Weekly Round-up: 10 May 2026
All the latest news, events, and results for NFCC Members from the previous week of two-wheeled adventures…
Gravel’n’GroggWith the evenings almost at their brightest, and the weather almost at its finest, it’s a mystery as to what’s happened to the hardy souls that battled through a winter of minus temperatures, darkness, and endless rain. The finest evening of the year welcomed just four riders at the start of Gravel’n’Grogg this week, and only two more recruits joined at the halfway point. A totally trouble-free ride on the West Route was enjoyed by all before the usual refreshments at the Nondescripts Club. |
Saturday Club RideA strong turnout for this week’s club ride which was slightly surprising with a number of Saturday stalwarts away on cycling adventures to Brittany and the South Downs. After last weeks epic ride west to darkest Dorset, this week it was a more modest 123Km ride around the forest with a little less climbing than some recent rides. The barrel was sorted out early on. South West Trains cancelled the train that big Nick had picked to get him to the forest, so they caused him to miss the start and condemned him to a mighty solo effort to meet up with us at coffee time. |
 There was another attempt for barreldom from Smithy. Demonstrating the acumen at junctions that got him banned from The Tufty Club sine die and solving the mystery of why the Green Cross Man was cross with another dodgy manoeuvre in Ashurst. Apart from that a very uneventful and pleasant ride. We call met up at The Community Shop in Minstead for coffee. The shop had thankfully double staffed for out arrival which was just as well as there was another group of riders there plus nearly twenty of us. |
 After clearing them out of cake we headed off for the second loop and started to shed riders as usual. Bleating from the Second Coffee Club started early. Barry has imposed a rule that a minimum of ninety minutes must pass since the last stop before another will even be considered. So those pleas fell on deaf ears until we reached Burley. Here the remaining peloton split with half heading for coffee and half carrying on with the ride. |
 I was not party to the Second Coffee Club conversations but based on previous, there would have been some more willy waving as to who would clock up the highest mileage this week and also consume the most coffee. Both Phill B and Bus Pass Graham clocked up over 200Km but BPG took the honours with a mighty 208Km effort. It’s amazing how much spare energy those that hide at the back of the peloton have at the end of the ride! Another top day in some decent weather. Riders smartly turned out, bikes well prepped and the usual camaraderie. Fine way to spend a Saturday, thanks everyone.– Barry. |
Sunday Club RideA rather mixed weather forecast and the reality of a chilly morning seemed to sap the will power of club members this Sunday as only 13 made the start line, several by the skin of their teeth. With most of the regular group one-ers absent or perhaps having made alternative plans (The Strava snitch-setting will no doubt let me know in due time) we had to settle for two groups. The Goldilocks group, having established itself in my absence seems like an increasingly popular option, and they set out first with the gnarled veterans group following on. |
| The GVP soon picked up Budge who had been the unlucky recipient of an early puncture on route to the start, just at the spot where he crashed a few weeks ago. The morning weather forecast had suggested that a ‘moderate’ breeze would accompany us around the course but as our front wheels were blown sideways on the outward leg to Bolderwood we all started to lose faith in Tomasz Schaffernacker’s credentials. Once Col de Bolderwood and Slufters drag had been ascended it was all gravy until we reached Moyles court. It was so easy along this stretch that I was able to one-leg it on a flat stretch at 38 kph!. Sadly this was short lived and we were soon being buffeted by strong side winds. |
| Turning up Braggers hill and it soon became clear that we were in for a brutal return to Brockenhurst and would be earning our coffee the hard way. So it proved as the conditions became increasingly attritional with riders regularly losing the back of the group. It was one of those days when you really paid the price if you weren’t feeling 100%. One rider who was having a good day however was Jane who was riding her very attractive new steed. She must have been inspired because, if Strava is to be believed, she posted her highest power output for one hour ever! Chapeau. Back at the cafe the two groups re-integrated to discuss topics as diverse as boycotting the goods of certain nations, which post-codes are the New Forest’s poshest and almost inevitably the benefits of a good bike-fit. All good fun and the sun did eventually make an appearance, even if it was only on the way home. – Phil H. |
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. |
