The weather provided great variety on January 22nd for the Torbay stalwarts visit to the Avon Dam. A fast run down the old A385 to Marley Head and the climb over Brent Hill were the prelude to the well-surfaced path up the Avon valley, where an early lunch was taken under the rhododendron bushes due to Mike Bowden’s puncture and a freezing snowstorm!

The latter cleared in half an hour and the sun shone as we began our afternoon rough-stuff by climbing to the right of the dam and over the shoulder of Grippers’ Hill, with its panoramic views, then squelching through tussocks and mud to arrive at a rocky road.

Ashburton for tea was abandoned in favour of Buckfastleigh and the Jones residence, though Michael was not aware of our decision until we arrived! He had carried out the run but missed us at Shipley Bridge. We chatted and exercised the Jones’ teapot for a couple of hours before heading via Staverton and Red Post back to Torbay after a day of low mileage but much enjoyment.

(Robert Spence)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

My ride to Hope Cove at the end of January looked a little daunting, which is probably why Matthew was the only young rider out. It was very pleasing to see Michael Jones waiting for us at Totnes once again. His lack of recent practice became evident, however, as he lagged a little through our familiar lanes to Harbertonford and Moreleigh.

We then took a less familiar route to Woodleigh, and as we dropped towards the station, turned sharply left down a steep slippery lane past the mill. Here, Matthew’s bike took control and threw him to the ground, almost under Richard’s pedals. We picked Matthew up, cleaned him up, set him back on his bike and off we went, luckily no damage done.

We headed towards Churstow and then past Bowringsleigh along a road that even Colin had not cycled before! By this time, hunger was making its presence felt, but we decided to press on and reach our destination for lunch. This was achieved by 1.30pm. After watching a handful of hardier souls surfing in the breakers we chose a sheltered spot on the next beach where we could watch the heavy seas throwing spray high above the breakwater. The more inquisitive members of the Section investigated at closer quarters and, inevitably, got wet.

After lunch we retraced our steps to the main road and cycled directly to Kingsbridge. From here we forsook the main road to Torcross and rode up the creek, so to speak, and then took to the hills, which were by now taking their toll. Michael and Colin headed for home from Coles Cross while the rest of us continued on our hilly way, reaching that steaming pot of tea at Blackpool by way of another tricky descent through Southwood.

On the way home, our complaints about the excessive fares on the Dartmouth ferry fell on deaf ears. Meanwhile, Richard was having a slow puncture, which we mended at Hillhead. If you disregarded the hail showers it had been a great day and a good ride.

(Phil Burrows)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

Sadly, no report was written for this ride at the time.

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

Sadly, no report was written for this ride at the time.

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

The Tinners’ Hut run was supported by fourteen hardy souls, four of them riding up from Plymouth to our pick-up at Avonwick. Up the hill we went to enjoy the ridge road and the drop to Bittaford, then on to Cornwood and vertical take-off to Torr, where we negotiated two locked gates in order to get onto our three miles of easy rough stuff – rough enough to hammer my 35-spoke rear wheel into an asymmetric shape!

During our lunch in this fine, unfrequented valley we had the noise of the fast-flowing river and a series of loud bangs and rumbles for company – most peculiar.

The onset of rain and a marked drop in temperature soon had us packing saddlebags and abandoning plans to wade the River Erme to the old tramway. Colin wished to locate his vanished cape, so we returned to Torr where the explosion from my back tyre had me vowing never to use Nutrak tyres again.

Snow fell as we made our way through tiny Harford and thence to Ivybridge, where the Plymouthians took their leave, and thoughts of the world-famous Jones teapot spurred us on via the back roads to Buckfastleigh from where we eventually dispersed in dribs and drabs.

Did Colin find his cape? Don’t miss next week’s thrilling instalment.

(Robert Spence)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

The morning of Sunday 26th February was fresh with a few light flurries of snow. We moved off to Newton Abbot with newcomers Chris of Paignton and Simon Warner of Marldon. Dominic Sanders was out with his new Merican cycle – how long will this one last we ask ourselves?

Newton Abbot was the pick-up point, and here we met up with Mr Jones, the Burrowers and a few more of the gang. Dominic had prior engagements and so he wasn’t able to join us for the rest of the ride.

Climbing up to the top of Haldon, Phil, Matt and I had a bit of a brawl, swerving and trying to push each other into the hedge – don’t tell Colin please! Part way down the hill overlooking Doddiscombsleigh we stopped and had our lunch. There were no dangerous food battles this time, thank goodness.

After lunch we set off down the hill towards our destination and met Mike Ward coming from the opposite direction (he had been late getting up that morning). He went home the way we had come, and we all continued our descent to the bottom of the valley.

