Tandem Club - South East London - 2008 EventsAll tandem riders (and bike riders interested in tandem riding) are welcome on any of our rides. PLEASE NOTE, PARTICIPATION IN RIDES IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. We aim to start all rides promptly at the published times. Note: Please contact ride organizer before attending a ride.
Sunday, 20th January 2008
Meopham, Kent Joint ride with the Kent group
  Who would have thought we could have had such a great cycling day in January? With the forecast for wind and rain, we did not expect sunshine. Seven Tandems and 4 solos (Karen and Ben having cycled to the start) met at Meopham leisure centre. We headed out into ‘rolling countryside.’ The route designed to keep us all warm. Not that it was necessary and as we stopped to regroup lots of members were taking layers off. We rode up to Speed Gate at Fawkham for our coffee break and I think every other cyclist had done the same, it was great to see it so busy. So full that some of us had to sit outside - I was told the bacon buns were great. Two of the solos left us at this point, which meant they missed the five mile roll down the Knatts Valley to Farningham where we lunched in the Lion Hotel. We travelled northwards along the Darent Valley to Southfleet and then South again, where we suffered our only puncture at New Barn. Report by Pauline & Cliff Hayward click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 7 Solos: 4 People: 18 Sunday, 24th February 2008 Charlton, London SE7
On this bright and clear winter's day we had 26 people on the ride, cycling 10 tandems and 6 solos – a very good turn-out.
Moving on, we continued in an westerly direction and rejoined the traffic at Tower Bridge where we crossed to the north side of the river. Once over the river, and now travelling in an easterly direction, we were able to use cycle paths to Docklands. At one point, following a stop to pump up a tyre, one tandem captain unknowingly cycled off without his stoker! OK - so she is the smoothest stoker we know but nevertheless!!! After a short walk and a reversing tandem, the pair were soon reunited. In Docklands we arrived at Wetherspoons pub at West India Quay for lunch, just before the busy rush, and enjoyed excellent service and food. Following lunch, we walked next door to the Museum in Docklands. John (our leader) had acquired 20% discount vouchers for all of us but actually using them proved something of a challenge for the entry computer system as it attempted to admit 26 people simultaneously (with discount)... After some delay, which the staff managed very calmly, it was agreed to allow us all in and pay for the tickets when we left and the computer had unscrambled itself. We had just short of 2 hours to enjoy the museum before we needed to be leaving for the homeward leg. Two hours was not really long enough to take in the history of the Thames and the dockland area from pre Roman times until the present day. Our tickets, which we did get as we left, are valid for 1 year, so those who want more can visit again at no additional cost. The return to the start was only 6 miles but required a further crossing of the River Thames, this time via the Greenwich foot tunnel. Usually there are lifts at each end but not today! Both lifts were out of action which meant carrying/bumping all bikes down one end and up the other – about 200 steps in all! Back in Greenwich, the once proud site of the Cutty Sark was now (since the fire) hidden behind screens. We now had to cycle back up the hill in Greenwich Park and were amazed at the large numbers of people out and about (not all of them obstructing our progress). Well done and thanks John for organising this short ride and interesting day out. report by: Neville Frost click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 10 Solos: 6 People: 26 Distance: 17 miles Height Gain: 252 metres Climb/Distance Index: 14.8 metres per mile (0.92%) High Point: 48 metres Low Point: 0 metres Sunday, 30th March 2008 British Summer Time begins today (spring forward 1 hour)
Epsom Downs, Surrey
The ride will head towards Richmond Park, with morning coffee at Teddington Lock and afternoon tea at Esher. Everybody turned up bang on time, despite the early start and the clocks having gone forward the previous night! Seven tandems and one solo met on top of Epsom Downs, and we coasted downhill to our coffee stop in Nonsuch Park Mansion, which the local council has just agreed to preserve. Those who had the bread pudding found it a bit more difficult than normal to get back on board their tandems! The route then took us northwards through Worcester Park and Malden and we entered Richmond Park through Ladderstile Gate, our obstacle course for the day. We rode anti-clockwise round the Park, and could see large groups of hinds some way away and jackdaws everywhere watching us closely with their beady eyes. Then we stopped at Pembroke Lodge to have a look at King Henry’s Mound, where we saw a good view of the Thames Valley and also the ‘peephole’ through to St Paul’s Cathedral, 10 miles away. The weather was warming up by this time and layers were coming off.
