Welcome to Velo Vision magazine, covering specialised bikes, cycling as transport and human power. It's a quarterly dose of cycle inspiration.
The current issue is Issue 17. The next issue is out early June 2005.
Subscribe now!
Velo Vision Forum: main page
or direct to latest topics
- Magazine:
- Information:
- Subscriptions:
- Free small ads
Search news story archive:
|
Back from Spokesfest - report and pictures
A new Penny Stack record, racing aplenty, special needs and a good time had by all... updated with new pics.
I missed Thursday's Cycling Barbeque and Friday's activities, arriving as I did Friday evening.
Saturday saw a 40-odd mile ride out to the south of Leicester - with a fine convoy of 20 or so cyclists on all sorts of machines:
Here we are negotiating one of those pesky barriers - many had been removed thanks to ongoing efforts from Leicester Spokes but a few remain...
Lunch was at a splendid stately home, Stainforth Hall, whose cafe opened specially for us (and served very fine pies):
That's co-organiser Simon looking back.
The tearoom was actually in another building to the right of that one. There was also an interesting motorcycle museum on site, with a few bicycles too. This one was definitely ahead of its time:
Any reader know what it is?
The ride back was fun and fast. Just as we got back the rain returned (we'd only had a few drops all day) and the by now considerably larger number of people at the campsite gathered in the Abbey Pumping Station building where free beer (and soft drinks) had been very thoughtfully provided by those wonderful Spokesfest organisers:
This above picture of organisers Roger (left) and Simon (right) courtesy of Jason Patient Photography
During a brief easing of the deluge we all made a trip out to the riverside cycle path, where a bridge was being named in honour of Bert Harris, a Leicester (racing) cycling hero of days gone by (more info here). Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me - if any reader took a pic and could send it please do, and I'll add it here. Then trips to local eateries, and more beer, rounded off the evening.
Sunday dawned bright and sunny, and remained so pretty much all day. Leicester's huge Abbey Park was hosting several activities. First of all I stopped by at the racetrack, which hosted British Human Power Club races:
That shows John Jermy's wooden low-racer in action.
There were also plenty of handcyclists racing:
and we were also treated to a rare sight - penny farthing racing (or ordinaries, high-wheelers, whatever): here's a group warming up:
and here's one in full flow:
A fine special-needs and utility cycling tryout area was being run by Spokesfest/Spokes, with Ipswich-based special needs organisation Bikeability and Bromakin Wheelchairs also bring machines and expert staff. This machine of theirs caught my eye:
The wheelchair unit can be attached very easily, thanks to a cunning lever system. There were a lot of well-thought out details on this, and other machines - of which more in next issue's Special Needs Buyer's Guide.
Finally, the Penny Stack. A splendid 131 high-wheelers were assembled in a long, long line - breaking all world records to date by some margin. It stood lovely and steady for the three minutes required for Guiness Book of Records inclusion.
Um, I must admit that just as I was composing the panorama shot of it all my camera battery expired, and my spare was in a pannier far away... so this is the best I have. Again, I'd be very grateful if any reader could email me pictures of the Stack - I'll add one here. Many thanks...
This one just in thanks to John Jermy of Xntrick Cycles:
Kudos as ever to co-organisers Roger and Simon for another splendid Spokesfest. Checkout their Cyclemagic website to see what they're also up to these days. And thanks to Rob & Carol Hague of Westcountry Recumbents for lifts...
Posted on 29 July 2003
Your comments ...| From: Ben - Kinetics ([email protected]) on 28 July 2003 |
| That bike looks like a Grand Turismo - built in 1924ish by Officine Sintesi of Turin. There's a picture of a drop-barred version in "Bicycles (Le Bicyclette)". |
| From: Steven Brandist (email) on 29 July 2003 |
Peter,
I think theres a problem with adding comments. There was more than 1 comment under this story yesterday. |
| From: peter Eland ([email protected]) on 29 July 2003 |
| You sure? The older story trailing the event just dropped off the front page listing, and that had several comments on it - click the 'older stories' link to find it. |
| From: Steven Brandist (email) on 29 July 2003 |
Sorry Peter. Got a bit confused. I thought the comments I'd seen were under this story, but they were on the last one!
Anyway... HEY! thats me (yellow top) on the top photo helping my Birdy 'fly' over the obstacles. That was certainly a good ride, with legendary people attending like your goodself, Rob Hague, John Jermy & Paul Stobbs (what a very nice man - he bought me a coffee and scone in the Abbey Park Tearoom don't you know! He also sold a Blue Moulton to my half-brother in Birmingham. And had a good go on the Cargobike on the Sunday and was impressed). Seamus was also on the ride, but he didn't buy me any cake. |
| From: Rob ([email protected]) on 30 July 2003 |
I dunno about legendary - infamous maybe - but if it made your weekend what the hell....
Now Seamus - he's legendary material!!!
An excellent ride and one cool tea shop setting... Thanks to the SpokesFest and BHPC race organisers for all their hard work - especially Phil for all the track preparation time!!!
Rob. |
| From: rob ([email protected]) on 30 July 2003 |
Hey Pete, that should read Stanford Hall. Stainforth Hall is the YHA hostel just north of Settle!!!
I blame all that free beer you drank on Saturday night. |
| From: Seamus ([email protected]) on 30 July 2003 |
Home for a couple of days before the Big Trip. Nice to meet Steve Brandist and be able to put a face to the name, such a nice chap.
On Terry Wogan's morning radio show, currently hosted by Richard Allinson, someone wanted to know why a bloke with a Pith Helmet was pushing a Pennyfarthing down a road this morning.
Just emailed them to tell them about Joff. |
| From: Seamus (etc) on 30 July 2003 |
Forgot to bribe Pete so there's no piccies of me.
It was grand do, bit of a food trip; pub lunches, two nights out for curry dinners and the barbeque on Thursday.
The Fly-Past was less impressive than previous years with an aeroplane towing a glider not a patch on last years hot-air balloons, the Lancaster or the airship at the first one.
The all-you-could-drink-free-beer on Saturday was a big improvement on the free bananas at the first event and even beat the free burger and a beer last year.
Think we'll be able to pressure Roger and Simon into doing another?
Belvoir Castle at the end of August. I'll be there, Jase too. |
| From: sue ([email protected]) on 31 July 2003 |
| I also had fun at Spokesfest, flinging the Conference bike around on Sunday. So nice to see so many smiling (and bewildered!) faces. Alas, on Tuesday I had the bright idea of taking my Mum out to Rutland Water on our bikes for a gentle pootle round. Result: badly bruised knees and scraped elbow for me and broken wrist and cut forehead for Mum, courtesy of a cattle grid. Bah, Humbug! |
| From: Seamus (etc) on 01 August 2003 |
| and I refilled a water bottle at Rob and Carol Hague's house. Playing on the net' on the ship 'cos it's cheaper than sitting in the bar. |
| From: Steven Brandist (email) on 01 August 2003 |
| I was wondering how you'd managed to find an internet connection near a ferry, but you're actually ON the ferry. Kinda coola don't you think everybody - have a nice holiday Seamus and we'll see you soon at Belvoir Castle Spokefesty kinda thingee. |
|
