Sunday, 26th January 2003
Ride from Charlton, South East London
organized by Michael & Astrid
12 tandems and 2 solos set off from Charlton to be met on route by the Butcher family on their triplet which brought the total number of people to 29.
Luckily, the weather was pretty good after the mist in the morning cleared. For the first 8 miles our average speed was extremely slow due to a combination of narrow winding paths along the Thames and four punctures plus a false alarm. We had morning coffee at the spacious cafe of the fairly new Artillery Museum in Woolwich. Surprisingly, they didn't have any problems coping with a group of almost 35 people (this includes little Evelyn's babysitters).
From there the Woolwich Ferry took us to the north side of the river. We watched planes take off at City Airport while we were waiting for yet another puncture to be fixed. On the 20-mile ride we saw the Dome, the Thames Barrier, the new Excel Exhibition Centre, a hotel boat moored in a dock, the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and driverless Dockland Light Railway trains.
Having walked our bikes through the foot tunnel under the Thames we reached the old village of Greenwich for our afternoon meal. What a contrast to the new buildings in the Docklands! The huge portions at a reasonably priced noodle bar took a few people by surprise. It was nice we had Amanda & Brian on our ride who took a train at the crack of dawn from Lewes in East Sussex to be met by Michael and me for a customised feeder ride to the start. Additionally, we are glad Meike, a member of a tandem club in Hamburg, who is only in England for a few months enjoyed the ride as a stoker on Clem's tandem.
report by Astrid Fuehrer
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 23rd February 2003
Ride from West Wickham, Kent
organized by Neville & Tricia
12 tandems and 1 solo set out from the leaders' house in West Wickham after stoking up with coffee/tea and biscuits. Unfortunately Owen & James suffered a blowout and an unseated tyre only a few miles into their first Tandem Club ride and elected to return home, so we were down to 11 tandems and 1 solo - still an amazing turnout of 23 people on a rather grey, misty winter day. We toiled up to the top of the North Downs only to whiz down most of Titsey Hill to a sharp left turn onto the Pilgrims Way - some people's brakes weren't up to it even with the warning! A pleasant undulating ride along Pilgrims Way and then back up the easiest, but also busiest, hill to Pollards Hill Garden Centre for lunch and a look around. Back through lanes and ups and downs after 32 miles to tea/coffee and cakes and lots of chat at our house.
report by Tricia Anderson
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 23rd March 2003
Ride from Oxted, Surrey
organized by Robert & Hilary
The ride started in Staffhurst Wood just South of Oxted at Hilary and Rob's house. Since there was no proper morning elevenses stop we thought we'd offer bacon rolls and tea before we started - this seemed to go down well. Ten tandems started in crisp bright conditions, which just got better as the day went on (for once the weather order worked!).
We headed through Limpsfield up onto the Pilgrim's Way (a popular route this time of year, it seems, with at least 2 other rides using it recently too). We then had the steep hill of the day: Sundridge Hill, after which we rolled along to Knockholt where we stopped on the Green for snacks and ice creams from the village shop. Dave and Christopher left us at this point to go and play on the swings and take a slightly shorter route to lunch. The rest of us went on through Halstead, Bopeep, and Maypole, skirting Chelsfield, then down to Pratts Bottom and eventually to the Blacksmith's Arms at Cudham. A puncture about a mile from the lunch stop threatened to delay lunch but a good injection of air allowed Ann & Mike to make it to the pub and then repair the puncture at leisure whilst waiting for their food. There was plenty of time because, despite having booked weeks in advance and confirming the booking earlier in the week, the pub seemed a little overwhelmed by us all, and service was rather slow!
After lunch (and a play in the park), still in glorious sunshine, we set off downhill (and of course then back uphill) to Tatsfield. Afternoon tea was optional with the stop only about 6 miles from lunch, but everyone was keen to visit the Reptile Zoo so we headed in there. A few chose to go and see the reptiles while the rest of us sat and had tea/coffee (and cup cakes for those who were first in the queue). A couple of miles after leaving the teastop, a broken chain on Clem's tandem halted us for a short while.
