Peter Eland – Page 9 – The York Cycle Rally & Festival: 21-23 June 2024

January 24, 2015January 26, 2015

Announcing a major new attraction for the York Rally – the Pedal Power Invention Convention!

We’re proud to announce a major new attraction for the Rally, the wonderful Pedal Power Invention Convention!

Gloriously mad, superbly practical, massive fun: pedal powered inventions and devices can be any of those! They’re also almost irresistable to pedallers of all ages: everyone wants a go.

We’re bringing all of this excitement, plus the geeky satisfaction of hacker, off grid and DIY engineering culture, to the Rally this year! Organised by a local artist, the Pedal Power Invention Convention will bring new life, sights and sounds (pedal powered naturally) to the Knavesmire.

Subject to Lottery funding, it’ll also go into schools and colleges in the weeks and months before the Rally, inspiring design-and-build activity to spark young minds – and to bring the results together at the Convention for a pedal-powered celebration!

The more serious aspect of the Invention Convention is all about how bikes beyond the diamond frame can be seriously useful. So cargo bikes can transport the Rally’s rubbish. Recumbent trikes can extend a touring life when balance is difficult. Family cycles can transport children to school in safety and comfort. And a pedal generator or tool could be a huge labour saver off-grid – or even a life-saver where mains power is not available.

This promises to be the biggest and best gathering of unusual cycles, pedal powered machines, human powered sound systems and cinemas, DIY recumbents, custom cycle choppers and artbikes the UK has ever seen. We don’t yet know how big it will be – but we have the whole of the huge Knavesmire to host it, and the more the merrier!

If you’re coming, check out the main Invention Convention page and do drop a note about what you’re bringing, there or below. If you’re camping, you’ll need to book a pitch and mention the Convention as the group you’d like to be located with – there should be a fantastic campsite atmosphere, with cycling chat all the way through to 11PM, when all needs to be quiet so that tired pedallers can get their sleep!

Contact the Invention Convention: Phone 07580 770883 or E-mail : invention@yorkrally.org or use the form below:

January 17, 2015

Rides updated, auction is back!

An initial update following our meeting earlier today:

We just updated the ‘Rides at the Rally’ page with the latest confirmed rides – the schedule for Saturday is filling out, and there are several more in the pipeline! Latest details always on: https://twitter.com/YorkRallyRides
The Auction Sale is back! Still a few logistical details to be finalised, but the basic format is back for the Saturday of the Rally. See what you can make from that bike or part you no longer need – you might be surprised! Details here.

More to follow shortly…

January 12, 2015January 12, 2015

Next meeting coming up on Saturday!

We’re getting back up to speed with Rally organising after the Christmas break, and our next meeting is coming up on Saturday 17th Jan – all are welcome downstairs at York Bike Shed on Micklegate, York at 10AM. Newcomers are especially welcome!

Many thanks meanwhile to everyone who has joined the Friends of York Rally to support the Rally’s revival. Our treasurer Rachel reports on Facebook that we’ve recently added the 150th member!

We’re also past the 100 mark for campsite bookings – but our target is 500+, so there’s a way to go yet! Earlybird prices are still active, so please do book now if you haven’t already!

On the website front, there’s now a new page under the ‘Visitor information’ menu for the 2015 Rally, detailing all of the displays and activities confirmed so far.

There should be plenty of other progress to report after the meeting – will update this site ASAP!

As yet, we can’t promise a hot air balloon as shown in this image from 1995. Balloons are still launched regularly from the Knavesmire (and there’ll be space for this even with the Rally running), but whether we’re treated to the sight will depend on wind and weather.

1995 "A hot air balloon launched at the far end of the Knavesmire and carried over the camp site early Sunday morning 1995." Photo: Barry Raynor — 1995 “A hot air balloon launched at the far end of the Knavesmire and carried over the camp site early Sunday morning 1995.” Photo: Barry Raynor

December 12, 2014

National Series grasstrack racing returns to the York Rally!

