Ride Reports
Sunny evening lanes from Marldon
On a bright June evening Dave Humphreys led a relaxed ride from Marldon through quiet country lanes; nothing dramatic, just the easy rhythm of an unhurried outing and the simple pleasure of summer light shared in company.
Woodland and Beaston muddy tracks
A classic ‘trackie’ evening from Buckfastleigh, linking muddy tracks from Priestaford House and the Old Totnes Road to Beaston and finally Landscove. Axle-deep mud and a tense crossing of the A38 set the tone before a welcome hose-down.
Beer and East Devon weekend 1991 2
Dandelion and Burdock at the Branscombe café punctuated a rain-hit weekend in Beer. With some cancelling, three rode through the downpour while the rest drove, walked the coast and tested Neil’s new board game. Sunday brought sun, a quiet, absorbing tour of the Beer caves, and a near‑miss rendezvous at Woodbury Castle as the riders slipped past before we arrived.
Milber Woods via Milber Lane
Ken set a fierce pace towards Milber Woods via Kingskerswell and Coffinswell, but Chris’s new Raleigh repeatedly halted us to free stiff chain links. A diversion along Milber Lane around the sand quarries and a fast downhill to near Penn Inn gave the evening its edge.
Hembury washout and Star Trek night
Light drizzle near Buckfast turned to a downpour on the Hembury track, prompting a second vote and a retreat to Crofters for a Star Trek video; three carried on to the end and returned later, thoroughly muddy.
CTC Devon 60th boundary ride 1991 2
A pale sunset over the Salcombe estuary framed a quiet boundary ride marking 60 years of the CTC in Devon. Richard met Derek and Mike at the nearly empty youth hostel, shared unhurried talk with the warden and an Australian visitor, and watched bats flicker in the dusk after a cliff‑path stroll. Next morning they set off together for a few miles before parting for home.
Cranbrook Castle via Wray Valley
A split day: some opted for the Primrose café while a smaller party pressed on to breezy Cranbrook Castle for wide views. Lunch was on log piles by the old railway bridge near Moretonhampstead, and young Paul and Ben finished strongly, taking tea at Crofters.
Totnes track evening ride
We headed for the famous Totnes track via Colston Road, where most of the youngsters raced along it at full speed and rather missed its point. The return over Barracks Hill and Rattery turned grim when we were horrified to find a live rat at Week Farm, presumed to have taken poison.
Totnes café meet, ride abandoned
Five riders braved foul weather for coffee in Totnes, but with the rain unrelenting the ride was called off and Elender Cove remained out of reach.
Fast-paced evening ride in showers
Expecting a short, wet ride, the group found the rain never came and kept extending the route, home by nine. The evening was defined by an unusually fast 12mph pace, with new members Dave and Mark Vernon hanging on despite high gears and Dave’s terminal bottom bracket.
Moonlit ride to Moretonhampstead
Postponed for weather and pared back by a reduced turnout, the night ride became an eerie, moonlit Dartmoor traverse, with stiff new climbs to Moretonhampstead and Haytor. Twin Peaks talk accompanied sightings of a fox and a badger, and caution around a few mad drivers.
Avon Dam and Water Oak Corner
A familiar run to Shipley Bridge and up the dam led to the usual long moorland descent through Water Oak Corner to Cross Furzes, the evening’s highlight. The only hitch came when Neil struck a stone on a descent and buckled his front wheel.