Tandem 2026 - UK National Rally

Another visit to the Somerset Levels for a rally at Thorney Lakes as we did in 2015. Plenty of flat rides as well as the challenges of the Mendip Hills with rides up Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe.

3rd August - 10th August 2026

Another visit to the Somerset Levels for a rally at Thorney Lakes as we did in 2015. Plenty of flat rides as well as the challenges of the Mendip Hills with rides up Cheddar Gorge and Burrington Combe.

Campsitye sign

I am hoping to get everything set for Friday 6th February, when the booking form etc will be ready

The site
Thorney Lakes Caravan and Camping Park is a family run campsite on the Somerset Levels. The site is based in a large orchard with level generous pitches. There are 10A electric hook ups so no 3KW rapid boil kettles please. The site boasts four acres of fishing lakes stocked with a selection of coarse fish. The club has exclusive access to the site.

Family Event

Tandems are made for families, they are simply the best way to either carry children or to allow them to cycle with you. For many many years the Tandem Club attracted up to 40 families to a National event, but in the past decade this has unfortunately not been the case, be this fashion or the lack of knowledge that a tandem is such a great way to enjoy a holiday together. In 2026 the club are holding a family rally within the national, you don't have to bring a tandem but we are hoping that by the end of the week you may like one. Martin Hook who is our family liaison will be camping with his family and Neil Wheadon will be bringing 20 years of experience from running over 40 family weeks for CyclingUK/CTC to this event. Through the week, we will offer bespoke rides for families with places to visit and a few additional events will be laid on, including the famous tandem games. 

Off Site

You are welcome to join us on the rides and for the evening activities should you wish to stay elsewhere. Riding to the start or picking up one of the routes during the day would be the preferred way to join the rally. There are a limited amount of car parking spaces at the campsite should you wish to bring your car to the start. There is an off site option on the booking form and it is very important that you email Neil at neil@tandem-club.org.uk to let me know how you are arriving each day at the campsite or if you are joining the rides at on route.

The Area
The nearest village of Muchelney was in the news last winter because of the floods however Thorney Lakes remained dry. Here you will find the remains of Muchelney Abbey, a large Benedictine abbey which once dominated this part of the Levels. Just  over a mile away is Kingsbury Episcopi with a convenient community shop and café. Just seven miles away is the rural town of Somerton ' The Ancient Royal Town of Wessex', with its 17th. Century square and Thursday Farmers market.

Although we are on 'The Levels' this part has some pleasant undulating country roads ideal for tandem riding. The area abounds with pubs, cafes and other places of interest.

The Event
A full range of activities is planned for the rally including:
Welcome party
Evening Bar
Hog roast/vegetarian option
Velocio trophy (a treasure hunt style ride)
Local food and drink (Cider and Cheese)
Barn Dance
Quiz

Rides

A choice of 4 rides a day will be available, ranging from 25 to 65 miles. These will explore the many sites and cafes in the surrounding area. These will head out the same way each day, allowing you to mix with everyone and to choose on the day if you’d like to extend or shorten a ride. A couple of communal coffee stops will be organised, where a single place will be chosen after about 10-15 miles where coffee/tea and cake will be provided to bring us all together in one place. Rides are offered in a GPX format but also as route sheets which will be checked before the event giving turn by turn instructions and also pointing out the places of interest and places to eat along the way.

What to expect on a ride

For those that have not yet attended a Tandem Club rally, we do not go out as a large group.  Instead we tend to set off in small groups, so that we do not swamp the local roads.  Each rally attendee is expected to bring their own printed copy of the route instructions and to have downloaded the gpx track files to their device.  These will be published to those booked on the rally about 1 month before the start of the rally. The GPX routes, description and detailed information for each ride are available at Rides for the 2026 Easter rally

Surfaces and dangers

The majority of riding will be on tarmac roads. The Parrot Trail is a 2 mile section near Langport that is a track. Mjor roads will be avoided, but there will be traffic on the roads, but a real effort is made to use quiet roads.

