Weekly Round-up: 10 July 2022
With temperatures warming and a heatwave setting in for the weekend, it was another busy week for New Forest Cycling Club…
Tuesday Evening Time TrialThe first successful visit of the year to the quickest course on our roster, P128/10. The fifth round of the NFCC Road Bikes Only Time Trial Series attracted another strong field of 23 rides consisting of 14 Club Members and 9 guests/regular visitors made up of 1 tandem, 4 tt rigs and 18 road bikes. |
Portsmouth Evening Circuits #15Charlie Hill made his way to Mountbatten for the Portsmouth Evening Circuits #15 on Wednesday. Fast becoming his second home, Charlie used his experience at the circuit to help prevent any attacks getting away and not wanting to sit in a breakaway himself, Charlie led out from the bell and only one rider managed to pass him before the line. Securing another solid second place, this leaves Charlie well on his way to his Cat2 racing license, only needing another 12 points. Chapeau Charlie. |
Thursday Evening Chain GangAnother fine night for the chain gang this week. Six riders made the start for the three laps from Roundhill to Hatchet Pond, including one newbie to Thursday nights, welcome Paul Wind was light and either from the back or front so no real advantage to be gained from rotating one way or the other. The ride was disrupted a few times as we had to stop or slow down for various herds of cattle and ponies but that’s all part of the fun of riding in the forest. Visibility on the Hatchet Pond course is great so always plenty of time to slow the group down for hazards. The first leg was steady and all six riders stayed together in good formation. On the second leg one rider was dropped as the pace increased. On the third leg we got back to six riders but on the last part of the last leg two riders dropped off as the pace increased and a 4 up team time trial made it to the finish. Another good ride and a privilege to ride with skilled and disciplined riders. |
RCR Fat Creations Goodwood Summer Series Rd.2Ben George made his debut in a new category after gaining his Cat3 licence and joined Phill Brown at Goodwood for round 2 of the RCR Fat Creations Summer Series this week. A lazy start to the race didn’t quite see the pace instantly rocket up like it did the week before, but a number of clubs/teams had bigger number on the line and used this to their advantage. A crash in the earlier Cat4 race marred progress slightly with the Cat3 race having to slow and avoid medics attending to a number of riders on the side of the start/finish straight for a number of the early laps – best wishes and speedy recovery to those involved. every lap saw a number of attacks go off the front but none were successful until two riders casually rode away two thirds of the way into the race – both had team mates that marked and disrupted every attempt at a chase so they gained a reasonable advantage leading into the closing laps. |
Tour de FranceFor those with more time on their hands than work, you might have been witness to a mighty UAE train hauling Tadej Pogacar up the La Planche des Belles Filles and even spotted Joe & Emma Shepherd and family roadside on the the live coverage! |
Saturday Club RideAnother bumper turn out for the Saturday Club ride saw riders gather in the sunshine in Brockenhurst for a trip to the crowd pleasing Chalk Valley Stores in Broadchalke – but a different route to and from this week from the usual. Splitting into smaller groups for safety, the riders followed a familiar route through Rhinefield, Bolderwood and over to Moyles Court and Downton, before tackling a cycle lane along the A338 and following the back lanes through Odstock to Coombe Bissett and on to the Coffee Stop. |
 After raiding all of the cake supplies and Barry enjoying a controversial meat pie in the sunshine, the route headed south west through Bowerchalke and on to Six Penny Handley before returning to the forest through Wimborne St. Giles and Canborne. As usual, riders split off on their own routes home on the way back leaving reduced numbers coming in to Brock. A number of riders kept up Phil Grant tradition and made the ride up to 100+ miles in the sunshine. |
Sunday Club RideThe Sunday club ride ventured out into the sunshine as usual this week with a number of riders donning their suncream and hoping Phil Harris would buy them an ice-cream… Following a course to the south west to avoid a triathlon on the opposite side of the forest, the route left Brockenhurst via Rhinefield Road and followed Lyndhurst Road into Burley. Leaving the village, a quick climb of Crow Hill opened up an array of quiet lanes to loop around before returning to Brock on the same route for a pitstop at The Terrace. |
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. |
