Big Bike Bash 2012

Next year’s Big Bike Bash mountain bike festival will take place on the weekend of the 18th – 19th August at the charity UK Youth’s headquarters, the Avon Tyrrell Activity Centre in the New Forest. We’ve heard from the organisers that they’re hoping to make it bigger and better than before

So, seeing as we’re currently filling out our year planner for next year (you’re bound to have one on your Christmas list, aren’t you?) you might as well stick it in there if you’re going to be around and fancy a weekend of fun times.

Here’s a bit more about the event from the organisers:

The Big Bike Bash is a celebration of all things mountain biking, 500 riders and their families attended the event in 2011, then in its 3rd year. Grant Fielder opened the new jump track facilities. The event was a huge success, and raised £10,000 for the country’s leading youth work charity, UK Youth, which helps disadvantaged young people across the UK. The money raised is going into further off-road bike tracks and trail facilities for young people at Avon Tyrrell, building on previous events’ successes.

The Big Bike Bash 2012 will be bigger and better with more to see and do for the whole family, aimed at both the keen mountain biker and the happy amateur with events for every level of rider, including under-12s. The cross-country racecourse made up of 3.5 miles of sweet, twisty single-track, river-crossings, boardwalk, gravity and pump tracks, and the events unique Lake Jump proved to be massive hits last year! Avon Tyrrell, UK Youth’s New Forest headquarters, provides the perfect setting and it is the perfect festival for the whole family, with two days of live music and DJ’s, a real ale and cider festival and many special activities to keep the kids entertained.

As with this year, the Big Bike Bash’s top quality facilities include on-site camping areas, loos, showers, bike doctors and trade areas. Ticket prices for this year’s event are kept the same at £40 per adult and £20 for under 18’s for those who want to take part in any of the competitions and for those that simply want to soak up the festival’s atmosphere, enjoy the music and beer festival, tickets are £10. Under 12’s tickets cost 1p – all ticket prices include camping.

Here are a few of next year’s events:

New pump track, new gravity track….As opened by Grant Fielder at the 2011 event will have even more stuff happening.
Adult Sprint XC – XC Race – 1 Lap, 2 Lap, 3 Lap, Race Whippet (swimming trunks optional)
Youth XC – Too grown up for the Children’s Challenge but can’t face the main race? Under 18s only
Night Race – Strictly over 18 only
Children’s Challenge – Now they can pedal, they can race
Pedal Free Play Race – No pedals, no problem. A push along only track with no start and no finish
Drag Race – Straight race from a standing start, also known as the chain snapper!
Tyre Drag – Small tyres for small people, big tyres for big people. Makes it more equal.
Trailer Racing
Track Stand – If you are too good we will start pushing
Wheelie Competition – How far along the drag track can you keep your wheel off the ground?
Trailer Bike Challenge – Last year’s hottest competition. No trading children for weight advantage.
Bunny Hop – How high can you fly?
Bike Limbo – How low can you go?
Dual Slalom – Speed or control?
Lake Jump – You, a bike, a ramp and a lake. Work it out.

And here’s a bit from the always entertaining Singletrack forum:

http://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/big-bike-bash-2011

Event website: www.bigbikebash.co.uk