Yes the Dartmoor Devil. Always held at the end of October.
Just like the Hound of the Baskevilles,
it strikes fear into the hearts of many a stalwart cyclist.
2300 feet of climbing up and down Dartmoor.
Weather sometimes nice, most times diabolical.
On our Sunday road/Tandem ride last week Stokes thought it might be nice to complete the Devil on her Tandem.
We have both completed the Devil on solo’s.
Stokes on her first try.
Pedlar three attempts. On the first attempt with a very young lad, who didn’t have the stamina, but lucky dad was following in the Volvo. Well done dad.
Second attempt, bad weather. Didn’t even bother to go. reports of 40 cyclists trying to shelter in a ditch.
Did it on the last attempt. It is very hard. We had rain and fog to contend with.
So on October 29th Stokes and I are hoping for nice weather, an to complete it on her tandem.
Have we bitten off more than we can chew?
No I think not, we are both fit and eager.
I’ll let you know how we do.
Stokes and I did a little training ride last night, only 23 miles in the dark. Getting some miles in for the Dartmoor Devil.
It was a beautiful evening, even if it was a little cool come the end, on the edge of Dartmoor.
We used one of those small 5 Led front lamps and it was very good, even in the pitch black.
Stopped at the local Inn for refreshment, a pint for me and a rum and coke for Stokes.( naval type drink according to Stokes)
Then off back home fully fortified.
Average speed out was 16.3 mph, but we got it up to 18 mph on the way home as it is mostly downhill back to sea level.
A truely wonderful night ride. Thank you Stokes.
All I have managed this week is 1 trip to the gym. We are working still here at JD’s, its late night opening, and the weather has turned foul.
Can I ask you about the icon you use? I had asked Jonathan if it were some sort of default setting on our system as you had become a member, if you get my meaning. What is it?
Hi Ruth, yes the weather has also turned bad down here too.
Yes I am very lucky to be able to ride my mountain bike or Stokes tandem, weather permitting,
every Tuesday Thursday and Sunday. But when you have to run a business
then that comes first.
Like you I am overcoming the flu bug as well. Not very pleasant.
The icon I have on my header was one I nicked of a Canadian website watching a Bald Eagle nest this
last spring, it was someone elses icon.
Bad pedlar.
If you go to the control panel you will find Edit Avatar.
And with this you open a panel with which you can add/brouse your own Icon.
But remember that it has to be a thumb nail size photo/art picture.
I think your web site is a fantastic platform that we tandem riders can exchange ideas and
knowledge, to others, who haven’t quite may up their minds whether it is fun to ride / purchase
a tandem. So thank you.
The fun and pleasure I have gotten from riding with Stokes on her tandem has really increased my happiness, and fitness. I do hope Stokes feels the same?
Far better than a solo anytime.
The Dartmoor Devil, What could you say about what you are about to read. Impossible, they are making that up.
Well it is true Stokes and I were there, it really did happen.
They don’t call it the DEVIL for nothing!
On a solo its hard. On a Tandem X2.
At the start a very racey Cannondale tandem had a 2 minute head start, fair No.
Overtook them on the second hill.Stokes and I going like a train.
At 10 kms our friend punctured. Shall we stop,yes, She shouts “don’t wait for me I’ll catch you up” which she did.
Caught up with a group of solo’s, and not really the place to overtake, very wet and dirty. Braking alot. On the next rise I thought we had been shot. Blow out on the rear wheel.
Pulled over, removed wheel and inner tube. 10 inch gash in the inner tube. replaced inner tube and pumped it up, and off we went.
Alot of catching up to do.
As we continued around the route, it appeared that we could have a slow puncture ane the mini pump was not that good. Very wobbley around every corner. Kept getting instructions “ be careful, watch the corner” which I did, but was reminded every twist in the road. Thank you Stokes, a job well done.
When we got to Princetown the weather changed from being nice and sunny to very misty.
We had cycled up every climb, even one where all the solo’s had to get off and walk because of traction problems. We nearly had the same problem but as they were clapping us, we had to oblige and cycle all the way to the very top. We were both relieved when we got to the top, WOW. what a feeling.
We finally got to the finish after 73 miles, 2230 mtrs of climbing with an average speed of 12 mph. Max speed 50 mph. Thats when the fun began.
Its now pitch black, but we have lights, a group of solo’s ask if they can join us as the have no lights!
Ok we are leading them down a wonderful decent into Bovey Tracy, When we heard the dreaded fis, fis, fis, BANG.
Oh no not again. Yes again. Rear wheel blow out.
Stop, our group we are leading just leave us.
Now in the pitch black, do we fix it or walk. Its not that far to our destination, we will walk.
I must admit that all cycling cars did stop and ask if they could help us, tube?, no we had a tube.
Further down the hill the tyre started making a rubbing sound, so we stopped and checked what was happening. The bead wire had seperated from the tyre, so we couldn’t have repaired the puncture anyway.
As we walked along in the pitch black, just chatting how lucky we were that it hadn’t happen at speed on a bend, WOW dosn’t bare thinking about.
As we walked suddenly it was impossible to push the tandem. I asked Stokes what was happening, “can’t see” remove the front light,
Oh No the tube had come out and rapped itself around the rear cassette.
Now we only have a screw driver to try and remove the inner tube. How strong is an inner tube, VERY STRONG is the answer. As I was hacking at the inner tube along can one of the car driver/cyclists now in a van. “can I give you a lift back to Bovey?”
Why yes please, I don’t know his name but he was our hero.
You would have to be there to believe it.
We are now looking to to put in a rear disc and the Maguras to be operated by Stokes for any ride with Very long decents.
If you want a challenge then this is it.
Without Stokes encouragement I might have been tempted to walk.
Stokes was not going to let that happen, and really she was right, why walk when you can ride, and overtake solo’s. thank you Stokes
After completing the dreaded Dartmoor Devil,
a funny thing happened on Tuesday afternoon.
Funny to you but abit embrassing form me.
Remember we were stuck in the dark with the inner tube well and truely
jammed and we needed something sharp to cut the inner tube,
Well on Tuesday, I went to my toolbox to get a pair of scissors to cut some plastic bags
open to get the parts out.
On opening the draw, there were a pair of white handled scissors,
I then thought blue handled scissors, In the FIRST AID KIT DURRRrrr.
and I laughed and laughed, all that struggling and we didn’t need to have struggled at all.
I immediatly text Stokes, who was lost for words and expletives to call me. Thankfully
Sorry Stokes, I will try to do better, Honest
Yes the Dartmoor Devil. Always held at the end of October.
On the first attempt with a very young lad, who didn’t have the stamina, but lucky dad was following in the Volvo. Well done dad.
Thank you Stokes.
