I’m hoping to be on my next little jaunt across Europe when this event takes place in Clitheroe next May which is a great pity as I would have loved to attend. There is of course a website and Twitter account to keep an eye on. The organisers have posted the following information in the last few days:

“We are thrilled to announce that the date and venue have now been booked.  The first ever Cycle Touring Festival will take place at Waddow Hall in Clitheroe, Lancashire on 2-3 May 2015.  This is a fabulous location on the banks of the River Ribble, with on-site camping and plenty of excellent cycling to be had in the area.

We’ve been busy putting together the programme of events and can promise that the festival will have an exciting line-up.  There will be talks from intrepid cycle tourists to inspire you, workshops on all things bike-related, and the latest bicycles and kit to try out.  Above all, it will be a chance for cycle tourists to get together, share knowledge, plan future trips and have a jolly good time.

There are three things we want to mention in this update:

1) Save the date: 2-3 May 2015.  It’s the May bank holiday weekend, to give you the option of staying an extra night to explore the area – obviously by bike!

2) Tell your friends: If you have friends who might be interested in the event, pass this email on to them and encourage them to sign up for these updates.  There will be a limited number of tickets available for the festival and demand has already been high, so don’t miss out when they go on sale later in the year.

3) Get involved: There are all sorts of way you can get involved with the festival:

• Send us your ideas
  This is the first time we are organising this event and we would love to hear from you with ideas of what you would like to see there.  Whether you want a weekend filled with talks and films, or prefer a weekend of cycling with like-minded folk, get in touch with your thoughts.
   
• Use the festival as your departure point
  If you’re planning a big trip next summer, consider planning your departure so it coincides with the festival.  We can guarantee you a big send-off.  If this is you, let us know.
   
• Competitions, talks, rides
  Full details will follow but in case you’re touring this autumn, be aware that we’ll be running a competition to find the best cycle touring photographs, so snap away.

Finally, a big thank you to the talented Tenny Adamian who designed the festival logo.  You can see more of Tenny’s work here. 

That’s all for now and until next time, happy pedalling.”