Information about cycling clubs and events in Norwich and Norfolk will be posted here.
The area of Norwich & Norfolk is ideal for cycling with beautiful scenery and land contours suited to cycling, (in other words, a fairly flat county) There are dedicated cycleways designed for cyclists. Places in Norwich for cycling include the traffic-free Marriott’s Way from Norwich to Aylsham, the Wensum Valley, the Norfolk Broads and the Bittern Line between Norwich and Wroxham. A storage facility for touring cyclists is available at the city council in Norwich where you can store your biking gear for free at St. Andrews car park. There is an annual bike ride called the Norwich 100/50 Bike Ride, sponsored by the British Heart Foundation that leaves from the centre of Norwich city and goes to outlying villages and takes on a tour of the Norfolk Broads. A 50m or 100m option is available depending on how challenging a cyclist wants the race to be.
The Marriott’s Way is a series of road where there used to be a dis-used railway track and is named after the prior Manager of the Midland & Great Northern Joint Railway. Hence the route is flat and of course traffic-free. The track goes from Norwich City to Melton Constable and another goes from Wroxham to County School. The route begins near the River Wensum and there is wildlife like jays, woodpeckers, wrens and magpies. A variety of butterflies and moths plus plant life like strawberries and primroses make for an interesting ride. A cycle hire is at Reepham Station where there is also tea rooms and a gift shop. Nearby attractions include Norwich Cathedral, Foxley Wood open all year with free access and Cow Tower in Norwich.
The Bittern Line is a train journey from Norwich to the north of Norfolk where coastal towns like Sheringham and Cromer are. The trains leave every hour every day and the route is described as one of the 50 most scenic train routes in the world. If you get on the train you can get off at appropriate stops and cycle to the next one. The line itself is called after a unique local bird with a special booming call.
There are several cycling clubs around the Norwich region. Cyclists Touring Club Norfolk Member Group is led from the Methodist Church in Aylsham Road. There is an East Anglian Cycling Club, a Norwich Cycle Speedway Club based at Eaton and Harford Park, a Norwich Flyers BMX Club at Sloughbottom Park and finally Velo-Club Norwich at The Forum in Norwich. Many people in Norwich cycle to work, school or just to get around the city. These clubs obviously offer different activities for different types of people. A BMX Club is for those wanting to ride on BMX bikes whereas the East Anglian Cycling Club is for those wishing to cycle ride across the country. The East Anglian Cycle Club was established in 1921 and now holds weekly meetings at Spelman Road. The group covers all types of cycling like track, fitness and road. Leisure rides, women’s riding and weekly rides available to all are all types of cycling the club partakes in.