Communal Tea Stops

These are arranged to bring everyone together as after all this is the point of a rally. Coffee/Tea and a piece of cake will be offered that is paid in advance as part of the rally fee. Both the short and medium rides will be taken through the same point. You are welcome to pass through within a window of 2-3 hours. I have done these in the past and they are very popular, they have the advantage of getting to chat to others, have a dedicated indoor space to be served and also remove the pressure on local cafes and will work out cheaper than a cafe. There are anticipated to be two stops provided during the event.

Organiser

Neil Wheadon will be the principal organiser. Having organised three nationals, an International, three previous Easter events in the past, I am very experienced in running these events. I oversee the rides database on the Tandem Club website and in my spare time organise cycling holidays all over the world from Japan to Mongolia.

Marquee

A marquee will be available with a matting floor.

Toilets and Showers

A additional 4 berth shower unit and additional portaloos have been ordered

Booking Fee

The booking fee covers an awful lot of things from the marquee to the showers, from the welcome drink to the band
For anyone under the age of 19 at the time of the event a booking fee does not apply.

Closing Date

The closing date for this event is the 15th July 2026

Booking and dates

Please fill in the booking form via the link below.  The following may help if you have issues with booking. The Tandem Club uses NOCHEX, occasionally for many reasons, your card may be declined, please check the numbers are correct. If this fails please try another card or use the BACS facility. (The booking will go through and we will contact you for your bank details) The booking form is a bespoke, very secure interface but it does not respond well to folks using the 'back' button. Finally, as happens, you make 2 booking applications, don't worry, just email the organiser and we can invariably sort this out for you.

Cancellations

Please check the terms at the bottom of this page. Cancellations must be made by email to the organiser.

You need to be members of the Tandem Club or certain overseas organisations to book. See the Terms and Conditions below.

Please use the button below to book for this event. Preferred payment for UK residents is by on-line credit/debit card payment but the form will present you with other options. If you have a website login account, then please login before using this form as most fields will be filled in for you automatically.

PLEASE NOTE EXTRA NIGHTS STAY BEFORE OR AFTER THE RALLY MUST BE BOOKED WITH THE CAMPSITE


Booking:
For this rally you may book a few extra days before or after the rally at the special rally rate.
You need to be members of the Tandem Club or certain overseas organisations to book. See the Terms and Conditions below.

Please use the button below to book for this event. Preferred payment for UK residents is by on-line credit/debit card payment but the form will present you with other options. If you have a website login account, then please login before using this form as most fields will be filled in for you automatically.

The Booking form is in preparation

Need further information?

 

Map

Event Information

Attendees Event information

Terms and Conditions.
Booking confirmation:
Your booking is not confirmed until payment has been received in full and cleared which should be before the closing date for bookings. Dishonoured cheques will result in the cancellation of your booking.
Members Only:
This event is open to UK or overseas Tandem Club Members or, in the case of overseas people, members of the following organisations: "Tandem Club of America", "Tandem Club de France", "Tandem Club NL (Netherlands)", "Tandem ClubVlaanderen (Belgium)" and "Tandem-fahren.de (Germany)". You can join the Tandem Club using the forms on the TC website. Joining the TC (About 10 UKP per year).

Disclaimer:
If you participate in any ride or event organised by the Tandem Club you do so entirely at your own risk. The Club, its officers and ride organisers accept no responsibility for loss, damage to property, accident, injury or death, that may occur, however caused, whether by negligence, deliberate act or otherwise.

Cancellations and refunds.
The rally fee will not be refunded after the closing date. Refund of other components will depend on what the Club can recover from the campsite and/or other suppliers. Members may wish to consider taking out Holiday Insurance to cover losses the Club cannot refund.

Photographs taken at the event may be published on the Tandem Club Website, The Tandem Club Facebook pages and The Tandem Club Journal