York Rally 2020 dates are confirmed (19-21 June) and campsite bookings are now open!

York Rally 2020 poster - main image by David Kimberley

We’re delighted to confirm that the next York Rally will take place on the weekend of 19-21 June 2020! Our all-volunteer team is already looking forward to welcoming everyone to the Knavesmire once again…

Campsite bookings are open now, so please do take full advantage of the earlybird discounts! And all are welcome at our upcoming AGM.


Campsite – super-earlybird bookings are open now!

For the full Rally experience it’s best to stay on site! And as ever, we’ve made sure that the earlier you book your campsite pitch, the cheaper the prices. The cheapest super-earlybird rates apply until the 31st December. 

This year we welcome a long-standing friend of the Rally, Peter Poppy, to the campsite team. He’ll be handling bookings by post, so please do note the new address if you’re sending us your booking form, a copy of which you can download from our website.

For all the campsite details, and for both online and postal bookings, please just click the button:


AGM approaching…

All are welcome – especially newcomers, and anyone interested in joining our organising committee – at the York Rally AGM, which takes place ahead of our next planning meeting. Start time is 10am on Sat 30th November 2019, at the Church Hall of St Chad’s on the Knavesmire, Campleshon Road, York. Please just let us know if you would like a lift from the railway station.

And we’ll be in touch after that meeting with another newsletter to keep you up to date with plans for 2020!

With best regards,

The all-volunteer York Rally Team

E-mail: info@yorkrally.org

Two weeks to go!

Two weeks to go: a new Retro Ride, rides & talks finalised, live music update and much more in our last update before the Rally!

Dear fellow cyclist,

With just two weeks to go it’s time for another York Rally update! We’ve been busy with final preparations so please read on for more details on the following:
  1. We’ve a new Retro Ride! Get out your classic steel-framed bike….
  2. The rides list is now finalised – many thanks to all our volunteer leaders!
  3. The talks schedule is also finalised – many thanks to our speakers!
  4. Welcome to American Routes – our new Saturday evening band…
  5. Rally round-up – congratulations to tricycle riders and trike builders, a big thank-you to clubs and associations supporting the Rally through programme advertising, and a reminder to bring cycling donations!

This will be the last general email newsletter before the Rally, but we will also be emailing booked-in campers with arrivals information etc. shortly before the event, so please watch out for that!

1. New Retro Ride

Polish up your classic steel framed bike! We’re delighted to have a new RETRO RIDE, departing 9:50 on Saturday 22nd June. It’s a gently undulating 26 miles to Tadcaster and beyond, taking the retro riders to a refreshments stop around the midpoint. Many thanks to volunteer ride leader David Kimberley for organising.

1. New Retro Ride

2. Rides list finalised

We have a fine line-up of rides for the 2019 Rally! You’ll find many old favourites (some with changed names) but also a number of new items, which you’ll see highlighted in red if you click the link below. The new rides include a 50k Audax (running alongside a lightly modified 100k – for both please do book ASAP so that we can order Audax UK entry cards), the new Retro, and a ride on Sunday morning to see a professionally acted “Historical Promenade” about the Solar System Greenway.

2. Rides list finalised

3. Talks finalised

Many thanks to all of our speakers who have volunteered to give talks at the Rally! We’ve everything from classic cycle racing to the latest research illuminating the helmet debate, as well of course as e-bike Q&A sessions where you can explore the latest technology. More speakers are always welcome, especially perhaps with touring talks. Please just get in touch if you’d like to volunteer for next year.

3. Talks finalised

Welcome our new band!

The Foresters, the Rally’s traditional Saturday evening band for many decades, retired in late 2018 and have now sadly disbanded. We thank them for their many fine performances at the Rally – they will be much missed!
Now for the York Rally 2019 we are delighted to welcome country-folk band “American Routes“, featuring Irene and Brian Hume, legends of the north-eastern music scene who with Prelude had a ’70s smash hit with “After the Goldrush”: click below to watch them perform it (on Youtube). Please make them very welcome, from 7:30 pm on Saturday 22nd June!