We then proceeded along the Woldingham Road and then back South crossing the M25, A22 and A25 to the final uphill slog past Godstone Farm before heading back to Staffhurst Wood .
Twenty people then managed to cram into our little house for tea and cakes before leaving for home.
report by Hilary Audsley
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 6th April 2003
Family/easy ride from Lullingstone, Kent
organized by Neville & Tricia from an idea by Henry & Maureen
Five tandems, one triplet plus Evie in the child seat and 2 solos (making 16 people) finally got themselves out of the warmth of the Lullingstone Visitor Centre's coffee shop and onto their bikes on a disappointingly grey, slightly damp and cold morning. 2½ miles of hill to Halstead got us all warmed up and as it wasn't actually raining any more we stopped for a brief playground stop at Knockholt for the 3 children (and a couple of the "big kids" too!).
It was good to hurtle down Sundridge Hill after several of us had crawled up it only 2 weeks previously. A stop in the middle of a high bridge crossing quite a spectacular number of motorways and main roads (M25, M26, A21) was extremely cold and windy and then on through the pretty village of Chipstead, just glimpsing lots of blue and white sails on the lake to our left, to Riverhead and then north again to our lunch destination, the Rising Sun pub at Twitton where we had to take turns in sitting at the only 2 tables available in order to eat our meals.
Out into the cold again, through Otford and Kemsing to toil up Cotman's Ash hill and then across the top of the Downs and then dropping down sharply into Eynsford and back to Lullingstone Visitor Centre for tea and cakes. Although it was only a 23 mile ride it felt pretty hard and the little children with us did so well braving the unexpected cold and never complaining.
report by Tricia Anderson
click here for some pictures.
Saturday, 3rd May - Monday, 5th May 2003
Newhaven, East Sussex to Dieppe, Normandy, France for the weekend
organized by Alan & Wendy
This was the annual overseas trip for our section, this year the destination was Normandy and for the first time was hotel based and lasted three days over the early May bank holiday.Twenty seven of us set off on thirteen tandems and one solo. When we arrived at Newhaven there must have been at least 50 other bikes of all descriptions waiting to board the fast ferry to Dieppe. The staff were in a bit of a panic at the thought of getting us all on in time for the 7.30 am departure, which they managed but we had a longer than usual crossing due to rough seas.
On arrival the first priority was lunch which we found easily amongst the charming restaurants around the harbour. Dieppe is worth a visit in its own right, as, unlike most other ports, it is a pleasant town with much to commend it. After lunch we each decided on either the self guided 11 mile countryside tour or the 34 mile one, each tour giving a flavour of the quiet Normandy countryside. After a delightful ride amongst forest and clear rivers we had to dash back for happy hour before dinner.
Sunday, after breakfast saw us heading west along the coast on a moderately hilly signed cycle route to St.Valery for lunch and a return inland to Dieppe, a total of 49 miles having been completed. On Monday our direction was eastwards to Le Treport, again on lumpy terrain, with a coffee stop in Criel-sur-Mer. Most of the party decided to return from here rather than do the steep hills in and out of Le Treport. The return route took us on another excellent signed bike route back to Dieppe where both groups met up to find that the shorter distance group had spent the whole afternoon in an auberge, the longer route being 44 miles.
Before getting back to the boat we all had time for one last drink of wine and an opportunity to comment on what a beautiful part of the world Normandy is for cycling.
report by Alan Baird
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 11th May 2003
Ride from Horsham, West Sussex
organized by David & Caroline
This joint ride between the Surrey & Sussex and South-East London regions started from Horsham and proved very popular. Mike and Mary joined us for the first time making a total of 35 adults and children.
While the leisure group was still having tea and bacon sandwiches the fast group left on their ride (for a report see the Surrey & Sussex site).
