Sunday was an important day for the TRF  and both the Cornwall and Devon groups because we, the TVTR, had the pleasure of riding with 3 prospective  Cornwall TRF members and 1 prospective Devon TRF member.

It all came about really through Tibby (Barney) who happened to speak to Mark (known locally as 'The Stumpman') and Pete (Calstock) about trail riding. Both, as it happens, had trail bikes but had  only a sketchy knowledge of a few local lanes, and in Mark's case no-one to ride with.Through Barney I've been trying to get Mark out with us for a few weeks but as a self- employed man he's always been too busy....until Sunday. Pete, however, has now braved several rides with us and after the first one, realising what benefits and laughs were to be had, immediately joined the TRF. In fact, he's now a fully voted- in member of the TVTR also, which led him to encourage three other chaps from Calstock to come out for a ride. He approached Jeff who then seconded me to lead whilst he rode TEC for the day giving him a chance to rest his battered knee whilst maintaining a moderate pace.

The word went round at our last meeting about the ride out and Bonny and Brian joined us, Phil, Dave and Nick being unable to make it for various reasons...possibly because they knew the ride was already well subscribed.

Meeting at Morrison's Tavistock, the starting line- up was Bob(me), Jeff, Bonny, Brian, Pete and Kev (all TVTR and either Devon or Cornwall TRF's) along with Mark (The Stumpman) and Pete's friends, Malcolm, Keith and Jason all from Calstock.

Because we had new riders with us it was perhaps more important than usual to set the agenda for the day i.e. TRF riding guidelines, 2nd man drop- off, 2nd man opens gates, 3rd man closes gates and very importantly....the run leader  has a special dispensation for the day ( because of a broken side- stand) that he doesn't get off his bike ( deliberately anyway!!) all day unless it's to pay for his fuel, his rations, empty his bladder or some other occasion of his choosing. Great stuff..i'll pull that trick again.

I'm not going to show all the lanes we did, that list will be winging its way to our ROW guru in due course (Hi Brian), just relate some of the  occurences that invariably occur on a full days 135 mile ride. Had we been in other parts of Devon we'd have ridden oodles of lanes but round here they're a bit thinner on the ground.

Anyway, as I told the team at the start, there is no shame or embarrassment in not doing a lane. If you don't fancy it, don't do it. The plan was for a double crossing of the tidal ford. All bar one rode down to it, several crossed and came back through it and poor Mark caught his foot, I think, on the way back up which threw him off line and into the bank whereupon his Djebel ( correct spelling?) reared up, threw him to the ground and hung there poised vertically in the shrubbery with its engine roaring whilst Mark cowered on the rock beneath it for a few seconds before he then swiftly rolled away and on to his feet. Brian had thrown his bike up the opposite bank and ran across to help. Between them they straightened things out and up went Mark seemingly unperturbed. Good man! Brian got going again relatively easily and then we all waited for Bonny who, and not for the first time, came up the rocks like an old pro.

We stopped at Louis' for a leisurely lunch and it was after a cuppa that Brian and Mark left us for their journeys home, while we stayed on and had a good scoff. As the day wore on Kev was beginning to run short of time and he sloped off at an opportune moment in the middle of the afternoon.

I don't remember it raining during the week but Angel Steps were slippery, although I have seen them much worse, and were set to cause the usual mayhem, which of course they did with Keith and Malcolm both having a bit of a mare and needing some pushing and shoving, as did Bonny when her turn came. Jeff, unsatisfied with his first attempt, came back down and sailed up it the second time, Pete cleaned it as did Jason (I think). Now Malcolm and Keith left us ( not because of the lane, it was a planned departure) so we were down to 5. Jason needed to boost his caffeine intake so via lanes we headed to Sourton Cross, knowing from last week that Tavi Bus Station Kiosk is closed on Sunday (afternoons for certain). Coffee was consumed, bikes were fuelled and we started back for home and the 'sting in the tail' for our finale. Amazingly,although local, Jason had never seen the lane before. Then he cleaned it ( barsteward!)...obviously a rider of distinction! Poor Bonny spent some time having a lie down I believe. Well, it was a long day for the poor dear.

Ride over..... all we had to do now was to get home safely, so we about turned, went down it and headed for home.

I hope that we showed and explained to the new guys some of the benefits there are to group riding but most of all I hope that they enjoyed themselves, 'cos if you aren't enjoying it --- it's not worth doing it ( unless it's work that is).

Thanks to all the riders concerned, but especially to Jeff, Bonny, Pete and Jason who kept me company all day, and Pete for taking the lead when we were in Cornwall. All he has to do now is tack another 40 lanes onto it and we have another run leader!!

Bob.