New event - Rally Information
Is anyone else catching the Portsmouth to St Malo ferry on the 21st? I am going to cycle to Gouarec on the Friday if anyone else is doing that
Regarding WiFi... I don't know whether the campsite has WiFi as we are staying in an AirBnb in the village. The accommodation details advise us that 'Fibre has not yet arrived in Gouarec. Wi-Fi is therefore still dependent on the mobile network. This sometimes makes it unstable, especially in high season when more people are connected.'
The Boulangerie in the village is open on Saturday and Sunday but NOT on Monday! Cash only but there are 2 cash machines in the village on the main road.
Do you know if the local supermarkets (E.Leclerc PLOUGUERNEVEL ?) is open on Saturday afternoon and maybe Sunday ?
If anyone is in the supermarche and sees some plastic table cloth, we could do with 14 for the marquee tables
Bonsoir Gouarec travellers,
Registration at the marquee from 9:00 hrs
- The French emergency helpline for English speaking people is 112
- Wifi is available on site, the password is campingdegouarec
- The Boulangerie Le Bon Pain, (bakery) in the village is open on Saturday and Sunday (07:30 hrs) but NOT on Monday! Cash only but there are 2 cash machines in the village on the main road. It has a baguette vending machine.
- The English Epicerie (grocers) is closed at the weekend but open on Monday (bankholiday), 10:00 - 12:30 & 14:00 - 17:00 hrs.
- Epicerie des Halles - 08:30 - 12:30 & 15:00 - 19:00 hrs Sat (morning only), & Tue to Fri.
- It may be difficult to find a cafe stop on some of the rides, therefore make sure you have a backup with you (baguettes?) and plenty to drink.
- Friday's BBQ
- Suckling pig and potatoes from the food van - pay as you order
- Vegetarians. We have arranged a special Veggie BBQ, please book your meal on arrival or before Monday evening, cost €15 p.p. cash only. Menu:
- Corn on the cob with homemade Ranch or Tarragon sauce
- Boiled potatoes with yogurt and herbs sauce
- Mixed crunchy veg with wholegrain mustard or Asian Vinaigrette
- A seasonal hummus as beetroot & fresh goat cheese or smoked paprika & red bean
- veggie mushroom burgers
- Sourdough focaccia
- Communications: ideally join announcement group on WhatsApp, get yourself in the group with this link:
- https://chat.whatsapp.com/Ih7mmbEoqVu4n1e48GRvlC
- Or news on the rally page (email)
- Saturday evening welcome drink & cheese in marquee at 19:00 hrs. Bring a glass.
The food-van should arrive around 18:30, we'll start the quiz around 19:30 so you can get your meal and eat it.
Photo competition, upload your photo here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZSc78NmNWnngvKqd7
If you fancy something different for your day off, you can rent a kayak form the campsite and paddle up the canal, or even hire Geoff's 2CV Citroën here: https://www.roadstr.fr/cars/citroen-2cv-1983-plelauff
Tomorrow's rides go towards the North-West on very quiet country roads. It is a bank-holiday so we are not sure what will be open! Make sure you have a backup plan!
On today’s route is Mark-Carhaix, it has a lake and “beach” area to cool off. It also has a bakery that may be open in the morning, not sure.
Tonight is cycle jumble, from 18.00 hrs.
Anyone feels like doing an article for the tandem club magazine?
Does anybody at tci2026 have a soldering iron + solder. I have broken control wire on electric tandem. TIA, NZ Kevin
Does anybody at tci2026 have a soldering iron + solder. I have broken control wire on electric tandem. TIA, NZ Kevin
Abus bike lock found, and is now on the table in the marquee. If you know the combination. it's yours!
Tomorrow's ride will take you along the canal for a fair way, the Cafe Ar Len will be waiting with your refreshment but remember your voucher. The Cafe is at 22km for the short, 38km on the medium and 58.5km on the long. Market in Rostrenen from 9:00 - 11:30 hrs. Quite spread out but nice creperie and coffee stall in the Square de la Fountaine.
Tomorrow evening is Tandem Games, 19:00 onwards.
Cafe Ar Len: https://maps.app.goo.gl/aVDk69je7DPgxdrH8
Hi Eugene. What’s the opening time for the cafe tomorrow as with Rostrenon and the lake before on the medium ride it might be closed after 38km
Optional activities:
* Swimming in Lac de Guerledan (free) https://maps.app.goo.gl/L7rw7JrUK6ySDz6ZA
* Kayaking from the campsite in the canal
* Free train-ride from Gouarec station to Bon Repos. One way or return, sign up! Leave at 15:30 come back at 16:00 hrs
* Creative writing: Can anyone do a write up for the tandem magazine? We have plenty of pictures!
* Friday Night will be the last evening, you can get a free drink with a voucher, obtainable from Sally or Eugene. Suckling pig, Veggie BBQ, Geoff's rock band, speeches etc.
* Photo competition : A shortlist of 3 pictures each will be made tomorrow evening in 2 categories: 1. Tandems & people 2. Anything without a tandem. The shortlist will pub published here with an opportunity to vote for your favorite picture. Pictures submitted on Friday won't count for the competition.
