Corps Sport

RN Cycling NOCG Camp 2025

by AB Simcox and Midshipman Taylor RN

Over 14-21 June 2025, Royal Navy Cycling spent a week in Germany at the Navy Outdoor Centre for a road and mountain bike concentration camp. The purpose of the concentration was to develop RNC riders and push them out of their comfort zone in NOCG’s challenging Alpine environment. This is the second year NOCG has hosted RNC and they offer a beautiful location that is perfect for our road and mountain bike riders to plan a progressive week of riding suited to everybody’s abilities.

The days would begin with a morning Met brief followed by a ride leaders’ meeting where the route would be confirmed and risk assessments discussed.

Our mountain bike enduro riders rode local routes around Hindelang and Allgäu as well as travelling over to Austria for a day where they were lucky enough to ride the incredible Biberwier trail ending at a breathtaking lake where everyone jumped in to cool off from the 27-degree heat!

Road riders en route to Tannheim in Austria

There were some big days out on the bikes with lots of elevation gain, covering 18 to 20 miles some days with 2500ft of climbing, the highest point reaching 2230m. Nevertheless, the climbing did not go without reward. The views in the Bavarian mountains are stunning and the descents delivered fantastic, diverse riding that incorporated good technical downhill sections through root gardens, rocky gullies, drops and steep tight corners that really kept you on your toes, as well as fabulous following trails that allowed you to let loose on the bike.

Throughout the week, there was a mixture of uplifts and pedal ups which made for a perfect balance to please both the phys bosuns and downhill senders in the group. Each day finished in Sonthofen for an ice cream and coffee which made for the perfect finish to an awesome day’s riding.

For our road bike riders, most rides were around 100km in length, bar the first day, which was interrupted by heavy rain, a notable exception to an otherwise sunny trip.

Due to the number of road riders and the varying abilities, the riders split into three groups. Groups one and two followed a similar pace and route, with group three conducting a reduced programme. Riders would typically be back before 1600, with the rest of the day consisting of rest and active recovery at NOCG’s saunas, détente at the local freshwater pool or walks through the calm Bavarian countryside.

A rider from group one talked about the ride that stands out the most, the third day’s route over the Riedbergpass. With a gruelling 5.4km climb at an averaging incline of 10%, the route took the riders all the way to Bregenz, near the Austria Switzerland border where they saw great views of Lake Constance. The day totalled 143km, over 2000m of vertical elevation and took just under five hours, all ridden under the relentless Alpine heat. Riders also enjoyed a route to Neuschwanstein Castle, where ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’ was filmed, enjoying a fast ride around the surrounding valley. This route totalled 110km and involved summiting the Landstrasse climb, giving the riders access to some of the most spectacular views of the region. Due to the long routes and hot weather, the highlight of most rides was the mid-ride stop with cola and apple strudel being riders’ favourite snacks.

AB Lucy Simcox halfway down the Biberwier trail with the Mittersee Lake behind