The Big Bike Bash

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BY: Louise Robinson

Published: 21st August, 2012

Have you ever spent a weekend at Bontrager 24:12 and thought to yourself "I would have really enjoyed that if only there wasn't so much riding involved" well if you have, the Big Bike Bash is for you. A weekend festival of biking with the emphasis on festival.

This is the fourth year of the Big Bike Bash and I have taken the family every year since the start. What started as a mishmash of cycling events run on a "wish and a prayer" has become a well organised (well, pretty much) festival with something for everyone. This year there were XC races for everyone from race whippets to first timers, night races, short course eliminators, wheelie , foot down, and track stand competitions, chain free races, tag-along races, races on inappropriate bikes,  and a lake jump. And all the same for the kids as well as the grownups. None of it is terribly serious and there is no official timing but the XC course would be good enough to be used for a local series and the generosity of sponsors guarantees some great prizes.

 Also, free use of the pump track, gravity track and Shoretrax. And then if you needed a break from bikes, there was pedalos, climbing, archery, canoeing, a craft tent, face painting, a beer tent, live music, and hay bales. Oh, and it's all for charity.

This is not so much a write up of an event as a montage of people enjoying themselves.

 

Enjoying the Shoretrax

Squirting the racers is actively encouraged

The next olympic generation getting out on their bikes

Lake jumping - belly flop ahoy!

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Lining up for the night race

 

More lake jumping

 

 

 

The short course race - glad I have super narrow bars

Inappropiate bike race - 20er faster than 29er.

Gotta get some of this in the garden!

 

No one is too young to race at the Big Bike Bash

 

The girls enjoying the craft tent - helments not mandatory but she wouldn't take it off!

 

 Climbing to the top of a telegraph pole

 

Chloe, loving the tag-along race.

 

There is much talk about Olympic legacy. This type of event is where Olympic champions are inspired. Everywhere you look kids were riding bikes, falling off bikes and getting back on bikes. It's all fun, there is no pressure and they all want to come back next year. Enough said.

 

Louise Robinson

XCracer

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