Ride Reports
Spitchwick via Hembury Woods
A pleasant evening spin to Spitchwick via Hembury Woods found the place almost deserted, save for a friendly father and two sons cooking on a portable barbecue. After a brief chat, swarming gnats cut short our stop and we headed home.
Lannacombe beach ride rained off
With rain still falling in Totnes, the Lannacombe Beach plan was shelved; coffee with Nonie and Mike took its place, and by lunchtime we were back at Crofters for the inevitable game of Risk.
Staverton & Landscove playgrounds
An easy evening became a playful tour of local playgrounds, our arrival at Staverton Bridge timed with the end of a women’s football match, leaving the swings and fort free. Dusk cut plans short, but we still reached Landscove and tried a new return via Lower Combe and the steep pull to High Beara.
Scottish Highlands and Skye 1988 14
Seconds to spare at Newton Abbot set the tempo for a fortnight of improvisation across lochs, islands and moors. Scotland made us earn it: the cold, clouded haul over Bealach na Bà was repaid in spades. When roads ran out we took an off‑road shortcut to the Altnaharrie boat, bikes stacked on Mother Goose for Ullapool—proof that the route, as much as the miles, made this tour unforgettable.
Mamhead Obelisk and Teign Valley
With many away on the Scotland tour, a lean Sunday ride made the most of the quiet roads to the Mamhead Obelisk and its wide views over the Exe. A chance meeting with Derek Masters added a friendly pause, and an Ashburton Bed Race closure prompted a scenic detour via Holne—mercifully, no punctures.
Holne out-and-back in the mist
With Michael away on the Scotland tour and mist dropping by the minute, Richard Burge kept it short: a flattish run to Holne and back. The small group rolled into Buckfastleigh as night fell.
Elberry Cove via Cockington
With Michael away, Richard rode from Buckfastleigh to Marldon and, joined by two new riders, switched from Mansands to Elberry Cove when QE2 crowds clogged Torbay. Lunch was interrupted by Concorde; later there was tea at the Lakemans before a return via Totnes.
Pridhamsleigh ride cut short
The Hoppers’ evening spin with young Paul Ledingham was cut short at Pridhamsleigh when Toby injured himself on his pedal. The incident had a familiar ring: Toby swaps parts on his bike so often that the fit may have caught him out.
Thorverton 130km reliability ride
On a pleasant late-summer day, a steady 130km reliability ride became a quiet test of pacing: our milometer over-reading near Thorverton saw us drop a planned loop, only to chase a few extra miles later to meet the official distance. Crediton at lunch felt like a ghost town; tea at Moretonhampstead set up a swift run home.
Shipley Bridge and Avon Dam
A sunny ride to Shipley Bridge and an overflowing dam set the tone for a rough moor crossing. Nicholas’s chain mishap left him black with oil, and Luke fell negotiating a deep furrow.
Totnes riverside after dark
A lively evening ride turned into a semi-dark riverside scramble near Totnes, leaving Jeremy stung, scratched and narrowly missing a tree—“Jones, you’ll be hearing from my solicitors!” With the chip shop shut, we raided Dartington Youth Hostel for supplies and got home late.
Salcombe hostel and clifftop walk 2
A buzzard overhead and a flying cricket ball set the tone as we threaded the South Hams lanes to the Salcombe hostel. After a last steep haul, we took a cliff walk by bike lights to Starehole Bay, the group sharing the thrill of the dark coast. Morning brought a speedboat and yachts as our alarm. Later a café owner stuck at roadworks without petrol was helped, and thanked us with biscuits — the weekend in miniature.