Race through the woods…

…and maybe win one of these

One of our very most favourite bike events is upon us once again, and the 2007 Bristol Bike Fest looks set to be the best yet. The latest incarnation of the format – 12 hour enduro for solos, pairs and teams on Saturday, same on Sunday but just six hours – makes a lot of sense and avoids the late finish on Sunday.

There’ll be the usual attractions of a fantastic, high-speed singletrack course, good food, decent coffee, plenty of trade stands, live music and the agreeable environs of the Ashton Court Estate for the non-riders to amble around. We’re hoping that the trackside ice cream van will put in an appearance, too.

We’re told that the 12 hour event is “full to the brim” (there are still spaces in the 6 hour, though), and the weather looks like it might well play ball too, so it should be a corker. And don’t forget the added attraction of the 2007 Single Speed National Championships (first thing Sunday morning). There’s some sort of beer-drinking rule, the details of which have yet to be revealed (but Cotic is supplying the beer). Plus immediately after the race there’ll be an opportunity to win a rather lovely Charge Stove “pub bike” in the Charge Bikes wheelie competition. Longest wheelie wins the bike, but in keeping with Charge’s Somerset base all competitors will have to down a pint of strong cider first. We suggest that spectators stand well back…

Full details of everything, including the reasonably important rider briefing notes, can be found at www.bike-fest.com/bristol/. We’ll see you there…