Phillip was asked this evening why he hadn't been cycling for the past six months. "I've been waiting for the evening rides to start up again," he said, "and this year I'm not going to miss a single ride."

Phillip had brought along some of his friends for our first evening ride of the new season, notably Tristan Allen, and Shane and Adrian Teague. We hadn't ridden far, however, before we had our inaugural crash, caused on this occasion by Neil moving out without first checking that there were no other cyclists behind him.

Our route encompassed the riverside track from Staverton bridge, the quiet village of Landscove, several hills (about which Adrian complained unceasingly) and a series of three slightly muddy tracks that brought us eventually to Pridhamsleigh. The highlight of the evening came as Adrian descended the final track in near-darkness. He tried to go fast even though he couldn't see clearly where he was going, hit a rut and found himself falling off the edge of the track into a nest of stinging nettles and brambles!