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SOUTH LAKES BIKE FEST

The South Lakes Bike Fest will be celebrating everything great about riding in the mountains. New for 2018, there will be bikepacking, gravel, XC, all-mountain and family rides going out over the weekend as well as demo bikes to try and MTB skills coaching sessions running.

The weekend kicks off on Friday evening with rides heading out into the hills from the Eagle and Child pub in Staveley. On Saturday there’ll be an 80 mile gravel ride, a 50 mile bikepacking route taking in some great vistas and cafes plus a couple of very hilly MTB routes and much, much more.

Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery will be bringing the beer for the weekend, WHEELBASE and Alpkit will be bringing some demo bikes and equipment to try out and there’ll be wood-fired pizzas as well as fine coffee and cakes to enjoy. Trailhum will be offering free MTB skills session for all abilities over the course of the weekend.

There is camping available for the weekend which opens on Thursday with a £15 fee for staying the whole weekend, with under 16’s staying for free with a paying adult. Tickets are available to buy online now.

Weekend schedule:

Friday

6.30pm – Sam Houghton Ride, outside Eagle & Child – drinks on route and post ride curry included with £10 entry fee.

6.30pm – mass start 50 mile Bike Packing route in the Lakes, GPX route will be provided.

There will be coffee and pizza served at the campsite marquee.

Saturday

9.30am – 80 mile gravel ride departs, GPX route will be provided.

From 10am – 3 all-mountain routes. GPX routes provided and maps are available (at a cost) (Nan Bield / Garburn / High Street)

From 10am – 3 Cross Country routes depart (none official guide Longsleddle / Garburn and 3 Rivers / Full Sam Houghton). GPX routes will be provided.

From 10am – Family route Brow Foot Lane, down 3 Rivers.

On Saturday there will be Little Rippers coaching as well as skills coaching with Lucy Allan, Alpkit and Trail Hump.

Kirkby Lonsdale Brewery will be running a bar from 2pm, serving a fine selection of locally brewed beers. There will be music from 5pm and wood-fired pizza served from 7.30pm.