Weekly Round-up: 3 Nov 2024
All the latest news, events, and results from NFCC Members from this week’s two-wheeled adventures…
Saturday Club RideA very welcome but unseasonably dry week led to an amnesty on mudguards this week… Which must count as Barry’s annual dose of goodwill! Most riders took the opportunity to dust off recently mothballed summer bikes for a last hurrah. Thirteen riders were at the start and a couple of others making good use of the Club’s Spond app made arrangements to meet the pelotons as we headed north. We also welcomed back Axum from his summer travels… His return will also be welcomed by our local cafes as it doubles our order. |
 Given the decent forecast and the probability that the end of half term would make the forest very busy, the route this week took us out of the forest to the north and along the Chalke Valley. The planned route was a lumpy 116Km which was plenty for this time of year for most of us. We all reconvened at the Community Café in Broad Chalke for coffee, the volunteers had kindly reserved a large table for us which was just as well as the place shortly became packed with the arrival of another peloton from Gillingham Wheelers. Just as well we arrived at the predicted time we had given the café! |
 Suitable replete we headed west before a long climb from Ebbesbourne Wake to Sixpenny Handley. Heading back to the forest we started to shed riders who were close to home as usual and it was relatively small groups that made it back to Brock. Axum was the only one this week to extend his ride over the century mark. All this way and nothing barrel worthy… Riders were smartly turned out, bikes were clean and well maintained (apart from Adrian’s permanently creaking bottom bracket). |
 Not much in the way of mechanical incidents for riders to demonstrate previously unattained levels of ineptitude. With the bar very low this week it was left to Ben T to make his debut in the barrel. He punctured three miles from home whilst riding out to meet the group, which can happen to anyone… However, he’d left his pump at home so had no choice but to phone Mrs T and get her to drive out in her dressing-gown to meet him with a pump. As usual, a very pleasant way to spend a Saturday in good company. Kudos to all for making it so.– Barry |
Sunday Club RideThat time of year thou mayst in me behold Or in layman’s terms, Sundays club ride had Autumnal-ness coming out of its backside… |
 16 members made it to the start-line under overcast skies. We split into two camps, 7 who fancied a faster ride and consider Sundays a reasonable day of the week upon which to train and 9 of us who fancied a more leisurely, social ride and consider Sunday a day to cake. |
 Group 2 was soon joined by rider number 17 and then with Mount Bolderwood summited the fun shoukd have begun. Before we made Minstead however Phill G’s tyre made a ‘statement’ bang, bringing the group to a halt. As regulars will know Phill G is always first to lend a hand when others falter and so it was that as Phill got down the the business of getting back on the road, no one lifted a finger to help him out. Some might say that we knew that he could manage quite well without us but on the other hand it was quite chilly and helping might have involved getting chilly fingers. Anyhow because Phill G refuses to join the modern world and get tubeless tyres it was all fixed pretty quickly and using ‘Budges magic wind machine’ re-inflated in a jiffy. |
 It was one of those rare rides when we never seemed to hit the head wind but instead cruised easily around the route and even back into Brockenhurst with a moderate tailwind. Group one apparently made good progress, including an exhibition standard, through and off at one point. They must have been pretty quick as they had all legged it from the cafe by the time group two arrived. We were joined by Ali’s partner David W at the cafe after their 6 weeks of sunshine and cycling in Mallorca. Apparently neither has seen blue sky since arriving home and don’t expect to until May. |
 Due to the cafe’s location on Setley Ridge (clue is in the name) all Sunday club rides are largely ruined by terminating at the top of a short but horrible hill, however the cafe has proven a very popular regular spot in recent years. Despite the popularity of Daisy tea rooms, there was mutinous talk about trying out the cafe at the bottom of the hill, outside the Boost bike shop some time, let me know what you think.
Very pleasant Autumnal club ride in great company. |
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. |
