Weekly Round-up: 26 Feb 2023
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
Thursday Virtual ChainGangAnother trip to the Volcano Circuit saw a number of Riders join Phil Grant for another virtual Chain Gang. If you’re a current Club Member and want to get involved with the Zwift training rides, CLICK HERE to send an email and receive instructions on how to join the Virtual NFCC Zwift Club. |
Saturday Club RideDespite a bitterly north-easterly wind, riders turned up in their number for a loop into the northern reaches of the forest and a visit to a cafe stop favourite at Broad Chalke. Despite the weather conditions, it seems some od the usual suspects clocked up a few extra gratuitous miles after the ride too. A big shout to those who managed to use all their gears and charge up all their technology this week – only a minority going by the reports on strava! |
OddDown Winter Series: Rd.8For the first time this year, more than one NFCC Jersey was spotted on a start line of a Crit Race… Not only did Phill Brown escape the forest to the final round of the Odd Down Winter Series in Bath, he managed to somehow convince Joe Shepherd to go with him. Fresh from a winter of cyclocross racing, Joe was excited to get back on solid ground and get used to not having to do any running in the middle of a bike race. The rapid pace set right from the line was a shock to the system for Shepherd on his first race back but Brown managed to stay with the pack, leading the peloton for the second half of the race. A rapid final lap full of attacks resulted in a 30-rider, 300m drag-race from the final corner to the line and despite being swamped on the last straight, Brown managed to fight his way back through the pack and finish in the top 10. |
Sunday Club RideIt was only a team of four out for the Sunday Club Ride this week with a number of usual riders away, recharging their shifting system, or taking part in the audax mentioned below. Budge’s watch battery wasn’t working and after missing the start of the ride his chase wasn’t quite enough as didn’t manage to catch the fantastic-four up the road. |
Off Camber XC Race 2023Graham Sharman represented the Club on Sunday morning at his first XC race of the season hosted by Off Camber Cycles. Despite a chilly start, the sun was shining so it was also his first ride of the year in shorts! The course at the Inside Park in Blandford is made up of very technical sections, fun flowing elements, and a couple of jumps for a bit of extra spice! Graham was able to sit in the leading group for the first few laps but all the bouncing around on a hard-tail bike soon took its toll. Settling into a nice rhythm for the last couple of laps while being kept honest by a Bournemouth Cycleworks rider, Graham was pleased with his overall result, finishing 39th overall and 22nd in his age group. |
Wylye And Ebble Valley AudaxIf the thought of a 200km audax wasn’t enough for you, a road closure managed to add an additional 10% to the length of the route yesterday for a number of NFCC Riders taking part in the Wylye And Ebble Valley Audax from Denmead. One well-prepared soul managed to leave not only their gloves, but all their nutrition at home… An excellent start to the day! In true NFCC style, other Member’s had spares which were loaned to them – we know who’s buying next week’s coffees. The route started from Denmead, just north of Portsmouth, and followed a north-westerly direction to loop around Salisbury, where riders were confronted with railway engineering works closing a key part of the route – the alternative was to turn around or brave the dreaded A303. The audax format was new to a few of the riders who didn’t choose lightly when clocking their first ever ride over 200km. Congratulations to everyone who made it round and even managed to earn some Audax points! |
Sotonia Early Season TTOur friends at Sotonia held their early season TT on the 24km P183A course from Landford in the north of the forest this week. The only NFCC representative on the line was Sien van der Plank who stormed into the early season clocking the second fastest women’s time in the road bike category on the day, finishing in just 43:31 – only bettered by Holly Ramsey, a member of the British Cycling Junior Track Academy! |
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. |