After lunch, we rode through Bushy Park and past Hampton Court and Sandown Park Racecourse, Esher and Claygate to our tea stop at Squires Garden Centre at Long Ditton. After tea, it was mostly uphill, through Chessington, and we finally emerged again on top of Epsom Downs, where it was now clear enough to see Wembley Arch. We covered 43 miles in all, and not a drop of rain. report by: Rob & Ruth Maskell click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 7 (+ 1 for part of the route) Solos: 1 People: 15 (+ 2 for part of the route) Distance: 43 miles Height Gain: 598 metres Climb/Distance Index: 13.9 metres per mile (0.86%) High Point: 152 metres Low Point: 7 metres Sunday, 6th April 2008
Despite starting in Redhill, this 'family' ride will not be hilly but rather, just gently undulating. Lunch will be at the Gate after around 18 miles. Approximately 14 miles for the return leg. Possible playground stops at Ifield and Reigate. We will also have a quick look at the outside of Ifield Mill, though it will not be open. Tea and cake at leaders' house afterwards.
The intrepid group headed south on the bike route to Horley and encountered no real difficulties and then circled around to the east and south of Gatwick airport using quiet lanes and tracks until they reached the old water mill at Ifield. This mill has been undergoing refurbishment recently and, although it was not really open to the public, the folks there were more than pleased to show the intrepid cyclists what they had done whilst plying them with refreshments. Moving on, after passing through Lamb's Green, the trio was soon at the cycle friendly Gate Inn where they stopped for a very pleasant lunch. By this time, the snow had more or less stopped falling and the roads had quickly thawed. The previously snowed-in cyclists who had failed to make the start on account of the deep snow had now had their lunch and were feeling capable of cycling again. So, two more tandems were heading south on a course to meet up with the first group. Mobile 'phones came into their own now in order to ensure contact. This was made at Parkgate and so the group now comprised three tandems and one half-bike giving the outing a much better feeling of being a tandem ride. Snow was still hanging in the trees and bushes but was gone from the roads, and even from the tracks which were utilized in places, as we headed towards Reigate. From there it's only a couple of miles back to the start point and a further mile to the home of the organizer and very welcome tea and cakes. report by: Neville Frost click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 1 (+ 2 for part of the route) Solos: 1 People: 3 (+ 4 for part of the route) Distance: 33 miles Height Gain: 441 metres Climb/Distance Index: 13.4 metres per mile (0.83%) High Point: 119 metres Low Point: 48 metres Sunday, 27th April 2008 Orpington, Kent
The day started overcast with a hazy sun but with rain forecast for later. Nine tandems and eighteen people took part. Heading in a south westerly direction from Orpington, we were soon at High Elms where we stopped for coffee at High Elms Golf Club.
Rain started to fall whilst we were having lunch and was still falling slightly when we left. Heading now in a north easterly direction through Limpsfield and Titsey and then along the Pilgrims' Way to Shoreham we took the long climb back up the North Downs via Timberden Bottom to Chelsfield and thence back to the start point in Orpington. A very pleasant ride ended with our leaders, David and Annabelle, treating us to tea, toasted tea cakes and cake at their house. report by: Neville Frost click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 9 Solos: 0 People: 18 Distance: 36 miles Height Gain: 824 metres Climb/Distance Index: 22.9 metres per mile (1.42%) High Point: 273 metres Low Point: 57 metres Saturday, 3rd May - Monday, 5th May 2008 Bank Holiday Camping Weekend Event Standlake, Oxfordshire (6 miles south of Witney and 13 miles west of Oxford)
We were based for this weekend at Hardwick Parks camping and caravan park. It was chosen because, as well as camping facilities, static vans were also available for hire. The surrounding cycling possibilities also looked good. The staff were very friendly and helpful and it turned out to be a very good choice. Saturday: We had the largest turn out of the weekend for Saturday's ride with 13 tandems, 4 solos and 30 people. The ride was led by Dave Mountain, one time resident of south east London now living in Oxford. The route went via country lanes through Netherton, Appleton and Cumnor to Oxford where people were able to browse around, doing their own thing, and then regrouped at the Kite pub for lunch.
