Drizzle in Buckfastleigh turned to a cold downpour as we climbed Wallaford Road towards Cross Furzes, proving the link between rain and altitude. We abandoned Puper’s Hill for Crofters; in the hurried descent Tim ended up in a hedge, shaken rather than hurt.

A relaxed video evening at Crofters centred on Escape to Witch Mountain, Disney’s story of two psychic orphans fleeing a grasping tycoon to uncover their origins, which kept the youngsters rapt. Refreshments and easy chat made for a simple, enjoyable night.

With no leader available for the planned ride to Redlake, the group switched to a brief loop through the lanes around Landscove and Staverton. A modest, improvised outing stood in for the intended moorland day.

With Salcombe hostel closed by frozen pipes, we took the chance to ride through the snow to Slapton Sands, with frequent snowball fights and a welcome warm dining room at Torcross. Marc’s fall left him soaked; a lift from Forces Cross café took the brothers home as the rest finished in winter dusk.

By popular request we gathered at Summerlands for D.A.R.Y.L., a sci‑fi tale of a boy who is really an experimental robot, pursued by the military yet finding a family and a way out. A relaxed evening with refreshments.

An exchange ride with the Torbay Section became a playful winter outing above Lustleigh Cleave, centred on a hidden cave with a boy‑sized exit. Snowball skirmishes and a misjudged attempt to bury Michael’s bike punctuated the day between cakes at the Primrose cafe and the run to Widecombe.

January’s rain returned and the Widecombe outing ended in an unprecedented mutiny: near Ausewell Hill everyone voted to turn back. A damp ride via Summerhill Cross was enough to decide that today was for home, not the moor.

Three teams tackled a treasure-hunt style map quiz at Crofters, enjoying the challenge despite some fiendish cryptic clues; the highlight was 'Extra Weighty Meaty Place' unexpectedly pointing to Moretonhampstead, to general disbelief.

A dreary morning meant we abandoned plans for Dittisham; after meeting at Totnes we looped home instead, threading quiet lanes between Dartington and Rattery to Crofters for lunch. Jason set the tone earlier by shouting at farm dogs on Colston Road, leaving them snapping at the rest of us.

Bright sunshine set the tone for a lively ride to Babbacombe, crowned by our discovery in Stoke-in-Teignhead of a best-in-Devon contender: a café with a real log fire and a tiny silver bell. Earlier, Gary’s first full outing delayed us, but he soon joined the beach antics after lunch.

At Crofters the cycle workshop turned into a maths evening on gear ratios, with cogs, chainrings and sums taking over, while refreshments kept it sociable.