Events in 2017

This page shows details of events organized by us each month.
More information will be added as it becomes available.

January, February, March, April, Camping weekend, May, June,
July, August, September, October, November, December.

For a list of all tandem events in and around Kent, click on the Diary 2017 page where you will also see events and rides organized by the Tandem Club Surrey & Sussex.

Event Date: Sunday, 29/01/17

Minnis Bay, Birchington

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: 30 miles
   contact: Cliff & Pauline - 01732 750885 or 07507 398397
   email:

Please note change of date to 29th January

We will be leading this ride from Minnis Bay, Birchington TR 62841695 Meet at 9.45 for 10am start. A nice flat ride, for all of us who are feeling unfit at this time of year We intend to use the coastal road around Thanet.  Will stop for morning coffee, then to Sandwich for lunch, afternoon tea at Minnis Bay.

Please phone 01732 750885 or or email to let us know you would like to join us. If you contact us after 3.30pm Fri 27th please use mobile number.

Look forward to seeing you. Cliff and Pauline

Event Date: Sunday, 26/02/17

Ide Hill

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: 35 - 40 miles
   contact: Cliff & Pauline - 01732 750885 or 07507 398397
   email:

We are starting at Ide Hill car park or the leaders' house if preferred, going for coffee at Westerham then on to Shoreham for lunch. Great views and lots of down hill.



There was a last minute change of plan so that we set off from Caroline's house in Redhill. One tandem and 2 solos took the back route to Merstham and then went into the grounds of the Royal Albert and Aexandra School. After passing underneath the M25 our bridleway rose steeply. The bridleway across Banstead Heath involved as much walking as cycling (it might be better in summer?). We flew down Pebble Hill and carried on to Tan House farm for a welcome and filling lunch. We continued to fight the wind on our way through Horley and Horne until we were stopped by the only puncture of the day. After reviving tea and cake at Redhill Aerodrome cafe we retuned home. Despite the wind we all had a good day.

report by Caroline

Event Date: Sunday,19/03/17

Joint ride with Surrey and Sussex Region from Appledore

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: 40 miles
   contact: Liz & Ken 01323 735620/07866 468840
   email:



Meet at Appledore free car park (approx TQ 955 296) 0945 for 1000 start. About 25 miles to lunch at the Six Bells in Woodchurch, no coffee stop in the morning but we’ll bring something for everyone to snack on at a roadside stop, bring your own drink. Total distance approx 40 miles with a possible afternoon tea at the end in Appledore. There are quite a few options to shorten the route if anyone wants to, but it’s an easy route, only a few gentle hills.

click here for the proposed route

click here for a report and pictures of the joint ride

Event Date: Sunday, 23/04/17

TBA

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance:
   contact: TBA
   email:

Please contact Cliff and Pauline for more details.

Event Date:  5/05 - 7/05/17

Suffolk Camping weekend - joint with Surrey & Sussex Region

   start time: to be decided
   approx. ride distance:
   contact: Alan & Wendy
   email:

Event Date: Sunday, 22/05/17

TBA

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance:
   contact: TBA
   email:

Event Date: Sunday, 25/06/17

Northiam

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: 41 miles
   contact: Richard and Anne
   email:

Our ride this year starts from our house in Northiam and proceeds to Iden Green,  Benenden, Coffee at Hartleys Cranbrook, Goudhurst, then cycle way 18 and cut down to Lamberhurst, Wadhurst followed by lunch at the Bull in Ticehurst about 13:30.  The way back is Hurst Green then Bodiam.  For the well behaved there may be cakes back at ours. It is 41 Miles and not too hilly. 

Event Date: Sunday, 23/07/17

this ride has been cancelled

   start time:
   approx. ride distance:
   contact:
   email:

Event Date: Sunday, 27/08/17

Camping Weekend and ride at Stelling Minnis

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance:
   contact: Cliff & Pauline - 01732 750885 or 07507 398397
   email:

We are leading a ride from Stelling Minnis, near Canterbury on 27th Aug. Meet on the green near the pub. We will be there for the weekend, staying at a small camp site in the village so if anyone wants to join us for a few days of riding please check with camp site if you have a van or caravan. There is plenty of space for tents but they have a limit on van numbers. It is a simple site with one toilet and shower. Contact Mr and Mrs Gifford on 01227 709281 Grid ref 142468.  Post code CT4 6AD

Event Date: Sunday, 24/09/17

Ditton, Kent

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: about 40 miles
   contact: Mark & Liz - 01732 848432
   email:

The start will be from Ditton Community Centre. We will cycle to the coffee stop at Tea Pot Island, Yalding and on to our lunch stop at The Woolpack in Benover.

Event Date: Sunday, 22/10/17

Chilham

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: about 40 miles
   contact: Jim and Kate
   email:

Start from the car park by the fire station. lunch at The Bowl Inn near Charing. Tea and cakes back at the fire station. Please let Jim know if you will be coming as the pub needs to know numbers.



