Weekly Round-up: 8 Nov 2026
All the latest news, events, and results for NFCC Members from the previous week of two-wheeled adventures…
Saturday Club RideWinter riding has officially arrived. Not according to the calendar, but according to the far more reliable indicator: absolutely everyone had covered their knees. Winter bib tights and leg warmers were out in force. Even the cyclo-cross contingent, taking a week off from their usual mud-based recreation, had conceded that exposed legs were no longer a sensible lifestyle choice or a badge of honour. Everyone had also complied with the request for mudguards. Admittedly, Chris’s rear offering interpreted “protection” as a strictly personal benefit. Excellent news for Chris. Anyone following his wheel could enjoy the complimentary forest rinse and Belgian toothpaste. |
| Phil H was first at the start, giving himself plenty of time to produce a 4 mm Allen key and begin adjusting his saddle alignment. Nothing inspires confidence before a long ride quite like last-minute bike fettling in the car park. The saddle, which had presumably hoped for a quiet morning, was once again required to defend its position and trying to fit a rider who is anatomically unsuited to it or any of the other seventy two saddles in his collection. With numbers a little light, we headed west in one group for a 105 km forest loop. We collected Matt K at Burley after his lie-in: a civilised approach to club cycling, especially when there is a full programme of roadside entertainment to deliver. |
| At Mockbeggar came the familiar cry of “Mechanical!” Matt was once again making his contribution to the distribution of tyre sealant across the New Forest. Some riders collect kilometres. Matt prefers to leave evidence. Credit where it’s due, though: a swift application of a DynaPlug had the tyre repaired in remarkably short order which flies in the face of his previous track record. An excellent bit of kit, even if buying them at Matt’s apparent rate of consumption might eventually justify a trade account and jeopardise any chance of a college fund for Eloise and James! |
| Next came the electronic pump. Modern cycling technology really is marvellous: compact, convenient and capable of replacing all that tedious arm work for cyclists who are not overly blessed in the bicep department. Provided, of course, somebody has charged it. Somebody had not. Given the previous episodes involving flat Di2 batteries, this was less a plot twist than a recurring theme. He must be the only solicitor in history that has problems charging! A substitute pump was borrowed, air was restored and the ride could continue. |
| But two incidents do not make a trifecta. Fortunately, Matt had also neglected to load the route onto his Garmin. Puncture, flat pump, absent course: three from three, and this week’s place in the barrel secured without the need for a recount. The bike now knew how to roll again; where it was going remained somebody else’s problem. There is an old idiom: “does a bear **** in the woods?” This has not been replaced with “will Matt cover the New Forest in tyre sealant?” With the barrel proceedings settled, we moved on to the serious business of coffee and cake at The Potting Shed. Finally, a component of the ride that required neither an Allen key nor a charging cable and one which the assemblage are masters at. |
| The second half was going rather well until Nomansland, where November apparently noticed we were enjoying ourselves and arranged an unwelcome shower. This persisted for about half an hour: long enough to make its point, but not quite enough to stop us describing it afterwards as “a decent day, considering”. Winter cycling is largely an exercise in lowering expectations. We made a second pass across the airfield at Ocknell’s Plain, sharing turns on the front. A welcome demonstration that, while mudguard protection may vary, the work could still be distributed fairly. |
| As we approached Brockenhurst, riders began peeling off until five remained. Special kudos to Phil J, who finished with 135 km. Apparently 105 km in November leaves far too much of the day available for being warm and comfortable. All told: winter kit deployed, cake consumed, one tyre repaired and a thoroughly respectable ride completed. For next week, please bring mudguards, a loaded route and batteries containing actual electricity. I appreciate that this is an ambitious specification but do your best! – Barry. |
Sunday Club RideTis’ the season of mist, mellow fruitfulness and cold feet. Despite it being colder than a witches hat and a real ‘pea souper’ to boot, 14 or 15 survived the trip to the start line. James A seemed relaxed with his decision to go into full winter mode with winter bike and nobbly tyres until the rest of Group 1 arrived on summer bikes, slicks and in Steve W’s case sweating like Spartacus’s dad with a look on his face that said ‘it’s workout day’. |
| Group 2 was, as usual well stocked with the clubs elite (for age). Quality riders (for age) who know better than to hit the start of winter riding too hard but instead set an impressive (for age) but measured pace. Group 3 was a little thinly populated this week with just four of us but what we lacked in numbers we gained in quality and style. There was a quick vote before the start about whether to just cut to the chase and head up to the cafe but despite a clear majority in favour, we still inexplicably headed out to steer blind in the whiteout and pedal with numb feet for a couple of hours. |
| This weeks puncture victims were group 1 which gave group 2 and 3 the opportunity to pretend to offer help and a sly smirk. Once group one got going again they pretty quickly roped in group 3 but had a real chase on to catch group 2. With their honour at stake it appears that a pretty serious effort was laid down to catch them Group 2 however, we’re having none of that and in a very mature way put the hammer down, dropping some of their members in the process. Group one are claiming that they caught group two because they passed the stragglers but group two are claiming victory as its leaders arrived first and took photographic evidence to prove it. |
| Some arrived at the cafe in time to observe the two minutes silence, some didn’t but with many grumbling about the bitter cold and bathed in the cafes complimentary blankets we all felt like we had a pretty good idea what it must have felt like in the frozen trenches of the Somme. – 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. |
