Author: Sophie Butler

Do we actually ever grow up? Join the Tandem Trekkers to find out!

Whatever your age, once you join, you’ll soon discover it’s like being transported back to the classroom, and you do not want to sit next to so for fear of breaking out in stitches, or you are best staring into the distance trying not to make eye contact! Our club brings out the best in people … like when they were 6 years old, and this is “challenging” for any ride leader, to be fair. Not only are you volunteering your time to give your stoker the sense of freedom of cycling, but you must also put up with fully grown adults who digress to classroom giggles, disruptive behaviour (I shall name no names tough Kate and Dave joined us today), and questions of “are we there yet” and messily eating icecream cones!

All this obviously is best done with fantastic scenery, and we certainly had that today as we did a giggle-stop-start-tour around Boroughbridge and even visited Ripon cathedral, making the tiny town of Ripon, in fact, a city!

On the downside, we were grossly “missold” deer, a true dear oh dear moment, and didn’t spot a single one, though plenty of pheasants were laughing along with our banter and jokes, or they were making noise complaints – unsure!!
In terms of shout-outs – one must go to our (permanent but not felt tip) marker on the ride, Brian, who didn’t mark up any homework but instead super helpfully made sure we crossed every junction safely! Meanwhile, Andy kept sweeping up the rowdy gang of trekkers with a smile, and Martin assisted.

So overall, it was a (very) fun ride with (adults who act like) 6-year-olds in the lovely countryside, we even missed the rain! I am giving it 4-stars.

Thanks, everyone, for the company. It’s a total hoot, as always! Andy, Brian, Chris, Steve B (thanks for organising, inc recce, and leading), Steve, Tim, Aisha, Michelle, Jules, Kate, Dave, Katie, Martin, Ian, and Helen for dog walking.

Write up by Judith

This week we had our first outing of the year on our local ride – the Spen Valley Greenway. It was fabulous to see everyone again, as our ride leader Judith remarked afterwards. We were also joined by our latest pilot recruit, Paul, who seemed to be immediately at home within our jolly tandem peloton.

After a cold and frosty start, most tandems made it to Low moor station before a swift return to see our friend Hayley at the Sunflower Pot Café.

There was a really joyous vibe going on as we refuelled and had fun as only Trekkers can.

All returned to HQ in glorious sunshine, see you next week for our Ripon ride.
Post by Stevie B

We had a cracking start to the season with a glorious first ride out with tandem trekkers today. The spring sunshine made it feel like we were on holiday and we all agreed it was an extremely relaxed and enjoyable ride from Birkin round the very flat but still beautiful countryside round Selby.

Multiple road ahead closed signs caused only slight concern and we merrily rode on sure that nothing would stop us. Indeed it didn’t, though if we had needed to invent a quick detour we were confident that we would have managed it and still made it to the café for lunch. 

We got there in record time and had a very nice lunch in the sun, and even an icecream. 

We were a small group of 8 trekkers today, but we certainly had quality and a good time. 

1st of March, Saint David’s Day and the start of meteorological spring.

It didn’t snow, it didn’t rain and the wind didn’t blow. Absolutely perfect weather for Tandem Trekkers to get their outdoor ride calendar underway at the Brooksbank Cycle Track.

A cracking good facility for our first ride to help blow away some of those winter cobwebs and get our legs moving with the sun on our backs.
Seven stokers and more pilots than you could shake a stick at came along to enjoy the fun.

A very big thank you to them all, particularly Barney and Keith for sorting out the transport of tandems and stokers!

A very warm welcome to Warren and Hilary on their first official ride with TT, they were still smiling at the end which is always a good sign.

We all got some good laps in and it was great to see everybody in the flesh once more having a good chinwag and a few laughs. It’s what TT is all about and we’re really looking forward to the rest of the season.

Fingers crossed the sun keeps shining on us and we don’t have to break out the waterproofs!

 A much reduced pack of 3 trainee mechanics this year due to illness and family issues attended the maintenance course.

Many portions of flapjack and quiche were consumed along with the best part of 6 hours of hands on maintenance of tandems leading 3 more competent and confident pilots able to assist with technical issues on the trail.

Once more the course was endured in near freezing conditions of our lock up so congratulations to the club kettle for ably providing a steady stream of hot drinks, they were essential in preventing early onset hypothermia.  Next time we will choose a warmer month.

Another positive result of the course is that we have now ticked off all the outstanding maintenance tasks highlighted at our December clean up session.

Special thanks to British Cycling Limitless for funding additional tools and training equipment for this years course.