Events in 2019

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

January, February, March, April, National Rally, June, July,
August, September, October, November, December.

For a list of all tandem events in and around Kent, click on the Diary 2019 page where you will also see events and rides organized by the Tandem Club Surrey & Sussex.

Event Date: Sunday, 20/01/19

Ide Hill

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

We will be leading this ride from near Ide Hill. Meet at 9.45 for 10am start. Coffee will be at High Beeches, lunch at Eynesford, tea/cakes at the finish

Please phone 01732 750885 or or email to let us know you would like to join us.

Look forward to seeing you. Cliff and Pauline

Event Date: Sunday, 24/02/19

Birchington

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

We will be leading the ride from Minnis Bay, Birchington, Kent. Meet on the sea front for a 10am start, we plan to cycle to Ramsgate for Coffee then on to Preston for lunch. Please email (by Friday am) or phone 07507 398397 us if you would like join us.

look forward to seeing you all

Cliff and Pauline

Event Date: Sunday,24/03/19

Hamstreet

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: 38 - 42 miles
   contact: Cliff & Pauline - 01732 750885 or 07507 398397
   email:

Sunday 24th March we are leading the ride from Hamstreet, near Ashford Grid ref: TR 002332 the car park has a height barrier. meet at 9.45 for a 10am start distance approx 38-42 miles we are planning a coffee stop at Singleton then lunch at Woodchurch.
please let us know if you can join us so we can let the pub know numbers.
email or telphone 01732 750885

look forward to seeing you

Pauline and Cliff

Event Date: Sunday, 28/04/19

Northiam

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: about 40 miles
   contact: Richard & Anne - 01797 252944
   email:

We will be starting from the ride leaders' house. We will have morning coffee at Hole Park or Bennenden community shop, lunch at the George and Dragon in Headcorn and returning for cakes and afternoon tea.



We were three tandems and one recumbent trike today, Pauline & Cliff, Liz and Mark and Drew. It was forecast to be cloudy all day but there were sunny spells as we were setting up the bikes for the ride. The main feature of today’s ride were the beautiful masses of bluebell hazes lining the route.

The ride to Wittersham was a repeat of the 2018 Easter Rally ride nonetheless it is beautiful countryside. The next section was on the quiet lanes through Moon Green before dropping onto the marsh and cycling across to Wittersham Road station. It is often windy across here but today it was not too bad. It is always a bit of a haul up the drag to Rolvenden but riding in a group somehow made it easier.

The next bit was the lovely route across through the farmland to Benenden. It had been our original intention to stop at Hole Park for coffee but they advised against it as they were expecting a number of coach parties at the time we would have arrived. We pushed on to Benenden to use the Community shop cafe. We were very lucky as we just got in before the people coming out of the church and got some seats. It was excellent coffee and there were plenty of cakes so we will keep this on the list for future reference.

The skies had darkened whilst we were in the café and we donned our rain jackets. It drizzled a bit but by the time we got to Sissinghurst it had stopped and there was a little sun. We were now on the flat Headcorn plains so cycling was very pleasant. At Frittenden we turned left along the lanes towards Staplehurst. This loop had not been reconnoitred as we had to add it in at the last minute to avoid getting to lunch too soon. What a serendipitous choice. The lanes were absolutely beautiful with the bluebells, wild garlic and wood anemones. The houses were olde worlde and there were a number of fields with rare breed sheep and lambs. Verna (in Sicily at the moment) would have been disappointed to miss the donkeys. Once we started to loop through Hawkenbury it started to drizzle again so we were a little damp by the time we arrived at the George and Dragon in Headcorn after about 27 miles.

Although we were still very early; we were made very welcome and our table was available. It was quite quiet probably as it was the week after Easter. There was a slight mix up with the order but that was soon rectified and we tucked into a good meal. We thought we would have coffee afterwards and Mark confidently ordered a ‘flat white’ and then admitted he didn’t really know what he was ordering! When we came out of the pub, people were lining the streets expectantly. A lady told us it was the Cubs and Scouts St Georges day parade. We stood and watched as the children marched, a bit haphazardly, by.

The route after lunch followed the lanes to Biddenden. It was good to have few miles of flat riding to allow our lunches to digest along the very pleasant lanes. We then preceded via East End (Benenden Hospital) and then up the hill back into Benenden. The only ‘mechanical’ of the day was our timing chain coming off whilst getting speed up to tackle the hill to Benenden. The route home was via Iden Green and then past the Hop fields to Stone Pit Lane and then along the quiet A268 back to Northiam. It is a bit of a drag up the from the marshlands of Newenden but thankfully we didn’t have a headwind. The sun was out when we arrived back so we were able to have our tea and cakes on the patio.

