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.
2025 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 2025 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.
2025 Events List – being planned
February 2025
February 11th & 25th – Club Meetings at the Rising Sun 12.00 Noon
March 2025
April 2025
Wednesday ??th – Popham Airfield Run. Meet at the Shell Garage in Padworth on the A4 at ?? for a ?? departure (Date & times to be confirmed – just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit so we can set the date).
April 27th 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 2025
May 5th Monday – Fleet Lions Run and Concours Bank Holiday Monday The Fleet Lions Run is back with an excellent signed run of about an hour 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). Information only as no run .
May 10th Saturday – Kempton Park London Classic Bike Show – We have a stand at this Classic Bike Show and normally do quite well against the other stands. The Show usually has a large autojumble as well so a popular event.
Wednesday 21st – Greenham Control Tower Cafe Run. Meet at the Shell Garage in Padworth on the A4 at 9:45 for a 10:00 departure. For a short run to the cafe of about 35mins. Lets hope the weather is better than the forecast.
Spring / Summer?? – 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.
May June ?? Wednesday – Berkshire Downs Run. Meet in the rear car park of the Bull Inn at Streatley at 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.
May or June? – 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 2025
June 4th Wednesday – Popham Airfield Cafe Run – Meet at the Shell Garage in Padworth on the A4 at 9:45 for a 10:00 departure. For a short run to Popham Cafe (for Tea, Coffee and Cake) of about 40 mins. Always worth a visit.
June 18th Wednesday – Downs Run – Meet at the Rear Car Park of the Bull Inn at Streatley. This will be an an easy ride starting at Streatley to Wantage and on to Lamborne for a tea/ coffee stop and then back to Streatley via the Isleys and Compton. The run is about 50 miles over mostly minor roads. Meet in the car park of the Bull at Streatley at 09.45 for a 10.00 departure. Pick up points on route at Blewbury at 10.10 and Rowstock Roundabout at 10.20.
June /July?? Tuesday – Technical Question Meeting – This will be a change to our regular 12 Noon meeting at the Rising Sun pub when Stuart McGuigan and John Crocker (Criterion Engineers) will host a Technical Question session. This will start at 12:45 approx following lunch. The session will either be held in the rear garden (if the weather is good) or at the rear of the pub (if the weather is poor). This is an entertaining and relaxed event as in previous years, please bring any Velocette technical questions with you and Stuart and John will attempt to answer them.
July 2025
July 12th 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.
July 12th Sat – Woodcote Rally. We are NOT planning to attend the rally this year (as we have done in past years) as it is the same date as our Show Off Your Bike day
July 22nd Tuesday – TV Velo AGM – Meet 12:00 Noon as usual for our Club Meeting but at 12:40 approx (after food) we will commence the AGM.
August 2025
August Sunday ?? 2025 – Popham Megameet – (has unfortunately been cancelled for this year) We usually have a pitch/stand booked at this popular local event, however location is not known.
August Wednesday ?? – Run to Popham Airfield Cafe.
With a good weather forecast (as I write!), a Run is planned to Popham Airfield for Coffee/Tea/Cake/Breakfast (whatever). Meet at the Shell Garage on the A4 at Padworth at 9:30 and depart at 9:45.
September 2025
September 14th? – 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 20/21st – 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 2025
November 2025
??
December 2025
December 9th – 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 23rd – No TV Velo club meeting (Provisional tbc??)
Keeping Velocettes Alive.
In the Mind, on the Road, on the Track.