Exhausting. Brilliant. Let’s do it again!
What a week!
New Forest Cycling Week 2026 was everything we could have hoped for, and then some. Amazing weather, brilliant company, plenty of cycling, lots of food, a few competitive moments, and just enough organisation to make things happen without getting in the way of the fun.
There were beach rides, forest rides, pub rides, tea and cake rides, and probably more ice creams (and beers?) than anyone really needed. Although, of course, they were all earned after the ride.
Some started and finished the week with Lymington parkrun, with a ride to the start on the Saturday and another on the final Saturday. Others headed to the beach to get the chilled vibes and ice-creams flowing. Whatever your choice, there was plenty of opportunity to get on the bikes, with rides ranging from gentle outings to longer adventures.
Rides, rides and more rides
We explored the forest, cycled through fords, headed to the coast, visited the Isle of Wight, found old favourite tea rooms and cafes, enjoyed picnics and discovered yet more excellent places to stop for refreshments.
Some rides were carefully planned, while others were designed on the back of beer mats. There seems to be a direct link between how many “bottoms” feature in a ride and where it was devised!
The great thing, as always, was that you could join someone else’s ride, put your own ride on the board, or simply head off and do your own thing. New members and old hands seemed equally happy to get involved, and there was plenty of opportunity for everyone to find their own pace.
Mia’s scavenger hunt ran throughout the week and was a particular highlight. It kept all ages looking, thinking and competing while out and about on rides. There was some very serious scavenging going on, and possibly a few people who took it rather more seriously than was strictly necessary!
Then there were the beach days. Some involved cycling and ice cream, others were gloriously slow days of paddling, crabbing and simply enjoying being beside the sea. The New Forest provided plenty of opportunities for cycling and wildlife spotting too, including the ever-present ponies who remain entirely unimpressed by cyclists.
The evenings back at camp were often more relaxed. The youngsters disappeared off to play together, making their own entertainment and friendships, while the adults finally had a chance to sit down, share a tipple of choice, and put the world to rights. Those unhurried evenings are just as much a part of the rally as the cycling.
Sunday dancing, Monday talking, Tuesday racing
Sunday brought the evening barn dance. What moves! There may have been some dancing that was better described as enthusiastic than technically correct, but nobody seemed to care.
Monday brought the AGM. Thank you to everyone who came along, and for your support and patience. We promise to be more concise next year!
Tuesday evening was time trial night, starting sensibly with our youngest members. They did brilliantly, and then the adults had their turn, including the “wine” challenge. The adults were supposed to concentrate on getting round without spilling their wine or, in some cases, trying to target any “deserving” teenagers who happened to be in range.
Obviously, it was all highly competitive and conducted in the best possible spirit. Mostly. There was at least one sore loser, and some distinctly questionable behaviour from the grown-ups. The children, naturally, behaved impeccably.
And then came Becky’s quiz…
Wednesday evening was quiz night, and Becky certainly didn’t disappoint. Congratulations to our winning teams, who demonstrated an impressive breadth of knowledge and, perhaps more importantly, a remarkable ability to get their team sizes just right.
The quiz had questions for all ages, which meant everyone could join in, and remarkably there wasn’t too much disagreement or arguing this year. We’re not sure whether that means the questions were better balanced, the teams better behaved, or Becky simply has us all trained now.
Either way, thank you, Becky. Please do it again next year. We promise to behave. Probably.
Friday BBQ and limbo
By Friday legs were tired, but there was still plenty of energy left for the BBQ and, naturally, the final-night limbo competition. It was a fitting end to a week in which we’d already tested our cycling legs, dancing abilities, quiz knowledge and general competitive spirit.
Something for everyone
Looking back, there really was something for everyone. Long rides and short rides. Forest and beach. Tea rooms and pubs. Picnics and ice creams. Walking, cycling, crabbing, scavenger hunting, time trials, quizzes and dancing. Busy days, slow days and evenings when the most important activity was sitting around chatting.
And perhaps that is what makes the week work so well. New members and old hands, children and adults, serious cyclists and those who simply fancy a pootle all seemed to find their place. You could join in as much or as little as you wanted.
It was exhausting. It was brilliant. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Same time next year? Absolutely.