Scenes from last year’s Bristol Bike Fest

There’s just a couple of days to go before the Merida 12 Hours of Bristol Enduro (Ashton Court, Bristol, 19 June). It’s the second year of the event and the first with title sponsor Merida. After 2003’s successful debut, three hundred riders have entered to tackle the splendidly wiggly singletrack-intensive course around the Ashton Court Estate. It’s a very flexible event – race as a team of two, three or four or as a solo.

The course uses large sections of Ashton Court’s popular Timberland Trail, and a team of trail builders led by Phil Lee has been hard at work fettling up the trails. The organisers tell us that the singletrack is in perfect summer condition, and the threat of rain over the weekend appears to have receded. You can find out more about the course at www.bristolbikefest.com – there’s a course profile with the help of CicloSport – the red line on the profile is singletrack…

As well as the 12-hour event, the weekend will feature trade stands, a bar, catering, live music, a dirt jump comp and a post-race party for anyone still able to stand. The dirt jumpers wil be out from lunchtime onwards honing their repertoire, so if it’s not your lap or you’re just spectating, check ’em out. Local shop Bad Ass Bikes will be chucking out some freebies too.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s a round of the Southern XC series on the Sunday. So there’s tons going on. And the best part is, there’s still a chance to enter the 12 hour – you’ll have to be quick to get a postal entry in, but if you download the entry form right now, write a cheque and stick it in First Class this morning you should be OK. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a stamp – there’ll be entries available on the day. Registration will be open on Friday from 1pm to 8pm and Saturday morning from 7am to 9am. Camping’s available on site.

If you’re coming along, don’t forget to take the opportunity to encourage (or heckle, as you prefer) the BM editor – don’t expect too much lively conversation after about Saturday lunchtime, though, I’m soloing…

Everything you need to know should be at www.bristolbikefest.com, or you can email [email protected] or call 0117 904 6944. We’ll see you there…

Scenes from last year’s Bristol Bike Fest

There’s just a couple of days to go before the Merida 12 Hours of Bristol Enduro (Ashton Court, Bristol, 19 June). It’s the second year of the event and the first with title sponsor Merida. After 2003’s successful debut, three hundred riders have entered to tackle the splendidly wiggly singletrack-intensive course around the Ashton Court Estate. It’s a very flexible event – race as a team of two, three or four or as a solo.

The course uses large sections of Ashton Court’s popular Timberland Trail, and a team of trail builders led by Phil Lee has been hard at work fettling up the trails. The organisers tell us that the singletrack is in perfect summer condition, and the threat of rain over the weekend appears to have receded. You can find out more about the course at www.bristolbikefest.com – there’s a course profile with the help of CicloSport – the red line on the profile is singletrack…

As well as the 12-hour event, the weekend will feature trade stands, a bar, catering, live music, a dirt jump comp and a post-race party for anyone still able to stand. The dirt jumpers wil be out from lunchtime onwards honing their repertoire, so if it’s not your lap or you’re just spectating, check ’em out. Local shop Bad Ass Bikes will be chucking out some freebies too.

As if all that wasn’t enough, there’s a round of the Southern XC series on the Sunday. So there’s tons going on. And the best part is, there’s still a chance to enter the 12 hour – you’ll have to be quick to get a postal entry in, but if you download the entry form right now, write a cheque and stick it in First Class this morning you should be OK. Don’t worry if you haven’t got a stamp – there’ll be entries available on the day. Registration will be open on Friday from 1pm to 8pm and Saturday morning from 7am to 9am. Camping’s available on site.

If you’re coming along, don’t forget to take the opportunity to encourage (or heckle, as you prefer) the BM editor – don’t expect too much lively conversation after about Saturday lunchtime, though, I’m soloing…

Everything you need to know should be at www.bristolbikefest.com, or you can email [email protected] or call 0117 904 6944. We’ll see you there…