This club night will be remembered less for cycling than for a table leg, accidentally detached by some overactive boys and later fully repaired. Better still, results of the ‘test’ showed clear improvement since the start of the social season.

A bitter easterly and snow-slick lanes defined the day: the ride to Bovey Tracey was a slog. South Dartmoor’s Gabrielle and Michael chose a fireside coffee at Brookside Tearooms before turning back, while three Torbay members pressed on into the moor.

Three Dawlish youngsters were ferried to Buckfastleigh for an Easter Tour training ride and handled the scenic lanes through Totnes and Staverton well, but lingering snowdrifts turned the day into a succession of snowball fights, leaving them exhausted by the finish.

A sociable club evening where Roger, Di and Paul learned the rules of backgammon and played a few friendly games, an entertaining change of pace for the group.

The day centred on exploring the South Brent–Kingsbridge railway amid talk of reopening; earlier Steve Hughes, battling a cold, rallied by lunch. A muddy detour to Moreleigh Mount earned tea at Forces Cross and triggered water fights from Mark Moxham and Luke.

A day defined by punctures and mishaps: after Vicky’s early puncture, young Simon Lewis arrived at Gappah with a broken derailleur, and a forest detour produced yet more, prompting four lads who’d gone round again to think better after Richard punctured. Two more on the way home made for a late tea.

The winter social programme closed with another preview of Jason – The Movie and a go on Luke’s new electric games. It was agreed the monthly summer socials would remain unplanned, as last year.

Driven by violent moorland winds, the ride turned into a day of seeking shelter and rerouting, abandoning the Bellever road and finally dropping to lower ground after a picnic on Leusdon Common. Steve Hughes was blown off his bike, while others still danced on Haytor Rock before the cold forced a retreat.

A last-minute dash to the Colony cinema, Torquay left space tight—only one car—and some members missed out. John Cleese proved the perfect tonic, delivering effortless laughs throughout.

Easter’s final preparation ride for the junior tour became a crème‑egg‑fuelled dash: arrivals at Shipley dam were rewarded, lifting the pace and even prompting Steve and Andrew Lawson to double back for more. It ended with refreshments at Redmount and a Dawlish tiddler cracking a real egg on Michael’s spare bed.