Our last haggis-free evening before the tour returned began warm but turned sharp at the aptly named Cold East Cross. From Buckland Beacon we tried to place clusters of South Devon street lights in the twilight, before a gentle descent to Peartree and home.

A relaxed afternoon exploring the Gatcombe Tracks near Littlehempston, led by Dave Humphreys; a welcoming outing ideal for new riders, starting from Marldon Five Lanes.

Ideal weather framed a testing 100km reliability ride around South Dartmoor, the first 50km feeling endless. Despite Mark Moxham getting lost and Matthew Jago retiring sick, the rest saw it through to finish a potentially exhausting day with credit.

Glorious sunshine prompted a change of plan to the Old Forge at Holne, before we explored a new riverside track to New Bridge. A steep push back towards Hembury led to the familiar, twisty woodland descent through Hembury Fort that capped a perfect afternoon.

A lively evening ride via Woolston Green and Abham was punctuated by comic delays: the Hamlyn-Whites’ farm dog chased us up from Pridhamsleigh until one of them led him home, then later Marcus punctured near Caddaford. Otherwise the pace was brisk.

We set out for the moors, savouring a long, gentle descent, a tricky Erme crossing and a split over the Two Moors Way before regrouping by the Avon and rolling home via the Abbots Way. The day was shadowed by a foolish dunking at Harford church that drew an irate rebuke from locals.

On a dry evening ride towards Littlehempston, the moment everyone remembered was a twig flicking into Michael’s front wheel, jamming the mudguard and stopping him dead; he only just avoided the handlebars, to general laughter.

By popular demand the group took the famous riverside track from Dartington to Totnes, emerging at Brutus Bridge. Neil’s puncture at the start was the only problem; water levels were low, and the return included refreshments at the Dartington youth hostel.

A day of unplanned turns: we reached Bridford Wood by the wrong track, lunched in a secluded field and rode the woods to Steps Bridge. With time to spare we pushed on to Moretonhampstead, then split—Paignton to Bovey Tracey, others via North Bovey to Ashburton.

A wet penultimate evening ride was cut short at Hawson Court as the rain began, prompting a classic U-turn to Crofters. The night was salvaged with videos and games in the clubroom.

The final Buckfastleigh evening ride of the season looped calmly via Michelcombe and Holne, returning through Hembury Woods. The only mischief was Andrew Simmons switching his lights off when Michael wasn’t nearby, before everyone rounded off with refreshments at Crofters.