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Tandeming in Wales

Eli Torgeson2025-04-12 23:17:07

Hello All. 

I am planning a one week tandem riding adventure with my teenage daughter May 17- 24. starting out from Cardiff.  I have done some research and think I understand how the trip will work, but want to make sure I have not missed something significant.  

The Tandem Club's Tandem Hiring page has lots of options, but few in Wales.  Bristol Bike has 20 inch wheeled tandems with the caveat that one needs to lock the bike up inside every night.  That could work, but the locking inside is something I cannot guarantee.  Also, i rode our semirecumbent tandem with its 20inch front wheel in Portugal and found it rather slow.  (Maybe we were just slow.)  

Neither Bikeability Wales, nor SJS/Thorn have a tandem that could be rented.  Similarly, Beiciau Afan Cycles'  does not have a tandem available.  

Looking online Fat Llama had someone offering a tandem in Pewsey (about 90 miles from Cardiff.) I have booked that and will talk with the owner this weekend.  

I think, what makes the tandem hire so difficult is that the trains in Wales (and to some degree in the UK) do not seem particularly accepting of tandem bikes.  I can see that folks have done it, and if I had lots of flexibility I am sure I would sort it out, but I think I should plan to ride the bike from the point of rental to Wales, then make my loop, and return the rental to renter.  

I am using both John Thurston's Lost lanes as well as Richard Barrett's Cycle Touring in Wales travel book.  I will likely Ride Cardiff to Fishguard and back on the Cross Route 6 via  Carmarthen, Brecon, and Abergavenny.  If we are clearing more miles early, maybe we will venture up Aberystwyth before heading back east to the Marches.  

Does what I write sound logical?  Am I missing something significant about renting, traveling with a tandem, or my route?  

Sincerely,

Eli

In Albuquerque NM

Tandem 1: Performer Family Tandem Semirecumbent

Tandem 2:  Dave Porter 1980s tandem converted from 27" to 650b. 

PS:  I did consider a Scotland trip as I have family in Gairloch, however, it seems one would want to start in Inverness so I faced a similar issue with renting and or transporting a tandem on railways.  

 

Mark Shelton2025-04-13 00:16:08

Hi Eli,

This involves a bit of re-imagining your holiday.  Wheely Wonderful Cycling are based near Ludlow (direct trains from Cardiff, then a taxi journey), and offer bike hire as well as luggage transfer etc: Lon Las Cymru | Cycling Holidays | Wheely Wonderful Cycling.  Prices include accommodation bookings,

Route preferences are personal, but for me the mid-Wales itinerary is much more scenic than your present plan.

One word of warning: whether you stick to the coast or head inland, expect steep gradients!  My wife and I managed 20% pitches, just about, but had to give best when it got up to 25%.  Don't want to put you off, though, it isn't all like that, and it's great country - should be a memorable adventure for a teenage daughter.

All the best,

Mark

Ian Brown2025-04-13 11:05:43

I would buy a tandem off eBay.uk locally in Wales then get a shop to set it up and then tour via Travel Lodge, Premier Inn, or book ad hoc local guest houses from the internet. Don't use a booking site as they are full of scammers!

Ian Brown

Edmund Dunstan2025-04-13 15:15:18

Firstly - great choice of country to visit. In planning your route, make sure that you look at maps with enough detail to show enough of the contours - there are lots. It may often be best to plan your route around river valleys - the Gwy (Wye), Tywi, Teifi, Ystwyth, Dyfi, Mawddach, Hafren(Severn), Dyfrydwy (Dee) etc. rather than go across the grain of the country. Starting from Ludlow, as suggested above, could take you into the beauties and peace of mid-Wales fairly easily.

Nearly all trains in the UK are difficult over tandems - as far as I know only Avanti West Coast  (London to Glasgow and Edinburgh) and possibly LNER will take tandems intact. I don't know about separable tandems - even they may be difficult. I suppose van hire might be a way of transporting a tandem, if you could arrange somewhere secure to leave it while you tour or use one-way hires.

If you could hire a tandem in Inverness, you could ride across to Gairloch in a couple of days, and the northern Highlands are also a great part of the world, though most of the routes are main roads.

Good luck.

 

Ben Searle2025-04-13 16:46:28
There are new bike carriages on the Heart of Wales line! Said to be tandem friendly too! I can't paste link for some reason but Google it.
Eli Torgeson2025-04-13 21:55:02

Thanks for all the advice folks. 

The warning of steep gradients is noted.  And Mark, I will look to see how possible it is to move my tour to mid-Wales.  I am not ready to do the Wheely Wonderful package, but I am softening up as I try to otherwise sort out my route and planning.  Thanks for the link.  

Ian, I did think of buying a Tandem and then leaving it after the trip.  I just have to find one in Wales, else the transport is still an issue.  Would you tell me more about the Travel Lodge, Premier Inn or booking ad hoc?  Those seem to be specific hotel chains that you recommend?  

Edmund, great advice, and I did not know about the Heart of Wales line.  I am having a little difficulty seeing the "current" availablilty of tandem travel on that route.  It looks like the route is Swansea to Shrewsbury, but there are other stops on either side of these towns on the time table, notably in Cardiff as well as on the other side, beyond Shrewsbury.  When including one of these outlier cities it didn't appear that tandem travel was possible (by the linked info page).  Within the heart of the heart of Wales route - Llanwrtyd and environs - bike space was not allowed at all.  Actually, often it says that seats themselves cannot be reserved.  I have send a request to the HoW Whatsapp link.  

Thanks again.  

Eli

In Albuquerque, NM, USA