Kate and I had spent the last two months riding new roads and trying different café/pub stops to plan our October ride, looking for a new area a short distance from our home as we had all ridden these routes a few times before. Finally we got the holes to l ine up for a great ride, good breakfast and lunch stops, some nice climbs and great country lanes all in a circuit of under 40 miles. What could go wrong?

Brian, that’s what.

Who’s Brian? Brian the hurricane! All week before our Sunday ride the news is full of fearful news, Brian, 50mph winds, torrential rain, all coming from the west to hit the east on Saturday/Sunday.

Phone calls and emails from likely tandem duos, all had the caveat of we will be there as long as the weather is OK which I brightly replied by saying I promise light winds and sunshine.

OK I broke my promise but the wind had dropped and there was no rain as the 4 tandems set off from Chilham carpark. It was a little chilly but after 500m we hit our first steady climb of the day to warm everybody up. With a steady pace we made our way across to Doddington for breakfast in the Chequers pub. The pressure being they only open for breakfast up to 11.00 so as we pulled into the yard at 10.50 I was pleased we had made it. Only to see my smile fade as Kate tried the front door and found it locked. What now? Closest café was 5 miles up hill. Luckily Kate’s knocking must have been louder than she imagined as the landlord opened up with a smile and invited us in for great bacon butties and tea.

We left the pub and set off up country lanes which had as much grass in the middle as tarmac at the edges and slowly climbed up the Downs to make our way to Lenham. The only sign of Brian was the roads filled with autumn fallen leaves and the last of the chestnuts. The loop around Lenham through Graft Green and up to Pluckley all went well with the wind slightly helping us on our way as we faced east. The roads to Pluckley are pleasantly lined with oaks and the hedgerows full of acorns. With little traffic we could ride 2 abreast and chat as we went, well until we got to the hill at Pluckley. Then the chat turned into large breaths mixed with the odd grown. Once we had re-grouped it was off to Egerton, a very pretty village with great twisty roads leading it back to the A20.

Once across the A20 we were 2 miles from lunch. Downside, 2 miles up hill! Probably my favourite hill of the day, as it twists up the side of the Downs so you can only see the next corner in anticipation of it being the last. Once we were all at the top the Bowl Inn beckons and we had made good time, being 30 minutes early. If there is such a thing as being too early to a pub! We had a drink and overheated standing in front of the log fire, great for cold feet but hot after just climbing the biggest hill of the day.

30 minutes flew by and we were soon sitting down to the biggest roast dinner I had seen for a long time - fair play to David who managed the lot. After the lunch and great conversation it was quite hard to leave but the sun was tempting us out for the final ride back to the cars.

The lanes back were great with a few hills to burn off the lunch but the steady 20mph wind was behind us and made for an easy ride, it was 2 miles from home when Cliff and Pauline picked up a puncture. Not bad going considering the debris in the wet roads. Once fixed it was all downhill to the cark park. Whilst bikes were being strapped to roof bars Kate got the kettle on for fresh tea and homemade cakes. This all enjoyed over fun chat and talk of future rides. Mark didn’t even notice the flapjack was a bit crispy.

Thanks to all who joined us and thanks to Brian for not living up to his reputation.

Report by: Jim and Kate

Event Date: Sunday, 26/11/17

Kemsing


   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: about 40 miles
   contact: Dave & Caroline - 01737 766649
   email:

Start from the public car park near the Bell Inn. We will ride in the Sevenoaks area, stopping for lunch at the Chafford Arms in Fordcombe. Please let us know if you're coming by Friday 24th. The ride isn't long but don't forget to bring your lights!





It was cold and bright as 3 tandems set off from Kemsing. After going through Otford and Dunton Green, we gradually climbed up the Downs, going past Cliff and Pauline's house on the way. We couldn't admire the colourful leaves as the recent high winds had left them in great piles on the gound - just waiting to catch the unwary cyclist. As a result the downhill was not quite as fast as usual but soon brought us alongside a very empty Reservoir. We pushed on to the coffee stop in Chiddingstone. The cafe was extremely popular - mostly with other cyclists. After the climb up to Fordcombe we were glad to reach our lunch stop at the Chafford Arms.
Soon we were labouring up the vicious One Tree Hill. Then the route took us round the other side of Sevenoaks from earlier. By the time we returned to Kemsing it had cleared up once more, giving us plenty of time to enjoy tea and cake in the wonderful surroundings of the car park!

Report by: Caroline

Event Date: Sunday, 3/12/17

Joint region Christmas Ride and Lunch

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: about 20 miles
   contact: Cliff and Pauline - 01732 750885
   email:

There will be an optional morning only ride beforehand, led by Cliff and Pauline. There will be a break so bring your own drinks. The lunch is at the Fox and Hounds pub. Tilburstow Hill Rd, South Godstone, Surrey, RH9 8LY. http://www.foxandhounds.org.uk/ and is booked for 12:30. Please look at the menu https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid= ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxmb3huaG91bmRzc2dvZHN0b25lfGd4OjdmYTIzNDkyYTg3YzI2YWU I will need to know what you would like to eat by 18th November so please give a prompt reply, email or phone/text if you would like to join us.





The excellent ride and lunch was well attended by members from both regions. click here for a report and pictures of the joint Xmas ride and lunch