| International Tandem Rally 2005
The International Rally was held on the island of Fyn [Funen], Denmark in the small town of Tommerup Stationsby. Almost 400 tandemists arrived from the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, France, Israel and the United States of America.
 | Rally Logo
| Saturday 23rd July - Once registered with the rally organisers in the Tommerup Boldklub (Football) clubhouse we were greeted and shown to the camping areas (tents on the grass football field and caravans & motorhomes on the all-weather pitch, which had been marked out and set up with electric hook-up points for the caravans and motorhomes). During the afternoon it was a bonus to be able to watch the Tour de France on the clubhouse TV where unfortunately the Dane, Rasmussen, lost all chance of coming 3rd overall when he fell and had mechanical problems in the Time Trial. The weather was dull but refrained from raining for the Deputy Mayor's welcome address, given from the balcony of the clubhouse, after which we had local beer and sandwiches at the marquee.
 | There was usually
an open bakery
photo by: Phil Ingram | Sunday 24th July - It was a dull, cool day for our ride to Assens on the west coast of Fyn; a short diversion through Aarup furnished some of us with Danish pastries from the bakery for an al fresco elevenses stop further down the road. This was to set the scene for the week as the few cafés were invariably shut for holidays but luckily there was usually an open bakery. The short route riders (44 miles and the terrain was far from flat!) returned along cycle route 75 which brought all routes to the Skoda & Flax museums at Krengerup where excellent apple pie could be enjoyed. On return to the Boldklub, and its TV, we were able to watch Lance Armstrong winning his 7th Tour de France.
Monday 25th July - We awoke to cool rain. A few hardy souls went off towards Faborg and Svendborg (some even achieving the long route of 142k!) but many others waited to give the rain a chance to stop (apparently the children's club was good entertainment) before devising their own routes, Odense was quite a popular option being only 15 miles away.
 | Mass tandem ride
to the Lilleskov Tile
& Brickworks museum
photo by: Neville Frost
| Tuesday 26th July - Middelfart was reached by the long riders. In the evening the rally visited Lilleskov Tile & Brickworks museum in nearby Tommerup Stationsby where guided tours were given, rides on the old clay hauling narrow gauge railway and coffee and Danish pastries were enjoyed.
Wednesday 27th July - Free day. A full coach left the Boldklub at 7.40am to arrive in Copenhagen by 10am. A large group went on the guided walk led by "Hans Christian Andersen", which was excellent. Others took boat trips and walked around the very pleasant city admiring the sights.   | Copenhagen's
Little
Mermaid
| The Little Mermaid really is very little! The Queen's guards were on duty outside her palace. The city excels at spires and towers of all shapes. A weary coachload arrived back by 7pm to be greeted by the football match between tandemists and local villagers in full swing. During the day a group of families had gone to the especially opened saw mill for a demonstration of woodwork and pancake making - very tasty! Live music in the marquee in the evening 'til late.
Thursday 28th July - Bogense via Langeso lake. Out along the pretty and quiet but very hilly cycle route 79 to the lake and picnic area at Langeso. On to the northern coastal resort of Bogense and for those wanting yet more miles/kilometres, to the spit of land Enebaerodde. Tomerrup Stationsby's shops stayed open late for us this evening. Live music in the marquee in the evening.
 | The National Railway Museum
photo by: Michael Wolf | Friday 29th July - A nice unpaved part of cycle route 6 through forest to Korop, then alongside the main road into the heart of Odense and out north east on route 45, around the inland sea of Kertinge Nor and on to the attractive fishing port of Kerteminde, with long riders going up the Hindsholm peninsula, returning back through Odense and along route 75. The day had held mixed weather with bright, warm sunshine being followed by very heavy downpours of rain. Several families enjoyed the very good Danish National Railway Museum and Hans Christian Andersen museums in Odense. The tandem games were held in the evening - slow race, water jug race and novelty obstacle race - and the weather stayed sunny for us. Live music in the marquee in the evening.
Saturday 30th July - Rained all morning, very few riders went out. A couple did car-assisted rides to Nyborg and the east coast of Fyn. The sun came out mid-afternoon which encouraged a few people to do a few miles and the evening stayed fine for the barbecue. Thank yous were made to the Holmans and Lars Fribo for all their hard work and also to the Boldklub for looking after us all so well. A good band, who also did a comedy skit, finalised the event well.
 | Tandemists departing fom
Tommerup Stationsby
photo by: Neville Frost
| Sunday 31st July - Sunshine to dry out the tents and in which to pack-up. Almost everyone had gone from the Boldklub by noon.
Report by: Tricia Anderson
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