[Closed] Big Bike Bash 2011

Gutted I missed this. You'd think someone might have mentioned it on here in advance to let us know it was happening.

Fab wasn't it? My wife did her first ever race and came back with a massive grin on her face - brilliant!

Bar-cam video from the under14's race.

He never mentioned the crash!

Had a brilliant weekend. My rattly old Klein held up to a weekend of racing, my wife had fun and I even won a prize for binning it in the night race!
The short course XC was one of the funnest thyings I've take part in on a bike.

Looking forward to next year already, Ta to all involved and to all the lovely people I met.

(That band on Sat eve though- what was going on there? Proper odd....)

Hi Mattbee spoke to you a few times I was the fat guy on a Proflex 🙂

I loved seeing it from a riders POV rather than an organiser. Definatly the best event in the UK.

Hope I can make next year.

(That band on Sat eve though- what was going on there? Proper odd....

Agreed!

DJ on Friday night was great - wish he had been on all Sat evening! That 'band' were weird - and the projected images were not family friendly!! We normally stay up dancing, but that band sent us back to our tents.

I thought the band (Foul Geese iirc) were great! However, I only saw one song as I had to put my kid to bed 🙂

Ace weekend!

We all loved it, I even get the day off today because I managed to crash and can't rember it...... Fine now though, but if anyone saw a guy on a red 456 bin it somewhere between the north shore and the arena I'd like to know what happened!

I'm rather proud of how my boy was clearing the table tops on the gravity track, I couldn't do that when I was 8!

I'll see about some photos later when I've down loaded them.

Thanks to all the guys that organise this event, and I'll be there next year!

The bands were better last year, however my son did his bit for the entertainment with his Poi, thanks to Elfin for putting him on the truck roof!

Hey Harry, that was me and Elfin (+1 other) that found you crashed after your bit on the north shore..
I think you just over shot the drop. Landed on your front wheel you said!

No photos yet??

Ok then, another vid clip, from my boy on the gravity track. Where he left most of the skin from his knees and elbows.

(no sound as it was just crackling)

No photos yet??

Too busy doing stuff! 😀

Here's one of first lap of Short Track

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We had a great time. Due to a combination of arriving late on Saturday and mechanical issues I never actually entered any events but did manage half a lap of the xc course (very slowly with no brakes) and the family had a great time regardless. petriboy Jr#1 made more progress on his Rothan than in the past 6 months - must have been watching all the bigger boys on theirs. I'm sure the total output of Islabikes manufacturing was on site!!
The bullheart ale was great, food was good and the bands (except the Saturday night weirdness) were good too. Lots of friendly people (loads of people asking about the bell tent I really ought to be on commission) and I think I actually spoke to Elfin whilst watching the lake jump.
Cheers to WCA and the team for a great weekend (especially the wee fife lad for doing a deal on a jersey and water bottle) we'll be there next year for sure.

I will try and put our photos up tonight. Here is one of Lydon Dez...
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+ my knee 🙂

Great weekend - much beer and riding made for a great time.

Really good to catch up with an old friend who I now know is Mattbee on here! Hi Matt.

The usual top class prizes and improving organisation and good crowd - make this is a top weekend away!

Jolly Well done to Nick and the team for organising and also to all who took part and made it such fun in great company!

Looking forward to next years event!

Fantastic weekend, my kids loved it and mrsnacho even did a lap of the XC course (she's a roadie and doesn't like riding through mud 😆 but she said she'll come back and do it again next year!)
Beer was great and again we met some lovely people. Mattbee I think I was chatting with you at the prizgiving after they gave you your prize - the joystick - which I think cheered you up immensely.
We will definatley be back again next year, this time with maybe a few more friends. Thanks to Nick et al for organising a great event. I wonder how many people I spoke to that are on here but use their real not forum names!

Well I had a great day on Saturday.

Entered my first ever races...and won one!

I will now wear my rainbow stripes with pride whenever I eat malt loaf!

Cracking weekend. Rumour has it that it might be even more special next year. Loved the 'No Foot' event. As the numbers reduced it became a sort of 'chess on bikes'. Doing my first ever lake jump was a scary thing but after my ten year old had shown me the way there was no bottling it.

Rumour has it that it might be even more special next year

Does anyone know where to get or have the XC race results?

nacho if you didnt come 1st 2nd or 3rd then you didnt win a prize. If you want to get race times maybe you missed the idea/ethos of the Big Bike Bash.

Clink, someone had an idea about combining it with another event and the owners of the site are keen to do anything that increases their profile. That's about as far as it went but there's certainly plenty of potential although everyone's aware that the event could be spoiled by getting too big.
Personally I think the venue could work very well for a singlespeed event. SSEC13?

We (me, wife, 6 year old & 2 year old) all had a great time. This was the 3rd BBB we have been to, and probably the best so far.

