Date: Tuesday 30th March
Riders – Paddy, Lanky, Flipper and Robbo
Route – cycle track, cross moor to Dartmoor Diner, Cann Woods via Roborough Village, back to Tesco, HQ.
Distance - approx 15miles.

The Famous Four and the Dastardly Prickle.

“Cripes!” exclaimed Paddy, “What ghastly weather! I know, I’ll give Lanky, Flipper and Robbo a ring on mother’s new electrical telephone and see if they want to go on a spiffing adventure.”

Shortly after tea the four chums met up at the club’s secret headquarters. Flipper was feeling a little green having scrumped too many apples from Farmer Brown’s orchard but bravely came anyway. “Whato chaps! What’s the plan?” asked Lanky.“ No idea!” replied Paddy, with a hearty slap of his thigh. "What say we head over the misty moors to the dark woods?” suggested Robbo.“ Spiffing idea!” chorused the pals.

Mounting their trusty steeds, the four boys began to furiously pedal south along the old railway, their hand knitted lycra (made by their unfeasibly posh mothers) swishing merrily. “Poor old Flipper’s suffering,” remarked Lanky.“ Yes. Stay upwind of him if you can” said Paddy, “he’s letting rip with some real corkers!”

The lads trundled along, admiring the late evening light and revelling in the short, sharp refreshing showers that failed to dampen their youthful enthusiasm. “Hey chaps!” snorted Lanky, “I found a whizzo secret path the other day. How about we give it a pop!”“ Hurrah and hussar!” was the excited reply.

Bounding off the railway track and following the leat on the edge of the golf course, the youngsters were soon balancing on the narrow path and bumping over roots before heading down onto the old tramway again and on across the moor towards the jolly tea stop at the Dartmoor Diner. Then suddenly..“Jeepers!” said Lanky, “My rear wheel is squirming like a maggot on a fish hook! Oh lummocks! I’ve got a puncture.” “Chin up Lanky.” said Paddy. “Let’s get out of this beastly wind and change it by the caf.”

The friends all gathered round Lanky’s machine marvelling at the quick way he changed the errant tube. “Let’s go!” came the cry and the four cyclists set off once more. Winding their way through Roborough village, through a little single track, they soon arrived on the old tramway once more in Cann Woods.“ Which way Flipper?” asked a puzzled Paddy. Flipper soon pointed the right way and down the hill the boys descended, looping back towards Bickleigh at the bottom.

“ Oh dash it and blast!” yelled Robbo. "I say, steady on with the language!” remonstrated the others. “Sorry,” replied a chastised Robbo, “but I’ve got a flattie!” “No problemo!” said Flipper, revelling in the chance to use his new Italian skills. “Let’s all pull together and we’ll have that fixed in a jiffy! ”A jiffy and a bit later, Robbo’s bike was back together and off they went once more. Diving into the gully at the bottom of the hill, the four hacked along with squirming tyres to the Plym. Flipper’s great sense of direction in the pitch dark had to be seen to be believed. He nodded the lost boys in the right way, following the river south before heading back under the bike trail.

Under the glowering viaduct, Flipper proposed a super challenge. “Let’s spilt up!” said he. “Two go up the slippery slope and two go around the loop!” “ Brillo! ”So Robbo and Flipper began to push their mounts up the embankment while Lanky and Paddy took off in the direction of the loop.

Lanky and Paddy pedalled as fast as their tiny legs would go up and away from the Plym looking for the loop that would bring them back to the bike track. Little did they know, some wicked villain had chopped down a defenceless tree and left it blocking the entrance to the loop. After a while, Lanky began to panic. “I don’t like this Paddy” he moaned as his bottom lip began to quiver. “Now then Lanky. No sniffles. We’ll keep heading up and we’re bound to find a small cottage or fisherman’s shack soon. We can ask for help there.”

But then…“Oh lawks! Another puncture!” Paddy was almost breathless with incredulity.”Oh well, nothing for it Lanky, old pal. We’ll fix this up and soon be on our way. ”A short while later, the two buddies breasted the crest of the hill to find themselves near, a small corner shop bearing the name – Tesco’s. “Right Lanky. Let’s see if we can get a message to those other two.” Assembling his mobile semaphore kit, Paddy flashed a message to Robbo and Flipper, that he and Lanky were heading back along the road towards HQ. They then set off, hiding in each others slipstream, just like Tom Simpson and those other riders of the golden years.

Meanwhile, Flipper and Robbo had guessed the boys problem and had set out in pursuit to effect a rescue. Time was against them though and they arrived at the corner shop, minutes after Paddy and Lanky had left. Just after ten the group were reunited at the local drinks stop. Unfortunately, young Al the runner was unable to join them as he had too much prep for the next day and Yorkie had been sent to bed early. However, Hip-op arrived having been to see an ace footie match; his team against some rough lads from up north. Sagas were exchanged, potato crisps were enjoyed and the scallawags enjoyed small lashings of Dartmoor Beer.

Reporter: Martyn