Norfolk and Norwich Group of Advanced Motorists
Registered Charity Number 1051282. Affiliated to the Institute of Advanced Motorists Ltd.
Rideouts are organised on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month. A list of rideouts can be found here. During the summer months, May to September, midweek evening rideouts are also organised.
The first rideout of each month is usually fairly local and so that you can be home for lunchtime. The second rideout of each month is usually to a more distant destination and can last until late afternoon. However, members can leave the rideout at any point if they want to. Just let the organiser know.
The rideout coordinator has an e-mail distribution list of motorcycle members and sends out an e-mail about the rideout during the previous week.
Reports on the 2024 rideouts will appear here as they happen.
Full disclosure the Krazy Horse on the outskirts of Bury St Edmunds is one of my favourite biker cafes, so I would have gone solo if the rather blustery conditions had deterred everyone else. As it was five others joined me at our meeting point which was rather exposed to the high winds to the degree that I felt compelled to hold onto my bike.
It was the first 10am start since we moved to the large Sainsbury’s car park in King’s Lynn and I did wonder with the store being open if parking would be a problem. No worries, 11 bikes take up very little space even though the locals were clearly eager to start their xmas shopping.
Fifteen bikes turned out for a frolic through the fens. Our original destination was to be to the Iron Horse Ranch House in Market Deeping. Unfortunately this venue has recently closed down. Alarmingly there does appear to be a malaise currently affecting the motorcycle industry which has also led to a number of large dealerships going into administration, with more I fear to follow.
Nine hardy individuals gathered at our meeting point with another two to be collected on route. Splitting into 3 groups we set off to the sunnier climes of North Norfolk. The outward route involved a lot of the B1145 which runs all the way from the hospital roundabout to the coast at Mundesley.
It’s the Autumn equinox and the sun is shining in King’s Lynn. 10 of us are gathered for the ride out to Keysoe international equestrian centre located near Bedford on the B660. Splitting into two groups of five we set off on a pre-planned route via Friday Bridge, Whittlesey and Kimbolton.
Seven riders dodged the showery fringes of a Yellow Warning of Rain to assemble in Sainsbury's carpark. The majority were wearing clothing with some degree of waterproofing, with only a single optimistic soul opting for denim.
Gosh it’s quiet, Sainsbury’s carpark before the supermarket opens. No boy racers or myopic car drivers fixated on getting their McDonald’s fix. Our revised starting location has a lot going for it.
11 bikes and 1 pillion met at Sainsbury’s car park in King’s Lynn (our new meeting place) on a beautiful morning for a ride to Wymondham Windmill near Melton Mowbray. We’ve been there before, it’s a lovely spot with interesting riding roads on the way there.
It was around 0800 when the messages started to be posted on the WhatsApp group, Southwold today, you do know that the Latitude festival is on? Oh and there’s also the Old Buckenham air show, both of which were on our route.
Our British Sunday weather played ball not just for both the Wimbledon and European Football Finals, a super dry and warm start where an amazing 15 bikes and riders turned out for our scheduled ride to Whitwell Station.
Glorious weather greeted the three riders that turned out for a day in the Lincolnshire Wolds. We headed up a spookily quiet A17 as far as Boston where we peeled off to take the B roads through Kirton, Coningsby and on to Horncastle.
On Wednesday 19th June, almost midsummer’s day, 4 of us motorcyclists had a midweek ride to Scarborough on the North Yorkshire coast. The weather had taken a turn for the better, so mild and dry. Perfect biking weather.
Normally 14 degrees with dry roads would be considered to be excellent biking weather, but this is summer and expectations were somewhat higher, however it was not to be and for the nine bikes that turned up it was those clad in Gore-Tex that were the most comfortable – the leathers can stay in the wardrobe for now.
As you would expect on such a glorious morning, 10 bikes and riders turned out for a ride to Old Buckenham airfield. Roly Batchelor joined us as usual having just ridden from Wymondham, which is not far from Old Buckenham.
I was sitting having breakfast watching the rain on the windows and looking at the soaking wet patio thinking “do I really want to go riding in this?” Sure enough the Fenriders WhatsApp group started pinging with messages from people saying they weren’t going out today.
Ideal motorcycling weather greeted nine riders for the short trip to Langham Dome on the east coast a few miles from Stiffkey. The journey took us to Gayton where we deviated left down the B1153 to Grimston.
Nine bikes pitched up on an overcast but dry Sunday morning for a ride out to the Route 11 Café close to Attleborough. I thought it was a bit Wim Hof but Dave R thought it was positively balmy. We split into 2 groups with an additional rider being collected at Swaffham making a grand total of ten participants.
The English weather can be cruel. The day before had been ideal for biking, it was mild, the roads were dry and that elusive white orb was clearly visible. Move on 24 hours and it’s raining (again), cloudy with an air temp of 7 degrees.
It was a chilly morning but that didn’t deter eight riders from turning out for a ride to the Parlour Cafe at Binham Priory. We rode in two groups of four, one group following A & B roads across the West Norfolk Heights and then along the coast road from Wells.
The previous day’s monsoon had passed as 10 riders met up on a dismal, grey morning for a short sojourn to Walker’s Snacks adjacent to the five ways roundabout at Barton Miils. The route to our destination was straight forward - Lynn, Wereham.
It was a good turn out today despite the filthy roads. Ten bikes arrived promptly at our usual meeting place at the McDonald's car park adjacent to the pullover roundabout. With one more to pick up at Swaffham, we split into two groups making a five and a six.
The first ride out of the year saw nine bikes turn up on a cold, murky morning. Ian C had arranged to meet our new associate Mark at Swaffham so we split into 2 groups of 4. With Paul S leading one group.
