Dennis was the next rider to use Michael’s below average bike this evening, and also gave us the reason for Josh’s absence from cycling; a sore arm! Joe showed off his spanky new lights, which were very cheap considering their value. With four of us present we set off for Spitchwick along the road to Ashburton before turning left and up the hill towards Buckland in the moor. Ben consistently complained that Dennis was being given the biased treatment from Michael - offering him a chocolate egg if he rode all the way - but stopped his whining when we got to the top of the hill which leads down to Spitchwick.

Michael gave advanced warning of the tight corners down this steep decline, but Ben seemed to ignore these, first skidding off into some leaves and then going straight on at one of the corners! Fortunately he wasn’t injured and we were soon riding through the relaxed surroundings of Spitchwick and on to New Bridge.

After playing with the Frisbees for a few minutes Dennis asked whether we could do the slalom in Hembury Woods en route to Buckfast. His question was answered when after a couple of hills we were riding past the fort which lies at the top of the woods. It was now practically dark and Michael advised both Ben and Joe to only take the slalom track if they felt confident. They did, but while Michael and Dennis took the easier route out of the woods, Ben struggled to see where he was going - his light was pointing straight ahead, not at the ground! Fortunately he was behind Joe whose new front light was beaming and giving a clear indication of what lied ahead.

[Contributed by Ben Parker]