Our group eventually got started and left Horsham along bridleways and two uphill arrows to Buck’s Head, passing the pretty hammer ponds on the way. We proceeded past Lower Beeding and a short section of the surprisingly quiet A281 to rejoin the very quiet lanes heading south to Partridge Green. One more uphill “arrow” completed the hard climbs of the day – much to Henry’s relief.
While waiting for a puncture repair at Partridge Green, we were joined by the fast group, and we rode together for the last bridleway stretch past Lock Farm to our lunch stop at the Crown in Dial Post.
The somewhat grumpy landlord bossed us around, but the food arrived quickly nevertheless. They coped very well with such a large party and the roast was excellent.
After lunch the leisure group managed about 2.5 miles before stopping for a look round the windmill at Shipley. It turned out to be National Mill Day so it was quite busy, but the guides were very informative and patiently answered our questions. The video presented on the first floor was particularly good. We could have stayed longer but we gathered together and cruised through Dragons Green to the Country Park at Southwater for some tea and cakes – not that there was much left as the fast group had arrived before us.
As it was getting late the return to Horsham was shortened (missing out the planned arrow) and the two groups returned together through Southwater Street and the cycle path past Chesworth Farm.
report by David Wilde
click here for some pictures.
click here for some pictures on the Surrey & Sussex site.
Sunday, 8th June 2003
Ride from Guildford, Surrey
organized by Andy & Francesca
Ten tandems, one with trailer bike, and 2 solos, 20 adults and 3 children, assembled at Stoke Park, Guildford for the start of our June family/average ride organised jointly with Surrey and Sussex. Four tandems arrived at the start under their own steam, Michael and Astrid had ridden 35 miles from Central London. Four tandems followed Clem for the average ride and 6 tandems and a solo followed us on the family ride.
Our first and luckily only puncture occurred in Stoke Park and within sight of our start point. It was quickly fixed, and we crossed over the A3 using a footbridge and headed north out of Guildford on quiet, residential streets and then on through Jacobs Well and Sutton Green. We crossed the Wey Navigation for the first time at a lock and cycled along the towpath to Send. Two further crossing of the Navigation brought us to the lunch stop at the Anchor, by Pyrford lock. We were a little early, which gave the children time to assist opening and closing the lock gates for passing narrow boats. We were quickly served in the pub, and whilst we ate a phone call from the other group enabled me to tell them at which pub they were really supposed to have arrived. They arrived at the Anchor a little later after travelling an interesting 29 miles via Pirbright, Bisley, Chobham, Ottershaw, Addlestone, Woodham, West Byfleet and Send.
For the afternoon ride both groups joined together, heading mostly south into the stiff south-westerly breeze which had picked up over lunch. We passed through Martyr's Green, Ockham and East Clandon to the start of the climb onto the North Downs. What had seemed a fairly gentle climb a few weeks earlier became a lot harder in the stiffening breeze. At the top we headed west along the North Downs Way to Newlands Corner and a well earned cup of tea, ice cream and/or cake. Fortunately the top of the Downs here are covered by trees, sheltering us from the worst of the wind, and we picked our way west along a bridleway, trying to avoid the worst of the mud.
Then it was downhill all the way back to Stoke Park. Sadly, the miniature railway had not opened that day so we had to content ourselves with kite flying, if I had known we could have gone to the leisure centre for another cup of tea!
report by Andy Parsons (with a small contribution from Neville Frost)
click here for some pictures.
click here for a report on the Surrey & Sussex site.
Saturday, 21st June - Sunday, 22nd June 2003
Camping Weekend, Charlbury, Oxfordshire
organized by Simon & Debbie
The event was based at the Cotswold View campsite, just outside Charlbury on the eastern edge of the Cotswolds. It is surrounded by some great and quiet cycling country which is certainly not flat although there are usually options whether to take the hilly or really hilly route. A total of 37 people (31 adults and 6 children) attended this weekend event which was held in predominantly hot and sunny conditions.
On both days there was a long ride led by Simon and Debbie and a short ride led by their friends Dave and Karen with daughters Sarah and Emma.
