We had spotted this a little too late to attend last year, but seeing the reviews ensured we got tickets for this year. A celebration of all things cycling, well as long as it pre 1990! The Festival looked to good to miss. We didn’t go for one of the rides, you can choose from 30, 50 or 100 miles options, but your bike and you must follow the 10 commandments – The 10 Commandments.
- Heroic bikes will only be permitted Road racing bikes built before 1987 both with gears and without gears.
- Heroic reproduction bikes will only be permitted – “Steel frame new construction with vintage look and characteristics may be used if they are assembled using vintage components or replicated parts similar to the original. No mountain bikes or modern racing bikes.”
- Gear shifters must be on the downtube.
- Pedals with toe clips and straps. Quick release are NOT allowed apart from Cinelli M71
- Brake cables must pass outside the handlebars but other cables can pass inside the frame
- Wheels and tyres. Wheels must have at least 32 spokes laced to a low profile rim. 20 mm depth or less, except for the wood rims. Tyres. Both tubular and clinchers with inner tubes are allowed
- Participants with disabilities with specific bikes will be OK to take part as long as they make a specific request to the organisation at the time of registration.
- Specific authentic bikes such as Pashley Guvnors, Speed 5s, Moulton and Bromptons can enter the 30 mile and 50 mile routes. These bikes are not encouraged for the 100 mile route. Other bikes such as military, postman and delivery bikes are allowed for the 30 and 50 mile routes.
- Participants must be dressed in vintage or era specific clothing
- Helmets are not compulsory
These ‘rules’, which are self policing, meant that there are some wonderful bikes and riders on show, with many spending the whole weekend in vintage wear. There are stalls a plenty selling anything you could wish for, and a whole lot more you didn’t realise you did need! A cycle jumble like I have never seen, bands, films, talks, plus loads for the kids. Saturday afternoon was reserved for best in show, Best Dressed Family, Master Miss, Rider… and even Dog, some great efforts made (and some ideas for next year!) 
If you don’t do one of the rides, the cost is not much more than some campsites would charge, with clean toilets, free showers and Bakewell a couple of minutes walk, it was easy to see why so many attend. The food outlets on site were varied, but some a little expensive. The bar, Thornbridge, was busy but offered lots. 
We did sign up for the family ride, which was on the Saturday afternoon, this was a short cycle, 5 miles, along the flat Monsal trail, with the turn around point at a café. This was a self guided ride and you could set off when you wanted, but you received a number and a rosette upon finishing which the kids seemed to like. 
Music and bars finished early, around 10.30, which on Friday meant we were one of the many “parties” back by your tents, but Saturday was much quieter with many people wanting to make early starts on the Sunday rides. 
This was a most enjoyable weekend, we found little to be critical of, and found ourselves referring to what we would be doing for “next year”, so see you there? 
Lichwheeld 