This ride took far longer than intended for a variety of reasons, but it was great to be out cycling again for the first Sunday in three weeks. We rode along Colston Road and down the cycle path to the Cider Press Centre at Dartington, where Christmas decorations did not appear to be quite up to the usual standards. We pressed on along the cycle path to Totnes, passing the nearly completed HEP station by the weir along the way.

Morrisons had been selected as the restaurant of choice in view of the excellent value for money, but today our orders took over half an hour to be brought to our table. They forgot John's Ploughman’s altogether, so he got a free dessert by way of an apology. The food was very tasty however so we didn't really feel the need to complain.

Returning past the park there was a short delay while the youngsters played with the Frisbee, then we retraced our tyre tracks back to the Cider Press Centre. On the Dartington Hall road Lawrence got a puncture, but instead of continuing onwards to tell us he stopped at the back with Will and held his finger over the hole to stop it going down! He was still there when Michael finally noticed his absence and returned. Reluctantly he rode the bike on to the relative quietness of the cycle path where we removed the thorn and discovered that his tubes contained a self-sealing compound, so there was no longer any hole to fix!

There was another delay when George managed to damage Will's mudguard at the top of the path, so when that had been repaired and we had ridden the final leg through Staverton and Caddaford it was close to darkness when we finally returned home for games at Crofters.

We were pleased to welcome Gavin back to the club for his first cycle ride since 2011. Julian had joined us for a chat before the ride, so we left rather later than planned at 12.00. We rode through Michelcombe to Holne with Dillan on his new Specialized bike and received a warm Christmas welcome from Simon the chef at the café.

On the return journey through Hembury Dillan completed his testing of the bike and was very happy to confirm that the full length mudguards kept him spotless even when splashing through the many puddles.

Three of us set out just as the heavy overnight rain was turning to sunny spells as forecast. We took the old Ashburton road to Pridhamsleigh, rode up the hill to Five Lanes and then on past Baddaford to Penn farm where Gavin had a chat with his friend.

Approaching Landscove from Gullaford we encountered a lake larger than all the others we had passed. Gavin demonstrated the depth was sufficient to lead to wet feet, so Michael rode through barefoot and Dillan, who thought he didn't need to, ended up with wet feet too.

From Landscove we branched left to Fursdon and then, after contemplating lunch at Dartington, we returned home directly via Abham and Caddaford.

Tao joined us as promised for today's ride although Gavin had forgotten all about it and arranged to do something else. We rode up Wallaford Road at a good speed to Cross Furzes and then took the lane down to Coombe and on to Scoriton where Leo was out taking advantage of the morning sunshine.

George announced that he hadn't had breakfast so after climbing through Michelcombe we called in to the café at Holne for hot refreshments and a nice long chat. When we emerged a heavy shower was in progress, but this ended within five minutes and Tao and Michael were just able to persuade the youngsters to extend the ride down Holne Chase to Ashburton before returning home on the old road.

Lawrence amused everyone by texting Michael from his bed before the ride to say he was too cold with just his arms outside the quilt, so he would be giving the ride a miss today. Well it really wasn't THAT cold, and once we started riding everyone was soon taking off fleeces and coats.

The youngsters all wanted a longer ride today despite the forecast of a risk of light rain later, so after viewing OS maps online at Crofters we settled on Fermoys as a suitably warm and welcoming destination. We rode up Caddaford hill and got as far as the other side of Staverton before the light rain began to appear. It was heavier by the time we reached Torbryan, but everyone voted to continue to the café regardless.

We spent an hour and a half at Fermoys from 12.50, first enjoying tasty lunches and then reviewing all the inhabitants of the pet store. All in all it was a very enjoyable stop.

On the way home Michael detoured the quarter of a mile into Denbury so members could see what the actual village looked like, then we continued on to Broadhempston, negotiated a heavier spell of rain along the way. George's rear wheel had been playing up on the ride, and now unfortunately the cause became apparent as his wheel bearing came apart. With the rain being heavier again John waited for Kelly to collect him and George while Michael led the others home along the usual route.