Cumbria hosts the first Cumbria Bike Fest taking place Monday 7th May to Sunday 13th May 2007.
Cumbria Bike Fest is designed to celebrate the abundance and variety of biking on offer in the county; with this in mind we are offering you 7 days of biking based pursuits, split into two parts:
1) Bike Fest “Open House Week” 07th – 11th May
We intend to throw open the doors to the best of biking in Cumbria. There'll be lots of do-on-your-own cycle routes, for all types of cyclists available the whole week, across the whole county. From cycling quiet roads in the Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Solway Coast and at Arnside, to serious fell-top mountain biking for serious MTBers! Plus numerous opportunities to join in organised rides and demos.
Keep logging on for details of what's on where! We are building an action-packed week and the whole county is involved. If you want to stage an event, then let us know – email jon@allinthedetail.com and he will let you know how you can get involved.
Here's what's confirmed for the week so far...
Bank Holiday Monday 7th May
- Official opening of Cumbria Bike Fest / centred at Staveley including Wheelbase (0870 600 3435, info@wheelbase.co.uk, www.wheelbase.co.uk), Wilfs, Hawkshead Brewery and Cumbria Tourism.
The Kentmere Konundrum - A two wheeled treasure hunt for all the family Starts from Wheelbase between 11am - 12.30pm Test your cranial knowledge on two wheels with a family treasure hunt around the quiet lanes of Kentmere. Open to teams of at least one adult and one child under 16. Start in 10 minute intervals from Wheelbase with prizes for the fastest time aroudn the course while remembering to answer all the questions correctly! - Eden Valley CTC and Eden Cycle Campaign Introductory Group Bike Ride
Centred at Penrith, 30 mile ride, country lanes, lunch out - contact Dick Phillips on telephone 01434 381440 - Country Lanes family bike hire day Windermere and Lakeside
2 for the price of 1 cycle hire. Self-guided rides suitable for all. Advance bookings only. Call 015394 44544 to make a reservation or click on www.countrylanes.co.uk - Border City Wheelers Carlisle
Have a go at Grass Tracking
Learn all about the sport
Bikes provided - email info@bordercitywheelers.co.uk or log onto www.bordercitywheelers.co.uk
Tuesday 8th May
- Ghyllside Cycles, Ambleside
Bike Maintenance evening
Late shop opening
Self guided rides
Demo fleet - Tel 015394 33592 to book, email shop@ghyllside.co.uk or log onto www.ghyllside.co.uk - Country Lanes family bike hire day Windermere and Lakeside
2 for the price of 1 cycle hire. Self-guided rides suitable for all. Advance bookings only. Call 015394 44544 to make a reservation or click on www.countrylanes.co.uk - Family bike ride from Bike Bank, Workington
Using the cycle path to Whitehaven
Food at Whitehaven
Return to Workington - tel 01900 603337, email sales@bikebank.co.uk or log onto www.bikebank.co.uk - Moderate Bike ride from Bruce’s Bikes, Kendal
50 - 60 miles quiet lanes and roads
Steady riding on road bikes
Soup and roll after - tel 01539 727230 - Spinnoff Guided Mountain Biking and Brockhole Lake District Visitors Centre
Guided family rides
Cycling fun - tel 01539 822176 or log onto www.spinnoff.co.uk - Palace Cycles, Carlisle
Bike Rides with possible use of Hadrian’s Wall Bike Bus
Border City Wheelers children’s bike training
Lecture evening
Wednesday 9th May
- Biketreks Birthday Party, Ambleside
Open late to celebrate! Cakes, drinks, offers!