Mark had the chocolate cake but had to persuaded to have the coffee cake as he didn’t really like the taste of coffee (See previous coffee comment) but enjoyed it nonetheless. A very pleasant Sunday outing of 47 miles and 1400ft of climbing; not too hilly for once.

report by Richard and Anne

Event Dates:  25/05 - 1/06/17

National Rally - Kirkby Lonsdale

   start time: will be decided at the time
   approx. ride distance: various
   contact: See Tandem Club website

Event Date: Sunday, 23/06/18

Ditton Community Centre

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

Our ride will start from Ditton Community Centre, New Road, Ditton, ME20 6AH at 10am. We will cycle 17 miles miles to coffee at Bluebell Cafe, in Trosley Country Park and a further 15 to lunch at Spadeworks, West Malling. Our ride is just under 40 miles, with tea and cake at our house on our return.

Please let Liz and Mark know if you intend to join them - phone 01732 848432 or email liznoble67@icloud.com



After 3 test rides in the rain, we were delighted that we had a dry day for the actual ride. From Ditton, 7 tandems and 1 solo set off through the country lanes of Aylesford, Eccles and Burham to head over the M2 Bridge on the cycle path, which led us through Cuxton and Harvel to our coffee stop at Bluebell Café in Trosley Country Park.

After 17 miles of undulating terrain, we were all ready for refuelling and more importantly catching up with everyone and their news. Eventually we got going again and cycled a further 15 miles, heading through Wrotham, Borough Green and Plaxtol to arrive at Spadeworks for our lunch. As we were running late, we missed our time slot which wasn’t helped by the fact, that due to staff sickness and a limited menu, they had run out of food. By this time we were all starving! Luckily for us there was also a Farm Shop on site, selling local produce, so we improvised and brought ourselves a picnic, which all added to our little adventure.

After our yummy meal, we cycled a further 8 miles to get us back to our house in Ditton, where we sat in the garden chilling with tea and cakes. The ride length was 39 miles.

report by Liz

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Event Dates: Sunday, 28/07/19

Tonbridge

   start time: 9:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance:
   contact: Dave and Caroline 01737 766649
   email:

We will be starting the ride from the Lower Castle Car Park in Tonbridge - TN9 1HR
TQ 587 466 A potter around the NE of Tonbridge will bring us to a pub lunch at The Halfway House, Brenchley. Afternoon tea will be at Penshurst. If you intend to come please let us know by the end of Friday 26th.
Thanks Caroline and Dave



Four tandems and a recumbent set off from the car park. After crossing Tonbridge, we took small country lanes towards Golden Green. We decided that we really did want a coffee stop, so we took the minor detour to Tea Pot Island. After pressing on through Collier Street we arrived in Brenchley for lunch at The Halfway House. There was much speculation about where the halfway actually was! We swooped down the lanes to Penshurst where we enjoyed tea and cakes - and tried to avoid the sun. Alex and John left us at this point to cycle back to Rainham. The rest of us went down the cycle path, through Haysden Country Park to bring us back to the car park. We did just over 40 miles in pleasant weather. Thanks everyone.

report by Caroline

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Event Dates: 24/08/19 to 26/08/19

Chilterns Camping Weekend

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

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Event Date: Sunday, 22/09/19

Crowborough

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

We will be leading a ride starting from Crowborough Leisure Centre, TN6 2TN. We will stop for morning coffee, and plan to go to Markbeech for a pub lunch. Please let us know if you wish to join us so we can advise the pub on our numbers. Please email or phone. Look forward to seeing you.

Pauline and Cliff

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Event Date: Sunday, 27/10/19

Herne Bay

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance:
   contact: Jim and Kate 01227 740964
   email:

We are starting from the car park at the end of Hampton Pier Ave, Herne Bay. CT6 8DL. Plan is to stop in Whitstable for coffee and then ride a circular route on cycle paths and country lanes around Canterbury to bring us to Wickhambreaux for a top pub Sunday lunch. After lunch back on to country lanes to Herne Bay. Only 36 miles and 1300 feet of climbing.

Good weather is already booked so just let us know asap if you fancy joining us as the pub is keen to finalise numbers.

Hopefully see some of you at the end of the month.

