The home of shared cycling adventures for couples, families and friends

Taunton Regional Group

Organisers Contact: Jackie and Stuart Hibberd, Tel: 0117 9695159, Email: westcountry@tandem-club.org.uk

 

Monthly rides usually held on the third weekend of the month - either on a Saturday or a Sunday.

 

Mark Tipping2026-07-21 19:08:58tcn2026

A seconder for jumble please. Mark and Gill

Mark Tipping2026-07-21 19:09:00tcn2026

A seconder for jumble please. Mark and Gill

John Pound2026-07-21 22:06:27tcn2026

Ive tried to download the route for Saturday and Sunday so i can print it out but i am unable

Neil Wheadon2026-07-21 22:36:45tcn2026

Hi John. Could you download Tuesday and Wednesday?

Neil Wheadon2026-07-21 22:38:18tcn2026

If we add bringing things to sell, that should work. After the Tandem Games

John Pound2026-07-21 22:49:43WestMidlands

Download route sheet as PDF file

John Pound2026-07-21 22:53:46tcn2026

Tuesday and Wednesday were ok but no link to Saturday or Sunday

John Pound2026-07-21 22:57:00tcn2026

Only links to gps and tpx

Neil Wheadon2026-07-21 22:58:50tcn2026

CAMPING WITH FRIENDS. The site is exclusive use and not that large. However I can try to arrange for friends to camp next to eachother if you are on an electric site. To allow this, can you liaise with the folks you wish to be next to and as a group tell me. What I can't easily do is cope with daisy chains, where X wishes to be close to Y and Y next to Z, then Z next to A etc. Please email me privately at Neilwheadon1@gmail.com. For non electric there is space and non marked pitches, so come along and save a space for a friend. All the families will camp together if they are non electric. Having written this as the campsite is small and there are new members, everyone mixed up is a nice thing to have.

Neil Wheadon2026-07-21 23:22:29tcn2026

Download for route sheets on Saturday and Sunday, hopefully fixed, thanks for the fedback

Tony Prichard2026-07-22 18:40:11tcn2026
Club Shop at TCN2026

Janet and I will be bringing a selection of items from the Club Shop

Simon Preston2026-07-23 06:44:43tcn2026

I contacted the campsite to check for availability a

Simon Preston2026-07-23 06:47:29tcn2026

Over the weekend before the rally. They have spaces and said they anticipate having the rally pitch allocations so we can be put in the same one throughout without having to move on the Monday. Is that correct?

Neil Wheadon2026-07-23 08:27:43tcn2026

PRE CAMPING FOR THE RALLY. I visited the campsite for the last time yesterday before the event and Sally gave me the list of those that have booked a pitch before the rally. I will be allocating pitches by Saturday and people prebooked will be placed where they will be during the rally. It is therefore absolutely crucial that anyone booking a site before Monday emails me and tells me, otherwise you may have to move when the rally starts. Can I also put this one to bed please. I have had maybe 6 emails regading the price of the pitch at the rally being £10 more than if you booked it yourself. There are 2 factors. Firstly the level of extras involved. The extra showers and marquee are just shy of £3000 for example, you don't get that for hiring a piece of grass for a day. The other is the fact that we have sole use of the site, so a single figure was asked for. In advance it is tough to guestimate the break even point, therefore for the clubs sake I took the decision to make sure that it would hopefully break even. Any surplus does not go to shareholders it either goes to the club or is ploughed back into the event. Previous organisers may appreciate this but having some money to play with takes an awful lot of stress out of putting these together. In short this is an event

Peter Simpson2026-07-24 15:08:00tcn2026

Hi Neil. It would appear that you used Ride With GPS to create the routes. Did you save them with public or friends visibility? If not, would it be possible to make them available to us? It would appear that inporting the gpx files only loads the route with no cues. It would be particularly helpful for David and me to have the turn-by-turn cues which ar automatically generated when creating a route. Thanks Peter and David

Neil Wheadon2026-07-26 22:37:03tcn2026

PITCH ALLOCATION. Thankyou for all the emails. There were also some notes with the booking forms, so I think I've satisfied everyones requirements. I have had a list of everyone turning up a day or so early as well, hopefully no-one will have to move. For those that haven't asked and non electric: ELECTRIC. Allocate on arrival, slot you into available pitches. NON ELECTRIC. Along the hedge at the back of the site, just pick a place. There is a 6 metre rule between pitches but not at rallies. FAMILES. Dedicated area at the back of the site, between the hedge and the road to the lake (not close) One family asked about electric. It might be possible if you bring a very long lead, just not sure yet, there are an awful lot of variables to satisfy here. In short, I've done the best I can

Alastair Hopkins2026-07-27 09:01:57tcn2026

I can bring a 10m HOOKUP EXTENSION lead in case needed for family area.

Neil Wheadon2026-07-27 16:35:23tcn2026

FACILITIES in marque. Trying not to oversell here. There will be tables, chairs and places to charge phones and Garmin type devices. For E-bikes there will be socket and we can accommodate a few but I would be grateful if you could bring a multi socket to save tying up the plugs. Overnight charging is OK but please away from the marquee material and anything combustible, however unlikely. I have also acquired 2 fridges 😃

Ian and Lisa Warren2026-07-27 20:35:37Taunton
July 2026
July 2026

The cyclists turned up two by two, Hoorah Hoorah

The cyclists turned up two by two Hoorah Hoorah

The cyclists turned up two by two, you have a battery; I have one too.

And we all went onto the moor to have a jolly good time.

Five tandems and two halves. The ride was hilly, but short. The views were lovely. The short optional stroll to Grimspound, a Bronze age settlement was a fun diversion. The weather was kind and no-one fell off. And we had a lengthy de-brief in the Globe in Chagford afterwards. And Spain won the world cup. Mustn’t grumble.

James & Liz

Neil Wheadon2026-07-28 14:39:59tcn2026

COMMUNICATION HI Folks. If you have any queries can you use email only please. I don’t use what’s app, messenger, text etc etc. There are just too many of them. Either via tcn2026 or neil@tandem-club.org.uk Thankyou, Neil

Neil Wheadon2026-07-28 15:59:14tcn2026

BAKERY IN THE MORNING. There is a bakery in Martock which is about 4 miles away. They do bread, rolls, croissants etc. They open at 08:00. If I get a few volunteers, we could co-ordinate to order and collect in the morning with 5-6 people taking a turn to collect at 08:00. I've done this before and it works well, but the best way by far is a standard order every day, so every day you get 1 croissant or 2 packs of rolls. One person could take this on entirely but it's an obligation. If you'd like to volunteer, please email me at neil@tandem-club.org.uk and mark the email 'bakery'

Neil Wheadon2026-07-28 16:09:11tcn2026

WHATS APP GROUP We'll be running a whats App group again. This is for general chit chat, pictures etc, official announcements will be via tcn2026, which means you won't miss anything important if you aren't on what's app. The link to join is at https://chat.whatsapp.com/EXVPq8SgMH64DOH6bcf9br and the group will be deleted at the end of the rally

Neil Wheadon2026-07-30 18:35:36tcn2026

ROUTE DOWLOAD step by step Kay. Can you access the website and find the ride you want on the Tandem Club website? These have a map, elevation, 6 pictures and download links. Start there with a yes or no and I’ll go to the next step

Neil Wheadon2026-07-30 18:57:15tcn2026

FOOD AND DRINK. So 1 validation and 2 rabbits out of a hat. The Hog roast. I have paid for and have booked the exact numbers and this depends on what you have booked, I won’t be issuing tickets but will have a list to tick of as you collect the meal. I might be able to accommodate anyone who hasn’t booked, having just asked the question to the caterer, this check will be part of the booking in process. OK now the rabbits… There will be a bar in the marquee all week, wine, cider, beer etc run by the campsite managers children. It is separate to anything I am doing. A licence has been applied for and will be from approx 18:30 to 22:30. It’s a lovely gesture, please support it as it gets people in the marquee. Sunday There is the barn dance starting at 19:30. There will be a paid for meal beforehand, bread, quiche, cheese etc, all free for participants.

Neil Wheadon2026-07-30 21:56:48tcn2026

SHOWERS and TOILETS in addition to the basic campsite facilities there will be a 4 berth shower unit and 6 portaloos scattered about. Can I ask 2 things please. At night especially please try to close the portaloos doors quietly. Secondly can everyone pack a loo roll. One option is to have a toilet monitor which is a pretty onerous job and I don’t want messages of there is a loo roll run out in portaloo 6 Easier by far is if you spot a portaloo running low, just add one, that way all should be well

Neil Wheadon2026-07-31 17:16:39tcn2026

ALLERGY and HYPERSENSITIVITY. There will be a teastop and an evening meal arranged. I am aware of 2 people so far who have allergies/hypersensitivity. I am making alternative arrangements in these cases but for this I need to know who to cater for. Please this is for previous hypersensitivities or gluten/lactose intolorance, not if you'd prefer a gluten free option. Can you email me privately on neil@tandem-club.org.uk please, even if you think that I already know. (I have a lot on my mind at the moment)

Peter Weeks2026-07-31 19:26:40tcn2026

On Tuesday Jen and I will lead whoever wants to join us on the Medium ride. Route goes Yeovil - Sherborne - S Petherton - home.

