Only David turned up today, so the ride did not take place.

The last Buckfastleigh evening ride took us through Michelcombe, Holne and back through Hembury Woods. The only disruption was caused by Andrew Simmons, who thought it was funny to ride in the dark with his lights switched off whenever Michael wasn't nearby. Refreshments were available at Crofters after the ride.

A bad forecast coupled with prolonged periods of rain around the starting time put off all but the hardiest members. Those who did turn out looked around for a warm refreshment stop and spied the clean, modern frontage of the Dart Cafe. Appearances can be deceptive, however: several people were smoking, and the hot chocolate was weak and watery!

We spent half an hour in and around the cafe waiting to see what would happen. It didn't rain again, so we set off on a short excursion through the delightful riverside lanes of Tuckenhay and Dittisham. When it still hadn't rained by 2pm we decided to extend the ride somewhat with a crossing on the Dittisham to Greenway ferry. We had to ring the bell several times and wait about 20 minutes before the ferryman decided to come across for us: this was the last day of his season, and he didn't appear to be in too much of a rush.

Everyone enjoyed the ride back to Paignton and Totnes, particularly young Paul Twydell who was trying out his new Peugeot Trail 20 cycle.

A good attendance voted some important changes to the club's structure, as reported in newsletter 19.

The newly elected committee is listed on page 1 of newsletter 20. Organisation of activities has now been transferred from the Secretary to three new officers, the local coordinators. The Secretary retains overall responsibility for the Section, but will now have more time to concentrate on other aspects of the club. Because social activities will be handled by the local coordinators, the position of Social Secretary has been dropped.

During the winter season October to March there are no evening rides, and many members felt that one half-day ride per month was insufficient. From January 1991 there will now be two half day rides per month during the winter seasons, and one per month during the summer season. The extra ride will be on the third Sunday of each winter month, and for the time being will run from 10am until about 1.30pm. Please use these rides to introduce your friends to the club. If you attend the first of the new rides, on 20 January, you may find yourself in the local papers!

Anybody turning up for a winter season ride or summer season evening ride without working lights will be sent home by the ride leader unless everyone present agrees to shorten the ride and return home before dark.

Also on a safety note, no rider shall be allowed to wear headphones at any time during any Section ride. The meeting also reminded our more experienced teenagers to be careful not to lead younger members into potentially dangerous situations.

The early start at 9.00 meant that we avoided the worst traffic associated with the Raft Race, but the event diverted us onto the dual carriageway rather than the old A38. The PA was in full flow as we passed, and the multifarious craft and their equally colourful crews were steeling themselves for the off. No doubt, like us, they were grateful that the tail end of the hurricane from across the Atlantic had blown itself out the day before. It was still windy, but at least it was dry.

Martin Luke joined us at Bovey Tracey and we had an uneventful ride up the Teign Valley and over Longdown to Exeter. Near Stoke Cannon Martin (L) had just asked about lunch when what should we see but a couple of cyclists on the grass verge, eating their own lunch. Mark Moxham and Mark Williams were surprised to see us, especially (as Mark M pointed out) because this was the first time any of us had cycled along this particular stretch of road. Mark (whose first name is Richard) and the other Mark (Williams) said hello to Richard (whose second name is William), Martin, Martin and Martyn (Williams). Having sorted out the names we had settled down to eat our lunch when a car passed with two bikes on top: it was Colin and Jean Brierly from Exeter. As Martin (Hills) pointed out, you don't really need to organise an AGM: just choose a quiet country lane for lunch and everyone will turn up.

After lunch our spirits were dampened by a dead badger by the side of the road, then lifted by the sight of a deer standing in the road in front of us. It rapidly leapt the hedge and bounded off with its companion for the cover of some nearby trees.

Richard had just identified Hittisleigh village hall as the destination of next month's longer ride when Martyn noticed he had a puncture. Later on, near Moretonhampstead, Richard waited for Martin (L) and was just on the point of going back when he appeared: he had had to sort out a chain problem. They both went in search of the other two and found them in a café where a girl from Martin's year worked.

