Easter Rally 2026 - Rally Information

Hi

There are now 22 onsite booking for Easter 2026 which leaves 48 sites to fill, so still plenty of room, however I need to release the exclusive use in mid November so if anyone you know wishes to book, please remind them.

If you want to book with the site either side of the rally, I am happy to liaise with the site. I need the dates (and the days) that you would like. Please Email me at neilwheadon1@gmail.com

Chris Juden is helping with the routes. He was the technical editor for CTC and has moved to Derbyshire. He led tours for CTC Holidays, so I have every confidence. He also rides a tandem with Helen

   Best Wishes

       Neil

3 months to go and the campsite have opened up to external bookings, so far one pitch has been taken. If you want to come along, please book ASAP. Happy New Year Left as now: 4. hardstanding with electric 3 grass without electric 17 grass with electric

There will be 2 organised teastops. One at Hartington YHA, the other courtesy of Kirk Ireton Village Hall. These are included in the booking fee and are dsigned to get people together and in the case of Kirk Ireton help the village church fund. I need to know if there are any gluten intolorance please. Can you email me at Neil@Tandem-club.org.uk please to let me know and if you have any other intolorances that we need to know about, just ensuring there is something to give you on arrival.

Easter 2026. An addition. I've ordered a floor for the marquee, so we may as well use it. I intend to have it as a central meeting point. Aside from the AGM on Saturday at 16:00 and the band in the evening, I have booked an external speaker for the Thursday night. Mike Higginbottom will be giving a presentation on the railways and canals of the area, so you'll know a little about what you will be cycling along over the event. It will start at 19:30 and will be preceeded by a welcome drink. Chris Juden (former CTC Tour leader and CTC technical editor lives in Matlock and is putting together some fabulous routes, his notes alongside are a thing of beauty. There are still a few sites available, so if anyone you know wishes to come, this is looking to be a lovely event

Extra nights at the site, either side of the event. I am at the point of confirming. Can everyone who wishes to stay a few days either side please tell me, even if you have already. Doing this, the National, a job, other tours etc etc is stretching my brain at times. Email neil@tandem-club.org.uk

Program for the event. Thursday evening - talk on the local railways and canals before they became cyclepaths, so that you will appreciate the istory before riding them. Friday, Peter Weeks will do a quiz in the marquee. Saturday will host the AGM and in the evening a good band will entertain us. Sunday, something new and everyone can take part. 10 minutes to talk about your tandem, your tour, anything tandem bicycle related. I'll bring a laptop and projector, so any pictures please bring them on a USB stick. This format has been done at the Cycle Touring Festival and works w=very well. For the rides, 2 communal coffee stops included (already paid for) on the Friday Hartington YHA where a hot drink and a piece of cake are on offer. Sunday, sounds like quite a few from the village of Kirk Ireton are going to turn out to provide an afternoon drink and cake stop, we'll also do a collection for the church should you wish. These are designed to bring everyone together on the road as you explore the area. Routes, Chris Juden has done the most amazing job on these, the route sheets are fantastic, they will give turn by turn directions and information about the things you are passing. I have added all the places onto rides (our inhouse system) so the 2 together should provide you with all the information you need. Finally there are about 7 places left, if anyone else you know would like to come along please do. At present there are close to 130 people coming, should be a fun event

The Rides for Easter are now available at https://tandem-club.org.uk/rides?group=tce2026. This link is also at the top of the events page. Chris Juden has put an amazing amount of work into these, thankyou. There are 4 available for Friday and Saturday and 6 for Sunday. Broadly most go the same way, the variations are with distances and smaller loop additions. When you go to rides, there are various downloads. 1) The GPX file 2) Route Sheets. Chris has done detailed route sheets and route descriptions, these are all on the same PDF which is duplicated for all the rides. Even if you never use a route sheet, please download and print this off as it really will enhance your experience. The final PDF is a map I have produced for each route from Rides where I have labelled the map with the highlighted information, these will also be on display in the marquee. Both Chris and I share the same vision in that we try to prepare things so that you get the maximum information and locations for the things you will encounter on each ride. Any queries please ask.

Last day of bookings. If you know anyone who is thinking of coming then please book by the end of today please. We have 126 people coming which is fantastic. Hopefully everyting in place, a speaker, a band, tea stops arranged, glorious routes and you never know the sun may shine. There are a few gaps on the comittee so I'm sure Peter would lve to speak to you before the AGM. For myself, doing stuff for the Tandem Club over 30 years now has been life enhancing, give it a go

CAR PARKING FOR THOSE OFF SITE - This is really important. The campsite is pretty full as it's Easter, so there is very limited parking for those not staying on site for the event. This includes arriving at the start to commence a ride. To manage this, please can everyone tandem to the campsite or join the routes as appropriate. There are room for a few cars, I need to know in advance if you are thinking of coming by car please. Can you send an email to neil@tandem-club.org.uk. Thankyou

Final pre arrival information. ARRIVAL TIME - From 11:00, ideally earlier. The pitches have been pre-allocated, information on the booking form in regards camping close to friends has been passed on. Karen who manages the campsite will be there to guide you to your pitch (she also has a tandem) I intend to drive up on Wednesday evening after work, so will be there as well. MARQUEE - With a variety of things going on, 30 chairs have been ordered and lighting. There will be a solid floor. For those on the site, it would be hugely appreciated if you can bring along a chair and use this in the marquee. THURSDAY EVENING - There will be a talk on the railways and canals that you will be cycling. FRIDAY EVENING - Peter Weeks will do a quiz SATURDAY EVENING - The band SUNDAY EVENING - Experimental, but a show and tell in the marquee. If you wish to use media, please bring pictures etc on a flash drive. I will have a laptop and projector but!! my laptop has stopped talking to the projector, so if anyone has a laptop and projector as a spare that would be fabulous. I will bring a screen. PARKING - We think this will be OK, if you are off site or coming to the AGM, please park tightly. I just don't know how many cars there will be as had 4 replies (thankyou) about this last week. FOOD - No shop is close by, so come prepared. RIDES - Please download the GPX, make sure you can access Rides in the Tandem Club database and please print off Chris Judens amazing route sheets, they are brilliant. WEATHER - Looking better, I have no control over this. See you soon

When I say earlier for arrival time, I mean from 11:00, not before 11:00. The AGM is at 16:00 on Saturday, that's Peters department, just need to be finished in time for the band.

Marquee is up and waited. All boarded just in case

waited = waiting (sorry)

The Club Shop has arrived on pitch 14. Will be in the Marquee later

TONIGHT Welcome drink 18:30, bring a glass please. Railway talk 19:30

I yi have a phone.rhqt. waslwftin the marquee. Peter Weeks

I have a missing phone. Peter Weeks

AGM this afternoon 4pm in the marquee.

Zoom link. Helen Blundell is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting. Topic: Tandem Club 54th AGM Time: Apr 4, 2026 04:00 PM London Join Zoom Meeting https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83455321713?pwd=6iHWbW0mAK6huAmWebGJoS5HS5lMLY.1 Meeting ID: 834 5532 1713 Passcode: 471968

AGM at 16:00 in the marquee. Band at 19:30.

Sorry no Zoom access at today's AGM as poor wi-fi on site.

Just going through the pictures. This one was from the photographer at Kirk Ireton