After a week of sunshine, torrential rain ruined the planned evening ride. Everyone preferred to turn it into a social, with computer games the order of the evening.

Hot summer finally arrived for a spirited ride to Hope Cove, crowned by lunch on the quiet sands of Outer Hope and a quick look round Inner Hope. Shaded muffins and elderflower cordial at Avon Mill revived us, while Oliver discovered what a term off the bike does to the legs.

A perfect midsummer evening drew us moorwards to Buckland-in-the-Moor, the ride defined by quiet grandeur and far views. The church bell carried through the stillness and children’s laughter on Spitchwick Common drifted over the river before we rolled home via Hembury Woods.

Another perfect evening on the moor: past Buckfast Abbey and up to Cross Furzes, then a glowing sunset, views to Teignmouth and the free-flowing drop to Chalk Ford. We finished with Hembury Woods’ slalom, Stan delighted by how his new rugged tyres transformed it.

Fit and keen, we set an ambitious course for Dr Blackall's Drive, grinding up Auswell and Ponsworthy before the moor opened out. Stunning views over the Dart valley led to a fast, exhilarating off-road descent. A Buckland cafe stop and a forgotten new camera added flavour.

A warm evening on the Dartington–Totnes cycle path turned unforgettable as two hot air balloons slid across a brilliant sunset while we flung super‑fast Frisbees by the KEVIC fields, before closing with a brief Dartington loop and a tough climb over Pennywell Farm.

We joined Michael’s family at Goodrington Sands for a ride with a difference, basking in the year’s best sunshine while crabbing, pedal boating and, for Luke and Ryan, hunting value at Quay West. It began with an accidental puncture and ended with a few sunburn regrets.

Drawn to the open moor, we rode to Avon Dam, savouring the near-empty path and a quiet spell by the reservoir before taking the Abbots Way through a veil of evening mist and total silence; only the ferocious midges, thick as in the Highlands, broke the calm.

Glorious sunshine set the tone for a leisurely but adventurous traverse to the Redlake Tramway, with a hard pull to Ugborough Beacon rewarded by sweeping coastal views. A pair of golfers objected to our line across the fairway, and later Tao staged a neat descent for the cameras.

An evening moorland track ride over Skerraton Down to Lambsdown, lit by clear, golden views that made us stop among cattle and heather at sunset. A fast drop to Cross Furzes and a detour via Coombe followed, where Michael’s puncture briefly delayed an otherwise serene outing.

On the hottest day of the year we pushed on to Lannacombe Beach, savouring its quiet views before a sub-tropical slog home. Lack of shops left Tao lunchless and Oliver short of water, and punctures at the start and end tested patience, but ice creams at Torcross kept spirits up.

An ambitious evening towards Chalk Ford and Holne unravelled through delay and punctures: we waited while Oliver finished his upgrades — and even took a phone call — then he turned a tube into a tea strainer on the stony drop to Scoriton; Luke’s smooth‑road puncture settled it and we headed home.