Meet as usual 8.50 a.m for a 9.00 a.m start.
This week’s ride will be a hilly 100Km route north of the forest. There’s a lot of “chip and cover” road repair work going on in the south of the New Forest to Whitsbury.
Usual meet at 0850 for an 0900 depart at the main car park in Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. Please remember that the Rule of Six still applies at the start, end, coffee stop and if we stop for any mechanicals.
Route can be found here: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1528121?units=km
If anybody riding is doing the Round the Forest TT on Sunday and want an easier pace please make that known at the start and we’ll set up groups accordingly. Coffee stop is planned for Hockey’s around halfway. Hopefully there’s enough outside space there for us to spread out.
Hope to see another good turnout
Barry
Chain gang running as usual this week. 1830 depart from outside St Saviours Church in Wilverley Road, Brockenhurst. Standard route and groups to be formed dependant on who’s out. Or, as last week if the pace gets too hot a second group will form naturally on the road. Wind direction is forecast to be back to normal so that should mean an easier finish than last week.
Please note that next month the start time moves back to 1845 as we’ve got more daylight. Also, no chain gang on Thursday 6th as we’ve an inter club TT that night. Chain gang will move to Tuesday 4th instead next week.
Barry
Building on the last couple of weeks, this week’s club ride will be a 113Km trip around the forest with an option to cut short to around 80Km for those that wish. Usual meet at 0850 for an 0900 depart from the main car park in Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. Remember that the Rule of Six still applies when we’re not riding so, please ensure that this is observed at the start, coffee stop, finish and if we stop for any mechanicals.
Route will take us around Lepe, Calshot and after 63Km we’ll stop for coffee in Minstead at the Community Shop as we did last week. The green there gives us plenty of room for a socially distanced stop and the coffee, cake, welcome and service are all very good.
We’ll then head to Emery Down and Bolderwood where those who want a shorter ride can peel off back to Brock and those that want the full distance can do a loop around Ogdens.
Hope to see another good turnout as we’ve enjoyed since the re-start of group riding.
Route at: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1519162?units=km
Barry
Chain gang will be running as usual this week at 1830 on Thursday. Please arrive warmed up ready for a prompt start. Meet outside of St Saviours Church, Wilverley Road, Brockenhurst. Please remember to comply with Group of Six protocols at the start and finish. As we did last Tuesday we may split the group into different speeds depending on who’s riding and how many riders are out. Weather looks fair but there is a strong easterly wind forecast which should make good teamwork an asset for the last leg of the ride back to Brock.
Barry
Meet in Brookley Rd Car Park 8.50a.m for a 9.00a.m start.
Following on from the strong form of riders on the first two club rides since the re-start, this weeks ride will again be a little longer than the previous ones as we get back to “normal”.
Usual meet at 0850 for an 0900 depart from the car park in Brookley Road, Brockenhurst.
Route can be found at: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1507221?units=km
Route is 103Km
I’m expecting the forest to be a bit busier this week with the campsites re-opening as well as more shops and hospitality venues opening. There is also a UK Cycling event that is fully subscribed running in the forest Saturday and Sunday so we will have more traffic and more riders to contend with than we are used to. I’ve done my best to avoid the routes being used by the sportive but that has meant largely reversing last weeks route to do this and make the coffee stop work.
With the easing of lockdown restrictions, we can re-introduce a coffee stop to this weeks ride. After around 58Km we’ll pass the Community Shop in Minstead. This is a well-used and well-liked stop for the Saturday ride but please be aware of the following considerations. Although we can ride in groups of up to 15 when we stop (or anytime we’re not riding) the “Rule of 6” applies. So, when queuing or taking drinks onto the green remember “Rule of 6” and Social Distancing. Face coverings are also mandatory to enter the shop as is contactless payment so please come equipped. Current hygiene restrictions also mean that the shop cannot refill bottles so if you need additional supplies you will need to buy bottled water. We’ll ensure that we have manageable groups to ensure that we don’t arrive at Minstead en masse.
Hope to see another good turnout
Barry
Meet in Brookley Rd Car Park 8.50a.m for a 9.00a.m start.
(New or guest Riders please arrive a few minutes early).
Please remember to gather in groups of no more than six and to maintain social distancing. Keep an obvious space between each group. As we leave the car park we will form larger groups and these will be allocated before leaving.
Great to see such a high turnout last weekend (19). Riding was pretty good if perhaps slightly faster than intended. We will of course always ride to the pace of the slowest rider on Sundays. Please keep an eye out for one another. No one must get dropped on Sunday Club Ride.
Reviewing the safety camera footage I did spot a couple of group riding no-no's!.
1.Riders should under no circumstances ride no-handed whilst in the group. If you need both hands for something either ask for the group to stop or make your way to the back of the group.
2. Overtaking on a sharp, right handed downhill bend. Remember, risking your own safety is one thing, risking that of other riders is another.
Course downloadable here https://www.strava.com/routes/16701553
No cafe stop planned again this week but if you know of a suitable place in Brock where we can get takeaways whilst socially distancing etc then let me know (Might be a little cold for al fresco anyway)
Forecast is cold and breezy again but it's character building so I hope to see another fabulous turnout.
