The first of six junior rides set off in bright sunshine, the youngsters flying along the Colston road before pausing to skim stones on the River Dart. A quick detour for Frisbee and chocolate sealed a lively start, leaving everyone keen for next week.

Sun drew us onto Dartmoor, but by Lud Gate we were in chill mist with rain looming; the moorland descent repaid the climb, and Gage’s attempt to ride across Chalk Ford provided the evening’s entertainment. Dusk then found Gavin with a pinch puncture, so a car went to collect him at Scoriton.

Jill led a relaxed ride to Stoke Gabriel, where wisteria-framed lanes gave way to a lazy hour by the weir feeding ducks and swans. The day’s quiet triumph was Henry completing his longest ride without detours, before a cheerful return via Collaton St Mary and a short social at Crofters.

An easy junior spin through Hembury’s lower track to Shuttaford turned playful when a Frisbee lodged in a tree and Gavin neatly knocked it down with sticks. We then explored the criss-crossing woodland tracks, the girls making plenty of noise over the rough stones.

An evening spin aimed at a Frisbee session in Holne park turned into a modest adventure: the grass was overgrown and wet, scuppering the game, and Keir punctured on the way back. There was still just enough light for a spirited run of the Slalom track at Hembury Woods.

Planned as a flexible outing, it became Dennis’s day as he flew up Ausewell and finished by declaring the Hembury Woods slalom the best part. Highlights were discovering the Ten Commandments stones and letterboxes at Buckland Beacon, and a couple of harmless tumbles.

An Ashburton evening ride became a study in contrasts: sticky woodland mud from recent rain, then a serene pause among rabbits to watch the sunset above Holne Woods. Spirits lifted again with a lively, muddy descent through Hembury as darkness gathered.

A relaxed ride to Staverton was shaped by Gavin’s mishap: a puncture near the start and no repair kit. Michael’s cousin, passing the other way, delivered one, and Gavin rejoined us in the park; after the Frisbees were aired we returned home via Abham.

An energetic evening loop ran via Harbourneford and Marley Head to South Brent, then along the riverside past the old Avonwick station before returning through Rattery. The quiet river road by the disused station gave the ride its calm, memorable spell.

On a superb May ride to Ugborough Beacon, we climbed via Wrangaton, lunched on the slope and hunted letterboxes before crossing the moor and cooling off at a spring of ice-cold water. Earlier, Dennis topped the steep lane, then innocently picked up a golfer’s ball during a competition and was urged to put it back.

A sunny evening ride to Spitchwick turned moody under thickening cloud, but spirits lifted with an impromptu Frisbee contest. The moment of the night came when Joe tried a sharp turn across a water-filled hollow, slipped, and landed squarely in the puddle with a huge splash.

With rain set in, we kept it short with a brisk loop through Buckfast and Scoriton to Holne, returning via Hembury Woods. The day ended off the bike with an afternoon in Plymouth to see Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.