Saturday was midsummer's day and 12 tandems and a solo went on the long ride with 25 people to visit the ancient Rollright Stones ring. The short ride, made up of 4 tandems and 1 triplet, went on the short ride with 12 people (4 people were on the triplet) and also visited the Rollright Stones.
On Saturday evening we had a barbecue which was a great success although it was brought to a fairly abrupt halt by some spots of rain at around 10 o'clock.
On Sunday there were less riders with only 6 tandems and 12 people doing the long ride to Boughton on the Water and 7 tandems and 14 people doing the short route to Burford, then leaving the long riders at Little Barrington. On both days the mileages were about 45 for the long ride and 30 for the short ride. It was an excellent weekend which was greatly enjoyed by all.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 6th July 2003
Family/easy ride from Trottiscliffe, Kent
organized by John & Sue
Family/easy ride from Trottiscliffe, Kent. Six tandems and 2 solos with a total of 17 people, 5 of whom were children, took part in this ride which started in very light drizzle. The drizzle soon cleared and for most of the ride the weather was very warm and dry and bright. The countryside around this part of Kent, although very close to London, is very attractive and hilly. After 8 miles we stopped for coffee at the refreshingly old fashioned cafe at Speedgate Stables where bacon sandwiches and coffee were the most popular item ordered - great. John hadn't explained that lunch would be only 2 miles further on, at the foot of a descent, so after only a short distance of mostly freewheeling we arrived at our lunch stop where we had a relaxed lunch in the garden of the Fighting Cocks pub in Horton Kirby on the banks of the Darent river.
Our destination for the day had not yet been reached and was a little further on at Swanley Park where there is a brilliant play area for kids, complete with a paddling pool. The pool, on what was now a hot sunny afternoon, was very popular (mostly with the children).
Eventually we had to leave for a longish ride back to our starting point having completed 28 miles.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 27th July 2003
Ride from Milford, Surrey
organized by Dereck & Gail
27 people (on 12 tandems and 3 solos) gathered outside Milford, Surrey PO for the start of Gail & Dereck's ride. After the downpour on Saturday we were lucky that it stayed dry for us on Sunday and even became warm and sunny for the "after ride" tea in Gail & Dereck's garden.
We went along some lovely narrow country lanes (some still a bit wet and muddy), swooping down and up hills, to coffee at the Smithbrook Kilns where some of the men disappeared off into the on-site bike shop before tackling their coffee. 2 punctures (separately, back and front of the same tandem) one on our way to the Mucky Duck at Rudgwick for lunch (but no worries about being late as we had our own room reserved for us) and the other as we were all steaming along to get back in time to watch the last day of the Tour of France. 37 miles done and we made it and rounded off a perfect day with the excitement of watching the final sprint and Lance in his 5th Tour winner's jersey.
But there was more to come - it was Anne & Mike's 40th wedding anniversary and a special cake had been made, of which we all had a slice after the ceremonial hand-holding cutting. It was an excellent day of cycling with friends and superb hospitality of Gail & Dereck.
report by Tricia Anderson
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 3rd August 2003
Family/easy ride from Ockham Common, Surrey
organized by Andy, Francesca and Emily
Eight tandems, one with trailer bike and 4 solos, one of which was also towing a trailer bike, 22 people of various ages assembled near Ockham Common for the start of our August family ride. This was not the ride originally envisaged; deep sand on the bridleways through Wisley Common, Ockham Common and Great Bookham Common made that too dangerous. Instead, we cycled south along the A3 cycle path past Boulder Mere to cross over the road at the footbridge. After passing through Wisley we turned downstream on the Wey Navigation towpath at the Anchor, a lunch stop on previous rides. At the junction of the Wey Navigation and the Basingstoke Canal we headed up the Basingstoke Canal passed Woodham flight, six locks in close succession, and on to Woking. Here we left towpaths behind us and passed through Horsell, Castle Green and Chobham to arrive at the Red Lion in Burrowhill for lunch.
