Our ride got off to a slow start when George managed to jam his chain between his wheel and the cassette. Ash was willing to get his hands dirty, but it took a bit of prizing to persuade it to come out.

Lawrence wanted the Avon Dam today in view of the fact, as he put it, that we hadn't done any off-road for ages. When John met us at Dean Seat however he exercised his veto on the whole idea of a ride across wet and boggy Dartmoor, remembering our last excursion to the Dam. We headed up Dean Hill and saw plenty of evidence of the recent heavy rain.

As a compromise Michael offered the track from Marley Head to South Brent, but this turned out to be so deeply rutted in the lower reaches that even Lawrence had to think before saying whether it was enjoyable. Michael had to promise John a free coffee by way of compensation, although he was as always good humoured about it.

At the junction with the Brent road George chose first gear again which resulted in an even more stubborn chain jam. The problem, it seems, was that John had got a replacement wheel after the bearing fell apart last week, but hadn't made the necessary adjustments to the derailleur. Fifteen minutes later we finally got the chain free and rode on to the co-op at South Brent, where well-deserved refreshments were purchased and consumed on the nearby bench.

It was getting chilly now so with warm gloves and coats keeping us warm we headed homewards via the station and the main lane through Harbourneford.