Have an idea for an event you’d like to put on at this year’s Festival? Come along to Pervasive Media Studios (Upstairs in the Watershed) for 6.30 pm this Thursday, and we’ll talk about how to make it happen, and try and answer any questions you might have.

We’d also like to hear from anyone with time or expertise to spare. If you can marshal a ride, co-ordinate an event, hand out flyers, code web pages, or anything else, we need you to help the Festival happen!

If you can’t make a meeting you can get in touch with us via events@bristolcyclefestival.com.

The rain didn’t deter a few hardy youngsters from trying out the Toddlebikes as part of our Bike Olympics Day in Ashton Court.

Toddlebike is a unique pre-balance bike for Toddlers aged 1-3 who have outgrown their baby ride-ons, but at under 3 years may be too young for balance or pedal bikes or scooters. Despite the heavy rain, the kids had fun fording “rivers” and checking out the all-terrain abilities of their bikes. More info at www.toddlebike.co.uk and more pictures on our Photo Gallery page

Professional costume designer Hannah Taylor showed us how to make a stlish cycling cape out of our choice of materials. Basic sewing skills and own machines made the job easy. Cost for the day was only £22.50, with concessions available.

The workshops would tie in with Vintage Velo as lots of the stuff Hanah does is vintage style, so make your own cycling britches and soft cap?  maybe we could do a tie in. In the meantime the Folk House are looking to take on the cycle cape workshop as an evening class. So Hannah’s well pleased with the outcome.

Madame Melski had to close her dating sheet ahead of the day – the lucky participants seemed to get on jolly well, so who knows what now! Inundated with requests from lonely cyclists, Madame is planning another evening of romance in the not too distant – watch this space.

Despite some heavy showers before the event, a great crowd joined in the fun of the Carnivelo today. There ser lots of pictures coming up on our Photo Gallery page which also tells you how you can share your pictures with us via our Flickr Group. There were lots of cameras in evidence today so please share your pics with us. Hope everyone had a great time.

Any here’s a video: Bristol Cycle Festival Carnivelo

Bike Trains are ready to roll, every weekday morning during the Bristol Cycle Festival, down 4 of the most direct routes into the city – Gloucester Rd; Whiteladies Rd; Wells Rd; Fishponds Rd.

Traffic becomes less intimidating when you ride in a group and the ride into work can become a social occasion and a chance to exchange ideas and information on where’s best to park; where there are showers and lockers; etc. (Let is know if you want a ride home and we’ll aim to find you a buddy.)

The bike trains  are run by volunteers from the cycle community, if you would like to help then please get in touch. Alternatively if you are a new or experienced cyclist and just want to try riding with us in a group, then either get in touch  or just join us at one of the stations.

The trains aim to bring out the fun side in cycling so why not dress up your bike (or yourself!) – we might even manage to provide some music!

For more information contact BristolBikeTrain@gmail.com or see our website www.tinyurl.com/BristolBikeTrain

We’ve heard that there’s going to be an informal meet-up by the harbourside, Sunday afternoon (18th)  – from about 2pm.

Bring your fanciest/ wackiest bike, dress your best and show us some tricks.

Not an organised event - just turn up and share in the joys of cycling at its best.

Why not bring a picnic too?

Great evening at the Festival Launch Party at our “Hub” in The Showroom, College Green. Some lovely displays, smazing artwork, pedal-powered films, live music – ane more to come. Open every day during the Festival and special events most evenings. See the Festival Hub page for more info and pictures of the launch should be appearing soon on our Photo Gallery page – meanwhile we’ve been adding pictures to our Flickr page from last year Bristol Cycle Festival 2010

Cake, Make, Meander is going to be a gentle meandering cycle ride on mostly traffic free routes from outside the M Shed Cafe to Ashton Court with cake and craft stops. En-route we will enjoy cake and view street craft as well as make our own installations.

Please feel free to decorate your bike if you’d like and join us after for more crafts and cake in Ashton Court (for this please bring your own project and a picnic blanket if the weather’s good).

Start from outside M Shed Cafe (BS1 4RN) to Ashton Court (BS41 9JN)

Here’s a poster that you can print to help publcise the event.

Spotted on Gloucester Road – somebody’s “spoked” the programme good and proper!

Festival Programmes are being delivered to bike shops, cycle-friendly cafes, bike stands, etc so you should be able to pick up a copy this weekend. If not, you can download from the menu bar or get in touch and we’ll tell you where to find one.

UPDATE! Bristol’s only cycle-in cinema is back for 2012! Full details and tickets here:

http://twowheeleddrivein.blogspot.co.uk/

The Two Wheeled Drive In Cinema returns to Bristol on 24th & 25th September 2011, brought to you by Bristol Cycle Festival for the second year running.

The Cinema aims to bring you a weekend of outdoor, cycle-in cinema excitement in the most atmospheric motion picture house you’ve ever been to.

