A chilly start became a short, sunny spin to Avonwick, more sociable than strenuous. A stop in the Play Park and a split over the Cobbly Walk set the tone before Callum’s shortcut sent us home; a post-ride game of Modern Warfare 2 ended in a draw.

A quiet night in turned lively: a games-themed music quiz (won by Ash’s team) and a burst of trampolining before Scotland 2010 clips captivated everyone. By the end no one wanted to stop, and enthusiasm for the Easter Tour surged.

A lively spin to Owlacombe Cross then back via the Whiddon Farm track, defined by playful rivalry and mud: some teasing spurred Callum O’B to storm the big climb, and the descent left jeans splattered.

A reluctant start became a lively social: after a last-minute booking, doubles air hockey at Tenpin set the tone before pizza at Pizza Hut, which went down well—though the new individual cookie doughs felt small and expensive compared with the old sharing version.

A sunny welcome for a family of new riders on a gentle route to Staverton, with Frisbees in the park and Michael’s tall tale of piranhas keeping everyone cautious on the boardwalk; a minor spill near Caddaford and a last-minute puncture couldn’t spoil the friendly mood.

We settled in for Real Steel, a robot boxing drama about a washed‑up fighter and his son, starting at 7.25 with a brief interval. Lively comments ran throughout, and the evening ended with Ash and Michael facing Will and George on Modern Warfare 2.

A delayed start when a large thorn, missed in a puncture repair, punctured the new tube twice, sent us indoors for games during a shower. Once rolling we enjoyed a sunny run to Michelcombe and Holne café; Will rode strongly and left keen to book the Easter tour.

Bowling at Tenpin Plymouth became a cheerful birthday outing for Ash, helped by Jerry’s cereal‑packet vouchers; young George charmed everyone, cheered on by the birthday boy. A chance meeting with Britain’s Got Talent’s Michael Collins delayed our exit, before chocolate cake rounded things off.

An introduction to off-road riding for the Rogers family saw a cautious start to Belford Mill and a gently downhill woodland return that George loved while John and Will remained unconvinced. A pause for Frisbee in a busy park brought smiles—and a little embarrassment—before a relaxed finish back home.

The youngsters steered the evening towards computer games, splitting between Modern Warfare 2, Lord of the Rings and Halo. The defining moment came when Will, tired of AI foes, said he wanted to fight real people and win.

Young riders rose to the challenge on the moor: George surprised everyone by riding the big climb to Cross Furzes, and the group picked its way down to Chalk Ford. Deer lined the river, and a wooden lookout’s foothold snapped, prompting a laugh.

An easygoing evening that doubled as a preview for the upcoming Easter Tour, with the 2009 tour video setting the scene—even if a tighter cut would have helped. We followed with a lively music quiz (movie themes then rock), before finishing with Halo and Lord of the Rings.