The Adventure Cycle Festival come to Brathay
The Festival takes place 2-4 June at the spectacular location of Brathay Hall on the shores of Lake Windermere. It’s a not-for-profit event that aims to inspire people to use bikes for adventure, whether that’s a day in the mountains, a coast-to-coast epic, or an overnight bikepacking trip.
The Event Village at Brathay Hall provides a hub from where organised activities will launch including the Shillies ‘Undred, a 100km ‘gravel challenge event’, a guided overnight bikepacking trip across the Lakes, a loaded hill climb challenge, social ride in from the station to promote leaving the car at home and self-guided trips. There will be the chance to try demo bikes and equipment, plus attend workshops, lectures and an evening bar with live music.
Lyon Equipment, the event organisers, said: “With the rise in adventure cycling’s popularity, we felt there was an opportunity for a highly targeted event where likeminded individuals, brands and organisations could come together to celebrate travel on two wheels. As a distributor, we have been able to invite brands from both the cycle and outdoor industries which has allowed for an extremely diverse list of supporters.”
The headline speaker is adventure cycling royalty; Mark Beaumont, who held the world records for cycling around the world and riding across Africa solo. Mark Beaumont commented on the event:
“I am thrilled to be speaking at the Adventure Cycle Festival this summer. The event’s charitable nature and aim of inspiring more people to have adventures on two wheels can only be commended. I hope that by speaking about my previous expeditions and this year’s exciting plans I will be able to share the thrill of adventure cycling.”
Also on the podium will be Pete McNeil (Adventure Pedlars) on riding the Highland 550, Greg May (Grit.CX) on riding the Tour Divide, and Ed Shoote from the We Love Mountains blog.
Tickets cost £20 per person covering the whole weekend, with under-16s going free. The festival is in association with the Brathay Trust, a charitable organisation which aims to inspire children and young people to make positive changes that last a lifetime. The event is being run on a not-for-profit basis, with any surplus funds reinvested into subsequent festivals, or donated to charity.
Confirmed supporters include Bombtrack Bikes, Exped, Halo Wheels, Kinesis, Ritchey, Light My Fire, Miss Grape, MSR, Ortlieb, Salsa, Shand, Surly, Smokestone Bikes, Thermarest and Wildcat Gear. Workshops will be run by these companies plus Adventure Pedlars, EDS Bikes, Bearbones Bikepacking, Backcountry Scotland, Charlie The Bikemonger, Ghyllside Cycles, Pannier.cc and athletes at the event.