The Quest for the Curley Oak: A Tale of Mud, Masochism, and Mid-Century Commuting read like an affectionate slapstick epic — Bob shepherding a “respectable” nine into Wentwood on a freezing Saturday, only for the forest to insist on a baptism of frost, puddles and very determined uphill walks. Our noble mission to find the legendary Curley Oak instead became an exercise in bog-surfing, vertical gardening and discovering the limits of tyre choice: Abi collecting the “I’m Definitely Having Fun” award with dangerous enthusiasm, Paul and Mike waging a valiant identity crisis on their cyclocross bikes while Theo lounged smugly on a proper MTB, and the other Paul proving that 1980s steel touring bikes are either absurdly brave or absurdly brilliant in frozen off-road conditions. Rhydian’s illuminated ornament ensured everyone gave him a very wide berth. After a fair share of “hike a bike” and a perilous, black-ice-assisted descent into Parc Seymour, salvation arrived in the form of Wilson + Bay Coffee Lodge’s caffeine and cake — enough to resurrect the shivering, mud-splattered party for the ride back. Cold, sunny, muddy and utterly worth it: a perfect winter morning on two wheels, captured in equal parts heroics and low-grip comedy.