If you are free and in the right area, go along to the Peak District National Park for three days of cycling and vintage lifestyle in a beautiful area, all for the very reasonable price of £0. That's right, this piece of epic is free. Unless you camp and need a car park space for the three days, in which case you may have to pay £30. Extortionate, I know.
Live music, shopping, a bike jumble, lush food and general atmosphere, all in the surreal setting of the Peak District will make the first two days of the festival something to remember. The last day will be the cherry on top with the cycling tour around the national park all dressed in vintage cycling gear (as seen below).
How I wish I could go!
Cheers guys,
O&U.
It was HANDSOME! #matp
ReplyDeleteI can imagine! I only found out about it last minute, otherwise I would've been there.
DeleteGo next year, beg steal or borrow a bike to do the ride (oh and get used to cycling up hill, even the short route included almost two and half thousand feet of climbs including the route of the Monsal Hill Climb, one of the top cycling hill climb competitions in the country!
ReplyDeleteI think I'll manage to go next year somehow - I'll find a bike between now and then and get my brother to come along and keep me motivated. I doubt I'd be able to do anything more than the shortest route!
DeleteDidn't ride but went in to the Festival fields Saturday evening and it was marvellous... the atmosphere was just as you'd imagine... try to make it next year :-)
ReplyDeleteMary
I'll be there - Trust me on that. I've been sent through some pictures from the event and I'm extremely jealous. I wish I hadn't found out so late on. See you next year!
DeleteExtraordinary weekend. An international event in a local setting with most overseas visitors in total awe of our wonderful Derbyshire scenery. I volunteered en route and shared some stories with an eclectic mix of people across generations and nationalities. Very happy, chilled out extended weekend with a lovely vibe. Would love it to be repeated next year. Fab food, loads to see, great music, clothes and inspiration.
ReplyDeletePlease stop making me jealous. I spent my weekend at work when I could have been basking in the glory of the summer solstice, surrounded with vintage bicycles, wonderful people and everything else that is amazing in the world.
DeleteExtremely glad you enjoyed it though! Come and find me next year.
I will make you jealous now: I volunteered at the event all day Friday and all day Saturday. I helped cyclists and their families setting up their weekend homes ( tents etc.) and on Saturday I as selling the brochures, and handing out flyers ( which are so pretty and on such quality paper that they are going to be framed in their hundreds, as momentos!) and generally helped the organisers, riders, security and the public with anything I could do. The atmosphere, combined with the beautifully warm midsummer's weather: the occasional drift of old time music, the vintage section, the Lush stall, the gin bar on front of HQ, the vintage cars, the incredible range of foods, the myriad of stalls and quintessential 'Englishness' feeling it evoked was almost tear-jerking!
ReplyDeleteAs I was selling brochures on the entrance post, an old chap approached me saying ' me and my mate have turned up with our penny farthings, which are as old as us. Can we come in?'. I didn't hesitate to say 'yes', and got them into the arena. They'd heard about the event only 2 days before, and had travelled from Barnsley to see if they could be part of it. I got them in, and they got changed into their appropriate clothing, and practically stole the show!!!!
What joy - what fun, what a weekend and what amazing organisation by the people who made it all happen.
Sadly, I was unable to be at the races today, (though I passed many of the 100 milers on my way to Sheffield,) but I will most certainly offering my help at this event next year. I bet the Tour de France isn't half as much fun as L'Eroica Britannia :)
Chris, your comment just stole the show along with the penny-farthing-fellows. That's final. I will be there next year, come rain or shine. I will quit my job if they tell me I cannot go. The whole thing is all too phenomenal to pass up! Stay well and I'll be seeing you next year.
DeleteIt waz amazin..plenty to entertain..
ReplyDeleteI went sat with friends..took my vintage bike..wore 1940s dungarees get up..i do generally 40s events..this was a great way to mix it...food..stalls.
Sunshine..a really lovely setting..im gonna do the race next yr
I've never really done any vintage events and have always wanted to do the Tweed Run, but this blows it out of the water in impressive (and suave) style. I'll probably just be there next year and maybe race the year after... I'm debating it all! I want to experience everything though.
Deletei did it on a vintage tandem with my husband it was a fantastic festival we had such a Great weekend the 30 mile ride was intesting!
ReplyDeleteNot only a vintage bike, but a tandem vintage bike? For 30 miles? You genuinely deserve a medal for that. Sounds amazing.
Delete