Ten reasons why the GT Malverns classic should be on your festival bucket list
Longer days, warmer weather, music festivals and more time on the bike are some of the things that we all look forward to with each lap of the sun, but what if we told you that you could combine all of those things into one long weekend? For those at the back who have been living under a rock, the good news is that such an event exists and it’s called the GT Malverns classic, held over four days in Eastnor deer park, Ledbury, Herefordshire. The bad news is that it was held last week so you’re going to have to wait until next year to experience what we think is one of the best cycling festivals on the UK calendar. In case you haven’t heard about it, we have listed our top ten reasons why you need to visit next year.
Grass roots racing is the foundation of a successful sporting nation. At the GT Malverns classic, Kids can race from the age of two years old, with the best of the best making it through to the balance bike world championships. Seeing these nippers tearing up through the grass really is special, and with so many young’uns already being so competitive, you can see why Great Britain is such a powerhouse on the world stage of competitive cycling.
First and foremost, this is a festival which is built to accommodate your whole family, even your dogs! There is something for everyone, whether it be the balance bike racing, dual slalom racing, Ferris wheel, dodgems, the slackline challenge, watching the dirt wars athletes, meeting the stars of mountain biking stars, or simply enjoying the expo deals offered by some of the biggest brands in the cycling industry, the GT Malverns classic is fun, friendly and family safe.
Every evening the festival plays host to live music until midnight. Whether its dance music or rock cover bands, there is something for everyone.
For me, other than the free Yellow Jersey bike parking, the retro bike show was the highlight of the event. Seeing so many immaculate bikes from the 80’s and 90’s conjured up some incredible feelings of nostalgia. Modern bikes have come a very long way in terms of technology (and cost) but for me, seeing those old bikes brought back so many memories from when I was first getting into mountain biking. Like many of us, lusting after the latest unobtanium being advertised in the magazines was part and parcel of my life, but to actually see those ‘pin up’ bikes up close really was special. With such an array of precious metal, the show enlisted the retro bike aficionados and also the professional eye of Andrew ‘Doddy’ Dodd of GMBN (formally the editor of MBUK) as a judge for the best retro bike of the show.
There are four enduro tracks and an XC loop which can be ridden over the whole weekend. The tracks are marshalled so are safe and the fire road to get to the top of the hill isn’t too long. I must admit, I wish I had an e bike to get to the top though!
The Malverns classic organisers understand that dogs love bike festivals too, so why not bring along your furry friend to soak up the atmosphere too?
With many exhibitors attending the show, there were competitions and big discounts available at a lot of the stores. We also found some rather special kit has been brought along, such as Charlie Hatton’s world championship winning Atherton AM.200M.1 downhill rig. Sublime.
Getting up close and meeting some of the stars is party of the magic of the GT Malverns classic. We saw Becci Skelton, Matt and Jono Jones, Harry Schofield, Hans Rey just to name a few!
Whether you’re pitching a tent or taking a motorhome, the campsite will accommodate your needs. The walkways are well lit, it’s close to the main arena, has ample toilet facilities, its accessible for wheelchair users and large enough that if you want some peace and quiet, you can find a quiet spot with ease.
Let’s not forget one of the shows main attractions! The Yellow Jersey free bike park which operates from 10am-6pm every day. The bike park is located right in the centre of the arena space and offers unlimited free bike parking every day. If you want to go and have some fun without worrying about your bikes, you simply dropped them off with us, get a unique id bracelet and enjoy the festival. Simple as that, oh and did we mention its free!!
We hope to see you at next years show but in the meantime, Yellow Jersey offer mountain bike insurance which coveres theft and crash damage worldwide for your bikes. We can even cover them when racing! If you need any more information, please give our friendly support staff a call on 0333 003 0046 or visit our website
