The Tandem Club

Len and Gill Hampson organised their first ride for the group in June which started and finished at the Lime Kiln Inn near Long Sutton.The route wound around the quiet lanes of South Somerset taking the group through beautiful countryside and pretty villages. There was a stop half way round at Hambridge village green where the riders were treated to homemade cake provided by the organisers. The riders then returned to the Lime Kiln Inn for Sunday lunch, drinks and general socializing.

Clive and Emma organised the July ride for the Taunton Group. Eight tandems and three solos met at the Red Brick Building in Glastonbury to ride across the Somerset Levels.
We set off on the National Cycle Network lanes to Ashcott, Shapwick and Catcott before turning north at Cossington.
We stayed on the lanes passing the peat farms to East Huntspill and then onto a coffee and cake stop at Rich’s Cider Farm. The clouds had cleared and we were all able to enjoy the sunshine at the outside tables.
The return journey took us across the lanes towards Westhay Moor. We all declined the option to stop again at Sweets tearooms and continued through Godney and back to our start point for a lengthy lunch.
 

Due to road closures in Stafford on 15th September the ride will now start from Market Drayton.  Full details in the whats on section.

We are always looking for ways to raise awareness among potential new members who don't know there is a Tandem Club. 

 In the latest copy of the TCJ are 5 Club stickers in a white envelope.  Please put these on your tandem (on all your tandems if you have more than one).  People admiring your tandem out on the road are sure to spot them and ask about the Club. This is your chance to tell them about what we do and get them interested.

If you need more stickers please get in touch.

Thank you for helping to raise awareness of the Tandem Club amongst potential new members.

Peter Weeks Publicity Officer

Note the ride on 26/10/2019 has been cancelled.

Bookings can be made for the 2020 Easter Rally, which is being held at Greenhill Leisure Park, Bletchingdon, just north of Oxford.

Please book early to be sure of securing a  pitch on the campsite here.

Chris and Chris organised the August Ride where an eleventh hour weather reprieve saw 10 tandems and a solo gather at The George Hotel, Castle Cary for pre-ride coffees.
Machines varied from recumbent tandem, “Moustache “ E tandem, lady back elect. assist.model,to a sparkling new “Dolan”.
 Jamie and Becky were welcomed to their inaugural ride with the Taunton group as was David from “Somerset Sight “.
 Negotiating a service company road closure within the first half mile, on foot, the ride followed quiet lanes through Pitcombe to Wincanton. Having crossed over the A303, we continued on unchallenging terrain via South Cheriton to Milborne Port where we just managed to avoid crossing the county boundary into Dorset.   From there we continued through Charlton Horethorne and Compton Pauncefoot to a well-deserved lunch at The Camelot Inn at South Cadbury.
Suitably refreshed we pedalled on through Sparkford and North Barrow to return to Castle Cary for tea and cake, having said goodbye to Rex and Hannah en-route to their onward journey home.
Having largely avoided vehicular traffic and serious fluctuations in elevation a pleasant and easy-ish ride was enjoyed by all in the most benevolent weather.
Chris & Chris Davis.

James organised the September Taunton group ride which was attended by four tandems and two halves.
Bow garden centre,  between Okehampton and Crediton did us proud for breakfast, and we decided pretty quickly to split into two groups.  The riders and the walkers.  That isn’t walking all the time.  Just when excessively gravitationally challenged.  Andy knows the area well as his workshop, where he makes the wonderful Brook guitars, is close by.  He led the riders whose bikes were powered by dark matter; we, the walkers, plodded on about half an hour behind.
After rather a lot of climbing we reached the Hog and Hedge.  We read the sign: “Pull in and Pig out” and we did just that. 
Now we could lose the height we had gained in the morning.  A very rural ride in excellent company.  We were back before the rain started and nobody mentioned the B word, but I could kill a pint this evening.
 

Mark and Liz organised the October Ride where 8 tandems and 3 solos met at Escot Country House. Escot has very large grounds with a maze and a variety of captive animals -they include red squirrels, European otters, wolves and the Scottish wildcat- some are on a plan to be reintroduced to the wild.
Our route was fairly sparse on steep hills for Devon, passing the hamlets of Fairmile and Coombelake then past Kings School at Ottery St Mary. We then went to Tipton St John where we crossed the river Otter. Now on the east side, we went through the particularly pretty village of Harpford before crossing the main Exeter to Sidmouth road. The route then took us to Otterton Mill for a coffee stop. Beavers have been seen on the river Otter just upstream from this village in previous years but have been more elusive this summer. 
We then cycled on down to the sea at Budleigh Salterton where the sun came out for our photos .It is a great spot for swimming , but a bit cold these last few weeks and had we more time ,we might have visited the creamery at the town end of Budleigh beach ,with a huge range of ice creams. Our lunch booking at the “Lamb and Flag “in Ottery was, however more pressing.
We took a fairly similar route back up the Otter to the pub in the town. They did us proud with prompt service for our pre- booked meals. Ed, local to Ottery told us it’s a pub famous for serving Christmas dinner to people on their own, following a first dinner funded by a local lady. 
Back to Escot for the end of the ride -this one a 25 mile trip. The day started with fantastic sunshine and then was more mixed .For the first week of October, we were very lucky to have no significant rain and sunshine at the seaside at Budleigh.
Mark and Liz Nicholson
 

