Ride Reports
Music quiz
An early-start music quiz set the tone for the evening, with themed rounds ensuring everyone could contribute. We fitted in only a few computer games beforehand.
Michelcombe
Only Lawrence joined Michael for what was meant to be Ash’s birthday ride, but in the year’s finest weather they still enjoyed a sunny loop via Cross Furzes to Michelcombe and home through Hembury Woods. Ash turned up later, and the day ended with trampolining and birthday cake.
Badminton and basketball: Ashburton
An easy-going evening at Ashmoor Leisure Centre: two courts in the main hall for basketball and badminton, rounded off with a quick movie quiz before we left.
Skerraton Down
Making the most of the fine weather, we climbed via Dean and Nurston to the open moor at Skerraton Down, rewarded with a map-like sweep of South Devon and sea from Teignmouth to Dartmouth. A prank sent Will briefly the wrong way, and Ash caught up just before the drop to Cross Furzes.
Games evening
A games night of epic 3v3 matches on Modern Warfare 3, punctuated by Guitar Hero, and capped with final battles on Call of Duty: Ghosts.
Badminton and basketball: Ashburton
With the main hall fully booked, we used the small single-court at Ashmoor Leisure Centre, Ashburton; the low ceiling shaped the play as we mixed badminton with some basketball. A straightforward, lively social evening.
Totnes cycle path
We ditched the Avon Dam plan after recent rain and followed the Dartington–Totnes cycle path instead. A light‑hearted morning marked by the Cumming Hill twist—she pushed down then later swept past us—and a pause at the weir for tree‑climbing before choosing a fudge shop over a café.
Games evening
A relaxed evening of PC network games brought the group together, rounded off with a rock music quiz enjoyed by all.
Badminton, squash and basketball: Ivybridge
By 10.15 the rain was set in for the day, so we cancelled the ride and headed to Ivybridge Leisure Centre instead. A couple of hours of badminton, squash and basketball turned a wet day into simple, sociable exercise.
Cornish Coast 2014 4
Defined by detours and determined cheer, this Cornish coast tour mixed grit with play. We hauled panniers and bikes up a huge Milendreath staircase to save miles, then later raced Segways beneath the silent satellite dishes at Goonhilly. Ferries and lanes stitched the days together, and a thieving seagull swiped a chunk of pasty at Gweek to general outrage and laughter.
Supermarket special
With many away for Easter and others ‘recovering’ from the tour, three of us repurposed the evening: a supermarket run followed by a 1990s music quiz, a relaxed detour from the usual ride.
Easter egg hunt and computer games
Persistent rain scuppered our Easter Day ride, so we switched to an impromptu egg hunt and games at Crofters. Leisure centres were closed, adding to the dampened mood, but the social saved the day.