April newsletter                    

Only 3 weeks until the Festival kicks off with the Highland Perthshire Enduro in Dunkeld!  Have you booked your space?

With guided rides most days, children's fun days, a FREE downhill mountain bike taster evening, the Film Night AND the BIG Day there's something for everyone, get involved and book you tickets now!

FESTIVAL 2013

All spaces booking up fast! Click here for guided rides and FREE dh uplift evening tickets and here for the enduro.

Highland Perthshire Enduro : Saturday 4th May - Get your entries in soon to avoid disappointment!  Click here to enter.

The route takes in some great mtb trails over approx 49km, including 4 timed stages.  Expect plenty ups, downs, good views, rocks, roots and laughs!

Start time is 9.30am and final stage cut off not until 4.30pm.  Also, FREE mechanic pit area and pump track to keep you entertained in the car park!  PLUS the caterers cakes are awesome!

Top prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd including a MEGA goodie bag from Escape Route, a fork or shock service from Flotec Suspension and a canyoning experience from Dunolly Adventures!

Girls on Tour: (Sun 5th May 11am-approx 3pm) A relaxed ride

for women and girls with an experienced guide.  About 25 miles of flattish riding with lots of stops for chat, snacks, lunch and coffee.  Bring your own packed lunch and we will stop for coffee.  Meet 11am at Dunolly Adventures, Aberfeldy. To book click here.

 

Comrie Croft: (Tues 7th May 7pm) Strathearn Mountain Biking Club invite you join us for our annual BBQ Bike Ride at Comrie Croft Bike Trails. Basically a fun blast round some trails, followed by a sausage and burger fest. Rides will be led by qualified local experts, and there will be different levels of ride to cater for all abilities. Come and try out the skills park, or tackle our challenging hand built singletrack. Friendly, informal and fun.

 

Progression Bikes DH session: (Tues 7th May 6.30-dark) If you are new to downhill mtb this is for you!  FREE uplift, grab your mates and book now, limited spaces - Call Progression Bikes (07825 322 225).

 

Escape Route - Getting bikes back to nature: (Wed 8th May, 6.30pm) an exciting guided xc ride on some of Highland Perthshire's great natural trails.  To book click here.

 

Skinny Tyres - Tour of the Lochs: (Thurs 9th May 7-9pm) an evening guided road ride of approx 25 miles from Dunkeld.  Suitable for beginner/intermediate road riders with their own road bike (bike hire can be arranged at an additional cost).  To book click here.

 

Dunolly Adventures Open Evening with Pump track and BBQ: (Fri 10th May 3.30-7pm) Bouncy castles, free climbing, face painting and a FANTASTIC BIKE OBSTACLE course including  PUMP TRACK!  As well as all that, the Cycling Centre will be having a special discount evening, with many items on offer, and maintenance staff on hand to give you advice on looking after your bike!  In the background a hot BBQ will be sizzling away with Dunolly Burgers!

 

Film Night: (Friday 10th May, 8.30pm-10.30pm-ish, The Birks Cinema) - an evening of armchair cycling (well cinema seat technically).  Amateur and professional films sit side by side, showcasing great riding, great filming and great fun, with a few adventures thrown in for good measure.

The line up includes - an exciting presentation from 2 Scottish cyclists who cycled coast to coast in America, a Shetland adventure from round the world cyclist Alastair Humphreys, some blasting around local trails (mud and all), cycle touring the hard way in Nepal plus showing some young local filming talent and highlighting the Downhill MTB scene in Scotland.  It's an evening not to be missed!

TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE, £6.50 - http://www.birkscinema.co.uk/booktickets 

 

The BIG Day: (Sat 11th May 11-4pm) as it says on the tin this is the BIG Day!  A family, fun filled day of cycling to round up the week of activities.  This year there will be a whole host of entertainment from cycling display teams, demos, try-outs, shopping opportunities and much more!

ALL FESTIVAL DETAILS WILL BE UPDATED ON THE WEBSITE .  ALSO KEEP YOU EYES PEELED TO FACEBOOK/TWITTER FOR THE LATEST.

FESTIVAL/ETAPE - ACCOMMODATION

Have you booked your accomodation for the Festival and Etape Caledonia?  If you haven't already got somewhere to stay check out Cycle Highland Perthshire.

Also try these self catering options - 3 wonderful properties situated in a peaceful wooded area, with endless (on and off road) cycling routes from the doorstep and numerous wildlife around, yet only 2½ miles from the village of Dunkeld with its shops, pubs and cafes.

Osprey Cottage (ref 15885) has been converted to create a super holiday retreat with rugs on polished wooden floors upstairs in the living areas, and cosy bedrooms below.  Heather Croft (ref 26213) is a detached bungalow nearby, cleverly designed by the owners with lots of windows to maximize views of the surrounding countryside. The But ‘n’ Ben (ref 28139) is a charming converted barn for two. An ideal choice whatever the weather.   Secure cycle storage, bike washing hose, plenty of drying space for muddy shoes or wet clothing and a kettle at hand for that important cup of tea.
 
All properties: Bed linen and towels, shared 3-acre natural and wooded grounds with sitting-out area and furniture. Cycle storage. No smoking.  NB: Unfenced stream in grounds.
 
Best to check the Cottages4U web site (www.cottages4you.co.uk) first for availability and then 'phone us on 01350 727335 or e-mail " heatherblether@hotmail.co.uk"  to book.

PEDAL ON PARLIAMENT

Last year saw 3,000 cyclists pedal from the Edinburgh Meadows to the Scottish Parliament in a call for greater action by the government on safer cycling.  On Sunday 19th May Pedal on Parliament is happening again, to add your voice and show support go to http://pedalonparliament.org/ to find out how to take part in this event.

VOLUNTEERS

As always at this time of year we are looking for volunteers, whether you are able to offer a day on a hillside with a whistle, an afternoon at the BIG Day or another pair of hands on the questionnaires all help is greatly appreciated!  If you would like to help at an event then drop us an email.

In return for volunteering you would get an HPC t-shirt, entry into the event you are helping at (if appropriate), lunch if it's an all day thing and a free place on another event!

We looking forward to working with you soon!

 

SDA (Scottish Downhill series) Round 1: 20/21/04/13, Innerleithen.

Sportive Kinross: 27/04/13 - this already has a waiting list!

Highland Perthshire Enduro: 04/05/13 - Dunkeld.

Girls on Tour - relaxed guided road ride: 05/05/13, Aberfeldy.

Downhill MTB taster evening (FREE): 07/05/13, Dunkeld.

Escape Route-Back to nature (mtb natural trail riding): 08/05/13, Pitlochry.

Skinny Tyres-Tour of the Lochs (road ride): 09/05/13, Dunkeld.

Sportive Dunfermline: 19/05/12 - Dunfermline.

'Til next time, happy cycling.

The Highland Perthshire Cycling Team