At last, a sunny evening: we rode through Holne to linger by the nearly full Venford Reservoir, then crossed the moor back to the Michelcombe track. The calm stop by the water set the tone.

Richard Hopper ended his spell as organiser with a memorable two-leg Treasure Hunt from Denbury Green. In the heat, early demolition of Lorraine’s tea left riders asking at doors for water; Julie’s team edged it, clinching victory by checking a householder’s atlas for an obscure capital.

Neil’s new bike was the evening’s talking point on a ride to Staverton via Colston Farm. We paused at the farm, where Chris was taken with a kitten, then returned via Caddaford.

An excellent but testing outing: 23 of us rode to Plympton, took the Plym Valley cycleway end to end and returned across the moor via Princetown — the hallmark hard route that defines this ride.

A quiet evening ride along the Pridhamsleigh track to Landscove turned memorable when a local band’s rehearsal in the village hall shattered the calm by the play park. We returned via Abham.

A wet loop through the Hembury Woods tracks ended early as persistent drizzle spoiled the evening. We returned to Crofters for a relaxed social to finish the night.

Good humour marked the run to Shipley Bridge and the Avon Dam, highlighted by Michael convincing Tao that his new quick-release barbag mount would keep him out of hedges, prompting a real hedge test before he realised the joke. We ended with the much-loved drop across the moor via Water Oak Corner.

Rain cleared just in time for a gentle evening spin to Staverton Bridge, giving newcomers James and Andrew the perfect first outing. A relaxed run along the river set the tone, with a pause to skim stones from the island on the Dart before looping home through the lanes.

A strenuous Ten Tors ride became a walk-heavy push to stand on ten Dartmoor summits, rewarded by the views along Dr Blackall’s Drive and the promise of certificates. Harry arrived late after aiming for Avonwick and, without a map, looping via Newton Abbot.

Expecting quiet at Spitchwick, we found it overrun by a Telethon camp, recorded noise shattering the valley and the track to New Bridge feeling more like a seaside resort than Dartmoor. We beat a retreat to the calm of Hembury Woods.

Rain shelved the beach plan, but quiet generosity in a Totnes café—two teacakes and a bag of plums—set the tone for a shortened moorland loop. We picnicked damply and coaxed touring bikes over rough tracks before thawing out with tea at Crofters.