Weekly Round-up: 07 Sep 2025
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
Saturday Club RideThis week’s club ride was a familiar 110Km ride to Broad Chalke and along the Chalke Valley. A little low on numbers this week, 14, as some of the club stalwarts were doing the On and Offshore ride the next day. Still enough for a couple of well-matched pelotons for the ride north. Riding north at Bolderwood we were undertaken on the gravel to the left of the road by Phil G who was out for a short sharp spin before the following days IOW epic. Luckily this still meant we had some decent photos from his brief joining of the ride. |
 At Bolderwood we picked up Bus Pass Graham who was having a lie in also claiming he wanted a short ride before the IOW epic. A strong southerly wind was appreciated on the northbound leg, and we arrived at the coffee stop in Broad Chalke about 10 minutes early as a result. Even better news was that the card machines were working at the Community Cafe so there was no more blubbing from riders missing their caffeine fix as they were a couple of weeks back. At the coffee stop we were treated to Smithy giving an economics lesson to everybody, something about investing enough into gold and Gilts. Later he was to give a practical demonstration about the perils of not investing in Watts when it comes to riding into headwind! |
 Group One having lost Dan and Phill B joined up to make a single peloton for what was now the dreaded return leg into a very strong headwind. We headed back south over Knowle Hill which was challenging and then some of the riders started to take some heroic turns as we headed south through Martin, Damerham, Sandleheath, Alderholt, Poulner all the way to Braggers Lane. |
 Kudos to Mark, Phil H, Bus Pass Graham, Neil S, and Phil J for some great pulls on the front. The club is blessed with a 6 foot 4 powerhouse in a 2XL jersey with an upright riding style who is perfect to lead out in these types of ride, like Tim Declerq in a NFCC jersey. 40Km of riding into a block headwind and not once did he put him ample frame anywhere near the front. Only after being shamed into it once we got to the top of Braggers did he do a token turn on the front. So, this week it’s a big barrel filled by club behemoth, Sean. More kudos to Steve who rounded up to over 100 miles.Another great day out on somewhat challenging conditions. – Barry W |
Sunday Club RideWith several regulars away or riding the Audax, we still managed about 14 at the start, looking forward to a splendid Sunday morning ride. There was a natural split into a faster group and a group 2! The speedy riders disappeared into the ether, not to be seen until the café then the rest of us set off trying to keep up with Stuart W who had received his new bike’s wheels back from DT. The pace calmed a little and we followed the route without incident until the heavens opened, spitting hailstones at us around Bockhampton. However we’d dried out before the café where we met up with group 1 for the usual chat and banter. In the absence of Phil H I managed to organise a tailwind most of the way home! |
Wessex Cyclocross Rd.1: ClanfieldThe 2025/6 cyclocross season kicked off this week with the first round of the South Downs Social Wessex Cyclocross League taking place at Canfield. A slightly revamped course removed a handful of meters of elevation from the pain, and made for a fast, flowing course with the weather playing its part in a great day of racing (and running with) bikes. NFCC Riders were thin on the ground for the first event of the season, with just Joe Shepherd and first timer Phill Brown in the Open Senior race. With both riders getting off to a good start, it wasn’t long into the first lap until the duo were on track side by side, and it was Brown who got the better of the head-to-head battle as the race went on. Sixty-something minutes of consistently maxed heart-rate later, Phill crossed the line in 7th with Joe clinching 20th place. |
New Forest On & Off-shore AudaxOn Sunday, seven club members rode the 200 km On and Offshore Audax, a route split between the Isle of Wight, the New Forest, and the southern coast. The day began with a circuit of the Isle of Wight, taking in the Needles and the south-west cliffs before cutting inland through quiet lanes to Bembridge. From there, the route returned via Cowes and the Solent shore to Yarmouth for the ferry back to Lymington. |
 Back on the mainland, riders climbed Boldrewood, then headed out through the Avon Valley and the lanes skirting Cranborne Chase. A fast run down to the coast and along beaches and salt marsh reserves led to the finish at Lymington Community Centre, where pasta and rice pudding were waiting. All seven finished comfortably within time. The weather was kinder than forecast, with just a brief shower, though a gusty headwind made the final stretch hard work. All in all, a great day out– Phill G. |
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. |