Welcome our new band!
  • Many congratulations to the Tricycle Association, who are celebrating their 90th anniversary at the Rally! We’re delighted that judging by campsite bookings there will be a splendid turn-out of tricycle owners this year. And don’t miss the TA’s celebratory display on “Barrow Lane” – the first row of campsite pitches as you enter the Rally!
  • Congratulations also to our long-standing trade show exhibitors and supporters Inspired Cycle Engineering, who at the 2019 Rally are celebrating 20 years of making recumbent trikes! Do try one out on their test track. Extra thanks to ICE for (as in previous years too) lending us their display for the talks.
  • As you’ll see in the show programme when you get one at the Rally, we’ve had tremendous support this year from other clubs and organisations with their advertising. So we thank the Tricycle Association (on the occasion of their 90th anniversary), the National Association of Veteran Cycle Clubs, whose 63rd Annual Rally (30th August to 1st September 2019) will be hosted by the Northern Counties Veteran and Classic Cycle Club, the National Clarion Cycling Club 1895 giving advance notice of “Clarion Sunday” on Sunday 14th June 2020, and to The Rough-Stuff Fellowship, the oldest-established off-road cycling club in the world. Please support all of their events and activities, just as they support the York Rally!

And finally

Please do book anything you can online ahead of the Rally – this really does help reduce the pressure on our volunteers on the day, and helps us plan. So please do book your campsite pitch, saddlebag sale table, and quiz team table in good time – thank you in advance! All online bookings will close on the Monday (17th June) before the Rally. And do please remember to bring any bikes or kit which you could donate for us to sell to help boost the Rally’s funds, as mentioned in our our previous newsletter.

Thank you again for your support of the York Rally – we’re already looking forward to seeing many of you in June!

With best regards,
The York Rally Team

2019 badges, a new band, good news for vegans and much more…

With just a month to go it’s time for another York Rally update! We’ve plenty to get through so please read on for more details on the following:

  1. 2019 badges are now here! Pick yours up at the Rally or order online.
  2. Children’s activities – boosted for 2019 with a treasure hunt and the return of Punch & Judy!
  3. A new band for Saturday night, as long-serving favourites The Foresters have retired…
  4. Good news for vegans – and also for those arriving on Friday…
  5. The Quiz on Friday night – tables are going fast so book now for your team!
  6. Rally round-up – Sportive, thank you to Villages Guides, thank you to Tandem Club, a reminder to bring cycling donations, Audax entries open (also for a new shorter ride), and a new Retro Ride coming up…

1. 2019 badges

2019 badges are here! Thanks to all who helped with the design on Facebook – we’re very happy with the final version, which references the historic Clock Tower which overlooks the Knavesmire. Pick one up at the Rally or order online below…

1. 2019 badges

2. Children’s activities


We’re boosting the free activities for children at the Rally – on and off the bike. First we have a new Treasure Hunt for secret stones. Then there’s the welcome return of Wildlife Activities from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust, and also the return of Punch and Judy. Plus the Grand Parade and opportunities to race – click below to read all the details!

2. Children's activities

3. A new band


After many years (decades?) of dedicated service at the Rally, we are sad to announce that The Foresters (pictured) have finally decided to retire. So the live music on Saturday evening will be from a versatile new band with a country music background – please do make them welcome! Rock and roll band The Sonics will also be back on Saturday morning…

3. A new band

4. Catering update

We always try to get a good varierty of catering outlets at the Rally, but it’s often been hard to book vegetarian and vegan options on what is a busy summer weekend. So we’re delighted that for 2019 we have booked Mio Pizza, a local wood-fired pizza specialist. And even better, their offerings include a full vegan menu (PDF)!

They, and other outlets including the Brew York bar, will be open from when gates open on Friday evening. Please do stay on site to eat if you can – the Rally benefits from a percentage of your spend, and it means we can better attract vendors next year!