Peter Weeks2026-07-31 19:45:07tcn2026
Tuesday led ride

Tuesday's led ride is about 42 miles going East. Suggest we meet 09:15 at the campsite entrance. Jen and I will be on our blue-and-white Orbit. All welcome. Not a race! We will go at the pace of the slowest tandem. 

Please download the route to your Garmin/phone and have a look at the route info so you know what to expect along the way.

We will stop for lunch in Sherborne where there are lots of places to eat. Or else take a picnic to eat in the park. Sherborne is an attractive town with lots to see.

Catch us Monday eve in the marquee if you want to know more.  Our phone nbrs 07730 925759 / 07780 438303

Jenny and Peter Weeks

 

 

Neil Wheadon2026-07-31 20:12:22tcn2026

LED RIDES . There will be a led ride each day. This is a great oppertunity for new members to mix with other tandems. Peter and Jenny will lead the first one. I advertised this orriginally to start at 09:00 at the marquee. Peter has noted 09:15, so I have changed the times on the information for all the led rides to reflect that. 09:15 at the marquee, Tues,Wed,Sat and Sun

Peter Weeks2026-07-31 21:36:31tcn2026
Tuesday update

Slight change: Tuesday ride will start at the marquee instead of the campsite entrance. Time the same 09:15.

09/08/2026 Lancashire & Cumbria
Starting from Kendal Leisure Centre with a coffee stop in Kirkby Lonsdale.  Back over Hutton Roof to Beetham Nurseries at lunchtime.  Return to Kendal.  31 miles.
Contact: Paul Rodman Tel: 07768 647745 Email: paul.rodman@kencomp.net
09/08/2026 Nottinghamshire
58Km to celebrate 58 years of bliss! Usual start at Kingfisher cafe 10am start Lunch at Hickling Wharfe cafe with an option for a shorter route if preferred by the group. Ride route GPX/TCX
Contact: Kevin Smith Tel: 07879411059 Email: kevinsmith20002000@yahoo.co.uk
22/08/2026 Thameswey

Contact:
21/07/2026
No image
Marquee is full at rallySelection of photos submitted for the photo competition during the 2026 International Tandem Rally in Gouarec
16/04/2026
15/10/2026
Id: 1941
Location: Halton, Lancaster
Postcode: LA2 6PD
Map Reference: 54.0764, -2.73272
Ride length: 65 km
Lancashire and Cumbria Group - October ride from the Crook O Lune to the Lancashire coast. 9 tandems and 3 solos set off on a misty autumnal day, on David and Caroline's ride, exploring the Lancashire Coast and Lune Estuary. Superbly led, great company and perfect refreshment stops at The Quayside a ...
15/08/2026
Id: 2044
Map Reference: 52.9081, -2.46868
Ride length: 47 km
Start: From Viv & Andrew's home in Market Drayton Time: Leaving at 10:30am Distance: 30 miles Lunch: At the Old Piggery Cafe, Station Rd, Prees, SY13 2DW Toilets: At the start and at the cafe. We do not need to pre-order the meals, but please let us know if you are joining the ride (email address be ...
09/08/2026
Id: 1920
Location: Thorney Lakes, Langport
Postcode: TA10 0DW
Map Reference: 51.0056, -2.81533
Ride length: 64 km
Ride ease: Average
Heading right out of the campsite, you'll pass to the east of Langport to be greeted by the highest climb of the day as you ascend 84 metres to High Ham, giving lovely views of the Somerset levels. Descending to the levels takes you to the Shapwick nature reserve which is a series of large ponds wit ...
09/08/2026
Id: 1921
Location: Thorney Lakes, Langport
Postcode: TA10 0DW
Map Reference: 51.0052, -2.81576
Ride length: 85 km
Ride ease: Average
Heading right out of the campsite, you'll pass to the east of Langport to be greeted by the highest climb of the day as you ascend 84 metres to High Ham, giving lovely views of the Somerset levels. Descending to the levels takes you to the Shapwick nature reserve which is a series of large ponds wit ...

The ability to download all the rides, by a member, in a zip file will be available once the rides have been published here.

August Ride Report.html

July Ride Report.html

June Ride Report

May Ride Report and photos

April Ride Report and phots.html

March Ride Report.html

February Ride Report.html

YouTube Video - February

November 2013 Ride Report.html
December Ride Report.html
October Ride Report.html
Ride Report - February 2014.html