Date: Tuesday 19th July 2011
Route: WP, Earthquake, Brisworthy, Cadover, Clay Pits, Sparkwell, Newnham Boundary(!), Cann, Bike Path, HQ.
Riders: Sam, Nick, Gidon, Steve B (aka the Meavy Missile), Julian, Paddy and Bo. Colin and Alex would have swelled the numbers to a nice figure but they went off for a massage and facial. Stop Press……No Keith!!!
Depart: 19:45
Arrive HQ: 22:55 or 23:10
Distance: Bloody miles, gotta be at least 35 – 40!!!
Weather: Threatening precipitation all evening. None materialised.

Bo…selecta; Bo…dacea; Bo…and Luke Duke……who is Bo???

So another Tuesday night comes and yet another new face. Bo….who had a nice bike!!! We should have worried right there and then but no-one did!!! The usual cry at this point, “Aha…another lamb to the slaughter”….but was there?

The fast becoming customary appearance of men with shaved legs, make up and strange fragile looking steeds (well, less steed, more emaciated donkey really) with a swift exit left, due to embarrassment and the customary excuse of “I’m in training for the Classic/Triathlon” wafting in the breeze behind them.

So, the real men had a conflab and off we went straight back to Steve B’s house for him to get a rear light (you and the Horrabridge-ites have the mileage moral highground Steve!!!). Earthquake, Brisworthy Plantation, Cadover Bridge, Clay Pits, Steep Hill by pits, across Cornwood Road towards Drakelands skirting Sparkwell with little more than the occasional blah, blah and a Paddy puncture. Julian, Sam, Steve B and Bo leading the way, with the ladies in the usual struggle to keep up.

Bo knew his way around – ish - and we followed the clay pit round to the west rather than dropping down to Drakelands and headed off towards the northern end of Newnham. Down to the Wotter road through some brilliant bomb holes which tested all of us and ended up with a slow-mo off straight over the handlebars by Paddy, completely unobserved by anyone (thereby of course allowing no sympathy – as one would expect).

Then, what we didn’t do was pop in to Newnham Estate, down some great downhill, cross the river, steep climb up (bikes on backs), forest track to the Paintball arena and top of the bridleway. Instead, we skirted the northern boundary of Newnham using tracks and roads until we ended up at the top of the bridleway. By this time it was only 8.30…..oh no…..it was 10.05 and Nick simply needed the pub. Steve B has been demanding rehydration for some time by now too. How to get to HQ from here…..a long boring climb to Wotter, Cadover and home. Nah, Cann Wood was just there so along the forest track, down the cracking single track to the kissing gate for some…and simple forest track to cycle path for others.

So now it was only 10.30pm and just the simple job of bimbling up the Plym Valley cycle track to Yelvy. Sam, Julian, Bo and Steve were duly dispatched to ensure at least one arrival before closing time. Thankfully Sam isn’t presently “on the wagon” and so as the trailenders arrived there they were…..many pints lined up waiting…..in the farmers bar because the committee room had already been shut, cleaned and prep’d for tomorrows punters. That’s how late we were!!! Everyone happy seeing many full pints, apart from Gidon who nearly puked on his Jail…one day we will tempt him away from the world that is road biking and lager!!!

I certainly felt the pain tonight. I think Nick and Gidon did too. Bo, who certainly slaughtered some of us, disappeared into the night with some lame excuse that he apparently lives in Sampford Spiney and had another 3 miles to get home. We all felt it I think but we were shown some great new ground. Bo, you’re welcome any time….just treat us (me) gently!!!

Reporter: Paddy