The family try-a-tandem will be at Paddock Wood Community Centre, Maidstone Road, Paddock Wood, TN12 6EB on Thursday 29 May, 10:00 - 12:00. Free, just turn up. There will be tandems to borrow and try out and experienced tandem riders on hand to help and give advice.

The Attendees Event Information webpage is now ready for you all to use.

Every route is featured in Rides. The following is an introduction as to what this is truly capable of. To make it easier, I'll split it up. TOP PART. Most is self explanatory, it is from here that you can download the GPX and or TCX files as well as a PDF Route Sheet

The second part is the map (and elevation) There is a lot of potential information here. The route is shown in pink. The start point is the Green Tandem Icon. On the map you will see various icons, there are over 50 different catagories. Orange is places to ear, pink is places of interest, purple places to stay, green, cycle related (bike shops) Brown is travel information. If you click on any of these you will get lots of information, a description, URL about it, a picture etc. Therefore the night before you can look at where you are passing close to. On the left are various buttons. +/- zoom in and out. A - This gives an photographic aerial view G - The default mapping is Open Street View, you can look at it on a google map. P - This takes away all the icons, so you can look at the map . S - This is clever. If pressed it brings up all the icon catagories and you can select the ones you are interested in, so if you want a castle, you can select for just this, try it. THE TARGET/DOT. This is really useful whilst on the rally. If you activate this and have Rides on the phone, this dot will show you where you are on the route (and how close you are to that cafe) All these icons have been hand done, there are over 10.000 country wide

The bottom part is even cleverer. You can select the places of interest/icons to 4 levels. Within 0.5km is pretty close or on the route. The others are should you be interested in what else is nearby. Personally I select within 2km, the reason is this is a calculation by the website where it takes the co-ordinates of the place of interest and the route and calculates, occasionally it's not quite bang on, so 2km catches everything close to the route. These are tabulated in the order that you pass them on the route (clever isn't it) The blue hyperlinks again tell you all about it. Now below this is a hyperlink Download Place PDF. If you do this, all the places you have selected and the information therein and the map will be available as a PDF. Finally at the bottom is News and Updates. I get alerts for these, so anything you wish to add or amend please tell me here and it will also inform others on the route.

Finally Rides has been 4 years in the making. I have added all the events from the past 10 years, as well as over 1000 other rides. These are not 'lines in the sand' but detailed and in many cases published routes. Many council websites have them but are difficult to find. 4 reions now use this to record routes (thankyou) and gradually a huge historical archive is being built up. I spend about 30 minutes every day adding and checking, there is a URL checker, so if a cafe closes and the website closes, I get alerted. Contrbutions/help are always appreciated, it's an amazing resource for Tandem Club members, please use it

Hi Neil. Is it possible to download the traditional route sheets or is it just a case of looking at the recommended direction for the day and then selecting an appropriate route from the database and following it on phone/garmin etc as you ride. Sorry but

... CONTINUATION .... Sorry but I'm not up on all the latest "geo cycling tech", which looks very helpful. I can manage with just a paper map. Many thanks, Alastair

Alastair, there is not a turn by turn route provided. But you can also download and print at home high resulti

Sorry, high resolution map of each ride.

Hi Alistair. When you open the ride there is a download large file hyperlink at the bottom. If you do this you can then print/save the map and superimpose it on the maps that you have or even print it and use it to navigate by, an example is shown of the download. At 1.9MB it should have enough detail. The way to make sure you are on course with a dedicated GPS device is use the ‘where Am I function in rides. This was detailed but is the target style dot on the map to the left of the map in rides. If you initiate this ( you’ll need a smartphone) it gives your location. I use this quite a lot now, used intermittently it’s really useful for locality to the route or places of interest.

There have been two minor amends tonight to the routes - West Short Plus, and North West Short. You may wish to reupload to your garmins etc.

Hi there anyone. Mary Tibble here. I have bought a new Garmin Edge Explore and havent a clue. I can download the gpx files to my laptop and have syncd my phone and Garmin. I am coming to the rally on Friday. I hope there might me someone who can help me to get the rides onto the Garmin so that it beeps at me for the turns. Thanks for reading this garbled message.

Mary,

I have just been informed by the campsite that the A229 Loose Road has been shut in both directions at the junction with Boughton Lane until 1st June. This is a major route from Maidstone and the diversion is not the greatest, very narrow in places and probably not ideal for caravans and motorhomes. This should not affect the majority of attendees as the best route anyway from the north is down the A21 to the A262 roundabout then follow signs to Goudhurst where you take the B2078 to Tanner Park Farm. Locals coming from the Maidstone area will know the best alternative route.

