Weekly Round-up: 28 Sep 2025
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
Gravel ‘n’ GrogA select bunch for this week’s Tuesday evening off-road ride with Phill B making his first appearance on a G’n’G ride. Phill G, Phill B, Matt K, and Richard B set out from Lyndhurst onto the forest tracks, and the pace quickly adjusted to match the abilities of the riders who were present. It’s safe to say that when picking up Phil J and Luke G in Brockenhurst, the quartet were nearly 10 minutes ahead of schedule. A slight deviation from the usual route took the now group of 6 riders through Royden Woods to avoid a bit more tarmac, and then back north towards Lyndhurst. The unforgiving shout of “puncture” happened on the tracks behind Parkhill Inclosure, where Luke undertook a speedy repair after borrowing a few essentials*, and got back on the trail in no time. Back at the freshly branded “Clubhouse“, the group sat yarning for long enough for an extra layer or two to be required by those riding the rest of the way home. |
Saturday Club RideNot a great turnout this week mainly due to a forecast of showers putting off some of the clubs notorious hydrophobes. This week it was a single peloton taking on a 120Km circuit within the forest. Phil H missed the start as he decided that Saturday morning was a good time to start faffing around changing tyres rather than the day before. At least this meant he was only covering himself in tubeless sealant this week rather than the rest of the peloton. A strong effort to catch the ride on Burley Road was made and he was back in the pack early doors. The ride set out west taking in Bransgore and then heading back up Red Shoot, Ocknell’s Plan and onto Minstead for well earned coffee. |
 After coffee we headed back towards Acres Down and were confronted by a Road Closed sign and a large hole on the road. Luckily for us there was room around the side to pass. Here there were different opinions on how to pass, Phil J, already equipped with his winter bike (thanks Phil and a good hint to everyone else as we move into sturdy tyres and mudguards season) demonstrated his off-roading skills and negotiated the muddy diversion with aplomb. Other more sensible riders decided to dismount and tiptoe around the obstacle. Adrian somehow seemed to be caught in two minds and managed to set a club record for the slowest ever unscheduled dismount. Fortunately, it was a soft landing into wet mud and no damage to bike or rider. Needless to say, he is not being head hunted by the clubs Cyclo Cross contingent on this form. |
 Adding a big patch of brown to the carefully selected colour palette of the club kit is not a look that is likely to catch on and be a change adopted by Sean for the next kit order. But on the plus side it does qualify him for a week in the barrel! The ride continued south for a loop around East Boldre and gradually shedded riders as the majority decided to get home before the forecasted showers (which never came). Phil J was the mileage leader this week clocking up over 150Km so chapeau Phil.Thanks as ever to all for the camaraderie. Definitely time to start prepping bikes for winter. We will drop the pace a little to compensate for this when riders are on winter bikes, slower tyres, mudguards etc. – Barry |
Sunday Club RideThe forecast of light, intermittent rain had done little to deter our heroic club mates from signing up in numbers this Sunday. However, groans could be heard around the forest that sounded like the rut had started early. as we all pulled back the curtains to see that it was absolutely hammering it down. Nae worries as Bill might say, it’ll have brightened up by the time we start. It didn’t. A couple had ridden down only to decide that Sundays were better spent in the warmth and comfort of their own hearth and were already preparing their excuses to jettison from the ride. |
 Despite already being approximately 101% wet, two groups set out into the murk for, appropriately enough, a trip to Nomansland. Some in the group had opted to leave the waterproof jackets off until the top of Bolderwood but by then a look around and even the most optimistic soul could see that hopes of the sun breaking through were slimmer than the Yanks chances of holding on to the Ryder cup. At this point we lost a couple back to their duvets but those with some self respect and nothing better to do ploughed on.Despite another lunatic driver on Bramshaw hill (two days in a row) we made it safely around the Nomansland loop and back up the feared col de Pipers Wait. |
 The return was pretty much as wet as the outward leg but this did nothing to dampen spirits, as they were already rock bottom. We continued to shed riders until eventually reaching the safety of the cafe. By now only a handful of stalwarts remained (Group One’s gourmants had failed to make it, surely a first) and an executive decision was made by Alan W that we should go inside and warm up. This was all very cosy but as we sat there increasing the cafe’s humidity to levels rarely experienced outside of the tropics we soon realised that we had entirely saturated the chair cushions that we were sat on. Making our excuses we headed our various ways home. It was still raining.– Phil H. |
Wessex Cyclocross Rd.4: ReadingDespite the weather forecast predicting very wet conditions, the track for Round 4 of the Wessex Cyclocross League in Prospect Park, Reading, was well drained and ready for action on Sunday. After the success of round three with six NFCC riders taking part, it was down to just Matt Knight in the Masters 40-49, and Phill Brown in the Seniors this week. The course is a mix of technical single-track in the woods, flat-out straights across a field, a compound of tight wiggly bends on grass, and there’s a big-ol-hill thrown in for good measure. |
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 3 Peaks CXThree years in the making, NFCC’s Joe Shepherd finally managed to squeeze a sub-4hr time at the notorious 3 Peaks cyclocross. Covering the Yorkshire three peaks of Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent, the 61 kilometer (38 mile) course covers a mere 1,524 meters (5000ft) of climbing. Despite not realising quite how emotionally invested in the event he was, reports confirmed he shed a little tear or two of happiness when he crossed the line. Chapeau Joe. |
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. |
