Weekly Round-up: 04 Aug 2024

All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…

NFCC 15 Challenge Aggregate Rd.3

The final round of the NFCC 15 Challenge Aggregate on P164/15 was held under almost perfect conditions, with Sotonia’s Ant Gritton setting a new known course record. Results from the night can be found by CLICKING HERE.

Saturday Club Ride

The forecasted showers had mostly cleared early morning, so it was another balmy day for this week’s club ride. Eleven riders assembled in good time for the start in Brockenhurst and four of them volunteered for Group One and promised to play nicely this week. Planned route was a relatively short 120Km this week after some of the harder rides recently, and also to give those that wanted time to get back for the Olympic Road Race. The ride headed north up Bolderwood and onto Fordingbridge, Whitsbury, Combe Bissett and we all met up at the always excellent Community Café in Broad Chalke. The Chalke Valley was quite challenging with a strong westerly headwind but turns at the front were shared.

After coffee we kept heading west and then took on a new way to make the climb to Sixpenny Handley by taking the left at Ebbesbourne Wake. The riders at the front were advised that the left turn was coming up at the café, then again as we approached the village. Aided by sophisticated mapping technology from Mr Wahoo and Mr Garmin the riders at the front, Baz and Sean were so busy gassing they still missed the turn and had to double back. Normally this would get them in the barrel (would need to be a sturdy one for those two – author cannot really throw stones here!) but there was more incompetence to look forward to later. We took this new (to us) climb and it was definitely popular with those that find gravity a challenge.
Now with a tailwind we headed back towards the forest. After Alderholt there was a mighty clanging noise. Smithy’s saddle clamp had exploded into numerous pieces. Fortunately, Smithy is a habitual wheelsucker so no other riders were hurt by the shrapnel. Despite the best efforts of the group no repair was possible, and Smithy was left to ride home (gingerly) sans saddle. Our hero and barrel regular retired this week, and it seems his saddle clamp has joined him. The remaining riders picked up Phil G who took on photographer duties for the rest of the ride. Then the usual peeling off of riders as we approached Brockenhurst. Extra kudos to Graham for a big century ride and Baz for well over 200Km.

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.

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