Thank you Richard, that is very kind of you.

The club shop is on Pitch 79 when not in the marquee.

The club shop is on Pitch 79 when not in the marquee.

Welcome everyone to Tanner Park Farm. Here are the bar opening hours. We can open earlier if there is a demand. See Jim & Kate. Pitch 22. Friday – 19:30 Sat – 18:30 Sun -17:00 May close after the games until 19:30 Mon – 19:00 Tues – 19:00 Wed – 18:00 Thurs – 17:30 Fri – 18:30

We are going on nw short this morning. Depart around 10.15 from reception. Anyone like to join us? We have to be back at 2.30. Philip and Verna

If anyone switches on an electrical appliance, and the power trips, please tell camp site staff immeadiately. They are trying to diagose an issue.

Weather today looks not too bad, if a little windy, according to the Met Office. Suggested directions today are North & East but you can go in any direction you wish. For medium riders who would like to go to Faversham, which is on the long route, you could just make it by using the long route but returning by reversing the outward route. For those who want a gentle start, the Sissinghurst loop, 16.5 miles is lovely. The cafes are outside the castle boundaries if you are not a NT member. The Castle gardens are at their best this time of year. Tandem Games this evening, so those who think they have good tandem handling skills please bring your bike and compete for some high class prizes! The bar will be open as some may be dehydrated. Bike jumble sale at 19:30 and an evening of relaxation with everyone in the marquee.

For new members and those who would like to include a new member in your group, a good meeting point would be the triangle of grass in front of pitches 75 to 79 near the bottom toilet block. Groups will probably leave 09:30 to 10:00. We’ll see how this works but please people aware of your capabilities.

For those who would like to visit the Aspens animal farm near Penbury, it looks like it and the cafe are closed BH monday. There seem to activities there for the rest of the half term week. Check out their website.

Pitch 17 Benimar MoHo..Alan? We have your van keys on Pitch 16 safe...

Does anyone have precision screwsrivers - for glasses screws? Ann-Marie would appreciate - pitch 68.

I have one. Richard pitch 77

Screwdriver acquired and glasses now mended. Thanks all!!

Weather today looks not too bad. There may be a few spots of rain around lunchtime. I didn’t see anyone short of a ride group yesterday. Please let me know if anyone needs to find a small group. Suggested ride directions today are NW and South. The Tenterden short is the easiest of the two but has a cafe dessert until Tenterden. Both routes are lovely. Tenterden is worth a visit and do go and see its small museum. We did the NW medium yesterday and really enjoyed it. Once again a cafe dessert until Tonbridge but lots of cafes there. Igtham Mote is beautiful and you get a really good look at it from the route. If you are an NT member, do go in and look. You can do a quick look in 20 mins but you will want to go back. The bar opens this evening at 19:00 and tonight’s presentation is on hop bines and the hop pickers of Kent. You will need a glass of beer to enjoy this!

The weather looks OK this morning with rain over lunch and light rain this afternoon. You may want to swap your rest days as Wednesday looks better. Scotney Castle has a large inside part and a large outside part which might be a good option. Suggested directions are W essentially to Tunbridge Wells or NE to Aylesford Priory and beyond for those of an athletic bent. Tonight is the eagerly awaited Lucy’s quiz at 19:30. Teams of 6 to 8. If you haven’t got a team come along and we will sort you out into a team. The bar will be open at 19:00 so get your drinks before we start. Please order your next drinks between the rounds. We have not had the expected price list from Marden Butchers so we cannot risk you not having supplies for the Wednesday BBQ. We suggest you order what you require for the BBQ via the site Sainsburys order process or call in at a Supermarket on your way round the routes today or tomorrow. Apologies for this.

I am thinking of extending my stay here, Saturday + Sunday night. Who do I contacr

Who do I contact. Weekend weather looks great.

Hi all, quick message from your favourite bar staff Jim & Kate. We planned all the East rides and have had some feedback on the East short ride. The route planner has tried to take us through a private road when leaving Lenham Square. We did cycle over there this morning to check out any options, but the easiest solution is to ignore your sat nav for a couple of minutes when leaving Lenham and retrace your steps for a short distance and pick up the route which takes you left to Egerton. Apologies to those who have already riden the route.

Someone is asking how to extend their stay. Just go to reception and book as you will be outside the rally dates. It is really good you are enjoying the site and the area.

