Weekly Round-up: 23 Feb 2025
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
Leeston HC Rd.17Another Thursday evening race for Phill Brown at round 17 of the Leeston Handicap Series in New Zealand. The group of six Phill started in worked well together in the notorious Canterbury winds, but catching the final bunch of leading riders on the road wasn’t to happen. Brown broke away from the group he was riding with and made a solo effort for the last few kilometres to finish in 5th place, just a handful of seconds away from the four leaders who crossed the line together. |
Saturday Club RideThe promised double-digit temperatures and watery sunshine duly appeared this week as bravely forecasted when the club ride was posted on Wednesday. Admittedly it was more a day for Factor 4 sun cream than Factor 50 but it was most welcome after the recent Saturday weather. This outbreak of clement conditions was the catalyst for many of the Saturday morning duvet huggers and hydrophobes to make an appearance. There were plenty of riders for two full pelotons plus Lucy heading off as the advance party. With strict adherence to to Rule #87 (The ride shall start on time), with the plan to beat the train that arrives at Brockenhurst and causes a lengthy delay at the level crossing we headed out promptly only to find the barrier already down. So both groups diverted and braved the craters and tarmac obstacle course near the railway bridge in Balmer Lawn Road. |
 All was going to plan as we rode through East Boldre. Then at the right turn for Norleywood, four riders on the front, all equipped with fantastic GPS devices with the route loaded managed to miss the turning, they ignored the shouts from the four riders behind and disappeared towards East End. This settled the barrel this week so it’s a tight squeeze to get Adrian, Matt K, Phil H and Graham into it. Matt did manage to backtrack and join the main group but the others were not to be seen until the coffee stop. We did have to ride through some flooded roads between Poulner and Blashford, which was not surprising given the level of water that was apparent on most of the water courses we passed. Thankfully we did all meet up at The Potting Shed for coffee. Group One had picked up Sam along the way and Richard had made his usual trip south. At this point, we did start to lose riders as some wanted a shorter ride. We did unfortunately have a couple of punctures on the second leg. Thankfully it was a lot warmer than the previous weeks so no great inconvenience. Group One had Will as the unlucky rider and Group Two Adrian. Both, however, were guilty of Rule # 49 violations (Keep the rubber side down) and will join serial offender Graham in that group. |
 Whilst Adrian fixed his puncture at Alderholt, Graham with his local knowledge advised that given the flooding elsewhere the causeway at Harbridge would probably be a challenge. We still have memories of Peter W “testing” the depth of the water on a club ride where he really needed a snorkel so he thought better of attempting it. So the group diverted to return via Fordingbridge instead. Here we had another group split with half the group returning via Bickton and half via Stuckton and were never to see each other again. So it was small groups that completed the 110Km route this week. Rob and Axum both rounded up to 100 miles so extra kudos to them.All in all a very pleasant day for a club ride. Let’s hope we get more of this type of weather through March. You never know it might even get warm enough for Phill B to come home and cease posting pictures of glorious New Zealand weather and scenery! Barry – Barry |
Sunday Club RideA meagre 7 made the start for this week’s Sunday club ride. Possibly due to the return of it’s erstwhile ride leader but hopefully more so due to the promise of cool and gusty weather (with the promise of 40 mph winds and rain on the way home). Sean arrived in good time thanks to a solid tailwind, presumably something he came to regret later. |
 We set off in one group on a west-east-westerly route, carefully chosen to best combat the strong southerly. We picked up Andrew B en route, making it a tidy group of 8. Conditions made the going fairly hard and the average pace certainly didn’t reflect the effort levels at the front of the group. Sean M and Joe O both put in good stints at the front with Phil H showing his experience by hiding behind man-mountain Sean rather than relative man-mouse Joe. |
 Good to see John B returning to form and rude health after bingeing on Vitamin D recently, I doubt he risked overdosing in today’s overcast conditions. Some of the group split off before the cafe. Rich W is in training for Mallorca 312 getting used to long rides sans-rest and I think Sean just trying to beat the worst of the headwind home. Those remaining took full advantage of the usual cafe stop at Rosie Lee’s on Setley Ridge.Great ride as usual with good company made it reasonably tolerable to be back from my travels. – Phil H |
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. |
