Choosing the streamside shortcut over the steep climb near Alston Hall left us plastered in mud by Membland. A quiet stove lunch by the water at Bridgend—Dave’s idea, though he never came—and a brief snow flurry before South Brent set the day’s tone.

A classic Dartmoor outing ran smoothly until the stony drop to Scorriton, where the youngsters ignored Michael’s caution and Tom blew a tyre, prompting a 15-minute roadside fix by Seb. Back at Crofters, Star Trek and hot chocolate closed the day.

Steady miles to the Obelisk offered little drama beyond Neil and Michael cooking soup, but the day was defined on Little Haldon when Seb hit a grassy bank, vanished over an unseen drop and reappeared with pride dented more than bike. A brief café detour ended at Fermoys for cake.

A small group met for a quiet evening of board games, with Risk taking centre stage and proving as popular as ever.

Michael had to be home by 12.45, but at the destination he was tempted by the much-praised track descent into Totnes, urged on by the locals. It turned out to be as much uphill as down, and he was late home.

A bitterly cold, windy ride to Blackpool Sands set the tone: the wind even thwarted Michael’s stove, while an elderly local took his daily sea swim regardless. We pushed on to Dartmouth before the forecast rain finally caught us on the return.

A lively first evening ride of the season welcomed Phillip back with friends, taking in the riverside track, Landscove and muddy lanes to Pridhamsleigh. After an early crash, the night's highlight was Adrian speeding into darkness, hitting a rut and tumbling into nettles and brambles.

Delays and out-of-date procedures saw the group miss the West Ogwell rendezvous, waiting in vain while the Paignton contingent had already departed. En route they righted an upturned pregnant ewe, then filled the wait by trying Michael’s new camcorder.

A perfect evening saw the club’s first moving images since 1985, filmed on Michael’s new Sony camcorder at Spitchwick. Adrian performed for the lens with a backwards tumble; later, the dark Hembury descent cost Michael a newly fitted Campagnolo brake block.

The day was memorable only for the specially miserable weather: we pushed on to Gidley Bridge before retreating to Crofters. An improvised indoor Easter Special followed, with computer games and Star Trek videos salvaging the afternoon.

A near-repeat of our first evening ride, minus Landscove, turned memorable when Chris, not Adrian this time, fell into nettles on the track descent to Pridhamsleigh; his screams could be heard for miles as the rest of us edged past.