There has been some banter recently on the bikers’ WhatsApp regarding the existence of a certain Mr Claus. Well the argument was settled today when he turned up along with another 11 riders for the last trip of the year to Wells Beach Café.
I blame our venerable secretary Martin. As we arrived at our destination, I had picked up his latest email in which he had commented on the better weather. Quite clearly that was the catalyst for the heavens to open…but more of that later.
When there is a small snowflake illuminated on your dash, you know it's cold. 8 hardy souls met up for our ride out to Cromer. It was 3 degrees, but dry and bright. The route would take us along the B1145 all the way to Aylsham, and then the A140 and A149 into Cromer.
Today was the first ten o’clock start since the clocks had been wound back. It was 5 degrees and quite nippy when 8 hardy souls met for the short journey to the Shepherds Baa at Lynford Hall near to Mundford.
The foibles of the British weather meant that I had no idea how many bikes would turn up for our planned trip to Grumpy’s café near Bungay. Torrential rain had caused widespread disruption throughout most of the British Isles and my wingman Mel had warned me that our destination may not be open due to its close proximity to the river Waveney.
It’s early October, the sun is shining and it’s predicted that the temperature will reach 21 degrees, so it’s no surprise when 12 riders turn up for our trip to Forncett St Peter. Where’s that, I hear you ask? Well, it’s in the sticks, two miles from Long Stratton and, although a couple of our members had heard of the Norfolk Tank Museum, no one had actually been there before.
This week's ride out report starts with brief nautical theme, 8 hardy souls gathered at West Lynn McD’s for the trip up into the Linc’s Wolds. There would have been 9 except that, in good old Royal Navy tradition, an ex-Matelot went home cos it was a bit damp and breezy.
Can it ever be too hot to enjoy a bike ride? Well it certainly felt that way on this trip. Seven riders turned out for the journey to the Silver Ball Cafe and it was 20 plus degrees at 0900. The cafe is located just South of Royston on the A10 and no matter how long you study the map there is no exciting way to get there.
Bank holiday ride outs are always problematic due to family commitments and the additional congestion on the roads and venues often leading to lengthy queues. We were scheduled to visit a cafe in Epping Forest but given the huge amount of activity that was taking place both locally and nationally the decision was made to do a local run avoiding the coast to finish up at the Swaffham classic car show where fellow NNAM members were manning the display unit.
Eight riders turned up on an overcast but dry Sunday morning for a full days ride to the Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome near Maldon in Essex. We picked up another three riders on route making eleven in total.
It was a poor weather forecast and this was reflected in only 3 bikes turning up for a trip through the Lincolnshire wolds to the International Bomber Command Centre. It turned out to be one of the best trips of the year if you discount a 20 minute wait at Sutton Bridge, a very rare occasion indeed.
4 bikes and a pillion at West Lynn, 3 bikes at Whittington and one bike meeting us at the destination meant the best turn out of the year to date. Splitting in to 3 groups ably led by Ian C and Euan we headed out down the A10 onto the A134 and then B roads through Lakenheath, Mildenhall and on to Bottisham.
Seven of us turned up for a ride across the fens to a new destination on our calendar. The Keysoe cafe is based within an equestrian complex some 4 miles west of Kimbolton. Situated on the popular B660 this road is still relatively unadulterated with plenty of scope to make progress.
On Wednesday 21st June, Midsummer’s day, 7 bikes and 1 pillion had a midweek ride to Scarborough on the North Yorkshire coast. The weather was very warm but as long as we were moving it wasn’t unpleasant.
15 degrees at 0830 with a forecasted max of 29 degrees resulted in 15 bikes turning out for a short jaunt to the Reepham and Whitwell railway station. We welcomed a new member in Steve S and it was great to see Steve C back in the saddle.
Glorious weather brought a glorious attendance; 12 bikes met at Pullover with another 3 to be collected on the way. We split into 3 groups and headed for a destination that we hadn't been to before - The TTT motorcycle village in Sudbury.
It’s the middle of May and it’s cold. Ten degrees to be precise. It’s also overcast and foggy, but still eight stalwarts turned up. Actually it was five at the beginning and seven at the end, but more of that later.
Following a rather pessimistic weather forecast seven hardy souls arrived at West Lynn for a reasonably lengthy ride out to Foxton Locks near Market Harborough. I had decided to take a convoluted route to incorporate some decent biking B roads so two groups headed off down the A17 then turned off to Spalding where we followed the A151 all the way to Colsterworth.
Twelve smiling riders turned up at our regular West Lynn Service Station meet point. This was a superb turnout indeed for the Easter Sunday ride out. A fairly mild start with little overcast that was short lived.
Hurrah! Spring has arrived! Unfortunately as is common at this time of year, low temps and precipitation were the order of the day. This may explain why only 5 hardy souls turned up for our trip to the Route 11 cafe near Attleborough.
Seven bikers were greeted by relatively balmy weather conditions when compared to the previous week. This was the first 0900 start of the year and a few of us were bemoaning the lack of an extra hour in bed.
The original destination was listed to a cafe adjacent to Blickling Hall, however a quick recce earlier in the week highlighted parking issues as well as the cafe being somewhat bijou. I made the decision to change the destination to the Four Seasons coffee shop which is located within the Aylesham garden centre.
Our last rideout was cancelled due to freezing weather, so it was nice to see 11 bikes turn up on a milder morning for a relatively short ride to Walker’s Cafe near the Barton Mills roundabout where the A1065 from Brandon meets the A11.
Ten bikes turned out for the first ride out of 2023. The original destination was to be to Eric’s Cafe at Thornham but this was revised when we found out that they didn’t open until noon. We considered Thornham Deli but as it is a very popular destination we weren’t sure if they would be able to accommodate ten bikers and their gear.