Good to see the legacy the previous events have left with the new pump track and gravity track. I can't think of any other event I have been to where something really positive has been created from the proceeds.

The highlights for the kids were the bales of hay, they loved them. I think I might buy them some for Christmas! My daughter really liked the craft tent too.

Great to see Shortcut on the top step of the podium, something those who know him thought we would never see. 😀

The xc course was interesting with the ever changing ditches and comedy boggy bits. We had a few novice riders in our group and they had a go at the 1 lap races and seemed to enjoy it, yet it was still challenging for more experienced riders.

Well done Nick and Louis (and everyone else who helped) for putting on a superb event.

So what is the date for next year?

Personally I think the venue could work very well for a singlespeed event. SSEC13?

Bloody good idea....

Thanks for a great weekend, folks, I really enjoyed meself.
I'll be back next year with the wife and maybe a couple of kids.

Official gallery is up http://www.mayafiddlerphotography.com/portfolio213764.html

just got back. Knackered.

2012 event is the weekend before the bank holiday (25th/26th?)

There were a couple of suggested additions for us to review but i might encourage them to have a CCC, DDD etc rather than lose what makes BBB special.
thanks to all who came and made the event. I found a field, charged you to ride around it and you gave me a great party weekend.

Thanks.

A proper 'unofficial' email will go out once I have had a bath and a beer.

Soma_Rich look up pictures Saturday AM168, 172, 178, 28, 29, 41 and 42

soma rich - I know I didn't win a prize, happily I didn't miss the ethos at all, just curious to know how my time was thanks! 😕
jason - I have two (4 yr old girl 3 yr old boy) and they were the same - loved the bales and craft tent, mrs nacho is going looking for beads on flea bay (oh they rode their bikes/scooty bike loads as well - just fantastic great to see so many kids riding)

Only 11 bales of straw were destroyed in the making of countless castles, dens, boats and walls.

The bales were put there by mistake because no-one was sure where they were wanted. I said they were for seating near the bar but by that time 20 kids were climbing on them.

Best mistake of the weekend. Definitely back again next year.

Looks like a cracking event, shame I missed it, but there's always next year.

Yes, we both really enjoyed BBB this year, the vibe was perfect and having tried rain last year, I can confirm it's better when sunny!

I was talking to one of the orgainising team (Sorry I was drunk and I don't remember his name) and he asked me what I thought.... My thoughts were that it was just orgainised enough... Make it too slick and too perfect and it would knock the character out of the event. Stuff happened nearly on time, prizes were great, WCA soaked everyone, Matt got heckled, everyone drank too much, and there was something for EVERYONE! Brilliant, just brilliant.
And to see the pump/gravity track as the legacy of the last 2 BBBs was ace. That's what it's about.

We will be back next year, 100% sure 🙂

That 'band' were weird - and the projected images were not family friendly!! We normally stay up dancing, but that band sent us back to our tents

Yes. They were, well, crap. I think their set got cut short.... There was a big cheer when they said that!
Anyway, the band AFTER them 'Black Circles' were brilliant. I know about 1/2 the crowd had cleared off due to the other lot, but you missed a great performance, and the 2 DJs after them were great too, just 2 guys having fun playing records and mixing/scratching. Top stuff.

I'm now a Black Circles fan:

Best mistake of the weekend.

Putting it back into bales wasn't as much fun.!

Excellent weekend. Weather was spot on, the course was great and the mud really gave it something extra.

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Oh, 2 singles from Black Circles on iTunes..... 🙂

My first BBB and I could only make the Saturday. The event has a great vibe and size, beeeeeer, fantastic for kids, free camping. We'll be back. Well done to Nick and the team.

Personally I think the venue could work very well for a singlespeed event. SSEC13?

Bloody good idea....

judging by SSEC2010 you have to win the right to host and that should have been done at SSEC2011

💡 great venue for a CX race though, i mean a "proper" one built around Nicks rule book, beer, fancy dress, technical course etc 💡

brokensoul - [i]I'll be back next year with the wife and maybe a couple of kids[/i]

You will have to crack on to pop two out in the next twelve months!

My wife's asked if anyone who was filming my boy on Nick's truck with the light up poi on saturday night could e-mail us a copy as we didn't get it on film.

e-mail in profile.

Thanks.

Another first timer to the BBB. Both my wife & I had a great time.

Here are a few pics

North meets sarf

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we knew it wouldn't last - Sarf meets fist pie

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Getting the lake jump flat ramp in place - brrrr

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The wooden bridge in the woods

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Elfin riding a big boys bike

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Peter Poddy on the drag race

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the final of the drag race won by PP (again)

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The winner of the malt loaf eating race

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the final of the ladies drag race

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the first pint in the 'pint to pint' race

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the second pint in the 'pint to pint' race

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the hay bales playground

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the start of the 'no foot down' event

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the 'no foot down' area getting smaller

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a future stunt rider

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Nick, there's a couple of nephews with their name down already.
😀

It does look superb. When "the boy" is big enough we'll come down and have a slice.