Phil H
Thanks to all those that joined the first club ride of the year last week. Hopefully we’re all getting used to riding in a group again.
One small observation from last week. Please remember that when riding in a group it’s vital that we keep communications flowing up and down the group, whether that’s notifying hazards, advising when to single up or split the group or if a rider is dropped on a hill or having a mechanical issue. This is everybody’s responsibility. It’s not always possible for a rider at the back to bridge to the front to advise of issues so essential that we pass messages though the group in a timely and clear fashion.
Last week’s pace was a little lively for some first time out, it was more of a mid-summer pace. So, this week try and back off a little and ensure that we keep the group(s) tight.
Please make every effort to be at the start for 0850 and remember the “Rule of 6” in the car park. Last week we had 11 riders at the start, took the decision to ride one group rather than 2 and shortly after the start we had 15. Which although within the guidelines approved by British Cycling was hard to manage. If we had that many at the start we would have made 2 groups. If you plan to join mid-ride please try and let me know in advance and I’ll factor that into group planning.
Going to increase the distance a little this week. Route will be a 93Km anti clockwise loop around the forest. Usual depart at 0900 from the main car park in Brookley Road, Brockenhurst. Please note that the car park has had its layout changed so we may need to congregate in different places now. Route can be downloaded from:
https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1499210?units=km
No planned coffee stops but there may be an opportunity for a takeaway service in Burley near the end (make sure you’ve got a face covering handy). We will plan a short stop mid ride for those that want to take on some nutrition.
Please note that the level crossing in Brockenhurst has planned closures this weekend so watch out for more traffic on other roads and traffic jams on the A337. We’re doing our best to keep away from that area, but it may be disruptive at the start and finish and for getting to the start.
Hope to see another good turnout
Barry
Following on from last weeks successful re-introduction of the Chain Gang we’ll be riding again over the usual course this week. So, meet at 1820 for a 1830 depart from outside St Saviours Church in Wilverley Road, Brockenhurst. Please remember to observe the “Rule of 6” at the start while we assess how many groups and size of groups.
Quality of riding last week was generally good. We just lost shape a little as we approached Burley and just need to ensure that we keep the group very tight on The Straight Mile as we approach the hill at Wilverley. So please keep communicating with other riders, keep the gaps tight and maximise the benefits of drafting. No big deal they were minor issues on a ride that was mostly ridden with good skill by everybody.
Traffic was pleasingly light last week, presumably down to the lack of campers and overnight stays in the forest so enjoy it while it lasts!
Note for diaries, no Chain Gang on the 15th April as there’s an inter-club TT scheduled that night.
Hope to see another good turnout this week.
Barry
We're back.
Meet as usual in Brookley Rd car Park, Brockenhurst at 8.50 a.m for a prompt 9.00 a.m start.
If you are new to the club rides or a guest rider please arrive 5 minutes early at 8.45. If you join on-route pick a group with less than 15 in it.
Please read the guidelines posted earlier in the week.
Gather in groups no larger than 6, we will form larger group or groups as we leave the car park depending on numbers.
It's Easter weekend but also still partially in lockdown so hard to know if it's going to be busy or not but we will use the South/South East route to Hatchett Pond East Dean/Beaulieu, Lepe etc as it tends to be quieter.
Strictly a no-drop social ride, let's keep an eye out for anyone dropping off the back and pace accordingly. Lock-down has been kinder to some of us than others so expect people to return at a wide range of fitness levels.
Route is 55K so we should get back to Brock 11.15-30 ish.
I think we will have to forgo the usual end of ride coffee stop for the next coupe of weeks unfortunately.
Forecast is cold but fair so I hope to see a great turnout.
Course map downloadable here.
https://www.strava.com/routes/2734021243800905316
Phil Harris
For our first club ride of 2021 we’ll brave the bank holiday traffic and take a clockwise loop of the forest. Ride is just over 80K so expect a steady 3 hour pace. Pace will be steady and the focus on getting re-acquainted with the skills of peloton riding. No coffee stops are planned during the ride or at the end. For those wanting some extra mileage suggest we re-group at the end and formulate a plan.
I hope that we’re all sufficiently aware of the protocols for social distancing and hygiene but there are a couple of specifics for club rides that we must adhere to:
• At the start and finish we must comply with the “Rule of 6”. So, in the car park that means 2M distancing and no groups larger than 6. If you are the seventh rider please start a new group.
• When we ride the social distancing rule is 1M with mitigations. So, we can ride a la peloton in either single or double lines as appropriate. As it’s a Bank Holiday weekend the forest may be busier than usual so those at the back of the pack please keep an eye for traffic and advise those ahead if its’ better / safer to single up.
• As a British Cycling affiliated club we are permitted to ride in groups of up to 15. We will almost certainly keep groups well under that number but when we are riding we can exceed the Rule of 6.
Usual meet at 0850 for a prompt 0900 depart. If there are any riders that are new to the group please be there at 0845 and we’ll give you some additional guidance on how we ride.
Route is at: https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1484414?units=km
Hope to see a good turnout of the regulars and some new faces
Barry