Demo bikes to try
Hire bikes, self guided rides, local area information
Tel 015394 31245, email info@biketreks.net or log onto www.biketreks.net - Arragon’s Hartside challenge, Penrith
Ride the classic Hartside road pass
Challenge yourself to climb to the top as fast as you can
Food at top of hill - limited numbers so please book early on 01768 890344, www.arragonscycles.com or email saraharragon@btconnect.com - Gill Cycles, Ulverston
MTB ride Coniston Area
Test bikes - limited number available so please book in advance. Daily rate is £40 and a credit card is required for deposit. The £40 is refunded should you buy a bike from Gill Cycles
Guided rides from The Blue Bird Cafe in Coniston - loads of rides for different abilities, all starting at 10am. Please contact in advance to book a space: tel 01229 581116 or email dave@gillcycles.co.uk or log onto www.gillcycles.co.uk
Lecture by Kate Rawles in the evening at the Lanternhouse in Ulverston, covering Kate's cycle through the Rockies to raise awareness of climate change - Country Lanes family bike hire day Windermere and Lakeside
2 for the price of 1 cycle hire. Self-guided rides suitable for all. Advance bookings only. Call 015394 44544 to make a reservation or click on www.countrylanes.co.uk - Border City Wheelers Time Trial Local 10 mile Time Trial
Easy course
All welcome - email info@bordercitywheelers.co.uk or log onto www.bordercitywheelers.co.uk - Wheels to the Wild Launch Ride
Get in the saddle for a guided cycle ride - to launch the North Pennines AONB Partnership's Wheels to the Wild geology and landscape cycle route. We'll go at a leisurely pace, giving us time to catch our breath and see the sights along the way. Bring your own bike (and helmet) or it you're interested in hiring, contact the AONB Partnership. 10.30am - 4.30pm, 16+ years, advance bookings only (call 01388 528801 or email info@northpenninesaonb.org.uk), free, 19 miles (32 km), 6 hours, hard, steep hills and some rough track - mountain and hybrid bikes only. Bring a packed lunch. Start at Nenthead Mines Heritage Centre (GR NY781436)
Thursday 10th May
- Country Lanes family bike hire day Windermere and Lakeside
Charity guided rides. £5 donation entry fee (if using your own cycle). All donations go to The Tourism and Conservation Partnership www.ourstolookafter.co.uk. Advance bookings only. Call 015394 44544 to make a reservation or click on www.countrylanes.co.uk - Keswick Bikes, Keswick
Bike Ride - BBQ - Beer @ KMB Keswick Bikes
You are invited! please join us for a Road or MTB ride, your choice. Depart 5.30pm from Keswick Mountain Bikes (MTB) or Lakeland Pedlar (Road) followed by a FREE BBQ + BEER with our compliments! You need to bring a suitable bike & helmet and appropriate kit for a ride.
MTB: Latrigg Loop, grade - easy
ROAD: Circuit Derwentwater, grade -easy. Both rides take a little over 1 hour. BBQ starts 6.30pm at either back of KMB or lakeshore at Kettlewell car park depending on weather and organisation. Do join us for the BBQ if you can't make the ride! Tel 017687 75202, email sales@keswickbikes.co.uk or log onto www.keswickbikes.co.uk - Askew’s Bikes, Kendal
Giant demo fleet
Trail Quest
Self guided family rides - tel 01539 728057, email askewcycles@aol.com or log onto www.askewcycles.com
Friday 11th May
- Country Lanes family bike hire day Windermere and Lakeside
2 for the price of 1 cycle hire. Self-guided rides suitable for all. Advance bookings only. Call 015394 44544 to make a reservation or click on www.countrylanes.co.uk - Adventure Cycling
Guided rides for families and all types of riders, from Lowther Deerpark - call 0773 681 6700 or visit www.adventurecycling.co.uk - Border City Wheelers British Cycling Go Ride Scheme
Bring the Kids along
Learn bike skills
Qualified coaches - email info@bordercitywheelers.co.uk or log onto www.bordercitywheelers.co.uk
2) Cumbria Bike Fest Long Weekend @ Lowther
Bike Fest culminates with the long weekend at Lowther Deer Park near Penrith and junction 40 of M6. On Friday 11th, Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th May, Lowther will be home to 1000's of cyclists and the surrounding trails, quiet lanes and scenery is available for your riding pleasure. On the Sunday, Bike Fest becomes proud hosts of the first Merida MTB Marathon to come to England, based at the Lowther event village. Check www.mtb-marathon.co.uk for how to enter.
The Long Weekend @ Lowther features:
• Stunt jumping demo team
• Bike Service centre + jet washes
• Gourmet Food Village
• Beer tent
• Main stage with music all weekend
• CycleActive anniversary tea party
• Lowther traditional foods village
• Velomania from Lanternhouse
• On site bike hire
• Self guided and guided riding options in and around Lowther
• Bike test fleet + test track
• Skills workshops and track
• Stunt riding workshops
• Road safety and cycling for health activities
• Juice bar
• Planet Fear outdoor gear clearance store
• Penny Farthing and unicycle races/demos
• Non-cycling activities for kids including bouncy castle and other inflatable fun
• Zip wire
• Archery
• Assault course
Everyone is welcome as we open the gates to all and sundry for the culmination of a superb week of events countywide. 12.00 pm on Friday 11th May will see Cumbria Bike Fest @ Lowther long weekend get underway as we prepare to welcome the first of many biking enthusiasts, revellers, riders and rogues.
