Weekly Round-up: 17 May 2026
All the latest news, events, and results for NFCC Members from the previous week of two-wheeled adventures…
Gravel’n’GroggThe changeable forecast nearly spoilt what turned out to be a fantastic evening for the six riders at this week’s Gravel’n’Grogg. It was back to the original G’n’G route this week under clear blue skies, but with one eye on the rain clouds building up on the horizon. The ride from Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst was clear and trouble free, and we collected three additional riders at the halfway point. Richard B did promise to run up, but as he was running late, it was a ride in vein to try and catch the group, who were happily settled with a drink in hand the by time he made it around the route. |
 Departing Brock, the second half of the ride was again without issue, but those rain clouds on the horizon were getting ever closer as the night went on. Making it back to Lyndhurst without as much as a tyre needing a little extra air, we were grateful to sit down with refreshments as the heavens well and truly opened – perfect timing! Those who lived close by were reeling in delight with only a short ride home, but the hardcore group who make their way home through the woods no worse off, as the weather all seemed to be on the ground by home time. |
Saturday Club RideWe can only put it down to being a coincidence that when Barry is out of town, we get potentially the largest turnout for a Saturday club ride so far this year… Up to 20 riders turned out for a near-dizziness inducing double-loop ride of the the local roads, and very sensibly split into two groups without all that much much fuss at the ride start. Matthew Knight put on a wonderful display of how inflate your tyre (for the second time that morning) and his mechanical prowess was a feature later int he ride too. |
 Group One hit the road and were out of sight of Group Two before even reaching Rhinefield, but their advantage was short-lived as group 2 caught and passed them before Milkham Junction where Matthew the mechanic fell victim to his own skill once again. Having taken advantage of Paul Hubbard’s tool kit good nature on the ride to the ride start, Matthew’s bottle cage which he had to borrow tools to reattach the first time, had decided to part ways with his bike once again. The eagle-eyed among us spotted a spare bolt that was unused on the back of Adrian F’s bike, who very kindly loaned it to Matthew for him to reattach his cage and continue. Group 2 soon picked up Rickard “Coffee-stop” Parker along the airfield to continue his 20km before and 20km after the coffee stop only tradition. |
 Group one were soon back on the road with the bit between their teeth, and finally managed to catch and pass Group Two along Hamptwoth Road, dodging an oncoming rider on a penny-farthing with their legs akimbo in the process. A quick wind through Lover, and on to Hale and Breamore, it was here where this weeks barrel entry was nominated, seconded, and unanimously voted in, in his absence. None of the riders present could remember a time Barry was present and correct on a ride where we used the road (if that’s what you can call it) between Upper Street and Fordingbridge, and he only ever seems to plan it into a ride where he’s absent. Well Mr Wootten, here’s to you – how we all made it through there without tyre failure, personal injury, or Bus Pass Graham’s false teeth falling out, will remain a mystery, |
 After taking up three separate tables and 75% of the available cake at the Potting Shed, both groups departed with one goal: make it home before it rains. Riders were peeling off at every opportunity to make it home early, but the stalwarts in Group 2 were so confident in their plan, they even engaged the second coffee stop protocol at Steff’s Kitchen in Beaulieu on the route back. As usual with the second half of Saturday Rides, there was just a small handful of riders who actually completed the route, and only three who made it right to the planned end in Brockenhurst. Kudos this week goes to Paul H, and Phill B for rounding up to the magic 100 mile mark.Cheers all. |
Sunday Club RideWith several regulars away exercising their climbing legs at the Hilly hundred event and a slightly iffy forecast, we were a little short handed again this Sunday. Approximately 13 still managed to make the start line for a slightly longer than average jaunt up north towards the badlands of Bramshaw. We still split as usual into three groups, albeit rather diminished ones. Group one seems to have been in high spirits, averaging 30+ kph including some annoyingly impressive efforts on the hilly segments. Group two also made good progress but had the odd mechanical to deal with. Neale N was again the unfortunate victim of the creeping seatpost slippage that plagues so many new bikes. Eventually Neale gave up and made the call of shame, which is no mean feat with your knees wrapped around your ears. |
 Group three amassed only four riders this week including two of us whose legs were already wrecked following the previous days cycling exploits. tbh, I think Andrew D and I would have quite happily missed out the ride and headed straight for the cafe, as a consequence we headed out at a rather pedestrian pace into a rather irritating headwind. Any hopes of a super chilled ride were however thwarted by Sunday stalwart Jane’s apparently effortless hill climbing prowess which was leaving the rest of us in the dust. I decided to try to stay with her only to find myself hitting over 400 watts, just to stay level! Some people don’t know their own strength! By the time we got to Bramble hill in Bramshaw we were all just letting her surge ahead. |
 Unfortunately this week I couldn’t arrange a tailwind home, in fact it was a pretty brutal headwind across the old airfield on Ocknell plane. By the time we reached the cafe those remaining were pretty ‘cream crackered’. Group three had timed it well however as the long queues had abated. Group one had arrived in the thick of it, with some so alarmed by the queue-age that they headed home sans cafe et gateaux and in Gareth W’s case sans casque de Velo et Gants. Many interesting conversations were had as usual but I can’t remember any of them, such is cycling. An enjoyable morning as nearly always.Next week the forecast is for wall to wall sunshine… I predict a bumper turnout. – 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. |
