Ride Reports
Hunters' Path in the snow
In bitter cold with snow still lying, we left the roads for Hunters' Path, where icy tracks and frozen puddles made progress tricky but the climb paid out wide views of Castle Drogo. Luke braved it in shorts, and Dayle’s Ribena froze solid; tea at Moretonhampstead thawed us for the ride home.
Map reading workshop, Buckfast
Richard Hopper prepared an enjoyable pair of map-reading quizzes that kept the group busy and comparing notes; the 50p entry, with refreshments, made it a relaxed, sociable evening.
Quantock Hills winter weekend 1991 2
Snow glazed the Quantocks as our Luton of bikes and minibus of riders rolled to Crowcombe. Turned from the hostel door until late afternoon, we huddled in the vehicles, then played in white lanes where Matthew’s drop off a hidden bank bent his forks. Next day a startled tearoom in Watchet and David Platt’s wallow in harbour mud provided the laughs. Snowball skirmishes near Blue Anchor and a brisk run through Dunster sealed a weekend of winter grit and good humour.
Torbryan Caves via Ipplepen lanes
An easy lanes run towards Torbryan Caves became a carefree meander as we voted to keep exploring in fair weather, with tracksters skirting the caves while others took the road. A highlight was an intrigued local—white minibus and six children—keen to bring his family on a future ride.
Whiddon Farm track and moor loop
An otherwise delightful climb towards Whiddon Farm became a lesson in the cost of skidding when Keir’s bald tyre exploded, cutting short his ride and prompting an escort back to Ashburton. Michael was proved right about the ‘all‑uphill and unridable’ track, while the new riders coped admirably.
Give us a Clue at Southpark Centre
Always a favourite, our Give us a Clue evening at Southpark Centre, Buckfast, gave us space for ever stranger mimes; we were so absorbed we lost all track of time, only realising it was 9.30 when parents started appearing.
Bantham rained off to Copper Kettle
An unforgiving downpour scuppered plans for Bantham, sending the group to the Copper Kettle in South Brent, where the proprietors laid old carpets to save the furniture and lifted spirits. Even when the skies cleared later, soggy feet and comfort won and the bikes stayed put.
Lessons at Staverton Bridge
A fine run to Staverton Bridge turned on group mishaps and a mix‑up: early mechanicals, then Charlie missed us at the bridge and headed home while search parties scoured the lanes. Between times we picnicked by the Dart and heard Jenny’s tales of raft racing.
Ponsworthy Splash at Forder Bridge
A sunny run to Ponsworthy Splash, preceded by Jeremy’s deadpan query about ‘any water there’, took us from crowded Spitchwick to the calm of Leusdon lanes and a sweet‑fuelled pause at Leusdon Lodge. The day’s sting came when Zoe crashed at Buckland; Luke stayed with her until help arrived, and the rest rolled home late.
Elender Cove by the swirling seas
Unseasonably fine weather and quiet roads set the tone, capped by a windswept, sunlit lunch beside the swirling seas at Elender Cove. A simple, satisfying day that felt like a cyclist's delight.
Ashburton bicycle bearings workshop
When Richard and Ken dropped out at the last minute, Dave Robinson kept the bearings workshop running, with Martin and Dayle guiding younger riders through tricky fixes. A practical evening of hubs and bottom brackets that delivered exactly what was promised.
Maypool hostel weekend to Torbay 2
At Maypool, a grand house above the Dart set the tone: corridors rigged with postboxes as Crazy Post sent riders sprinting up stairs. Morning brought the wardens’ warm send-off and a coastal sweep through Paignton and Torquay to Babbacombe. The day’s talking point, though, was the frosty rebuff at the Old Bakery in Stoke-in-Teignhead — turned away for Mother’s Day despite our long approach. Good humour held: a tale of spirited play, big views and one small snub.