Saturday 14 Road Ride – 25th May (Report)

Lynda very kindly offered to lead today’s 14 ride. Her plan was to ride through Ivybridge and South Brent and then onto Buckfastleigh where we would then turn left to the very gentle climb to the moor through Holne Village and then onto the Foxtor Cafe at Princetown.

What she didn’t realise was that she also wanted to include the actual Holne climb!! And so, with the rest of us expecting the nice easy rise through Holne Village, Lynda dragged us all on to Ashburton and then up that dreaded Hill!!

Well that’s how we all saw it. Lynda chose to say it was all Jez’s fault and so he gallantly took the blame. She even made him buy us all coffee (which he did!!). He’s such a pushover.

Today’s 14 group very neatly consisted of 14 riders. The weather was good (albeit a bit cool for the time of year) and the roads were dry – promising not to necessitate any post-ride bike washing.

It was a great springtime ride with a challenging route (thanks Lynda!), good riding (thanks group!), amazing views (thanks Dartmoor!), brilliant banter (thanks YOGi) and great cake (thanks Foxtor Cafe!).

Here are some photos from the ride (just click on any one of them to scroll through and read captions):

: Dave Golden nears the top of the Holne climb.

: Leaving the city behind us.

: Nice orderly single file out of Plympton

: The Darling Budds of May. Lynda was really looking forward to the Holne climb.

: Brian ’53/39′ Robinson. Compacts are for wooses!

: Alistair’s first proper ride for two years!

: Regroup on the moor. Lynda still reprimanding Jez for springing the Holne climb on her.

: Dave Skinner dreaming of the baked beans on toast that awaits him at the cafe stop.

: This is why we cycle!

: As promised, Jez bought everyone’s coffee. He also provided us with 12 straws to drink it with!

: Lynda confidently pointing the way to Princetown (given the sign opposite). The group still don’t know whether to trust her navigation skills though.