AS the evenings get longer, Ivybridge’s Transition Town group PL21 has begun to offer weekly guided cycle rides to the public.

The new rides follow on from the programme of occasional led rides put on by PL21 in association with Sustrans, the most recent of which took place on Easter Monday.

Weekly evening rides are now running every Wednesday up to June 1, meeting at The Watermark in Ivybridge at 6pm and following the National Cycle Network to South Brent.

The return journey takes about one and a half hours, and the rides are open to everyone over 11, although all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

To find out more, find the rides on www.sustrans.org.uk/events.

Cyclists on Easter Monday dodged the showers to cycle the Dartmoor Way from Ivybridge to the South Devon Steam Railway at Buckfastleigh. The 24-mile route through the foothills of Dartmoor boasted spectacular scenery, and the group pedaled through ancient woodlands and discovered hidden river valleys overlooked by Dartmoor’s southern tors. 

Ride leader Graham Wilson said: ’Cycling around Ivybridge is always a mini adventure. There are lots of tiny lanes with something new around each corner. 

’The group’s rides are taken at a leisurely pace to give people confidence and have fun, and essential ingredients include coffee and cakes en route.’

The Easter event follows successful rides last year, and PL21 has organised more for this year. These include a ride to the Avon Estuary on May 2, and a National Bike Week ride on June 12. 

Visit Dartmoor, GWR and Devon Active Communities have all been in contact with the group, and want to encourage more people to choose cycling. Visit Dartmoor and GWR have also sponsored a special poster promoting the use of Ivybridge railway station by walkers and cyclists.