Yeah. I must emphasise wot Mr Bacon just posted:

I won the drag race. As in "was fastest" and "nobody beat me"

And that's the 2nd time I've won it

I rock.

That's official.

Harry turtle

I have got a couple of vids of your nipper on the truck. Not got a decent tinternet signal at the moment but will email you tomorrow.

Still on site now.

Got back an hour ago from taking my 7 year old niece for her first night ride!

She only really learnt to ride a bike last Christmas but has absolutely loved BBB. My non riding wife and 2 year old daughter have had great weekend to.

Thank you loads to Nick and the team behind the event, will be putting next year in the diary...

Stan

I won the drag race. As in "was fastest" and "nobody beat me"

And that's the 2nd time I've won it

I rock.

That's official.

😀 I think that's the race I won the first year (but it was up to barrel and back?). I'll race you for it next year!

Mine are uploaded now.
Album - https://picasaweb.google.com/dezb99/BigBikeBash201102?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Some Pics:
Trackstand!
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Chopper!
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Mud!
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Lycra!
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Shore!
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Backflip!
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http://www.pinkbike.com/video/213737/

Check out some of the other Vidz. Couple of good ones for the lake jump

Likin' them videos!

Having said to a bunch of people (some of whom came a reasonable distance), "we're doing this, want to come along?" I was glad it turned out as ace as it did 🙂 Haybales of WIN, cool course, general relaxedness and the ability to kind of do things or not as the mood took you. Oh, and splendid beer, of course.

North meets sarf

Then, right:

We knew it wouldn't last - Sarf meets fist pie

😆

He's a big feller is that Ton, and no, I'm not just far away! Lovely bloke, lovely family. Pleasure to meet him, and many others too.

Fantastic weekend, such a great chilled out atmosphere, the perfect place for a little urban Elf to relax in the fresh country air...

Seeing the joy and happiness on so many little (and big) kids' faces makes it all worthwhile. And to see the BBB legacy in the Pump/Gravity/Northshore tracks is brilliant.

As for pics; the photographer lass, Maya, worked tirelessly all weekend, she was just everywhere! Some cracking pics; please visit her site, buy pics, as a percentage goes to the UK Youth charity as well.

http://www.mayafiddlerphotography.com/portfolio213764.html
/p>

The best bikes bands and beer event in the country. By far.

Well, as a first time helper, I can confirm that it was a brill week! (just got home now!)

Nice to meet loads of you.... 😀

I will be back next year!

If anyone missed out on the merchendising then check this thread - http://www.singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/big-bike-bash-t-shirts-and-water-bottles

Here Elfin, do you reckon that combined gallery will ever happen?

Just got off the phone with him.

we are going to try and get a gallery page of official and unofficial pictures up there.

not sure of the best way to do it yet.

You could start a BBB photo thread on here purely for pics and links to pics.

er.. I did. This one!

No-one has even viewed my pics, so dunno why I bleedin bother 😉

I have and they are very good.

Why thank you 🙂

BBB2012 - Date announced already!!!

18th / 19th August 2012

im there!

Woo Hoo!

get in!!

When can we book a hut? 🙂

Huts and Teepees can be booked now directly with Avon Tyrrell. You can use the contact details from the current website.

I am going to try and get a stop-gap webite update to allow you to buy the BBB tickets in the next week or so.

I will be email details to people who came this year directly as I wouldn't like to promote the event on this forum 😉

The date for next year is also the weekend before the airshow, so traffic won't be as bad, and if planes and things float your boat, it might be worth extending your trip.

Worth mentioning that you can stay at Avon Tyrrell for the week before or after as it is a permanent camp site.

Forgot to tell Ton and he thought he had to leave on Sunday. He ended up in another more expensive camp site just down the road.

Extra nights need booking directly with Avon Tyrrell but make sure you tell them you are attending the BBB

We're still here - along with a few 4yr olds who keep saying "BIG BIKE BASH" ! so they're still impressed.

And... If you are staying longer, or arriving earlier, and bunch of us can show you round some local 'cycle routes' 😉

We spend most of our lives just out there!

Well our 3rd BBB and as everyone has said what a cracker. Thanks to Nick and his extended family and also to Louis and the Avon Tyrrell crew for all the hard work they put in to make it happen. Have to agree that the live bands were the only thing that was not as good as previous events but a great weekend none the less.

Big respect to this guy...

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who wiped out on his run in to the lake jump ramp but just got up and went again to produce this fine effort...

