Weekly Round-up: 22 June 2025
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
Ten Series Rd.4 – P164Round four of the NFCC Ten Series was initially cancelled on 27th May 2025 due to inclement weather conditions, but the weather couldn’t have been better for the rescheduled event. The racing calendar this year allowed for a few reserve weeks to be slipped into the schedule, and this week made the most of that plan, allowing the round to go ahead a few weeks later but in glorious sunshine. Full results from the night can be found by CLICKING HERE, and overall standings for the Ten Series can be found by CLICKING HERE. |
RCR Goodwood Summer Series Rd.5Back to Goodwood on his own this week for NFCC’s Phill Brown for round 5 of the RCR Goodwood Summer Series. Keen to have an easy race and follow the wheels of some of his nearest competitors in the overall series standings, Brown sat in the wheels for a few laps and watched the usual breakaway start to form. Sensing the race slightly getting away from him, an opportune move by another rider (who unfortunately shipped his chain before the catch was made) gave Brown the springboard he needed to power across the increasing gap between the main peloton and lead group with 8 laps of the race still to go. The 15+ riders up the road worked hard but fair and managed to build a gap of over two minutes on the main bunch. Finishing eighth on the night and fifth in the first of the mid-race sprints gave Phill enough points to move up to 7th on the overall series. |
Saturday Club RideA cracking day for this week’s club ride; a warm sunny day with light winds, so it was factor 50 all round for a trip westwards. We reprised one of Graham F’s routes and to the delight of Ben T, Michael and Smithy, our men from the west, we started at Moyles Court and at 0930 so they all got a lie-in. The planned route was a hilly 122Km. Only eight riders this week as some were already on their way to the training camp or were busy packing, but we did welcome Nathan from Perth, making one of his triennial UK visits. Fair play to Nathan, he also sorted a jersey that had a resemblance to the NFCC red, white and green palette. Although one pedestrian shouted out to us: “didn’t he get the memo?” as everyone else had a standard club jersey. In true Aussie humour, Nathan claimed his was the special edition leaders’ jersey… |
 Assembling at the start we were greeted by a cacophony of mechanical noises approaching. We were surprised to see it emanating from the steed of ace mechanic Phil J. He immediately confessed that his best bike was already packed for France, and he had assembled this one in a hurry. Given his trade it seemed like this bike was concocted from bits of old boilers and central heating systems he had decommissioned. Never one to shy away from a mechanical challenge, Phil had been to a local garage and bought a large can of WD40 which he doused liberally over all the offending parts. He ruefully told us he paid more for this can at the garage than he would normally pay for a tray of the stuff with his trade account. Needless to say, the barrel was decided before the ride started. |
 Those of us making our way to the start from Brockenhurst could see how busy the A35 and A31 were early in the morning, this seemed to result in sat nav’s diverting traffic through the forest and at 0900 there was already a tailback from High Corner to Milkham. Despite all the early shenanigans we still started bang on time and headed up to Fordingbridge. We had a few kilometres of busy roads to deal with before we turned onto the more pleasurable country lanes of Dorset which we enjoyed for most of the day. There were a couple of long climbs including New Road out of Blandford, follwed by Dunbury Lane which led us to the coffee stop at The View in Milton Abbas – which was superb as usual. |
 After coffee we headed through Bere Regis before turning back east towards Wimborne where a second stop was made. Whilst imbibing our refreshments we heard a tyre go pop. The unlucky rider was Smithy but his tubeless sealant did the job, and the café had a track pump so no time lost. The Group One riders seemed to enjoy riding at a Group Two conversational pace for a change as it wasn’t a day for rushing. We started to lose the riders from the west as they got close to home. |
 Phil G needed to get back ahead of joining the Club Training Camp so it was just Phill B, Nathan, and Barry making their way back over Red Shoot where the temptation of cold beer was overwhelming and a third stop was gracefully made. Julie (Barry’s wife/knight in shining armour) had been following Barry on her “stalk my husband” app and rightly worked out that a stop at The Redshoot Inn was not a mechanical… Luckily without the |
 Further shout out to Ben T and Phill B for their local knowledge of the roads used, which were less familiar to most of us. Their guidance was much appreciated by the rest of us. Thanks to all for the great company for a long leisurely ride that we all very much enjoyed.– Barry |
Sunday Club RideWith our leader taking many of the usual suspects off to the Pyrenees and some other regulars away racing or on holiday, we still mustered ten at the start of our 50k ride round Wootton, Sway and St.Leonards. Despite his absence, Phil managed to give us a relatively traffic-free route in almost ideal weather, but could still not guarantee us a tailwind home! Three intrepid guys took off in a depleted group 1 with James promising not to thrash the pants off Rupert and Glenn. Group 2 were pleased to welcome back Alex S, one of the few members who has been in the club, I think, longer than me, how is he still so young? We had a trouble-free ride with no mishaps and good banter at Setley Ridge. We discussed the addition of a dropper post to Jane’s dog carriage to enable better control, with Archie in danger of over-balancing at the front! |
Marmotte Granfondo Alpes 2025Not the most willing bunch of riders to give up information, but a trio of NFCC Jerseys were reported crossing the start line of the Marmotte Granfondo Alpes on Sunday morning. Ben George, Ian Lamb, and Joe Oatley all took part in the 177km ride with over 5,000m of elevation Gain. Ian’s day went well until the summit of Télégraphe, but he held it together until Plan LaChat before crawling up the rest of the Galibier. Joe was unfortunately suffering with gastro issues until passing the summit of col du Glandon, and managed to keep himself together despite the heat and cross the finish line at the top of Alpe du Huez. Recovering from another recent bout of COVID, Ben’s lungs worked wonders and he achieved an outstanding ride to 637th place from some 8,000 riders – completing the epic route in just 7hrs 45mins. |
Chase The Sun 2025 – NorthWith the summer solstice upon us, (don’t be too sad, it’s only 185 days until Christmas!) it was again time for the Chase The Sun sportive to take place. Having completed the southern (Minster-on-Sea to Weston-Super-Mare) event last year, NFCC’s Rod Harnett took on the norther edition (Whitley Bay to Ayr) this year, he reports: |
Get Involved:If you find yourself out and about representing NFCC, don’t forget to jot down a few words, snap a few photos and send them over to press@newforestcc.co.uk. |