4. Catering update

5. The new Friday evening quiz


Tables are booking up for the new cycling and general knowledge quiz on Friday evening! Book your team’s entry now. Teams will have a table each (for up to six players) and as there’s finite space in the Lounge marquee numbers are strictly limited. Team entries cost £10 and are open now for online booking – also on the day if there are tables still available. The quiz will start at 7:30 PM. For all the details, and bookings, see: http://yorkrally.org/quiz/

5. The new Friday evening quiz

6. Rally round-up

  • Thanks to all who ride our recent fundraising Sportive – and to all of the volunteer team who helped make it happen! Read more, and see the pictures, on the Sportive web page.
  • Many thanks to the “Villages Guides to Local Business Services” who have kindly advertised the Rally in their informative publication which is circulated to households across Yorkshire and beyond.
  • Many thanks to The Tandem Club who recently ran an article about the Rally in their club magazine. We’ll look forward to seeing many tandems on the Knavesmire in June!
  • A reminder that our Saddlebag Sale cycle jumble will have a table selling donated items to raise funds for the Rally – please remember to bring anything you can spare!
  • Showers – campers will be happy to hear that for 2019 these will be connected to mains power and drainage, and so we can extend the opening hours: now 6AM to 10 PM. They’ll be located inside the fenced enclosure to make this possible.
  • Rides – we’ll have more details shortly in our next update, but we’ll be running a full schedule of rides from the Rally, as ever. We’re also looking forward to a new Retro Ride – and a note that entries for the 100k Audax are open now, alongside entries for a new 50k Audax ride – both on Saturday morning.

And finally

Please do book anything you can online ahead of the Rally – this really does help reduce the pressure on our volunteers on the day, and helps us plan. So please do book your campsite pitch, saddlebag sale table, quiz team table, and order any badges or clothing in good time – thank you in advance!

All online bookings will close on the Monday (17th June) before the Rally.

Thank you again for your support of the York Rally – we’re already looking forward to seeing many of you in June!

With best regards,
The York Rally Team

A new quiz, Rally clothing on sale and much more in our February update!

It’s time for another York Rally update! We’ve plenty of developments to report since the last newsletter.

Before we get to that, though, a quick request. We all need to keep pushing awareness of the Rally to keep it flourishing! Word of mouth is the most powerful method there is – so if you know or bump into like-minded people who might want to join us at the Rally weekend, especially camping, do please give us a mention and pass on the website or phone number! You can also download print-it-yourself cards or flyers here. Thanks in advance!

The new Friday evening quiz

New for the York Rally 2019 – a cycling and general knowledge quiz on Friday evening! Book your team’s entry now. We’ve hoping the new quiz will be a convivial way for anyone on site on the Friday evening (21st June) to enjoy spending time with friends on site, take advantage of the catering and bar (both will be open), help us offset the costs of the marquee hire AND have a chance to win prizes!

Teams will have a table each (for up to six players) and as there’s finite space in the Lounge marquee numbers are strictly limited. Team entries cost £10 and are open now for online booking – also on the day if there are tables still available.

Many thanks to volunteer quizmaster Pete Dunn who will conduct proceedings with a mix of cycling and general knowledge questions, and may the best answers win! The quiz will start at 7:30 PM. For all the details, and bookings, see: http://yorkrally.org/quiz/

Rally clothing – on sale now!

To clear some space for new stock we are having a sale of Rally-branded clothing – with selected items reduced to just over cost price!

  • T-shirt with printed logo: was £11 SALE: now £9.50
  • Polo shirt with embroidered logo: was £14 SALE: now £11.50
  • Hoodie with embroidered logo: was £23 SALE: now £16.50
  • Sweatshirt with embroidered logo: was £17 SALE: now £12.50

Please just head over to the merchandise page or click below to order securely online, or contact us for postal ordering.

Clothing Sale!

Show your support for the Rally with our splendid York Rally branded clothing and other merchandise including badges. Many sizes and colours are now on sale… .

Clothing Sale!

News from our trade show exhibitors

Many thanks to the traders already booked in for the Trade Show – we’re delighted to support them by passing on these notices. Please do support them if you can, and if one of your favourite suppliers doesn’t yet exhibit at the Rally, please do suggest it to them and point them to these details for potential exhibitors.


Yourspokes and Poetry in Motion Cycles

New for the 2019 Rally will be a live spoke-cutting service! Dylan Thomas of Yorkspokes (part of Poetry in Motion Cycles) will be there with a comprehensive stock of spoke blanks and can produce spokes to just about any length on the spot. Perfect for those tricky wheel-builds, or to gather some spares. He’s also there to discuss your wheelbuilding and custom bike building and restoration needs!