Marden butchers prices. They have come in too late for us to pull together a single order. If you want to use them, noting they do provide good quality meat, I suggest you phone through your order and personally collect it. Opening hours:- Wednesday 28th May 2025 is 8.30 - 1 p.m. All sausages £10.00 per KG: Pork and Sage  (Gluten Free) sausages; Pork & Apple sausages; Honeyroast sausages. Beefburgers  £1.50 each. Chicken Thighs £7.00 per KG Plain or Flavoured  (Some of the flavours are:-   Smoke BBQ,      Chinese,      Sweet Chilli,     Sweet Chilli & Lime,         Sticky Maple).

The rain now seems to have past but the wind remains quite strong from the west. Today is designated a rest day but it looks like some took the rest yesterday. No suggested direction today but if you didn’t do them yesterday the W or NE are good options. If you have never been before, Tunbridge Wells is a good option. NE takes you to Aylesford priory but if you want to go to Rochester, normally a long ride, take NE short to the Priory then pick up the Long to Rochester. Return the same way. This would then be a longer medium. Tonight is the BBQ. Light up at 17:30 for cooking at 18:30. The site are trying to sort out the showers in the lower shower block.

Ice cream van will be at the Marquee at 19:30 for the BBQ as arranged by the site.

First velocio start time is 1000 at Paddock Wood community centre. Coffee and cakes from 0930. The timed section finishes in Marden, while the total length back to the campsite is 30km. Gpx to get you to the start is attached. Turn by turn route sheets to the start will be available in the marquee.

Link to ride to start of Treasure hunt.

We have had two brilliant evenings, firstly great thanks to Lucy for a brilliant and unusual quiz. The BBQ went very well, the weather was perfect and band were excellent. The ice cream arrived at exactly the right time. There was a lot of running around yesterday to make it all happen. Tim and Vicky made two round trips to Crawley to pick up the BBQ equipment, Pauline and Cliff went to Folkestone to pick up two kegs of beer and Jim and Kate had to go and pick up so more wine. So great thanks to them all as it was greatly appreciated. Also thanks to Dave Ferguson for being press ganged into lighting and tending to the BBQ. Without his help it would have been very chaotic. It looks like grey clouds this morning, but no actual rain forecast. This afternoon will be much brighter and getting quite warm for the evening. Today, find your way to the community centre at Paddock Wood for Tea/coffee and a cake. Don’t forget your vouchers. The route is in the rides list the bottom or there are route sheets in the Marquee. The tea and coffee will be in a Gazebo but we can go inside the community centre until 11:00 if it is a bit cold outside. There will the Try a Tandem event on at the same time, so, hopefully, there will be others around the field so lock up your bikes. Russel and Rachel will be handing out the Treasure Hunt sheets and recording your start time. Tim’s clues can be quite intriguing so it will be an interesting challenge. Tim and Vicky will be at the end in Marden to record your time. There are two pubs and a cafe at Marden for lunch or you cycle to Balfour Winery for a platter and some wine tasting, expensive but very nice if it sunny. The afternoon is your own, You can easily get to Scotney Castle or Bedgebury Pinetum for a pleasant visit. The bar will open at 17:30 so you can have something with your fish and chips. Collect you fish and chips from the van by reception. The talk tonight, 19:30, is by John and Kate Bosley about the trials and tribulations of their tour around France. It will be proceeded by the Treasure hunt results and grand prize giving.

That was a really pleasant coffee stop yesterday organised by Lucy. The Try a Tandem was less successful despite Lucy’s great efforts in distributing many flyers. We will have to rethink that format. What a brilliant treasure hunt organised and supervised by Tim and Vicky and marshalled by Russel and Rachel. Congratulations to Andy and Christine for winning the trophy. Weather today looks good with it becoming very warm and Sunny this afternoon. There is no suggested ride direction today so just pick one you haven’t done or visit one of the many attractions. The bar opens tonight at 18:30, followed by the traditional Barn Dance at 19:00.

Hi, someone took our washing out of the machine yesterday and we now can't find a couple of socks, if you have them could we have them back on pitch 64 please? We're getting especially low on toddler socks! Thanks Emma

I have added a gallery on the Tandem Club website where pictures can be added to which I have added mine already that tells the story of the week. If you do upload, naming them is grand as in the future they can be identified easily and if you can get the word Tandem in there somewhere that helps the search engines get the club closer to the top of searches. https://tandem-club.org.uk/showcase?cmd=view&group=&id=153

Just a note of thanks to everybody who attended TCN2025 at Tanners Park Farm. It is quite a task to organise a rally, as many of you know, but it was great to see everyone enjoying themselves for a whole week. The site staff would really appreciate it if you could post a review on Trip advisor. Also, if you have any photographs of tandems around the campsite, please could you send them to Natalie at kentcampsite@gmail.com so they can post them on their website. Thank you all for making a successful rally.