At this point Colin and some of the newer riders decided to head straight for home, but Phil, his two lads, Michael and I took the steep hill up to Christow. After taking a detour through Clampitt we investigated some of the tracks through the South West Water forest and came out near Kennick reservoir.

We had plenty of time, so we took the path around Tottiford reservoir and came across a little bridge. Having walked across I got on my cycle and started to ride off the other end. I had to pull a small wheely so that my chainset wouldn’t be damaged. When I did this, however, the wheel went too high and came down with a splash as my bike and I went into the ice-cold water. I was completely soaked and bruised all over – I had gone in head first and hit my chin on the bottom, two feet down! Luckily my saddle-bag didn’t go in and my £120 camera was spared.

After diving lessons, we rode down to Bovey and enjoyed a well-deserved “cuppa” with toasted teacakes.

(Richard Wiseman)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

Eighteen people took off on the March afternoon run, but with the weather so warm and still, who could blame them. Colin took us through Cockington, then past all the Moles Lane traffic for its garden centre, and we generally meandered about on road and track, uphill and down dale, until the puncture bug started to keep us company.

Well it didn’t stop the meandering and we made the most of countryside that often gets left far behind on our all day runs. Exploring a small area in detail is a nice way to renew acquaintance with oft-ignored local landmarks (and dogs)!

(Robert Spence)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

Only Torbay Section to show the flag of Devon DA support at the Inter-DA Photographic Competition at Crowcombe – well maybe Kevin is 25% Plymouth.

An uneventful ride up, solo for me as far as Stoke Canon and tandem from there – Jean had taken the car that far and had the kettle boiling by the time we arrived. Pity she forgot the mil, but at least Pete and Jean hadn’t yet gone out.

The usual stop fr further refreshments at Waterow before reaching the hostel at about 5.30.

(Colin Brierly)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

First class weather all day for March 11th and our run over Dartmoor. The pick-up was at Bickington and we went to Buckfastleigh (sorry John) where Phil and Christine Burrows extracted their bikes from the car and accompanied us to Scoriton and Holne and arranged to meet us later at Widecombe for tea.

The ascent of Dartmoor-s eastern face began, and we rolled steadily on to Hexworthy and Huccaby Bridge, which in summer usually has a coach stuck on it. A short stretch of main road took us to Dunnabridge Pound, from where our track took us into the forest and thence to Bellever.

The Crowcombe bunch were hoping to rendezvous with us for 2.45 ish, so lunch was a leisurely affair beside the river. 3.05 and no other cyclists appeared, so we flexed our climbing muscles and took the long way to Widecombe-in-the-Moor via Ponsworthy.

Matthew and Andrew from Brixham rode on to cover their extra miles before dark, the rest of us invaded the café to build our strength for the big one up to Haytor and its reward, the long drop to Bovey Tracey. From there it’s lanes and such like back to Torbay.

(Robert Spence)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]

The usual panic in getting “grub” and the tandem ready for Phil’s Exeter Canal run meant that we were going to be even later than usual at Five Lanes. In the end Jean popped up in the car to tell them not to wait for us there and that we’d join them at the Newton Abbot pick-up.

Quite a fair turnout, the weather being kind enough to encourage folk, though I suspect the main encouragement was the prospect of tea at the Burrows establishment.

The less energetic, like Jean and I, were soon having a leisurely stroll up the final steep part of Humber Lane as we headed towards the golf course from Kingsteignton. The descent past Ashcombe Towers was a much more rapid affair, and then we turned off the Black Forest Road to cross the A379 and drop steeply into Cockwood.

A lot of willing help made fairly light work of getting the tandem over the railway crossing at Powderham and we soon found a spot where the sea wall embankment gave enough shelter from the wind for us to settle down to lunch. Not too long a stop, as it wasn’t that warm, before we carried along the canal banks, the one fellow who did fall off falling the right way into the prickles rather than the water.

We emerged from Marsh Barton estate into Alphington but soon left the main road again to take the “hard route” through the Shillingfords to the top of Haldon and then continued the back way into Chudleigh.

Thoughts of tea, reinforced with an odd ice cream, revived weakening muscles enough to get us back to Fairfield Road in quite reasonable fashion. Christine was well prepared for “feeding the 5000” – well maybe there weren’t quite that many but hot dogs etc were soon disappearing at a fantastic rate and they were just to take the edge off appetites before the cakes and custard tart that brought everyone to a final reluctant stop. Thanks Christine and Phil for a wonderful spread!

(Colin Brierly)

[We have been unable to find attendance records for this period, so the attendance list for this event is incomplete]