Inspired Cycle Engineering

Chris Parker of Inspired Cycle Engineering writes: I am one of the founding directors of Inspired Cycle Engineering Ltd, affectionately known as ICE Trikes. The York Cycle Rally is one of the key dates in my calendar both professionally and privately and has been since 1996. The Rally is a great place to catch up with friends, old and new, and trade associates to talk about everything from tread patterns, paint jobs to gear inches and speciality real ales. I always look forward to the event and as a company director the value of the York Cycle Rally is great for the recumbent industry in the UK. I am genuinely overjoyed to be able to support the 2019 event which coincidentally is also ICE Trikes’ 20th year of building trikes and we’re having a party at the Rally to celebrate! I sincerely look forward to seeing and chatting to as many visitors as my team and I can and allowing those of you who want to, test ride one of our amazing trikes on our test track kindly set up by the organisers. See you at the Rally! Chris

Golden Age Cycles

Welcome to new exhibitors Golden Age Cycles! Brian Reid writes: Golden Age Cycles of Bicester was established to cater for the growing interest in cycling heritage, specialising in British racing cycles from the 1950s to the 1990s. These were handmade by craftsmen proud to show their name, including Hetchins, Mercian, Bates and many others. Our skilled team source and restore the highest quality machines for discerning new owners, as well as being highly experienced in servicing and restoring customers’ period cycles. We are always interested in purchasing high quality cycles, selling on commission and providing insurance valuations. Find us at Building 137, Bicester Heritage, Buckingham Road, Bicester OX26 5HA, Tel. 07952 062201, where we are open by appointment.

In other Rally news

  • We’re honoured that the Tricycle Association have chosen to mark their 90th anniversary with a celebration at the Rally! Current plans include a special display on the campsite’s ‘Barrow Lane’, ‘try a trike’ opportunities, vintage trikes on display and of course trike-focused rides. New members to this historic Association are always welcome!
  • We’ve been revamping the website again and the new front page is largely completed. Do please take a look!
  • A reminder to campers that for 2019, we are looking to streamline the check-in process, especially for pre-booked campers, to prevent the queues which developed in 2018. So in 2019, campers who book in advance (earlybird prices still available!) will be able to check in and have pitches allocated from 3PM, so that when the site opens at 4PM you can go straight on. We cannot allow vehicles on site before 4PM: the volunteer set-up team needs the time to fully prepare the site and make it safe.
  • Campers arriving on the Friday should note that there will be food and real ale available on Friday evening from our caterers on site – and do please support the on-site vendors, as a percentage of the takings goes to help support the Rally.
  • Entry forms for the British Schools Cycling Association racing on the Saturday of the Rally are now available to download. Please do pass the word and get the entries in!
  • Please remember to bring any bikes, cycling kit, parts, accessories which you could donate for us to sell to raise Rally funds, as described on the Saddlebag Sale page. Note that online Saddlebag Sale bookings are still open but tables are booking up fast.
  • A table selling items to raise funds for the Rally has also been kindly donated by the organisers of the Cottingham Cycle Jumble on the 17th March. Please do attend if you can and support this event!

SPORTIVE & RETRO: More Rally fundraising comes in the shape of our next fundraising Sportive, which takes place on the 28th April 2019. All the details are here (also forms for postal entry) or you can enter via British Cycling here. Advance entries are just £25 – on the day (if spaces are left) it’s £30. All funds raised go to support the York Rally! This year we’re also adding a gentler, shorter 50-mile (80 km) “Retro Classic” ride for classic cycle connoisseurs – but it still finds its way to the same fabulous main food stop at Marton. Ride in style! Click for full details about the Retro Classic.

2019 BADGES: Could you help us choose a design for the next York Rally badge? We’ve set up a poll on our Facebook page where you can vote for your favourite design, or feel free to email us instead. We’d also love to hear from any graphic designers who might be able to volunteer their help. Meanwhile, 2018 and 2017 badges are on sale now.

And finally

All are very welcome at our next York Rally planning meeting which is to be held from 10AM on the 23rd March 2019 at St Chad’s on the Knavesmire Church Hall, Campleshon Road, York. Please just let us know if you would like a lift from the railway station.

Thanks again for your support of the York Rally – we’re already looking forward to seeing many of you in June!

With best regards,

The York Rally team