Friday's Update *Rides* are going North-West, 41, 51 & 71km *Geoff's famous rock band* whilst you enjoy your *pork dinner* or your *vegetarian BBQ* starting at around 18:30 hrs, (a *couple of volunteers requested* to take a 30 minute shift with the vegetarian BBQ please ). At 20:00hrs we will gather in the marquee with your free drink (get your voucher from Sally if you haven't already got one) during the evening will be some speeches and thankyou's. We also have some wine remaining from the opening evening so we will put that out as well. Op is op! (when it's gone it's gone) *Photo competition* will close shortly and you will get a shortlist to vote on in WhatsApp. Winners announced tomorrow evening. *4 volunteers* requested for Saturday morning at 10.00hrs (for around 30 minutes) to help put away the gazebos, tables and chairs. *Article for the journal* volunteer still needed please Please speak to me or message me if you are able to help with any of the volunteering requests.
A TCI couple approached me last night about loss of electrics on their Shimano powered Orbit tandem, can't remember their names, they were going to cycle to Roscoff
Just had a thought, did they check if the little magnet on a spoke on the rear wheel is aligned with the sensor on the rear chainstay, it tells your bike computer your wheel speed. Once on my Hase Pino the magnet had twisted on the spoke and out of alignment and I lost power
A TCI couple approached me last night about loss of electrics on their Shimano powered Orbit tandem, can't remember their names, they were going to cycle to Roscoff
Just had a thought, did they check if the little magnet on a spoke on the rear wheel is aligned with the sensor on the rear chainstay, it tells your bike computer your wheel speed. Once on my Hase Pino the magnet had twisted on the spoke and out of alignment and I lost power
Hi Kevin - thanks for the suggestion - it's one of the things I checked last night, but no joy. We're now sorted with a ride to Roscoff on Monday for Amy, me and the tandem. Now we get to enjoy 2 extra days in Gouarec and will probably ride the flat route to Bon Repos for a coffee tomorrow. Thanks again, Stephen
Hi Stephen, great to hear you Amy and the tandem are sorted. Be interesting to hear what the solution to you problem was. Many other Shimano powered tandems in the Tsndem club might benefit in the future.
Yes please we e-Orbit tandemers need to know what the solution is//was? But we are pleased thou found it!
Brittany Ferries Discount
To get a special discount use the following link to book: https://www.brittany-ferries.co.uk/?referrer=624406. Not 100% sure this works for all bookings though.
General Rally Information
As part of the activities we would like you to bring any Boules sets you may have so hereby advance warning!
How to get there: Off the N164 from Carhaix-Plouguer, exit at Ker Laurent for Gouarec
French Holiday Weekend Info
The weekend when we arrive is a French holiday weekend with limited shops open so plan ahead with food. However there will be a food truck on site for both days so you will be able to buy a meal on site.
Pitch allocation:
We have a lot of space available and therefore we are not allocating pitches, if you want to be with your friends please talk to them now to see who will arrive first so you can reserve a pitch next to you for them. There is a separate area for cycle tourers with a cooking tent, bike shed and charging point. The Rally will also have a marquee with charging points.
Campsite Facilities
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Shared Kitchen
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Secure bike storage and ba ery charging
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Washing machine
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Breakfast
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Bike repair service
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Bakery: Le Bon Pain, 15 Rue des Halles, 22570 Gouarec, France
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Carrefour - 8 Rue du Stade, 56480 Cleguerec
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Intermarche HYPER - Centre commercial Cap Vert, Prat Stangorin, ZA Goasnel, 22110 Rostrenen
Call for volunteers
We do need your help with this rally, if you can volunteer a few hours during the week it would makes things a lot easier! Please have a look at the volunteering sheet what you can do and email me
with your availability on: events@tandem-club.org.uk.
Evening Programme
| Saturday | Arrival manned from 9:00 and set yourself up and if me do a short local rides to explore area Welcome drink/snackscampsite marquee 19.00 (BYO glass & chair) |
| Sunday | 9.00 am. Meet at marquee for led ride arrangements for the week. Market at Bon Repos. From 15:00 Learn to play Boules. Details to follow |
| Monday | Quiz night by PeterWeeks 19:00 hrs |
| Tuesday | Pont Ar Len Cafe on canal for a coffee/tea stop use your Tandem club voucher for a free drink & Cake, please stagger your visit, don’t all turn up between 10:30 and 11:00! Rostrenen Market. Tandem Games by Clem Collins 18:30 hrs. |
| Wednesday | Train ride to Bon Repos from Gouarec Sta on. A ernoon. 95 places available, sign up at registra on or in the marquee. Departure me is 15:30 hrs |
| Thursday | Informal gathering, you are welcome to bring any tandem relateditems to try and sell or recycle (marquee) from 19:00 onwards |
| Friday | Roast pork BBQ end of rally meal as well as a full vegetarian BBQ op on. Details and sign-up at recep on and marquee during rally. |
Photo Competition
Following the raving success last year of the photo competition we would like you to upload your photos again and we will reward a prize to the best photograph(s), upload your photos here:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZSc78NmNWnngvKqd7
Markets
Maps
The yellow 1:200000 Michelin (especially the plastic ones) the ones to use in France. The IGN are smaller scale but are really difficult to use with roads as a spider's-web instead of the clear indications of the Michelin. Breton Bikes always have a stock of these maps available for those who don't have them. https://www.amazon.co.uk/
Routes and Places of Interest Viewable and Downloadable
The following is the list of rides with maps showing the ride with statistics and places of interest on the routes. There is a download link for ALL the rides (GPX) and places of interest at the bottom of the rides list. Please note that there are only 2 rides for Thursday, Medium-long and Short. Here is a list of local markets that might be of interest. (click image for bigger view)
Rally Program
Please download the rally program here (updated 09/05 26)
The ability to download all the rides, by a member, in a zip file will be available once the rides have been published here.
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