Martyn reminisced about the accident he had last year just outside the town, and Richard suggested he might have a twinge when he passed the spot. In the event Martyn simply didn't notice the place at all. Martin disappeared in front again, and we found him in a petrol station where a girl he knew worked. Arriving back at Buckfastleigh the raft race field was deserted.

For once the Paignton turnout (10) exceeded the Buckfastleigh turnout, owing mainly to the Twyfam and Robfam being out in force.

Timing was immaculate as both groups merged at Fishacre Barton, some 1.5 miles from the final meeting place at Torbryan Church. Whilst Michael counted heads and gave out newsletters a certain pillar of society, who teaches for a living and has sons called Philip and Dominic, "scrumped" an apple from an overhanging tree. This, of course, prompted others to follow until the adults present, including the aforementioned individual, had to call a stop ("Do as I say - not as I do").

Owing to the large proportion of youngsters in the party it was decided to go directly to the Pick 'n' Park cafe, which was as excellent as ever. After our brief repast we went our separate ways at the Style Park Gardens turn-off.

The Paignton group stopped off at Dave Robinson's for yet more refreshments and a chat before setting off for their respective homes. Buckfastleigh riders had a more arduous return as a result of a decision to use the Beaston track: before they had reached the end of the track they had collected six fine punctures! Repairs took nearly an hour because the mountain bikers had only one half-decent pump between them.

It was nice to see Dominic Robinson and Paul Oakley on their first Sunday ride, and the return of Julie - out for the first time since the birth of James ten weeks ago.

The predicted showers came to nothing as we enjoyed refreshments in the cafe at Canonteign Falls, so after a short session in the adventure playground we climbed the hill through Higher Ashton towards the destination. Ken got a puncture in his contraption which took some time to fix, so the rest of us went on to enjoy lunch on the track near the castle.

When everyone had finished riding everyone else's bike we set off along the track. Martin Luke delayed us further with the second puncture of the day before we rejoined the road and returned homewards via Chudleigh and the Brookside Tearooms at Bovey. The autumn colours in the Haldon woodlands were a delight today.

It's not easy to squeeze 34 people into Michael's lounge at Crofters, but we managed it. Included among the number was Paul Smith, who had come down specially from Basingstoke to join in the fun. Slides shown covered most events during the previous twelve months, with special attention given to the Cornwall and Scotland tours.

This ride was somewhat unusual in that the Buckfastleigh crowd were to come to Marldon, giving the Locals a late start at 11.15. In the event they were somewhat late, and this was compounded by an almost immediate stop at Marldon shops for snacks etc.

Finally we set off properly with Paul (just turned 8 years) proudly leading on his new mountain bike. At the first side road he stopped, rather abruptly, thinking that he would have to give way to any cars from the left. It was explained that, whilst caution and self-preservation should always be uppermost in a cyclist's mind, such a practice would make our progress painfully slow - even for South Dartmoor Section.

Again we set off - all except Martin Luke, who had noticed a lack of front brake, and a long suffering Michael who was obliged to provide and fit a replacement. Unfortunately he was lacking the right equipment (a second spanner!) so he advised Martin that Ken's assistance would be required. Ken was, by this time, waiting at the next turn off half a mile down the road.

Michael set about packing the tools away, only to look up two minutes later to find that Martin had gone to get Ken on foot! At times like this there is only one thing to do: have lunch and wait! Eventually some of the others rode back, retrieved Martin along the way and brought the episode to a satisfactory conclusion.

Again we set off, just two miles and 1.5 hours from Marldon. After that lot the rest of the ride seemed rather routine: lunch by the side of the road; cafe stop at Stoke in Teignhead; cafe was closed; Ken fell off Tandem; Paul had a tantrum; Luke Hatherly split a tyre because of poorly adjusted brake blocks; cafe stop (eventually) at Pick 'n' Park; home. What a day!

With wet weather settling in, a unanimous decision was made to visit the Copper Kettle cafe at South Brent. Paignton contingent (led by Gary in Dave's absence) then went straight home, while the rest of us detoured to Gidley Bridge for a picnic lunch. Everyone seemed to be trying to push everyone else into the stream!