Twenty people attended this inaugural meeting of the Dart Valley cycling group at Buckfastleigh, and apologies were received from three others. Approximately 75% of those present were of school age. The meeting discussed a wide range of topics and agreed to organise a variety of regular activities for a trial period during the summer.

Firstly, day rides will be organised every week on a Sunday, alternating between half-day and full-day rides until further notice. Rides will start at 14:14 and 10:00 respectively, commencing with a half-day ride on 19 May.

Secondly, evening activities will also be organised on a weekly basis, starting at 19:00 and alternating between Tuesdays and Fridays. Every fourth week will be a social evening. The inaugural meeting will be regarded as the first of these activities, with other events following on in sequence.

All rides will start at the entrance to the Dart Valley Railway at Buckfastleigh, but pick-up points will be advertised for most rides. Social activities will be held at Redmount, Old Totnes Road, Buckfastleigh until a more suitable venue can be found. Runs lists are available from Michael Jones at the above address (tel 43428).

It is hoped that there will be maximum interaction with Torbay Section at all times. Joint rides will be arranged as often as possible, giving due regard to the riding abilities of the two groups.

The first ride got off to a hilly start along the steep track to Five Lanes (not the one at Marldon) and Baddaford. Activities came to a temporary halt however when a fence was encountered at Higher Penn farm, stretching right across the lane! No-one bothered to think why it might have been put there, and it put up little resistance as it was dismantled. It wasn’t more than three minutes before the club was making a hasty retreat, hotly pursued by a sizable herd of Frisians!

The ride continued via Forder Green to Denbury, where Simon Birtles was waiting as arranged. An inspection of the scout memorial and the closed post office concluded the rest break and return was made via Broadhempston, Beeston and Green Lane.

Many of the younger members were feeling a little tired, but everyone agreed that the first ride had been very enjoyable.

Buckfastleigh seems to be at the bottom of several steep climbs. The hill to Holne is one such climb, and when the last members had finally reached the top there was a general feeling that a long rest was the order of the day.

The descent through Hembury Woods was the scene of an unfortunate accident involving Guy Watkin. He was not badly hurt however and we hope he will soon be back with the club again.

The Gara Bridge ride got off to a bad start weather-wise, but numbers were augmented at the Totnes pick-up by Torbay Section members and the two groups decided to extend the ride to Slapton Sands.

The rain quickly turned showery and after refreshments in the café at Torcross the skies cleared to leave a beautiful afternoon. Earlier plans for the ride were hastily revised to include a visit to the café at Blackpool Sands, which delayed the conclusion of the ride until 7pm.

Another sunny day made the second evening ride all the more enjoyable. Young Chris coped very well for his first ride, but everyone suffered as darkness fell and temperatures plummeted. Shipley Bridge was the last stop before the cold descent to Dean and Buckfastleigh – gloves will be at the top of the packing list for future rides!

The sweating brows resulting from the steep climb / push past Caddaford farm were soon cooled by a refreshing breeze on the long descent to Staverton where, unfortunately, Raymond was forced to call it a day due to a disintegrating freewheel. The rest of us however made it to Broadhempston which was positively thronged with cyclists as we had arranged to meet up with Torbay and Dawlish Sections – a total of twenty-eight!

Muggins at Dartington was eventually selected for the tea stop, making a pleasant end to a superb afternoon.

This ride was inspired by a previous equestrian expedition, the main advantage of the bicycle being that it doesn’t take off at a gallop as soon as it sees an expanse of open moor! After the inevitable long ascent we took the bridle path from Moor Cross (near Gidley Bridge) to the open moor – very rocky in places, nicely complemented by the gorse!

Although the first few hundred yards of the moor were fairly arduous the ground soon levelled out and the panoramic views – from Start Point to Teignmouth golf course to the imposing tors above Widecombe – made it all worthwhile. Another bridle path across Lambs Down brought us to the Abbots Way and the ford across the Dean Burn, where no-one fell in.

We continued up the track to Cross Furzes and then down Wallaford Road to home and hot tea to warm the hearts and hands.

We set off to a damp start, well clad in waterproofs, but before we got to Ashburton some of those were being shed. As we were pushed for time to get to Bovey Tracey to our meeting with the Torbay and Exeter groups we scooted down the A38.

Cycling out of Bovey Tracey we had to dodge numerous sweaty marathon runners (what an exhausting way to spend a day!). Steph was halted for a short time by a broken spoke and buckled wheel but this was expertly mended in a jiffy by our genius mechanic (grovel!) Mr Jones.

After a long push up the hill from Slade Cross the going became slightly easier by the reservoirs. We stopped for a cold and breezy lunch near Blackingstone Rock before descending to Moretonhampstead for tea and thawing out.

The return journey was through Lustleigh, and on the outskirts of Bovey we cycled alongside a well-preserved section of the granite tramway from Haytor. At Blackpool flyover a quick detour was made to inspect the Bluebell Railway, recently moved from Buckfastleigh, before returning home via Bickington and the dreaded A38 again.

There was no special activity organised for the first social evening. Several people brought food and records, however, and everyone soon made themselves at home.

Once the important business of playing computer games and eating food had been completed there was just enough time to plan activities for July and August.

A sunny, warm day greeted us as we left Buckfastleigh and headed up (and down) through Harbourneford and past Brent Hill towards Shipley Bridge. At Shipley, ice-creams were called for while we waited for the Dawlish Dawdlers – and they certainly were dawdling! After about fifteen minutes of waiting we gave up and headed on to Woolholes. We found the letterbox, but to our dismay neither the box nor the group had a pad, so we were unable to stamp our books.

From here Luke, Tim and Andrew nipped in to Zeal Gully for another box while the rest of the group met the Dawdlers (at last) and went around the dam to the Abbots Way. An exhilarating descent across the moor via Water Oak Corner brought the club home by 6pm, closely followed by the letterboxers.