It's local to me but we've never been as it clashed with other things.
Not sure what there is to do on site though for a casual visitor (we won't be doing any rides). Is there stuff for the not very interested in bikes (ie my wife and daughter). Don't want to spend £20 each to have seen it all in an hour.
Do you have to 'embrace' it to get the best from it?
I see Maserati are sponsors so it should be ideal for STW types! 😀
Ta!
I was wondering this myself. I saw adverts everywhere for it a couple of weeks ago when I stayed in Hope and was considering it for next year.
bump for the afternoon crowd!
A couple I know went last year.
They said total rubbish.
If you are rich and want to spend money, and be part of 'the scene', then it's great, normal folk will be disappointed they reckon.
mate went last year. said it was very expensive, and pretty rubbish.
fashion is expensive isn't it.
At least on previous occasions you could dive in to Bakewell if you got bored at Eroica - Friden is in the middle of nowhere and there's precisely nowt else to do.
I live locally and I never felt compelled to go.
At least on previous occasions you could dive in to Bakewell if you got bored at Eroica - Friden is in the middle of nowhere and there's precisely nowt else to do.
They've probably moved it to keep the visitors captive and not venture out for cheaper food.
Yes, my thought too when it was announced. Zero chance of me going now really, there's just not enough going on to warrant the cost (and I'm a local so transport is minimal).
In contrast to above, and despite terrible weather, my family and I really enjoyed it last year and we are returning this year.
I have some reservations about not being able to bale into Bakewell this time. I understand there was a bit of a falling out between Bakewell showground and Eroica over the reinstatement of the churned up grounds.
However the family ride was fun and the short ride was exciting - first time i have ever ridden in an organised event. I am trying at the medium ride this year.
I didn't think it was any more expensive than other festivals, plenty to look at including vintage bikes, live music and some great bars.
Be warned if you sign up you will be bombarded with emails every day.
I've never made it to the actual festival, and it clashes with another busy weekend this year.
Last year was a wash out - car parks were a bog and had to be closed so people couldn't park, a lot of people were upset.
New venue this year, so I don't know. There is a lot of live music, I expect a lot of expensive artisan food, drink and crafts, probably a lot of retro tat and pretentious moustache twirling, possibly vintage bikes and vehicles. There's a pub ride on the Friday night to the Royal Oak at Hurdlow.
I'd love to go to sample the atmosphere and see if it as "retro-Rapha" as I imagine it to be. Don't take it seriously, I guess, at which point only you will know if it is worth the money.
A couple of years ago I marshalled the ride on the Sunday, and it was one of the best days volunteering I've ever done - couple of thousand people out riding their bikes in a variety of costumes, enjoying fine local foods and ales at the feed stops. Was gutted I couldn't volunteer again this year as I'll be scaring myself senseless at the velodrome
I'm really not part of that "scene" at all, but I've been with my wife, who barely rides a bike, and her mate, who definitely doesn't ride bikes, and we all loved it. There's a steam powered fairground, good bands on (especially with Norman Jay playing this year) and it's all pretty good fun.
However, it is mostly just some shops in tents selling expensive bike tat and tweed. And while I was happy to pay £10 for that, with the option of mooching about Bakewell if it wasn't good, £20 for a day is way too much. We might go this year to see Norman Jay, but if you aren't that into him or ABC then I think it's overpriced. And the new venue is in the middle of absolute sodding nowhere, and if the weather's grim it's really bleak up there.
I'm working there, so its gonna be ace! tbf, it looks pretty good from the website and YouTube. maybe just get a day pass if you're not sure and ride the monsal trail as a plan b.
I've been tempted but couldn't justify the cost - iirc it was £60 last year just to ride your own bike around for a bit.
The venue change is a bad move IMO - as others have said, it's in the midlle of nothing and to repeat Luke's comment - if it's raining in Bakewell, it's a bit Meh - if it's raining at Friden, it will be miserable beyond comprehension.
For me, if I hadn't taken my camera last time I went, I'd have been bored after 20 minutes. Don't think I'll bother this year unless it's glorious sunshine and I have nothing better to do
i got turned away last year and told to park a mile away and walk down
there was plenty of parking available but they seemed to think my defender would get stuck in their field