Thames Valley Centre Events
Most of our events during the year are club runs. All We organise frequent runs to interesting venues, mostly on weekends but some mid-week as well. Our runs are well controlled by the Run Leader and Back Marker with a comfortable pace aimed to suit the riders and bikes. We also join up with other Centre’s runs and will lead our group to the meeting point. For dates of planned runs see below.
Get on Jon’s email list and join us on a run, you won’t regret it.
From time to time we also organise events mostly on Club nights, such as our popular Question nights on technical Velo matters of guest speakers – see Events List below.
2024 Events List
Update 15th February 2023
We hold our meetings at lunchtime 12:00 noon on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday every monthly. We are gradually updating the calendar of events for 2024 below as we put together our plans and the dates for external events are known.
There was a general agreement at a recent Club Meeting that Club Runs this year should be shorter in distance and aim for about One Hour each way (max 1Hr Qtr). So runs such as Cheddar Gorge or Sammy Miller are not organised by the club.
Mid week runs
We will aim to have at least one per month hopefully more from Spring to Autumn and we have a small team of volunteers to try to achieve this. Generally confirmed within a weeks notice to fit in with weather and member availability. Any changes or cancellation will be via our email circulation list so contact Jon Dunsdon to get on his list to get the final details of the meeting place.
We are considering some other runs to be added to those below so watch this space.
2024 Events List
February 2024
February 13th & 27th – Club Meetings at the Rising Sun 12.00 Noon
March 2024
March 12th – Thames Valley Club AGM at the Rising Sun from 12.00 Noon starting at about 12:45 to give members a chance to have some lunch/drink.
March 17th Sunday – Brooklands Sunbeam 100 Years of the Sunbeam MCC. Open to all visitors on pre-1940 machines. We plan to have a run to this Sunbeam MCC event at Brooklands Museum, so pull out your pre-1940 ish machine and join us on a run there. Details of the Arborfield meeting place and times to be confirmed.
Spring ish?? – Technical Question Meeting – We are considering when we can hold this in the Rising Sun and an email will be sent out in advance detailing how we plan to manage it.
April 2024
Tuesday April 9th?? – To be confirmed – Short version of the Rigid/modest pace Run ( Now Cancelled due to unpredictable weather) as the first run of the season, not too long, just to get us started. Come on any bike, will be at a rigid but at a gentle pace so you won’t feel rushed. Pleasant amble through part of the Berkshire Downs for about 30 miles through roads that you may not have been on before to finish at the Rising Sun at about noon for our regular club meeting.
Wednesday ??th – Popham Airfield Run. Meet at the Shell Garage in Padworth on the A4 at ?? for a ?? departure (Date & times to be confirmed).
Spring ish?? – Technical Question Meeting – We are considering when we can hold this in the Rising Sun and an email will be sent out in advance detailing how we plan to manage it.
April 21st Sunday – Classic Vehicle Day at the Royal Oak Bishopstone. As in previous years we will be having a run to this event near Swindon where there will be lots of old bikes and cars. Very friendly informal gathering usually with excellent organic burgers and barbecue food by Helen Browning available. Weather forecast looks good at this stage. Meet in the rear car park of the Bull Inn, Streatley at 9:45 am and depart at 10:00 – for a very pleasant run there out the A417 and B4507 of about an hour.
May 2024
May 6th Monday – Fleet Lions Run and Concours Bank Holiday Monday The Fleet Lions Run is back with an excellent signed run of about an hour (I think!) with a lunch stop at a pub not far south of Reading. To enter simply visit their website at www.fleetlions.org.uk/motorcycles and complete the registration process. Meet at the starting area between 9:30 and 10:30 for breakfast Tea and Coffee and sign-in at The Key car park at Elvetham Heath on the A323 Fleet to Hartley Wintney Road (postcode GU51 1HA). There may be a club run to the start from Reading if there is sufficient interest.
May 11th Saturday – Kempton Park London Classic Bike Show – We have booked a stand at this Classic Bike Show which usually has a large autojumble as well.
May ?? – Flower Pot Run. Our regular run down to the Flower Pot Inn at Cheriton where we may meet up with South Hants Centre guys, may then go across to a big bike meet. Meet at the British Legion car park in Arborfield Cross at 10:15 for a 10:30 departure.
June 2024
June 22nd Saturday – Show Off Your Bike show at the Rising Sun. The date has now been confirmed with the Committee managing the green for us to hold our Show on the green opposite the Rising Sun. This years event will be the same format as last year with food (special menu) and drinks from the pub which all worked very well. There is free entry but all bikes and owners need to be recorded for judging purposes. The day starts at 11:00 am and we are aiming for a relaxed event, no raffle, just chat and enjoy yourself. The will still be a modest award for the bike winners by class. Bikes to make sure you look for the entrance to the green on the left at the top of the lane as some of the gravel is deep further down so take care, any cars to park at the bottom. Hope to see you all there. Date to be confirmed.
June ?? Wednesday – Berkshire Downs Run. (Provisional) Meet in the rear car park of the Bull Inn at Streatley at 9:30 for a 9:45 departure (times to be confirmed) for a gentle 80 mile run through the Berkshire Downs with a tea/coffee break in Lambourn and lunch at the Grocer Chef at Ardington before returning to the Bull. There will be pick up points at Bluebury and Rowstock and perhaps others on request. Hoping for good or at least dry weather.
July 2024
July 13th Sat – Woodcote Rally. We are planning to attend this rally for Saturday 13th only (as we have done in past years) it is a fairly relaxed event that we normally enjoy. To display your bike free you need to have your entry form lodged before 30th April, we can email you the form, just contact Jon or ask at Club meetings. Note that it is a 2 day event but we don’t attend on the 2nd day Sunday 14th.
August 2024
August Sunday 4th 2023 – Popham Megameet – We have a pitch/stand booked as usual outside the marque at this popular local event. There will be a run to Popham (weather permitting) meet at the Shell Garage in Padworth on the A4 at 08.45 for a 09.00 departure.
September 2024
September 8th – Seymour Run. This run visits Thame and on for a run through country roads we then stop for lunch at the Chearsley Classic & Vintage Fun Day. Meet at the BP filling station / McDonalds, post code OX10 6LX, at the roundabout in Benson where the A4074 meets the B4009. Meet at 09:15 and depart at 9:30.
September 14/15th – Kop Hill Climb – Planning to have a stand at this prestigious event as usual. Watch all the activity including our club members on the Hill climb and view all the amazing bikes and cars. Similar vehicles to those at Goodwood but here you can get up close.
October 2024
November 2024
November ??- Brookwood Cemetery Run??. This is about a 45 minute run to Brookwood War Graves Cemetery for the Remembrance Day Service. As we did last time we need to get there early enough to be in place and out of the way there before the Parade starts that precedes the 11.00 am Remembrance Service in the Canadian section of the Cemetery. The proceedings are very well organised and thought provoking, well worth a visit.
December 2024
December 10th – TV Velo Christmas Lunch – Planning to have our Christmas Lunch at the Rising Sun at 12:30 for 1.00 o’clock this year – Full Details to be available later – look out for Jon’s email for details of how to book your place.
December 24th – No TV Velo club meeting (Provisional tbc??)
Keeping Velocettes Alive.
In the Mind, on the Road, on the Track.