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Here is a link to the photos my daughter and I took...[url= http://www.flickr.com/photos/31852911@N07/sets/72157627492809716/ ] BBB 2011 on Flickr[/url]

Here Elfin, do you reckon that combined gallery will ever happen?

Yes, waiting to hear back from Maya, and I understand Nick is sending out an email to all those who bought tickets, to send in links to their Flickr etc pages, so's I can go through them and pick the best ones. Might even be a prize for the best pic (I shall be judging them!), you never know.

Already some on here that are contenders!

Might be worthwhile getting yer tickets booked early, as there is a max limit on numbers, and it's very possible they may be sold out next year.

Muke - Can I send those pics to the guy. He doesn't own a bike. Has never ridden a bike properly but lost a bet in the bar on Saturday. Brilliant timing on the first shot.

Thanks for all the positive comments. A few things to learn from/do differently/think about etc;
position of music tent,
decent bands (well one let it down and drove people off) to get people up there dancing etc,
smooth and properly angled run up to lake jump. All easily solvable.
More of a dilemma - getting approaches by certain big names/companies now so thinking caps on this autumn how best to play it, perhaps separate event(s) as it would be a shame to lose the slightly chaotic/family friendly appeal of the BBB.

Apologies for Big Maggy not being able to make it, sends his apologies, but great to see Grant Chopper Fielder there. Should know amount raised by mid-September, and again, UK Youth will put it back into cycling facilities/activities for young people.
Cheers

[i]He doesn't own a bike. Has never ridden a bike properly but lost a bet in the bar on Saturday[/i]

Superb!!

A few things to learn from/do differently/think about etc;

The food.

Looking at the pictures there are some folks who don't fit into the racing snake category and a decent portion would certainly not go a miss, myself included. Plus a bit more variety. I found myself cracking out the camp stove at the camp site, something I have not done before at the BBB.

A few things to learn from/do differently/think about etc

It's a fab event. 😀 If it gets too much bigger it will lose it's appeal - but you seem aware of that.

The food we eat (on Sunday) was great - but we fed ourselves in campsite most of weekend due to cost (not that food was expensive - but food for 3 families for a weekend isn't cheap!).

Keep the coffee man - wife wouldn't come otherwise!!

Music - difficult - it needs to be accessible and fun. Good luck with that one. The DJ on Friday (and on Sat?) with decks was GREAT.

And you need more toilets and showers to cope with that number of people (particularly families) - but that's a campsite not BBB issue.

[i] Can I send those pics to the guy ?[/i]

Of course, no prob.

A few things to learn from/do differently/think about etc;

Well I and many others thought this year was the best so far; just the right balance between professionalism and chaos. What needs to work, does, everything else Nick just wings it, and it seems to come off well. Stuff like the impromptu kids' pyjama race for example.

Would be nice if Brighton Big Dog try to avoid clashing with us, as it's better for both events if they're on separate weekends. Shame the Bournemouth Airshow has bin shifted to two weeks after though.

Cheaper beer please. I think fifty pence a pint is more than enough to pay...

BBB came of age this year I think. Great to see what was once a party at WCA's house has turned into a party at a great venue with fantastic facilities.

Sorry, I may be biased, but BBB is far better than Mountain Mayhem for someone like me, who just wants to chill out, ride me bike, listen to choonz, drink beer and have FUN!

Keep the feed back coming. We are having a lessons learned and beer drinking session towards the end of September to make sure the event keeps improving. Don't worry though, while I am still involved there will be chaos.

We are keeping the ticket prices and the limit on numbers in place.

This is the first time food was done by Avon Tyrrell did the food. Last two times it was done by MrsWCA friend but it cost her money each year and she couldn't afford it this year.

Music - we were thinking more cover band and less original but with a spread across genres. I know no-one likes covers on principle but they help keep people dancing and drinking.

Coffee man is already booked. I NEED his espressos to get me through the week. 5 hours sleep for 5 nights requires good coffee.

Toilets - point noted. Amnyone else felt under catered for? We had the same number as last year.

Showers - The green block of showers had a fault so no hot water which may have made an issue.

Will monitor this thread for feedback. Please post ideas for new stuff too. We will read it and may well ignore it but at least you can feel involved 😉

The website will be updated asap to include a comments/feedback section, and we'll try to include a FAQ section for those, erm, Frequently Asked Questions such as 'can I bring my dog', or 'is there a likelihood of contracting Dysentery if I do the Lake Jump', etc...

Thing is though, here will always be minor niggles no matter what. Impossible to iron out [i]all[/i] the little issues really. Personally I think it was a tremendous achievement by everyone who was involved in the organisation and helping out and that, to make it works so well. You had people like Moses off here, who haddunt planned to be involved, but ended up coaching people on the Gravity and Pump Tracks. That's what BBB's all about, just getting involved and enjoying it. a proper family atmosphere where no-one need feel left out.