We are proud to welcome racers of the National Endurance Grass Track League and National Short Distance Grass League back to the Rally!

The grasstrack racing arena will be the centrepiece of the revived Rally, and we hope for a top class field of competitors.

Adult/Junior ( male and female) racing will be on the Saturday, and Youth racing on Sunday.

Entries are now live via the British Cycling website: see full race details and how to enter (online or by post) via British Cycling.

All of the latest details and info will be added to the Grasstrack Racing page on the Rally website.

If anyone has any pictures of the grasstrack events at past Rallies, we’d love to use some to help promote this event! Please email publicity@yorkrally.org, or just leave a comment below this story.

December 2, 2014

The Saddlebag Sale (cycle jumble) is back!

More shortly from the meeting – there are plenty of developments to catch up with!

But for now just a note that the Saddlebag Sale cycle jumble is now confirmed as running on the Sunday morning of the Rally, with doors opening to buyers from 11AM. Sellers can set up from 10AM.

Entry will be free with a show programme (costing £1), otherwise £1.

Sellers (strictly secondhand goods only) can book tables for £10 – but there are just 50 available, and it will be first come first served. Online bookings are open now – this is always a popular event so get in early to be sure of a space!

November 27, 2014November 27, 2014

Meeting and AGM – this Saturday!

Just a reminder that we’re meeting again as the York Rally Committee (and having our AGM) this Saturday (29th November) at 10AM, downstairs at ‘Your Bike Shed’ in Micklegate, York.

All are very welcome to attend, whether you’re just curious, would like to make a suggestion, or would like to volunteer.

Here ‘s some of us at a previous meeting:

November 20, 2014November 20, 2014

Book in the next month to get the lowest campsite prices!

2010 York Rally - riders set off past the site. Photo: Peter Eland — 2010 York Rally – riders set off past the site. Photo: Peter Eland

Just a note that the ‘super earlybird’ campsite booking rates end a month today, as you’ll see on the campsite bookings page – you’ll need to book before the 20th December to enjoy the largest discounts.

Earlybird reductions do continue after that, but to a lesser extent, until the 6th April 2015 – then bookings are at full price until they close on the 1st of June. After that, you’ll need to book in on arrival…

Early bookings really do help the Rally – not only with much-needed funds to help cover the up-front costs of staging the event, but also for planning and site layout purposes. The sooner we have an idea of confirmed numbers, the earlier we can start making firm arrangements for the various parts of the site!

Finally, thanks from the campsite team and the whole committee to everyone who has already booked in!

November 19, 2014November 21, 2014

The road race that ran to the Rally

More scanning! We’re back in 1963, with a major road race running from London to York, and ending in front of the crowds at the Knavesmire:

The full programme shows a list of entrants, prize money and an (unfortunately not very legible) list of officials and supporters:

1963 London to York brochure cover

1963 London to York race inside

Most interesting perhaps is the route:

Not sure it’d be so easy to arrange a race up the A1 today!

We also have a clipping from (I assume) one of the cycling mags of the day:

One day, perhaps, we’ll attract a race finish back to the revived Rally!

October 25, 2014October 25, 2014

Scanning the ’60s

Committee member Dave Bishop has been preserving an archive of York Rally materials for over half a century, and he’s kindly made it available for the new Rally website. So I’ve made a start on the scanning, with a look back to the 1960s. Click any image to enlarge – and I have the original scans at twice this resolution for the archives.

We’ll start with the Rally pennant for 1960:

and the design was little changed for 1961:

For 1962, however, the pennant had changed orientation and added ribbons:

That’s all the pennants we have for this decade. Unfortunately, even after our previous article on the subject we still don’t know much about these Rally pennants. Who designed them? Where were they flown?

Anyway, onwards to 1963, and the show programme!

Note the sponsorship and back cover advert from the Daily Mail – an illustration perhaps of the national significance of the Rally in its heyday.

