Caundle Vélo Club (CVC)

Caundle Velo Club is now in it’s 15th year in 2026. 
CVC now has 38 members of whom 10 are Caundlers, the rest living in the catchment area and joining the bi-weekly rides from outlying towns and villages. The majority are retired or semi-retired men and women from all walks of life, united by a shared passion for getting out and about in the fresh air to enjoy the countryside around the South West. Given reasonable weather conditions we usually meet outside The Trooper Inn at the start of each ride at 9am on Mondays and Fridays throughout the year.

We average around 11-13mph throughout the day depending on terrain and weather, with the group reassembling on hilltops or at turnings on the route. In the event of punctures or other mechanical challenges, everyone pauses to assist with repairs. Our bicycles are road & e-bike models designed for hard surfaces, so we use quiet lanes wherever feasible. Busy main roads and “off-road” tracks are avoided whenever possible.

Monday Rides
On Mondays the routes are pre-planned, averaging around 50 miles in autumn and winter and 70 miles in summer, sometimes stretching to further destinations in fine weather.
When the days are shorter we get back mid afternoon, but in spring and summer we usually spend most of the day on our bicycles returning to the village around 4pm. With the aid of Strava software, the ride organiser plots the routes in advance, with a picnic lunch and sometimes a cafe or tearoom in the mornings.
The route map and details are emailed to all CVC members on Wednesday/Thursday allowing for uploading to Garmin or Strava. We ride together as a group, numbering from 7 to 12 cyclists at a time, some of whom dip in or out of the “peloton” at varying points along the route.

Friday Rides
On Fridays the rides start at 9am with a return by 1pm.
Routes are normally within 15 miles of the village and we notify members of each Friday’s café monthly in advance so that we know where the mid-morning meeting points are.
In this way, members living beyond the village can opt to join us at the cafés or en route.

Safety
In pursuing active days by bicycle, our own safety and that of other road users is paramount.

Highway Code
Our members are encouraged to take note of the Highway Code and in particular the Rules for Cyclists (59 to 82).

Membership and Rules
Membership is £15 per annum. Our rules include wearing a cycle helmet at all times with high visibility clothing, and following the bicycle highway code.

Introductory Ride
After an introductory ride newcomers living in the area around Stourton Caundle are invited to join CVC.
If you consider yourself a relative newcomer to cycling, we suggest you start with the shorter Friday rides first to get used to being in a group, and if you wish progressing to the longer Monday rides.

Contact Details:
JOHN HOWES: 07900 582848. Email: jhowes@mail.com

Public Liability
N.B Whilst CVC as a club (including officers, ride leaders, etc) is covered for Public Liability, this doesn’t extend to individual members.
It is recommended that individual members of CVC ensure they have Public Liability cover in their own name.
Individual members may join Cycling UK and receive £10M Public Liability cover for £58 p.a.