By 1:30 pm it had become so warm that we needed to get moving to generate a breeze to keep us cool. After a few miles we arrived at the Great Cockrow Railway, a miniature railway near Lyne, also visited on a previous ride. Here whilst some kept cool as best they could with ice creams and cups of tea, those that wanted to went for train rides. The beautiful weather had brought many people to the railway and although we had arrived at opening time, there was still a long hot wait both for those queuing for the rides and for those just watching. Then it was back to Ockham via Addlestone, Row Town, Woodham, New Haw, (where we crossed our outward route) West Byfleet and Wisley, where we had to cross that A3 footbridge again. Back at the car park, most people were able to stay for a cup of tea and a chat. We had ridden 28 miles on one of the hottest days of the year, quite an achievement for the children, 2 of whom were only 4 years old and peddled all the way.
report by Andy Parsons
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 31st August 2003
Ride from Wolvercote Green, Oxford
organized by Dave & Lana
12 people on 6 tandems enjoyed Lana & Dave's leadership from Wolvercote Green, north west of Oxford, through central Oxford on a quiet Sunday morning to exit on the old London Road up Shotover Hill and then along the bridleway across the top of Shotover Plain (still the old London Road) for a good whiz down and through some lovely little lanes.
We arrived at Stadhampton to find the annual football festival taking place on the green and refreshments being sold at silly (very cheap) prices. Dave finally got us moving again to continue on our way to lunch at the Barley Mow at Clifton Hampden.
We then opted to visit Pendon Model Village & Railway Museum which was fascinating, before moving on to an ice cream stop in a park near Abingdon. We continued - using bridleways, canal and river tow paths to Dave's work place where tea and cakes were "magicked up" and for a tour of their newly refurbished narrow boat home before finishing the ride along the canal tow path back at Wolvercote Green, achieving 47 very enjoyable miles.
report by Tricia Anderson
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 7th September 2003
Family/easy ride from Yalding, Kent
organized by Henry & Maureen
The weather forecasts for several days had been predicting rain for this day’s ride, but they were wrong… The weather was very pleasant all day.
4 families (11 people) set off from beside Yalding weir (Kent) on Maureen & Henry's family ride. We rode along lovely quiet and little lanes and up (surprisingly!) a couple of quite hard hills to reach our coffee stop at the serene Iden Croft Herb Garden and café. We cycled on a few more miles to our lunch stop at the George & Dragon, Headcorn where we were treated very well. After a leisurely lunch we moved a few yards to the playground on Headcorn green where, yet again, the adults showed themselves up! Onto the bikes again to return to Yalding to complete a very enjoyable 33 miles.
report by Tricia Anderson
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 28th September 2003
Ride from Marden, Kent
organized by Ernie & Betty
The ride started at Marden in Kent. We were expecting 6 tandems but only 5 appeared. After several ‘phone calls and left messages we still hadn’t made contact with the missing team and eventually departed. By the time we reached the coffee stop 10 miles later at East Peckham, contact had been made and eventually the number went up to 6 tandems and 12 people.
The weather was dry but on this late September day it was beginning to feel cool. At one point we did stop to don rain gear after a few spots fell, but it came to nothing. The ride was quite fast and reasonably flat as we made our way to Dunk’s Green for lunch.
The return trip brought us through Hadlow, East Peckham and Laddingford to a tea stop somewhere near Yalding and then it was an easy ride back to Marden. We had covered some 34 miles in excellent company and at quite a brisk pace. Thanks Ernie and Betty for a fun day out.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 5th October 2003
Ride from Oad Street, Kent
organized by John & Sue
On a cloudless autumn day with a sharp northeasterly wind, 7 tandems and 2 solos met at Oad Street craft centre for the last family ride of the year. There were 20 people of whom 6 were children. It was good to see some new faces and the return of others who had been out with us once before.
