BRAVING the gale force winds and driving rain, 12 intrepid cyclists have made a valiant and successful fundraising trip across Dartmoor for a local charity.

Even a broken chain could not stop the dedicated dozen from completing their journey in support of Okehampton based Wren Music. The community spirit in the team meant that they all rallied round and undertook roadside repairs to complete the course.

‘On Saturday, the weather forecast was so bad we checked with each other if we wanted to cancel,’ said cyclist Tom George. ‘But everyone kept on coming up with ways round the weather and making light of it, someone suggested a bike snow plough!’

Eight cyclists travelled from Bristol and there was a further hiccup when their train was cancelled due to extreme weather conditions on the Dawlish line. Undeterred, the team delayed departure and set off from a blustery Plymouth train station at midday.

‘The weather started off pretty good but gradually deteriorated. The wind was a special challenge. It is the first time I’ve had to pedal hard to move downhill or been cycling sideways,’ said experienced cyclist Roland Pyle from Ipplepen.

‘At one point the wind was so strong I was prepared to tie myself to my bike to guarantee finishing,’ said John O’Connor from Totnes.

The Wren cyclists link their rides to the folk song traditions of the South West — last October a team rode from Bristol across the Somerset Levels, where Cecil Sharp collected songs — on his bike — in the early 20th century.

This time the cyclists focused on local hero and folk song collector Sabine Baring Gould. In 1914 Baring-Gould personally presented to Plymouth Library the manuscripts of the songs he had collected from the people of West Devon.

The cyclists travelled from Plymouth to Okehampton, through the very lanes that Baring-Gould would have travelled. Organised wholly by volunteers, the cycle trip aims to raise funds for Wren Music equal to the year of Baring-Gould’s birth: £1,834.

‘Once we got to Lydford I knew we’d make it,’ said first-time Wren cyclist John Cory from Plymouth. ‘So I rang the Wren office and heard about hot soup, rolls cake and coffee – that sounded so good.’

‘We kept ourselves entertained with songs and limericks – the hills were alive with the sound of Wren Music!’ said Tom George. ‘Meeting the challenges was actually fun in the end — everyone’s bit of expertise came together and we fixed everything!’ said Isaac Price Sosner.

Having overcome all the challenges, the team are well on the way towards raising their target, but need a few more donations to clinch the deal. Anyone wishing to donate can visit https://mydonate.bt.com/ events/wrencyclebaring gould