again. Rob, Ed, Rich, Jason and Steve, thank you Les Zombies.
Coming up for air part 2 - Easter Sunday
I mean I could get used to this, a 2nd group ride in 3 days? What???? Shut up!!! No way... yes ....WAY. My way, your way, our way. And if Frank Sinatra had ridden a 54cm steed he’d have headed out west to OB Cafe in Old Buckenham Country Park and serenaded us into the head wind in search of good decking and millionaire shortbread. So we were a 6 once again with Rob, Jason, Alison, Phoebe, Ollie and yours truly. Sun was in the sky and I really didn’t need my overshoes in 12 degrees. But hey, I like a warm foot. It was another quality morning, a Belgian inspired route through Norfolk lanes led by Jason and Alison. A great morning to breathe the air and hit some speed, flat out with the reward of morning coffee in the sun. It was a proper treat to ride with Phoebe and Ollie too who I’d never met until 7:30am, always great to have that moment where you get to know someone new, find out about them while the pedals spin and discover a little more about yourself in the process. Loving being back to a 6.
Mark Ashby
@ashbyshoots / @lepetittour
All images courtesy of Mark Ashby
Final image of Mark courtesy of Steve Whitelock