As usual at Oad Street it was a bit of a problem dragging ourselves away from the restaurant and we finally got going at 11:00. This was partly due to the scheduled late arrival of one team who had come by train from Blackfriars in London.
It’s hilly in this area and the countryside looked brilliant in the bright sunshine. We kept to country lanes all the way to our lunch stop at Painter’s Forstal passing through Doddington and Newnham. The many hills kept our temperatures high despite the cool wind.
After lunch we descended to the level of the River Thames, passing through Teynham to Tonge Mill where we had a look at, and fed, the ducks on the lake and then on to Sittingbourne before climbing back up via Borden to Oad Street.
Finally, after covering 28 miles, we completed the day’s adventure with tea and cakes in the Craft Centre restaurant.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 19th October 2003
Ride from Ashford, Kent
organized by Peter & Sally
7 tandems and 2 solos took part in this combined ride with the Tandem Club - Kent Region and left Ashford on a sunny October day with a strong cold wind blowing from the east. Heading as we did in the direction of Tenterden, the wind blew us along quite nicely, but we feared for the return journey. We stopped for ‘breakfast’, on the outskirts of Tenterden, at a Garden Centre, which has a very nice café.
From there, we took a south easterly route, sometimes into the teeth of the wind, skirting around the edge of the Isle of Oxney and across Romney Marsh to Brookland where we stopped for lunch at the 16th century Woolpack Inn.
After lunch we completed the anticlockwise route by continuing across Romney Marsh and on reaching hillier terrain were fortunate that trees gave us protection from the wind.
We had encountered very little motor traffic throughout the day until not long before returning to the start point in Ashford, which we achieved just in time for many of us to have a final coffee stop and a natter in the Ashford Outlet Centre before it closed for the day.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 23rd November 2003
Ride from Woodchurch, Kent
organized by Ken & Liz
It had been raining ever since Friday and the forecast was for it to continue but still 13 hardy souls met at Woodchurch Green for a tandem ride. There were 6 tandems and 1 solo.
For the coffee stop, organizers Ken and Liz had secretly hauled all the makings for everyone in their panniers intending (had the weather been clement) to stop at a pleasant spot they had previously identified. However, because of the rain we utilized a bus shelter instead and enjoyed the coffee, flapjack and fruit cake.
We stopped for lunch at the New Flying Horse pub in Wye where the staff were very friendly and where we were able to dry ourselves and much of our soaking clothes.
Our afternoon tea stop was at the Woodchurch Rare Breeds Centre – not that we saw any – as we were much more interested in getting into the restaurant where it was warm and dry.
It was then just 5 miles to the finish where, as we were packing up to go home, we encountered the first actual heavy downpour of the day.
All in all it was a good day out – not too cold and not too wet, in which we completed 35 miles.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
Sunday, 7th December 2003
Christmas ride and Lunch. Darenth Valley Golf Course, Shoreham, Kent.
organized by Neville & Tricia
We had excellent weather for our last ride of the year - a clear blue-sky day
with an early light frost. We had to be a little cautious of ice on the road
but it was not a problem. Days don't come much better than this in December
in England! This was the day of our Christmas lunch, which we traditionally
precede with a short ride. 5 tandems (one with a tag-along trailer) and 1 solo
took part in the short (10 mile) ride, which (although punctuated by a coffee
stop) was just about the right distance to get us ready for our meal.
In all, 32 people sat down to the celebratory Christmas lunch at the Darenth Valley
Golf Course, Shoreham, Kent. As well as excellent food, the owners of the venue, kindly
supplied crackers and lots of noisy balloons and streamers so a happy party
atmosphere was the order of the day. We finished off with presentation of the
John Steggles trophy for the family who took part in the most rides organized by
the Tandem Club ~ South East London Region throughout 2003. It was awarded to Andy,
Francesca and daughter Emily. Father and daughter had taken part in 19 of the
possible 20 rides, with 8 / 9 year old Emily travelling in excess of 50 miles on
occasions.
report by Neville Frost
click here for some pictures.
