Here are two dates for the diary if you live in or anywhere near Bristol. Sure to be a great laugh and include plenty of great trails, for 2013 Bristol has the Bikefest and the Oktoberfest on the 8th-9th June and the 12th October.

Here’s the word from the organisation:

BRISTOL BIKEFESTS 2013

With a history of more than ten years and a reputation for fast, fun packed racing in one of the most iconic city race venues of the country the Bikefests will return in 2013 with two fantastic helpings of ‘Bikefests magic’.

After two years of rather challenging conditions (luckily not on the course as the Ashton Court course is a true all weather course) in the parking and camping area due to the ever so reliable English weather the 2013 events have found a new home. From this year onwards the Bikefests will be located just a few hundred yards to the South West on the grounds of the Bristol Cathedral Choir School. The new venue is on the edge of the existing course and offers fantastic changing, shower and toilet facilities, ample space for event venue and competitors and all without saying goodbye to our much loved Ashton Court course!

The line-up for 2013 is as follows:

Ritchey Components and Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport have signed up for another year of supporting the Bristol Bikefest and will be making their way to Ashton Court in June! The popular 12hour / 6hour event will return to one of the true all weather courses in the country to offer the riders fast and fun packed racing paired with the Bikefest typical relaxed atmosphere. Traditionally the Saturday will be all about racing the 10km long course as often as possible within 12hours. Teams, pairs and solo riders will battle out the fastest times and compete in one of the many categories on offer. Sunday offers more of the same but at the reduced run time of 6hours or even the 3hour ‘novice’ event.

Besides the race action we will have a great little trade village, on-site catering throughout the weekend a well stocked Bikefest bar and tunes throughout the afternoon and evening. Parking and camping will be located near the start and finish / event village. 

To find out all the details of the Ritchey Bristol Bikefest powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport and to enter please go to our event website www.bike-fest.com.

And following the Ritchey Bikefest is the Stan’s NoTubes Oktoberfest powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport in (surprise, surprise) October. Now going for a good number of years the Oktoberfest is hot on the heals of the June brother in terms of popularity and atmosphere. Stan’s NoTubes and Vito Sport have returned in 2013 to support our later summer endurance race.

The Oktoberfest cramps everything into just one day with the popular 8hour team, pairs and solo event as well as two 4hour events – one starting am and one pm. The event will once more be based around the fantastic Ashton Court course and will feature the Bikefest typical relaxed atmosphere, smooth overall organisation plus a little bit of an ‘Bavarian’ twist’.

So be prepared for swoopy single track, oompah music, a great event village, superb event catering, some (not Bavarian) tunes during the day and in the evening, pretzels as medals (or maybe not) and some Weissbier at the bar!

To find out all the details of the Stan’s NoTubes Oktoberfest powered by Mercedes-Benz Vito Sport and to enter please go to our event website www.bike-fest.com.

If you made it to either the Bikefests or to our Bristol Belter road sportive than you probably noticed a few guys running around with cameras and other filming equipment. The guys have put a little summary film of the 2013 season together. Sit back and let us remind you that even with all that rain 2012 wasn’t actually pretty good: