The TC website group along with our Journals editor have been busy modernising the style of the TC website. We hope you like the new style !  There is on-going work to improve this style and to improve the websites functionality. To login please use the "User/Login" top menu item of the "User" quick link icon at the top of the webpage. Some of the webpage content still needs editing, GPS files need adding and we need additional articles and content for the website, so we are looking for TC member volunteers to help out. If you can spare a bit of time to help the club, please contact us at: internetgroup@tandem-club.org.uk

The Department for Transport seek views on changes to the Highway Code to improve road safety, and so as a club we will make a submission on behalf of tandemists. If you wish to contribute to the Club’s response, which is set out in the latest TCJ, please send your comments to Eifion Francis and Jonathan Flower. Details below.

There are 3 main changes proposed:

1. Introducing a hierarchy of road users - those who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility
2. Clarifying rules for pedestrian priority
3. Guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists and priority at junction

1. Tandem riders need to exercise greater prudence and responsibility than ordinary bicycles.
2. Special mention should be made for tandems and other ‘non-standard’ forms of cycles, which may be longer, wider or less manoeuvrable than a conventional single bicycle. 
3. It should be made clear that people who cycle, especially on tandems and adapted cycles, may have impaired sight, hearing or mobility.
4. The proposals about cycle crossings could be strengthened.
5. The proposals advise cyclists to: “ ...leav(e) enough room (a door’s width or 0.5m) to avoid being hit if a door opens unexpectedly ..."  We think 0.5m is not enough when passing parked vehicles especially on a tandem which is less manoeuvrable
6. ‘bicycle’ should be replaced by the more inclusive ‘cycle’ which embraces trikes, hand cycles and other variants  
7. Clubs such as the Tandem Club could help promote and disseminate these changes.

Comments to be included in the Tandem Club response must be received by 20 October.  Please send comments to: eifandjill@aol.com or jonathan.flower@uwe.ac.uk

My wife and I, Have a Tandem called the White Rabbit. It is named after a loving bunny we have called Jester. Jester is a 18 Month old, Continental Giant, Red eyed White rabbit. He was born on the 01 April, Hence the name Jester. For charity Jester has had a Children's book published. Entitled Jester's 1st Christmas. it is available from Amazon. All money raised from the sale of the book will go to Charity. The book can be obtained from amazon at the following link. https://www.google.com/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwjY4qPfzsHtAhVK1O0KHcT1AvIYABAHGgJkZw&ae=2&sig=AOD64_0Xh1ug_rslEgf_sKQaXKtEXx5Lrw&ctype=70&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjyx5nfzsHtAhWUThUIHaNqDAIQ-pECegUIAhDHAg&adurl=

If it's raining outside and you'd like something to do then why not add a few icons to the Tandem Club ride map. I've added over 1000 and the map is looking pretty good for the South West. Anything from teashops to Farm Parks to Ancient Monuments that can be visited for free. There really is nothing like this anywhere else and if every member did just 10 that map would look prety impressive and would be a fabulous thing. Go on you know you want to, brew a cup of tea, grab a mince pie and look at https://tandem-club.org.uk/rides?cmd=placeList. Just Shift/left click on the place, add a description and away you go. Any question, I'm about at Neil@Tandem-club.org.uk

Note you can no longer login to the website using the generic Journal month based logins. This has been done for security reasons. You now need to have an individual user login on the website based on your email address. This can be setup using this link: https://tandem-club.org.uk/user?cmd=register

20 Feb Latest advice from Cycling UK about cycling restrictions during Covid

https://www.cyclinguk.org/article/coronavirus-qa-cycling-guidance

Over the past 4 months I have added National trust/English Heritage/Cadw and Scottish Trust properties to the Tandem Club Rides map. This is stage 1 for me because i will now be looking to add rides to flesh it out. There are over 3000 places marked now. I've said before that it's unique, and it is. So if you have a favorite ride that others will enjoy please upload it or get in touch.

I have added the West Country Saturday ride to the Rides part of the site. Within this I have added a description and 4 pictures as well as adding markers along the way. What I am trying to do is grade these 1-5. The idea is to be able to find great routes without being swamped by routes which are difficult to follow/understand. As this one doesn't have a PDF routesheet, I've designated it a grade 4 as it was a lovely route (Thanks Peter and Jenny) and has nearly everything else. This is what i'll be doing in the future. https://tandem-club.org.uk/rides?cmd=view&id=310

My Wife, Lyn and I have recently taken up tandem cycling in Wiltshire and are keen to know if anyone else around our area is interested in North Wiltshire routes. We would love to get more involved in the Tandem club and meet like minded members.

Anthony, Lyn welcome to the club. If you are in the Swindon SN postcode area you are in the West of England Group. This is an active group covering BR, BS and SN postcode areas incl Wiltshire. Hope to see you on a ride soon.

In case you get a letter - Club is having a final push to get everyone onto the correct subscription rates. £15 pa for 1 year; £60 for 5 years for a Full Member + 1 Joint Member.

Please check you are paying the correct amount as wrong payments cause extra work. 

