York Cycle Festival 20 - 22nd June 2025

[Campag]

Dates for next year confirmed - 20th to 22nd June 2025. We'll be opening campsite bookings shortly, the weekend will include some new stuff as well as expanding on old favourites. Guided cycle rides; cycle jumble; inclusive cycling; grass track racing; retro Mountain bikes; veteran bikes; a variety of cycling clubs and associations; trade stands; catering and the wonderful double decker Yorkshire events bar.

[foxyrider]

Pretty sure i'll be there for the (mumble, mumble) th time, maybe i'll get to do my Dales and Moors tour this time!

[Campag]

Campsite bookings now open, as usual there's a discount if you book before 1st January:

https://yorkcyclefestival.org

[gom]

[bikepete]

Final call for earlybird campsite bookings!

The lowest possible prices for 2025 York Rally campsite pitches are available only until the end of 2024 (or maybe a few hours into 1st Jan 2025 , to give us a chance to wake up and update the online shop!)

To book at the earlybird rates, please just visit the online booking page:

https://yorkrally.org/visitor-informati ... -bookings/

[bikepete]

Click here for a wide-ranging update on this year's event, including:

• Two days of grasstrack racing!

• Two days of cycle jumbles!

• More than 40 traders and exhibitors so far!

• all in the 80th year of the York Rally!

Plus, two great ways to support the event!

• Help us distribute our 2025 flyers

• Join the Friends of York Cycle Festival supporters' club!

[bikepete]

It's just a month to go until the 2025 York Cycle Rally & Festival, which takes place on the 20-22 June, as the 80th anniversary event since the first York Rally in 1945....

We've masses of news to update you on as the event comes together, so I'll keep this update brief!

Rides: We now have over 20 guided rides listed, with a fantastic set of ride leaders drawn from cycling clubs near and far. Huge thanks to all who volunteered to lead rides, from York Greenways, Dronfield Clarion CC, the RSF, Knaresborough CC, York Rouleurs CC, Scarborough Clarion CC, Broadland Clarion CC, Seacroft Wheelers CC, York Wednesday Wheelers and North Yorkshire CTC Thirsk Ladies Section, and from our own event organising team!

Huge trade show! We've masses of exhibitors and traders booked in - see the current exhibitor list here! 

Boosted kids activites: Apex Cycle Coaching will be back with free skills sessions for U16s and this year they are joined by Focus Rides, who bring spectacular airbag jumps and balance bike racing for the little ones! Read more on kids'activities here!

More club and bike displays! Another brilliant turnout is expected, with cycling clubs from across the country and across the spectrum of cycling... And alongside the traditional displays of historic and classic cycles we now have BMX, Old Skool and Raleigh Chopper & Grifter displays  - plus the RetroBike Show and Shine celebrating the best in show... See the clubs and displays list here!

Live music bands are confirmed! We welcome back the Sonics, Linda J and Bargestra...

Catering confirmed - we'll again have a great range of food and drink, including the Big Red Bus Bar! 

The show programme is off to print shortly! Buy yours for full show details as you come in...

That's on top of the news we had with the last update: we have

Two days of grasstrack racing with the National Clarion Cycling Club. The plan is for racing on Saturday from 1pm and Sunday from noon - a mixture of Seniors/Youths (Fixed Wheel) and Youth Freewheel.

Two days of cycle jumbles on Saturday 2 to 6 pm and Sunday morning 10 am to 2 pm. Tables are booking fast - see here to book!

And as ever the friendy campsite and facilities on the Knavesmire!

The combined organising teams of the York Rally, Retrobike Show and National Clarion CC Summer Meet are working hard to make the event the best it can be, not least to secure its financial future, as you can read here.

Many thanks especially to all who have booked campsite pitches despite the price rises we have very reluctantly implemented - the numbers booked so far have held up extremely well.

If you are able to book for 2025 and have not yet done so, please do visit the online booking page and book a campsite pitch by the 13th June - thank you! 

[bikepacker]

The Rally email came last night as a reminder and as I really want to attend, I had to make a decision.

Due age and other problems I knew since last year it would not be by cycle-camping so I considered all other options. Unfortunately, I have come to the conclusion that my only real option is to attend as a day visitor and stay at a local hotel. To that end this morning I have booked a room at a Travelodge 6 miles from the racecourse and will cycle in on Saturday and Sunday.

I shall miss camping on the site but still look forward to seeing any of you that are there.

[bikepete]

We’re just 11 days away from the 2025 York Cycle Rally & Festival! We can’t wait to welcome you once again on the Knavesmire on the 20-22 June, for the 80th anniversary event since the very first York Rally in 1945.

As we close in on the event a few last updates:

Weather outlook: looking good!

Although even the 10-day forecast below doesn’t quite reach the weekend, it looks to be set fair!


Advance campsite bookings closing soon!

Do please book your campsite pitch in advance if you can! Advance bookings close on Friday this week!

You are of course very welcome to turn up on the day without a booking (we will not run out of space!), but it will be slightly more expensive and we can’t allocate you a pitch alongside your friends or clubmates.

