Weekly Round-up: 28 Dec 2025
All the latest news, events, and results for NFCC Members from the previous week of two-wheeled adventures…
Gravel ‘n’ GroggAnother ten-man team for Gravel’n’Grogg again this week, so whatever you called them last week, you can use the same term again! After the public shaming handed out for the lack of mud defence system (…let’s not say mudguards – people will get triggered!) Graham turned up this week like a Durex Bunny, with full protection in place to keep him clean… oh, Durcell bunny, doesn’t quite work thinking about it. |
 It was almost another trouble-free ride until Barry realised he had issues with his SRAM batteries (…I knew there was a battery reference in there somewhere!) before reaching Beaulieu Heath, where he selflessly took a shortcut to avoid holding up the bunch and rejoined a few kms later with a working bike again. While we’re on the battery theme, Phil G must have finally put up the Christmas decorations at home and arrived with leftover battery-powered fairy lights adorning his trusty gravel steed. Another excellent evening, being big kids playing on bikes in the woods. |
Saturday Club RideOnly seven riders braved the Baltic conditions for the club ride this week. This meant that it was a single peloton ride for a 100Km ride around the south of the forest. The riders also had to contend with a challenging wind. This is not a euphemism for those who had overindulged on the sprouts but a biting north-easterly wind that was a fierce opponent all day. After last week’s seasonal bonhomie and the suspension of the barrel it was business as usual this week. Third place went to Phil H who despite registering for the ride sent a feeble WhatsApp message at 0815 saying that he was having a lie in and me might join us later. This was about as likely as him mastering the torque wrench. |
 Runner up was Matt K. With his usual degree of preparation, he turned up with a flat tubeless tyre that had not been checked since before Santa left Lapland for his annual duties. He arrived with a soft tyre, went to Boost to use their track pump and retuned with even less air in his tyre. Weight weenie Matt has a well-earned reputation for never having any spares with him. But he does carry one item. A begging bowl. This time he requested it be furnished with an electric pump which Matt M kindly proffered and sorted the problem. But did mean that we didn’t leave until 0905 which got his card marked! |
 The runaway winner though was Phil J. Phil J is a master mechanic, but he does have an unfortunate history on turning up on a steed making more squeaking noises than a Guinea Pig show. One previous occasion he got barrelled for calling into a garage and carrying around an industrial sized can of WD40 for the whole ride when he was similarly afflicted. This time he reprised the Christmas Classic of The Boy that Santa Claus Forgot. All he wanted for Christmas was some lube (for his jockey wheels) but alas he was disappointed so treated us to a cacophony of high-pitched noises all day. Apart from the usual number of miscreants providing barrel material the ride was pleasant and uneventful with a good deal of sharing the hard work on the front.Thanks to all for a pleasant Saturday and look forward to more of the same next year. – Barry |
Boxing Day Tandem Tart 10With no NFCC Member coming forward to organise the traditional New Forest Boxing Day 10 this year, the reins were handed over to Mary Corbett of Tandem Tart fame, who joined Budge on the day on P161 for the 2025 edition. 15 riders took part on the day, with the new P161 course proving itself to be a newfound favourite for some. The Burridge/Corbett tandem ride crossed the line safely, and NFCC’s Ben George managed to cover the 10-mile course in just 23m33s. |
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. |