The whizz down the hill was good fun and we then passed through Wootton, Tubney and Fyfield on our way back to base at Standlake. The weather remained dry and bright but not quite sunny throughout the day. Most participants enjoyed a barbecue in the evening. Summary Saturday - Oxford city centre Tandems: 13 Solos: 4 People: 30 Distance: 35-40 miles (this distance varied depending on what people did in Oxford) Height Gain: 399 metres Climb/Distance Index: 10.0 metres per mile (0.62%) High Point: 152 metres Low Point: 54 metres Sunday: On Sunday two rides were on offer. Travelling all in one group as far as Charlbury, passing through Stanton Harcourt and Sutton we bypassed all other villages and stopped at Charlbury for coffee at the Bell Inn. Now a choice had to be made on the 55 mile route via Stow-on-the-Wold or the 29 mile route via Witney. Only 4 teams chose the long option cycling the fairly lumpy route via Chadlington, Churchill and Broadwell to Stow-on-the-Wold where they stopped at the White Hart for lunch. The others, 7 tandems and 2 solos, took the shorter route to Witney via Crawley heading for Cogges Manor Farm Museum for lunch and a look around the museum. Cogges is a unique, working museum depicting Oxfordshire rural life in Victorian times set in an historic manor house and Cotswold stone farm buildings. Whilst we were there, it rained but had stopped in time for the short trip back to base. The "long" riders returned later, having travelled via more lumps through Bledington and Burford, where they stopped for tea. The weather, though warm, had been overcast all day and rained a little. The short riders avoided cycling in the rain but the long riders didn't! Summary
Monday: On Monday we also had two rides on offer and we were again able to ride together for the first part, this time as far as the lunch stop. It was raining when we set off but forecasts were indicating that it would clear by 11:00… Most participants had had to clear up their tents and pack up their things prior to the start so it was a little later than on previous days, at 10:00 and we had an early coffee stop after just 5 miles at Aston Pottery. Leaving Aston, we travelled west to Bampton for a ride around this pretty town and then headed south to Buckland. From there, continuing south then east, we passed through Charney Bassett and Garford. Our destination for lunch was Millets Farm Centre at Frilford and from Garford, we had found a track which enabled us to reach Millets without using the busy A338 road. Millets was very busy but still easily accommodated 21 cyclists and 11 associated friends who'd travelled there in cars.
Now we just had the 18 miles ride back to base. The sunny miles sped by and before long, we had passed through Grove, Charney Bassett, Kingston Bagpuize and Standlake and, the weekend was over… Summary
report by: Neville Frost click here for pictures Thursday, 19th June - Sunday, 22nd June 2008 French Touring Weekend Event Dover, Calais and beyond
Thursday 19th June: Twenty people on ten tandems gathered at Dover East port early on a drizzly and very windy morning to catch the 08:25hrs ferry to Calais. Beware of the lorries! One team had a very lucky escape and after some skilful spoke realigning were able to continue. On arrival in Calais the rain had stopped. We made our way to Oye Plage for coffee and picnic lunch provisioning, which we ate in sunshine on the grass in front of the Mairie in Audricq. After a further coffee stop in Quercamps and a hill, we arrived at the very smart La Sapiniere Logis Hotel in Wisque, near St Omer where we were accommodated in wooden chalets. Rested and spruced up we met for drinks before an excellent dinner. Friday 20th June: A cloudy morning turned to sunshine and then a very light, short shower. A puncture immediately outside the hotel gates was our first delay. Later, travelling along rolling terrain with some of us having "rolled on" perhaps a little further than we should when the message was received that Phil's rim had "gone bang"! Back we all went to inspect and advise upon the situation. The repair of the front rim by cable tying the tyre to it was good enough for pushing along but not strong enough to be ridden; a local person provided the name and number of a nearby bike shop and a phone call ascertained that they had a 26" wheel available, so one team rode on to the nearby town of Therouanne to purchase the wheel and then rode back to meet the walking teams whilst the remainder had their coffee and had baguettes made up for a picnic lunch (the leaders had had to come up with a quick change of plan after losing so much time and it being obvious we weren't going to make it to St Pol in time for lunch). All repairs successfully done and all teams suitably refreshed, we all joined back up together at the picnic spot at Febvin-Palfart. Nice cycling along a high plain, though a little windy, and then down into the old town of St Pol for coffee before pushing on along the La Canche River valley to Les 3 Fontaines Logis at Marconne/Hesdin. Another very good dinner and, for some, perhaps a little too much alcohol refreshment! Saturday 21st June: Another cloudy morning but promising warmer weather to come. The warmth was soon found on the 2 mile long uphill out of Marconne! Coffee was found in the lovely old village of Douriez and then it was on to the ancient hilltop town of Montreuil where we split up to try out various restaurants for lunch. After lunch, we travelled up and down hills in the sunshine and lovely countryside to Frencq where the expected cafes were closed but we provided entertainment for the local children kicking a football around whilst we stopped for a rest. A long uphill around a beautiful "bowl" brought us up beside the A16 and to rest underneath a huge wind turbine gently "whooshing" round. Then a twisty downhill into Camiers, surprising a tandem couple struggling upwards on our side of the road! Les Cedres Logis was our stop for the night: despite tumbling off against a kerb on the entry into Camiers and causing a bloody