11 tandems and 2 solos joined us for the November ride around the Somerset Levels. Everyone was well wrapped up and the weather was kind to us as we left The Crown at Catcott and rode to the Avalon Marches Hub for tea and cakes – Grace and Malcolm dropped by to say hello.
The group then cycled the Shapwick Heath Reserve path for some gentle bumps and bird watching. A group effort saw everyone safely through the cycle gate at the Ashcott Road end before cycling through Meare to the Westhay Reserve and some very bumpy off roading – Well Done All!
We then put some speed on to cross Tillham Moor – where it was quite cold – back to the Crown for a lovely carvery – veggies catered for too!
Special mentions go to David and Fiona who managed two punctures in short time after our tea stop – we met them back at the pub and commiserated.
David from Somerset Sight joined us again with Ed as his pilot.
And we should all say a big CONGRATULATIONS to Martha who was on her first Tandem Club ride snuggly sat behind her Mum and Dad – she is 15 months old!
This was the first ride we have planned and led and would like to thank everyone for their positive comments about the route and meal – in fact Ian has managed to persuade us to have another go in July 2020 when the marshes will have their summer coat.

Rex and Hannah Whitcombe

2020 International Rally Information
Details on booking the campsite and for the rally are now available and you can book for this event.

Hi all,

I've just taken on the role of Regional Organiser for the Notts region. Over the holiday period, I will contact all members with a view of gauging interest for runs out and social gatherings.

Looking forward to meeting members, and meanwhile, watch this space for news on group rides/meetings. 

What will the “T Shirts look like ( front and back )

After Salviac, France “ITR 2020”. My wife and I from the United States are riding to Bordeaux for a couple of days. Then by train up to Nantes and then riding along the Atlantic Velo Route 1 to the Spanish Boarder. We are planning to ride 50 k per day. That should give us time to enjoy the towns and country side. This is a Self Supported Ride. Come and Join along with us for any amount of days.

Carlmatt@aol.com

The Taunton group met at the Walnut Tree at North Petherton for their Christmas Meal and ride – a record number of 40 people attended the meal.  

The fancy dress/decorated tandem competition is always amazing. Rob and Sally stole the show dressed as oven ready turkeys. They cycled the 18 mile route and must’ve roasted! Other costumes included Christmas trees with flashing lights, reindeers, and of course Santa himself.

Coffee and biscuits is a great way to start then Ian led the ride with daughter-in-law Sarah as his stoker to provide much needed pedal power - Lisa had just had a replacement shoulder operation and will be back in action later in the year.  Heavy rain delayed the start but fortunately the sun came out as 14 tandems and 2 solos cycled to North Newton. We then continued across the levels and up the ‘steep’ hill into North Curry where we re-grouped.  From there we made our way to Burrowbridge and then alongside a very high River Parrett up to Huntworth and back to North Petherton.  A lovely ride with lots of friendly chatting and numerous comments from those watching us pass by.  Thanks must go to Richard and Michelle for keeping the group together.

The Christmas Meal was as good as always and it’s lovely to see so many people attend. The trophy for the most rides done in the year was awarded to Nick and Rachel who rode 9 out of the 11 rides in 2019, including the successful 100 mile Tour de Dartmoor weekend organised by Andy and Anita with help from Karl and Lisa. The Christmas quiz was won by Tim and Mary and Ian and Lisa were presented with gifts in appreciation of their work as Regional Officers.

After the ITR 2020 in France Carl & Julie Mattson are riding to Bordeaux, staying two nights then going by train to Nantes.    We will then ride the Atlantic Route 1 to the Spanish Boarder for 18 days.  This is a self supported ride, 40-50km per day, no long range reservations, eat when we are hungary, sleep when we are tired, enjoy the towns, the sights and the sea side.  Tandems and single bikes are welcome to join us for as short or long as you wish.   Carlmatt@aol.com

Tandem Club Runs List for LA, PR and FY postcode areas 2020

RO Stephen Webb Mobile 07940 372433     Landline 01539 729660     email stephen.webb001@gmail.com

The 2020 Easter rally is temporarily closed for bookings.Watch this space!

The Tandem National Rally will be held in Corsham, Wiltshire from Saturday 23th May - Saturday 30th May 2020. The rally website is now available for information and bookings are open ! Tandem 2020 National Rally in Corsham