The idea is that instead of driving to the Multiplex, you get on your bike and come out under your own steam to see a classic film made all the more delicious by seeing it alfresco. It’s only a ten minute bike ride away from a central Bristol location and of course you’re welcome to walk.

This year, they will be bringing you the Brat Pack Classic “Lost Boys” (Saturday 24th September 2011). “Is it a horror movie or a teen movie? Or is it really about the power rock, the Doors, Jim Morrison’s tight leather trousers and a choir of weird children singing “Thooouu shalt noooot kiiiiilll”? Who knows, it’s bloody ace.”

On Sunday (25th September 2011), audience will be whisked off the west coast of Scotland to Summerisle with “Sing-Along-A-Wicker-Man”, where Sergeant Neil Howie begins his search for a missing giiirralll. Enhancing the genius of the original film and bringing it’s beautiful folk soundtrack to life will be Dr Bramwell and Eliza Skelton, leading everyone in song and enhancing the story in further unexpected ways.

Tickets cost £5 and full instructions will be given on purchase. You will need a bike, some lights and maybe something to sit on.

For more information, or to buy tickets, go to:

http://twowheeleddrivein.blogspot.com/

From http://www.bristolcat.blogspot.com/

“To coincide with Bristol Cycle Festival we are going to do an alley cat. This means that we will have a ride around Bristol following clues to get from checkpoint to checkpoint, picking up treasure on the way.

If you can help out then please email me and include your phone number if that’s possible [timhinson@gmail.com]. Ta. I’ll get together a real life meet up soon too so we can get it all sorted in a sociable fun way.

Otherwise see yous all on Saturday 24th Sept at 3pm in Queens Square!”

Cycling isn’t just about elite racing and commuting, it’s also about having a laugh…and winning novelty medals!

There will be several events which make up Bike Olympics, and these will be held sequentially, so people can participate (for free!) in as few or as many as they wish.

Some of the activities currently proposed are:
Dual slalom: a two-up race down a slope, turning between bendy poles
Mountain bike time trial: entrants will be timed along a section of the new trails at Ashton Court
Steeplecxchase: a short ‘fun’ cyclocross race around a marked course
4×100 Backie-relay: teams have to complete a lap of a circle changing ‘stoker’ at four designated points
Egg & spoon: entrants have to cover a short distance on their bicycles without dropping or damaging their egg
Commuter Challenge: entrants have to complete a series of challenges in a short a time as possible, including putting a shirt and tie on and off in a space equivalent to a train loo, and running the length of a train platform with their bicycle. All carrying a coffee.
Weighted dragster: entrants have to drag a loaded trailer a set distance
Team Trackstand: pairs of entrants try and balance for as long as they can on one bicycle.
Trackstand: entrants try and remain stationary on their bicycle for as long as possible…then remove one hand…one leg… etc.
Junior Kickstart Limbo: entrants have to enter a marked circle, going under a pole, and exit again, without putting a foot on the ground. Each round the pole will be lowered slightly, and the circle made smaller. Last person ‘in’ wins.
Bunnyhop competition: A pole is supported horizontally in a wooden frame. Entrants have to jump over it, and it is raised each ‘round’
Long jump: Entrants have to see how long they can jump from a 1foot high ramp.
Mounted shotput: entrants are given a bean-bag to throw as far as they can while on their bicycle, without crossing a marked point.

Details of the latest Bristol Cycle Festival event has been announced – and it’s one for only the very hardiest of cyclists.

The Dundry Drubber is a 25-mile micro-sportive round one of Bristol’s toughest hills, taking place on Sunday 18th September.

“Dundry – a name that strikes fear into all Bristol cyclists. When you see a sign bearing the name, you know that suffering cannot be far behind. Yet with that suffering comes many other things: a sense of achievement, a breathtaking view, a tasty pint of beer.

The ride starts at the Tobacco Factory Theatre in Bedminster at 11 am on Sunday 18th September 2011. The route includes an ascent of every side of the dreaded Dundry Hill.

The route will be fully signed and marshalled and will finish at the Dundry Inn, where a special ‘cyclist-friendly’ bar snacks menu will be on offer.

Entry is £3 in advance (via Paypal to george_salt@hotmail.com) or £4 on the day (pay at the theatre box office).

Prizes will be on offer for outstanding effort and every finisher will receive a reminder of their achievement.

The ride features nearly 3000 feet of climbing packed into a relatively short distance, with grades of up to 1:4. Needless to say it is recommended for experienced cyclists.

For more information visit the event’s Facebook page.

Roll-up for the Festival opening event! Opening night of the Festival Hub at The Showroom on Park Street. Preview the exhibitions, enjoy some live music and get to meet some of the Festival organisers.

There’s bike decoration workshops on the 2 days before and then there’s a load of ehibitions and events for the duration of the festival – more details coming soon. Also just a great place to meet up and share Festival news.