As someone who's had the Garmin Ride Out on my bucket list for a few years, I was thrilled to finally make it happen this year. The event promised a great turnout, supported a fantastic charity, and gave me the chance to explore the beautiful New Forest for the first time. Plus, I knew a few friends were going, so I was looking forward to a fun, laid-back day.
Early Morning Start and First Impressions
My day began bright and early at 5:45 am, picking up Josh and Khory from ZF Media. Despite the early hour, the car was buzzing with energy as we discussed ideas for building the Attacus community and creating cool new stuff for the brand. With the tunes blasting, the drive flew by.
Upon arriving, we were greeted with a bacon sandwich and some much-needed coffee from Jimmi’s Coffee. After grabbing our jerseys and numbers, we listened to a panel discussion featuring Ben Foster, Chris Hall, and Katie Kookabura. The atmosphere was electric, with a great mix of excitement and camaraderie in the air.
The Ride: Scenic Views and Party Pace
The ride itself was awesome. Having never cycled in the New Forest, I’d heard of the roaming horses and donkeys, but the face-offs were interesting. As soon as we turned out of the event, we were greeted by a few horses casually hanging out in the middle of the road—a theme that continued throughout the ride, adding a bit of risk to the day, but they are so used to traffic that they didn't even flinch.
The route took us through picturesque towns before opening up to stunning views. We kept things relaxed with a "party pace," thanks to Khory, who brought along some tunes with a speaker in his bottle cage. Despite a few minor bike issues, we had a blast and enjoyed every moment of the ride. Along the way, I was impressed to see a few cyclists on Brompton bikes—tackling a 50-mile ride on one of those is no small feat!
One of the standout moments was our pit stop for a cheeky pint after the official food stop, which had been ravaged by nearly 1000 people before us so there wasn't a huge amount left (thankfully, I’d brought along some Styrkr bars).
Catching Up with Friends and Industry Icons
The Garmin Ride Out was more than just a ride—it was a chance to catch up with friends and meet new ones. I caught up with Francis Cade and his wife Dani, and we chatted about the upcoming Attacus autumn-winter collection. Seeing Chris Hall again, his new Argon 18 bike with pink highlights matching his Garmin Ride Out number, was a nice surprise.
Meeting Katie Kookaburra for the first time was fantastic. We discussed her recent trip to the Pyrenees, where she had tested some Attacus bib shorts during her seven-day adventure. Biking_Maz as she is know was a force of energy throughout the ride, despite recovering from a tough bout with COVID. Her enthusiasm was contagious and kept everyone motivated.
Post-Ride Activities and Garmin Gadgets
After the ride we were ready to refuel, but due to our party pace and mid ride pint, the pizza was gone! We settled for a chicken salad that tasted suspiciously like tuna and downed a few more Jimmi’s coffees to gear up for the long journey home. The post-ride activities included a friendly Tacx hill climb challenge between Josh and Khory, where Josh took an early lead until a gear mishap brought him to a halt.
I also had the chance to chat with Jack Fairbrother, Garmin’s head of marketing, about the future of Attacus. As a former customer, he was excited to hear about the brand’s new direction and growth.
As a long-time Garmin user, I was keen to check out the products on display, particularly the new Edge 1050 cycling computer with its impressive range of new features. Though I was envious of those trying out the latest gear, my trusty Edge 830 and Forerunner 745 still served me well throughout the day.
Reflections and Looking Ahead
Looking back, the most rewarding part of the Garmin Ride Out was meeting new people like Katie and Maz and catching up with old friends like Francis and Chris. The sense of community and shared adventure made the day special.
As for next year? I’m already planning to be there, and I’ll be in Jack’s ear all year about ensuring Attacus provides the jerseys!
Final Thoughts
If you’re considering signing up for a cycling event, just do it. The joy, adventure, and community behind these events are incredible. You’ll meet like-minded, awesome people and create memories that last a lifetime. And who knows—maybe you’ll see an Attacus event popping up soon. If that sounds like something you’re interested in, be sure to sign up!