Thanks

Peter Weeks, Chair 

The Tandem Club began in Charlbury (Oxon) on 9 Oct 1971. Jonathan and Tessa Cox invite all TC Members on a 50km (for 50 years) ride on 9 Oct 2021. Start and end in Charlbury; moderate amount of climbing with a few sharp hills.

Options for food in Witney and Eynsham.

Further details, including parking, to be confirmed dependent upon numbers. Please RSVP / PM Jonathan Cox   jcoxuk-nlc@yahoo.co.uk    to join the ride.
Link to route:
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/37080406 

Thanks to all who have paid the right amount for your annual or your 5-year subscription for Club membership.

Rates for a Full Member plus 1 Joint Member (+ children under 18 at home) are £15 pa or £60 for 5 years.

Please pay the correct amount as the Club will only accept correct payments from 1 Sept 2021. Thanks.

The local papers in Witney have picked up that we are coming to Charlbury on 9 October for the 50th birthday ride:

https://www.witneygazette.co.uk/news/19553338.50th-birthday-group-ride-charlbury-home-tandem-club/

For more info What's On: https://tandem-club.org.uk/whatsOn?cmd=view&id=3308 and the event page at: https://tandem-club.org.uk/events/tcb2021/index.html

FROM THE CHAIR

It was a great rally at Nottingham wasn’t it?   A wide choice of routes through lovely countryside; an interesting city to explore; the mass start of 90+ tandems around the National Watersports lake in the sunshine; cream teas and prosecco.  Even the local BBC and Radio Nottingham came along to find out about the magic appeal of tandems.  And how nice to meet up with friends again and ride together after what seems like a long two years.  Phil and Julie Harmer and Colin and Rosy Gray organised it all.  Thanks for a wonderful week.

As I mentioned last time, plans are under way for a full programme of rallies in 2022 including of course the National Rally at Corsham, Wilts, 28 May – 4 June, when we will celebrate the Club’s 50^th anniversary.  Please keep Wed 1 June 2022 free.  All Members of the Club will be invited to the Club birthday party that afternoon when we hope to have a large turnout to mark the occasion.   

If you have been following the history of the Club in recent issues you will be aware of the wide variety of activities that Club Members get up to.  Many of these have been organised by Members rather than official Club activities.  I sometimes think of the Club as being a kind of umbrella group covering all tandemists whatever their interests.  An example is the Club birthday ride that Jonathan and Tessa Cox organised recently at Charlbury, 50 years since 9 Oct 1971, starting and finishing where it all began.

If you are a longstanding Member and you have any old tandem stories or photos, do please send them in to the Editor and/or post them on the website.  We all enjoy looking back and learning about the history of the Club.

With the easing of the Covid restrictions, it’s great to see local Group rides going on again in many areas of the country.  Few cycling clubs have a strong regional structure as we do, and local Groups in my view are an important benefit of membership.  If your tandem is pining for a ride in company then check to see what your local Group is up to!   

Looking ahead, at the Club AGM at Easter next year we will need some new people to fill positions coming vacant on the Committee:

- Club Secretary

- Regional Officer Co-Ordinator

- Technical Adviser

- Sales Officer (Technical and Non-technical Sales)

- Web Content Editor

If you can do one of these roles and you care about the Club please contact me. A younger Member comfortable with the web and social media?  Looking to build your CV in marketing?  Coming up to or recently retired?  None of these roles are demanding or time-consuming. They all have a job description and I can help you learn the ropes.  Please do give this some thought.  We need more volunteers to help run the Club and in particular I would love to see some newer Members on the Committee.  

You may remember that, about a year ago, the Club sought the views of Members for a submission to a government consultation on the Highway Code on behalf of all tandemists.   In July the government published its response setting out a number of proposed changes.  Important ones for us are:

•  introducing a hierarchy of road users so those road users who can do the greatest harm have the greatest responsibility to reduce the danger they may pose to others
• guidance on safe passing distances and speeds when overtaking cyclists
• Ensuring that cyclists have priority at junctions when travelling straight ahead.

There are several other changes proposed to the “Rules for cyclists” chapter in the Highway Code, and also some changes for other road users when they meet or pass cyclists. (For example, the so-called “Dutch Reach” to look behind when opening a car door.)  We made a few tandem-specific suggestions but these have not been taken up in the response. Nevertheless I believe the Club should support the changes and encourage the government to implement them.  

Finally, as always, a warm welcome to all new Members of the Club.  Contact your local Regional Organiser and suggest your favourite local ride.  Stories and photos are welcome on the Club website and Facebook Group and here in the Journal.  Experts or beginners, whatever kind of tandeming you do or wherever you live, we want to hear from you.

If you have questions, suggestions or comments on any aspect of the Club you can reach me at  chair@tandem-club.org.uk 

Stay safe and happy tandeming.

Peter Weeks, Chair

I have just opened the online booking system for the 2022 Easter rally, which is being held at Greenhill Leisure park in Bletchingdon, north of Oxford.  It is a lovely site with excellent facilities.

Book early to secure the type of pitch that you prefer.

Full information at the rally webpage:   2022 Easter rally

Bookings for the 2022 National rally at Corsham are now open. See 2022 National Rally Page