elbow, one couple hadn't done enough miles and so rode to the seaside for ice creams. Pre-dinner drinks were enjoyed outside before a very good final dinner together. Sunday 22nd June: A sunny start to this very hilly day to get us back to Calais. At Samur we encountered their Fraise Fete just starting up so some strawberries were bought and shared out whilst we enjoyed our coffee overlooking the town square. Not too far on we stopped at Desvres where we were a little early for lunch but an enterprising restauranteur opened up early and welcomed us in: one team had chosen to ride ahead and picnic but the cooler, cloudy weather had put the rest of us off this option. Onwards with lots of ups and downs, collecting the other team on the way, where again a cafe owner opened up for us in Guines. On into Calais, in considerably windy conditions now, for an ice cream stop before making our way to the docks for our ferry. Several naps were taken on the ferry to try to recoup some of the energy we'd expended over the past four very enjoyable days. Next year:
report by: Tricia Anderson click here for pictures Summary in total Tandems: 10 Solos: 0 People: 20 Distance: 168 miles (in 4 days) Height Gain: 3981 metres Climb/Distance Index: 23.7 metres per mile (1.47%) High Point: 193 metres Low Point: 0 metres Summary by day
Sunday, 27th July 2008 Chichester, West Sussex
It was a beautifully sunny day. Five tandems and ten people left Ellscott Park Camp Site in Birdham near Chichester. We travelled in an easterly direction and then north easterly to Denmans Garden for coffee. Roads in this area, south of the Downs, tend to be quite busy and we were pleased to find the recently opened and very quiet Sustrans route between Siddlesham and South Mundham. It passes across fields containing cattle and at one point it seemed sensible to dismount and push through a small herd initially barring our way. The café/restaurant at Denmans Garden is second to none and we lingered there a while, in the shaded patio. Continuing eastwards and maintaining the desire to keep to non busy roads, we used the track through Tortington Common - a minor challenge for those with skinny tyres but worth it… We passed though Arundel and then out onto the very busy A27 for half a mile in order to cross the River Arun and then we turned off to the north, taking the very quiet lane through Warningcamp and Burpham to North Stoke and so to our lunch stop at Amberley. We were joined here by four friends who had been unable to ride with us. The service was patchy but it was enjoyable sitting in the warm open air in sight of the River Arun as it flowed lazily by. The afternoon route was in a westerly direction north of the Downs and took in the quiet lanes through Bury, Bignor and Sutton. Quiet, except for one car driver who got very impatient during an ascent in which she was forced to travel at 15mph and eventually resorted to shouting at us – clearly believing that cyclists have no right to travel on roads. The hard part of the day's ride was the ascent of the busy Duncton Hill. Try as we might in the planning, we had been unable to circumvent it. It wasn't long and we were soon over it and heading towards our tea stop at West Dean Gardens, which we reached via East Dean and Charlton.
After tea, taken under sunshades in the open air, we travelled south using the Centurian Way path to Chichester and then the Salterns Way path to Birdham. This final section, from West Dean, was predominantly downhill and was a breeze. There are a couple of gates on the Salterns Way, which have been built without consideration for tandemists. They are of the "kissing gate" variety and are not long enough for a tandem and so require the machine to be man-handled – not a new experience. At Chichester Marina we were delayed whilst we waited for the lock gates and were able to watch several yachts passing through. Once back at our starting point, at Ellscott Park, we were treated to tea and cakes by Dereck and Gail who had joined us for lunch but had not ridden. We had travelled a total of 54 miles on probably the best weather day of the year so far. report by: Neville Frost click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 5 Solos: 0 People: 10 Distance: 54 miles Height Gain: 727 metres Climb/Distance Index: 13.5 metres per mile (0.84%) High Point: 152 metres Low Point: 0 metres Saturday, 3rd August 2008
What a disappointing day for our ride after the recent good weather we'd been enjoying. Even so, 6 families gathered at Three Bridges station and set off hoping that the grey sky wouldn't produce too much rain! Our leaders threaded us through the suburbs of Crawley to reach the quieter country lanes and then the rain fell; luckily we were immediately able to all shelter under some generous trees to don our rain jackets,
One team acquired a very interestingly jammed chain at one point which required a link to be removed in order to unscramble it. From then on changing between chain rings had to be done with great care. We enjoyed a pleasant stop for coffee just before Newdigate at Tanhouse Farm and then continued through leafy lanes to the Duke's Head pub at Brockham. Luckily the pub was large enough to seat us inside, as the rain fell again whilst we were lunching. Two families needed to be back home early in order to attend friends' barbecues, so a speedy pace was set to return us to Three Bridges. report by: Tricia Anderson click here for pictures Summary Tandems: 6 Solos: 1 People: 13 Distance: 29 miles Height Gain: 470 metres Climb/Distance Index: 16.2 metres per mile (1.01%) High Point: 121 metres Low Point: 47 metres Sunday, 7th September 2008
Sunday, 28th September 2008 Orpington, Kent
Sunday, 5th October 2008
Sunday, 26th October 2008 British Summer Time ends today (fall back 1 hour) Lamberhurst, Kent
Sunday, 23rd November 2008 Start location to be decided
Sunday, 7th December 2008 Woodlands, West Kingsdown, Kent Christmas ride and Lunch - Woodlands Manor Golf Club, Woodlands, West Kingsdown, Kent.
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