The Festival comes to a crescendo with the main event based in the beautiful Lowther Deer Park, just south of Penrith, over the weekend of 11th – 13th May. Immediately accessible from the M6 and Penrith rail connections, the Cumbria Bike Fest @ Lowther site will be open from Friday morning to Sunday evening and will contain masses of cycling options plus a full programme of entertainment to keep you occupied in this glorious Lake District location.
There will be plenty to see and do. From Friday afternoon to Sunday evening we have organised a programme jam-packed full of exciting activities, most of which are based around the biking theme!
On Saturday 12 May - Eden Rivers Ride with Sustrans Rangers
Join Sustrans Rangers for a country lanes ride discovering some of the rivers and villages of the beautiful Eden Valley. About 40 miles at a 'family' pace featuring some sections of National Cycle Network. Bring money for lunch adn ice cream stops. Departs from the Bike Fest Village Info Point at 10.30am (final briefing at 10.15am). 30 cyclists maximum. Check details and book a place by emailing cycle@langwathby.org
The CycleActive 10th anniversary “tea” party will take place on the Saturday afternoon/ evening; grab yourself a sticky cake and wash it down with tea or beer as we crank up the music and go late into the night for those that want to, with live bands and the culmination of the Bike Fest trial-style comp. The real ale tent and gourmet food village will be open all weekend for those weary returning riders and their supporters. Bike and outdoor retailers will be on hand to sell you kit and there will be specially designed maps to take away for your friends and family, in order that they too can enjoy the local trails and quiet roads surrounding the park on their bikes. A bike test circuit will be on offer for you to try out the latest models and there will be numerous stalls and concessions to browse, all built around a cycling theme.
A “bomb-hole” will be constructed for some epic stunt demos. Skills loops and stunt workshops will also be offered for you to push yourself to the limit! There will be a major bike park in the main event arena to ensure the safety of your machine and a special bike Jet Wash and service centre offered for those who like clean spokes and shiny frames.
Aside from the biking, there will be a zip slide, archery and an assault course and children will be exceptionally well catered for, with adventure and action attractions together with more traditional entertainments including bouncy castles, face painting and crèche facilities, so parents can enjoy the riding while the kids are looked after.
Tickets and camping
Camping pitches will be offered at a price of £10 per person for the whole weekend, which includes full access to all Festival days.
To pre-book your camping, call the Cumbria Accommodation Booking Hotline on 0845 450 1199 or book online at e-shop at www.golakes.co.uk
Cars are £10 for parking for the weekend or £5 per day. Payment for cars taken on arrival.
Day visitors will pay £5 each, except anyone arriving on their bike, who will get in free!
Programme of activities:
Friday 11th May
1200 Gates open for Cumbria Bike Fest @ Lowther
1200 Gourmet food village open
1300 Bike test fleet “pits” open
1300 Bike Service centre opens
1400 MTB Trials and stunts demos
1600 Jump demos in the Bombhole
1800 Bar open
1900 Night riding activities - TBC
2000 Debut performance - Velomania
2100 Live band in the beer tent
0000 Gates shut to arriving traffic
Saturday 12th May
0800 Showers available
0800 Gourmet food village open
0800 Bike service centre open
1000 Gates open to public
1030 Sustrans lead Eden Rivers Ride
1100 Bike test fleet “pits” open
1100 MTB Trials and stunts demos
1200 Unicyclists, jugglers and other performers take to their bikes
1200 Jump demos in the Bombhole
1200 Registration opens for Merida event
1300 Heats begin for trials style-riding comp
1300 Beer tent opens
1400 MTB Trials and stunts demos
1500 Matinee - Velomania
1600 Cycle Active Tea Party Begins
1700 Jump demos in the Bombhole
1800 Prize giveaways from the main stage
1900 Last showing – Velomania
2000 Registration closes for Merida event
2000 Finals – trials comp
2100 Prize giving – trials comp and final Trials and Jumps demos
2130 Live bands
0000 Gates shut
Sunday 13th May
0630 Gates open
0700 Food available on site
0700 Bike service centre open
0700 Registration re-opens for Merida event
0900 Registration closes for Merida event
1000 Merida MTB Marathon STARTS
1100 Bike test fleet “pits” open
1100 MTB Trials and stunts demos
1200 Unicyclists, jugglers and other performers take to their bikes
1200 Jump demos in the Bombhole
1300 Beer tent opens
1400 MTB Trials and stunts demos
1500 Matinee - Velomania
1600 Jump demos in the Bombhole
1700 Prize giveaways from the main stage
See you there!
Part of May's Month of Adventure - for a full list log onto www.golakes.co.uk/adventure
