Matthew’s ‘shortcuts’ shaped a fun but muddy evening. On reaching River Dart Adventures we skipped the climb for his bridleway tip, wading a sea of wet cow dung—after his misjudged log sent him flipping to the girls’ amusement.

Harry stole the evening by powering up the long climb from Buckfast to Cross Furzes, then sunshine carried us over Lud Gate onto the open moor. A fast descent to Chalk Ford ended in swarms of midges besieging the tents, so we pressed on along the stony track.

After a slow start with a tyre swap and a borrowed bike, the day came alive on the tracks into Lustleigh Cleave, threading a narrow log footbridge and grinding up steep English Nature woodland before a flowing descent. A village-hall cream tea with tiny 30p squashes rounded it off.

An easy dash to Staverton became a playful evening, with new rider Jack matching Harry’s pace and lifting the mood. On the island John waded barefoot to rescue the bottle Harry had sent adrift, and we rounded things off by trying Michael’s new Frisbee in the cricket park.

With a strong turnout, the juniors completed their longest Wednesday ride to Broadhempston and still found time for twenty minutes of Frisbee in the park. Track-hunting brought a new woodland trail near Waytown and a return via Beaston, Harry’s favourite.

Jack and Harry’s pace pushed us to swap Skerraton Down for the tougher Avon Dam, reaching the reservoir at sunset and reluctant to leave. A favourite track descent to Cross Furzes capped the evening, with Gavin christening his new front lights on the final plunge to Buckfastleigh.

A spirited evening built around the youngsters’ strong form: they rode the long climb to Rattery without walking, then enjoyed the Totnes cycle path in reverse from the bridge. A brief Frisbee stop ended with the disc vanishing into the river before we pressed on to the Cider Press Centre and rode home with lights.

A steep haul from Ashburton set up an impromptu letterbox spree at Bonehill Rocks, seven finds in 15 minutes transforming the ride. Buoyed by that, the lads chose the hard climb to Dr Blackall’s Drive and were rewarded with a thrilling descent, capped by ice creams and a quiet run through Hembury Woods.

Momentum from new rider Jaden’s strong climb stalled when Gage’s bike developed two punctures near Baddaford, keeping us roadside for nearly half an hour. We still enjoyed the track down to Landscove, but the Frisbee contest was postponed.

A leisurely, exploratory spin introduced Tao to Dartington’s inner lanes and the historic Leech Well behind Totnes. After refreshments at Cranks we slipped from Rolster Bridge to Bickham Bridge and paused to contemplate the universe by the water before heading home.

An evening ride to Venford Reservoir became a thorny adventure when summer gorse choked the moorland approach to the Michelcombe path; after repeated leat crossings (prompting a squeal from Oliver) we reached the gate just in time for a steep, rocky descent and a final splash through Holy Brook.

A tough, rewarding push into Dartmoor’s South Moor to reach the Redlake site for the first time in years, with peat and bogs slowing progress but revealing remote beauty. Highlights included a cautious crossing of Wrangaton Golf Course and Gage gaining his stage 4 off-road qualification at the Avon Dam.