Weekly Round-up: 9 Apr 2023
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
NFCC Ten Series Rd.1: P170/10The first club time trial of the season on Tuesday evening held under blue skies on the P170/10 course – find a race report, full table of results and a gallery of images by CLICKING HERE. Huge thanks again to those who gave up their time to make the event happen. |
Good Friday Off-road Club RideWith the forecast of a sunny Good Friday it was decided that a bonus club ride would be a good idea. Given that it was a bank holiday and a sunny day it was decided to dodge the traffic and make it an off-road ride around the marked cycle paths of the New Forest. A 64Km loop was planned with a mid-ride coffee stop at the community shop in Minstead. Nine riders turned up for the start including club diesel engine Bill. Bill set off before the main group and said he’d meet the rest at Minstead. The riders set off make good progress until we reached the woods in Holmsley. This is where we found out that Jay’s puncture mending skills were significantly below the level of his bike handling skills but luckily club bike packing hero Phil G was on hand to assist and the ride re-started. |
 Off road newbie, Phil H advised that the paths around the A31 were quite boggy and not great for gravel bike set ups so the route was re-planned via Linford Bottom. Alas, Bill didn’t get this communication, so he ploughed on relentlessly though the planned route and just like the fable of the Tortoise and the Hare arrived at the coffee stop before the rest of the riders. Lucy also joined the group at the coffee stop just so she gets to see Phil G for a few minutes on a cycling day. Phil H bailed and the rest completed the route. However, this was not enough for Phil G who doubled up the mileage for another epic day out. |
Bournemouth Arrow Good Friday 10Riders found themselves in still but bitterly cold conditions on the morning of Good Friday for the traditional Bournemouth Arrow 10 mile TT on the infamous rumble-strip that is P311. NFCC’s very own Gary Lock crossed the line in a very respectable 00:23:13, clocking the 15th fastest time of the TT bikes. Bob Jolliffe also took to the course in the TT bikes category and crossed the line in 00:33:04. Sien van der Plank was the only NFCC rider in the Road Bikes category and finished in 00:27:06 – the fastest Woman in the road bike category and the third fastest woman on the day. |
Castle Combe Good Friday Easter ClassicPhill Brown once again put the Club colours on display at the Castle Combe Good Friday Easter Classic – a frantic 100-rider race with an average speed of over 44km/h (27mph) for the 45+ minute event. Brown went into the event with a cool head, planning on avoiding being spotted on the front of the pack, and waiting for the opportune moment to try his luck and see if he could escape the peloton. As the bell rang for the final lap, a big acceleration away from the peloton left Brown flying solo for the final lap, but a lapse of concentration and he somehow found himself on the grass of the infield and despite his best efforts to get back up to speed, got swamped by the peloton with only a few hundred meters to go… Something we’re sure we’ll never let him live down! |
Saturday Club RideAt last, decent weather on a Saturday so as expected it was a welcome return to some of the club hydrophobes who have been missing the last few weeks. Seventeen riders made the start and we picked up another couple along the way. With the likelihood of the forest roads being very busy the ride was planned for one of our often used routes along the Chalke Valley. A 126Km route was planned but the author of this report must admit to a mea culpa with some sub-standard route planning. Firstly, a random dog leg from Rockbourne to Damerham. Once again Bill set off as the advanced party, didn’t get the comms and made the unfortunate diversion and incurred some extra mileage. But the poor route planning was not the only candidate for the roll of dishonour this week. At the coffee stop Phil “mechanic of the year in perpetuity” Harris confessed to having fitted both his new tyres the wrong way round. So, if you see him cycling backwards don’t worry, he’s just doing it to make his tyres work properly. |
 These misdemeanours are mild compared to Matt K. Therefore, Matt’s in the barrel this week for being the opposite of a boy scout with a “be prepared” motto. He bought out his lightweight summer bike and his lightweight climbing wheels for the first time this year. He also managed to save even more weight by failing to bring spares, tools, or enough food for the ride. Luckily the club had domestiques on hand with spares, tools, and gels to get him round without Matt having to carry the extra weight! Peloton number 2 stopped for a natural break as it often does near the stud farm at Whitsbury. As usual the mares were not impressed, and the stallions were not intimidated! The ride continued to the community café in Broad Chalke before it closed so all were able to get refreshed and meet up with the other peloton and Bill. Then it was the brutal climb past Bowerchalke and double kudos to Smithy who got up it with fewer swear words than last time and even managed to descend without visiting the hedge. The route back was then diverted due to the authors second mapping error as he had plotted a route along the A31 so we diverted back through the intended route via Ibsely. Back to Brock and as usual some of the club’s mileage monsters rounded the ride up to and beyond the 100 mile mark. |
Sunday Club RideAnother great turnout in what was initially a cold, still morning but which became a lovely sunny bank holiday Sunday. |
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. |