Jim and Kate



Before I start to write up all the fun we had on our ride, I thought I would have a quick read through past escapades. Last year raining, the year before that raining. One year raining so hard it was like cycling up a river but I had sent the reminder out two weeks before promising a great time and sunshine. Guess what, five bold couples either have short memories or believe me when I say I have booked the sun with the weather gods. Saturday 26th and it is looking like another rainy ride to add to our tally plus a bit of wind, so you can imagine our surprise to wake on Sunday morning to a sunny chilly day. The weather gods were right for once. Hurrah!

We met all the gang at the Hampton Inn car park on the sea front of Herne Bay. As we arrive I find Mark squeezing his hands in to Liz’s gloves and adding extra layers - very rare for Mark. Much to Liz’s surprise she only had summer fingerless gloves left and after a small debate it was declared the now stretched winter gloves fit Mark best. Our gallant David came to the rescue with a grubby pair of gardening gloves found in the boot of the car which Liz soon styled into a pair of cycling gloves by wearing them under her fingerless summer gloves, a look I don’t think Castelli will be chasing for their new 2020 range.

We set of into a chilly wind along the sea wall to Whitstable and apart from dodging numerous dogs and their owners made it safely to the café stop, Howards Kitchen in Whitstable. Mark and Jill had arranged to meet us there and found us a table upstairs to fit all of us around. In no time tea, coffee and special hot chocolates arrived with fine cake and a few bacon butties.

We left Whitstable with the sun warming us and the wind behind and picked up the Crab and Winkle cycle route into Canterbury, a lovely cycle track for 9 miles through woods and parks. It was at the end of the Crab and Winkle that the first test for bike handling skills came into play with a rather narrow cycle track and chicane style gates make it a fair test on a tandem but everybody made it through and through the extra tight turns we had found on the route taking us out of Canterbury over slippery bridges and under railways.

We were out of Canterbury and onto country roads. The route planned to take us in a circuit around Canterbury and back to Herne Bay. I will confess the route was not my own. It was the GPS cycle computer which planned the way, which was great as it took me and most of the group on roads which we had not ridden before. With the sun shining and everybody warm the pace was good and although the roads were still a bit wet no punctures. The country lanes allowed people to swap places and chat as we rode taking in the countryside of Kent. Once we had reached the furthest point out and worked our way back across the A2 we had a nice sunny slightly downhill run into Wickhambreaux for lunch at the Rose Inn.

The Rose Inn is a pub I have ridden past hundreds of times on my breakfast route to Sandwich but never stopped at. After the service and fine Sunday roast it will certainly be on our more frequented list of pubs. Richard and Anne met us for lunch after a very hard tiresome trip to France on a wine run and Pauline also joined us there due to injury (Cliff kept looking behind riding his solo as if something was missing). The lunch was great and all felt suitably stuffed - a technical term for great food served up on large platters.

The sun was still shining as we made our way back to Herne Bay, with just 3 small climbs and a final few miles along the sea front which was not too taxing on full stomachs. Once back in Herne Bay it was coffee, tea and cakes back at our nearly finished conservatory.

Thanks to all of those who came along and joined the fun ride, in the sun around Canterbury. This is a start of a new era - no more rainy rides in October for us!

Report by: Jim

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Event Date: Sunday, 17/11/19 please note change of date

Redhill


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

This will now be a Joint ride for the Surrey and Sussex and Kent regions, led by Dave and Caroline.

We will start from the ride leaders' house and head towards Chiddingstone for a pub lunch. After some more lanes, we'll return to our house for tea and cakes.

If you plan to join us please let us know by Thursday 14th so we can give numbers to the pub. Look forward to seeing you!

Caroline and Dave

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Event Date: Sunday, 8/12/19

Joint region Christmas Ride and Lunch

   start time: 09:45 for 10:00
   approx. ride distance: about 20 miles
   contact: Cliff and Pauline on 01732 750885 or Phil & Verna on 01903 205405.
   email:

Our Christmas Ride and Meal takes place on 8th December at the same venue as last year, the Vauxhall Inn, Tonbridge. Starting with a morning ride of about 20 miles with a coffee break, followed by the Meal. For those less inclined to ride in the Winter, you are of course welcome to just join us for the meal.

9.45 meet for the ride. Meal is booked for 1.30pm (please use rear car park of the pub) £22.99 for 3 courses, £20.99 for two.

click here for the menu

Booking, along with your menu choices required by 17 November (£5 deposit please) To Pauline 01732 750885 or reply to this e-mail

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