With the Beijing bounce still affecting cycle sport across the UK, the Mid-Devon Cycling Club/Colin Lewis Cycles Team is preparing for the 2009 season full of confidence.

If attendance at club runs is any guide to the health of a cycling club, then the MDCC is 'hale and hearty'.

The attendance at the rides this autumn and winter has been excellent. This last weekend more than 40 riders turned up for the two Sunday rides in relatively mild conditions but with a testing south-westerly wind blowing.

As well as those wanting to try cycling following on from the success of riders like Sir Chris Hoy, Bradley Wiggins and Nicole Cooke, there are those who have entered the 2009 Dartmoor Classic Sportive and want to prepare properly for the event and with expert guidance.

Riding with the promoting club is one of the best ways of achieving a good experience when preparing to ride across Dartmoor on Sunday, June 28.

The links that the club has forged in the last two years with South Dartmoor Community College, Ashburton, is bearing fruit with a number of teenagers raring to go. They are being joined by a number of youngsters from other local schools.

The club is pleased to see a number of women riders turning up on a regular basis and the way they have improved is at times beyond belief.

In the near future the club may well be setting up lady specific activities group.

The first of the current sessions on Saturday afternoon for the Abbrook Aces drew 25 youngsters, aged from six to ten, eager to improve their cycling skills.

The next of the fortnightly sessions will take place at Abbrook Park Sports and Social Club on Saturday, January 24 at 2pm. The sessions are held in trafffic-free surroundings. Call 01828 351447 to book a place.

In February, the first of the club's promotions take place, with the three Springtime Pursuits. All are based on Whimple and use the relatively quiet old A30 between Clyst Honiton and Daisymount.

Good Friday sees the 23-mile Teign Valley Sporting Tme Trial run from Chudleigh Knighton up to Moretonhampstead and back down the river valley to Chudleigh. Can anyone get near the record of 53 minutes 12 seconds held by Harry Lodge?

In mid-April, the club will promote the 36th Totnes-Vire Stage Race. Current plans are to base the first day at Chulmleigh before the final stage is run from Whimple. In 2008, Jon Tiernan-Locke was a worthy winner for the club.

Totnes will host an evening of racing on Saturday, May 23. There will be races for the under-14s and under-16s, followed by a race for those over 16. It all starts at around 7pm.

The circuit is from Totnes Plains, up Fore Street, along Station Road and back along Coronation Road. After 20 minutes or 50 minutes, all races will finish above St Mary's Church.

On the evening of June 16, the Mid-Devon Cycling Club/Colin Lewis Cycles Team will host the area final of the under-16s' time trial championship. This will be over ten miles and on a course at the top end of the Teign Valley between Dunsford and the road to Canonteign Falls. An open race will be run in conjunction with the area final.

In August, the MDCC will run two races as part of the 162nd Paignton Regatta.

On the opening Saturday, August 8, there will be a cyclo-cross race on Paignton's North Green.

On Friday evening, August 14, there will be the circuit races beside and around the North Green. Both of these days' racing cater for all age groups.

The club's Triple Trophy Time Trial takes place on Sunday, August 30, with Buckfastleigh as the HQ. Weather conditions permitting, this 25-mile race could prove to be one of the fastest events of the season on south west roads.

The club's final time trial is also its shortest, being the 3.125-mile Haytor Hill Climb and is on the last Saturday of September.

As well as the open races the club will be putting on, weather permitting, a series of fortnightly mid-week events for its own members and invited guest riders. These start on April 1 and run through till early Spetember.

In the intervening weeks, there will be 'chain gang' rides designed to improve the riders' speed and handling skills.