The trend for giving a festival-feel to endurance sport events continues, as the Early Riser Festival of Cycling and Music launches in the UK in 2013.
According to the event organiser, Cyclofanatic, the Early Riser Festival is the first of its kind to hit the UK. ‘Combining the great outdoors, cycling and a stellar line-up of music, it brings cyclists and music lovers their dream festival with fun for all the family.’ The Early Riser will take place on 3-4 August 2013 in the stunning location of Avon Tyrrell, in the New Forest National Park, Hampshire.
Cyclofanatic was founded in 2009 by Lee Reynolds. It started with The New Forest Rattler, which has become a key road cycling event on the ever expanding UK cyclosportive calendar. In 2011 the Meon Valley Riser was launched and is getting bigger each year. Reynolds has now decided to combine his passion and know-how of cycling events with music and has created the new Early Riser Festival in the UK, aimed at all the family.
The Early Riser Festival has it all, from a diverse band line-up to an assortment of cycling and children’s entertainment. Held in the grounds of Avon Tyrrell Outdoor Activity Centre, it is positioned as the perfect setting for a family-friendly festival and has first-class campsite facilities and activities for all ages, including zorbing, a climbing wall and a zipwire across the lake.
Sponsors
The Early Riser Festival of Cycling and Music has Chain Reaction Cycles as the official retail partner; UK Youth as the official charity partner; Torq as the official sports nutrition; and Skoda as official vehicle supplier. The Early Riser Festival of Cycling and Music is also supporting Action Cancer.
Festival organiser, Lee Reynolds, said “This is a completely new festival format for cyclists of all abilities, interests and experience. It’s a weekend for all the family with something for everyone, from children’s entertainment, to a superb range of music acts, to some amazing cycling.
The venue is beautiful and will make the perfect backdrop for an idyllic weekend of cycling, music, food, drink and fun for all the family.”
The music programme includes the critically acclaimed Brit-Pop legends Dodgy and ‘special guests’ Sadie and the Hotheads, fronted by Elizabeth McGovern (Downton Abbey’s Lady Cora, Countess of Grantham). Big Boy Bloater – the man dubbed by Jools Holland as ‘one of the greatest blues men of our time’ – and many more top acts will take to the festival’s stages.
Pedal-powered Disco-in-the-Woods
For those who want to see how much pedal power it takes to keep a disco going, riders can saddle up and pedal their way through the night to help power the Disco-in-the-Woods, complete with a laser and light display and DJ turntables. The same goes for the pedal-powered cinema. And if a mobile phone battery runs out – a common festival conundrum – festival goers can jump on a bike and re-charge it.
Riding options
There’s something for every kind of cyclist: roadies can join in on one of three routes on The Early Riser Cyclosportive; and mountain bikers can compete in the Torq Short Track MTB Competition.
Shoretrax is setting up some of its mountain bike tracks in the surrounding woods for mountain bikers to have a play. For those new to cycling who may want a bit of tuition, Bikeability will be on hand. For those who want a real cycling challenge, Voodoo Unicycles will be there to teach festival-goers how to unicycle!
For the kids
Aiming to give ‘a perfect summer weekend for the outdoorsy family’, the festival has a range of activities for children of all ages. There’s a big top dedicated to children’s entertainment, where among other exciting acts, UK TV’s Cbeebies presenters Sid and Andy will be performing their live show on the Sunday.
Martyn Ashton et al
In addition to watching music and participating in cycling, the Animal Bike Tour will be at the festival giving revellers the chance to see some astonishing skills of control and balance from World Champion trail rider, Martyn Ashton (who can do some amazing things with a bike) and jump rider, Blake Samson.
There will also be a host of talks and seminars from celebrated members of the cycling and expedition communities, including award-winning adventurer and author, Jason Lewis – the man who pedalled around the world.
Weekend ticket £78
Saturday only £42
Sunday only £42
Kids tickets (12-16yrs)
Weekend ticket £42
Saturday only £26
Sunday only £26
Kids under 12 go free