If you are able to book in advance for 2025 and have not yet done so, please do visit the online booking page to book a campsite pitch by the 13th June (i.e. this Friday) – thank you!

More updates!

• The 32-page, full colour show programme is off to print! Campers get a copy for free, or buy one as you come in or at the Info Hub!
• One catering update came just too late for the show programme – there will be Indian street food from Desi Pavilion and they will be open offering breakfasts on Saturday, Sunday and Monday! There’s a wide selection of other caterers on site, too.
• We’ve a superb turn-out of traders and club displays, we think a record for recent years. We even have an exhibitor coming over from the Netherlands with a truck-load of parts for classic and retro bike collectors and restorers…
• New this year – an expanded Show and Shine from Retrobike! All pre-2000 bikes are welcome to enter, any style or category! Entries just £1, from 9am on Sunday morning at the Retrobike stand. Trophies and rosettes await the winners… details here!
• Also new this year: more for children and young riders! Focus Rides bring balance bike racing and an airbag jumps set-up! And Apex Cycle Coaching return with U16s skills sessions. Both should be superb fun – for each, there’s just a small fee to participate to cover costs and insurance.
• And per previous updates, there’s two days of cycle jumbles, music, talks, a huge programme of led rides, two days of grasstrack racing, and much more!

And finally

With just a final reminder for advance campsite bookings (closing Friday!), we can’t wait to see everyone on the Knavesmire again in 2025 for another York Cycle Rally and Festival!

Until then, tailwinds and safe cycling!

The all-volunteer York Cycle Rally & Festival organising team

[bikepete]

Update with full working links here:

https://yorkrally.org/2025/06/17/york-c ... ays-to-go/

The 2025 York Cycle Rally & Festival is just days away – gates open at 4pm on the 20-22 June, for the 80th anniversary event since the very first York Rally in 1945!

As we close in on the event a few last updates:

Weather – dry and hot!
Since our last email the forecast has just got better and better! We’re now expecting to enjoy a super warm, sunny weekend. We want everyone to stay safe in the sunshine of course – temperatures could be up to about 30 degrees – so please do bring hats, shades and suncream, and take extra care during the event to keep well hydrated:



More final updates!

• A reminder that the roadway along the enclosure fence will be closed to motor traffic for most of the day during Saturday and Sunday – this is to keep pedestrians and riders safe. There will be a diversion route through the campsite. At the very busiest periods when rides are departing on Saturday and Sunday mornings we will also have to limit motor vehicle movements across the horse racing track at the main entrance to site – please try to avoid these times and if you must go in or out by car, please be patient and follow the volunteer marshall’s instructions.

• Please check the Rides page for the latest on the led rides programme! We have for the first time had to limit numbers on rides – but thanks to all of our volunteer ride leaders, we now have more rides, so hope there will still be spaces for everyone! Please sign up for rides in advance, at the Info Hub.

• The organisers for the two Audax rides starting at the event would like to remind anyone intending to ride either the York Rally 100k or 400k Summertime Blues rides to please enter online via Audax UK – but there will also be some entries available on the day (at the Info Hub) for the 100k. There’s also a talk about Audax and long-distance cycling from Laura Massey-Pugh on Saturday…

• Entries are invited for the grasstrack racing! Organised by the National Clarion Cycling Club, this two day event (Saturday and Sunday) on the famous York Knavesmire will be for Seniors, Juniors, Youth and Freewheel riders (under 16’s), male and female including Sprint, Handicap and Endurance races for two full afternoons of grass track action! With apologies for the delay, entries are now live via British Cycling. Online entries will be open until Thursday 9pm and there will be entries on the day, too.

• For children: Don’t forget to bring your child’s balance bike (and your child!) if they would like to join the Focus Ridesbalance bike racing! And for those aleady pedalling, Apex Cycle Coaching return with U16s skills sessions, which you can book to join on the day. Both should be superb fun – for each, there’s just a small fee to participate to cover costs and insurance.

• Extra details for the Show and Shine from head judge Chris Longbone: “Entries are welcome from all Festival visitors for the Show and Shine! Bring your best retro bike… There are rosettes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in pre and post year 2000 mountain and road bikes and retro BMX, and trophies for 1st place.There will also be a category for specials such as recumbents, trikes and bikes that ain’t too usual! Judging format will be focused on completed bikes, how clean, how period they are, how well presented and the attention to detail, and amongst other things…are they cool? Come see me at the Retrobike stand to register and get a little sticker for the bike (masking tape with a number) from 9am Sunday and before 10am. There’s a £1 entry fee which pays for the rosettes etc. You will need to bring your own stand and lock. Judging will take place from 10 till 11ish and results 12.30 after a brew and general agreement with all the judges. If you want to be a judge, please just ask me!”

• Many thanks to the local York Press for this excellent article telling the people of York about the upcoming event. We’ve also already recorded interviews with some local TV and radio, so are hoping for a good local turnout!

We can’t wait to see everyone on the Knavesmire again in just a few days for another York Cycle Rally and Festival!

Until then, tailwinds and safe cycling!

The all-volunteer York Cycle Rally & Festival organising team