So far I’ve just scanned covers and the centre pages of the show programmes – there might be a copyright issue if I reproduced the whole publication. Also, to preserve Dave’s copies it’s nice not to force every page flat onto the scanner. So this was at the middle of 1963’s programme:

The preceding pages show the event schedule, leading up to this spread all about Sunday afternoon. The picture, with a child in what looks like a nicely crafted cycle trailer, is presumably from the ‘Cycling Families’ event at 1.40pm. “Families are invited to come into the arena for inspection by the judges. Prizes are awarded for smartness of family and originality of equipment.” One to revive for 2015?

The next programme we have is 1967:

Cycle computers have perhaps moved on a tad since the Lucas Cyclometer was being advertised… chapeau to the graphic designer, too, for a striking cover layout. And inside on the centre pages we have:

a ‘Sunday Afternoon Spectacular‘ no less! The ‘Cycling Families‘ event has been replaced, I note, with the ‘Bicycle Belle Competition – to find the girl who symbolizes the spirit of the 1967 CTC Rally and the open-air enthusiasm of the cycle-tourist. Personal appearance, suitability of dress and riding style are among factors taken into consideration by the judges.” Not really appropriate for 2015, I think most would agree.

Our final item from the ’60s is this envelope dated 1969, which contains just a subscription reminder. I’ve blurred the recipient address on this web version – it’s not inconceivable that it’s still valid.

More lovely artwork – and note how even the postmark promotes the 25th ‘Silver Jubilee’ Rally!

October 21, 2014October 21, 2014

Surveying the Knavesmire perimeter track – with video!

A number of organisations have now expressed an interest in staging races or displays on the permimeter track on the Knavesmire during the 2015 York Rally – this would be great to see!

The track is a consistent 3.2 m wide (10′ 6″), checked in several places around the course. The length available for racing is around 1.59 miles (about 2.56 km) starting from near the main site entrance. If the start is placed just after the Cherry Lane entrance at the far side of the course, then there is 1.08 miles or 1.74 km available. Maps and distances via the excellent gmap-pedometer.com:

To give potential event organisers a better idea of the track I nipped out today between some heavy showers and took this video: watch in HD for best quality (and you may as well turn sound off – it’s mostly just wind noise):

And as Vimeo keeps giving me errors on playback here it is via Youtube, too:

We are fairly certain that the works obviously in progress in the video (especially just before the Cherry Lane entrance) will all be completed well before the Rally in June 2015, and the piles of soil spilling onto the track will be gone by then too.

The only slightly awkward bit for racing machines might be the soft crossing just after the Cherry Lane entrance. We’ll check with the racecourse as to whether that will be removed before June, to leave firm track, or not. In any case, even if starting races just after this, there’s a clear mile of track to go, plus around 140 yards of the finishing straight left over as a slow-down zone.

I also took a series of photos as I went around – the details are in the captions:

View from just past the main site entrance from Knavesmire Road.

The works just before the Cherry Lane entrance

The soft surfaced crossing just past the Cherry Lane entrance. No problem for fat tyres but hard skinny ones might cut into it a bit.

Piles of sand on the far straight spilling onto the track a little.

Looking back up the far straight.

The course is pretty much dead flat – only this perspective view shows a slight ripple in the bend just before the home straight

On the final bend there’s a sandy section which has resulted in some sand on the track. If still there in June, might be an idea to give it a quick sweep before a race.

Looking back up the finishing straight.

The finishing straight with my bike for scale.

I measured the track in several locations…

It was consistently 3.2m (10′ 6″) wide.

If anyone wants any further details – or pictures/video from a dry day nearer the time – please just let us know.

We could also check the distances more accurately if necessary using one of those wheel-type surveying devices, as one of our Committee has access to one – seen here in action surveying the grass track area last week!

Checking out the Knavesmire to determine the best location for the grasstrack racing – early October 2014.