Rally cards – spread the word as you ride

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Out for a bike ride? Print out some of our York Rally cards and pop them in your wallet before you go, and hand them out to likely Rally-goers you encounter! Or leave a small handful at the counter of your favourite cycling cafe, at a cycle jumble or wherever cyclists gather…

These are business card sized and are designed to be printed in black and white on A4 paper using any printer or photocopier. An A4 sheet will yield 10 cards: get the scissors out to trim them to size.

  • If you can print double sided (perhaps by putting the paper or card through twice) then please use this two page PDF.
  • If you can only print one sided then please use this PDF which is just a single page of 10 cards. You can also use this PDF and fold the cards in two to get the double sided effect (but only five per sheet).
  • If you’d like to get them professionally printed then please upload these two files to your printer: front print PDF and rear print PDF.

I’ll upload new versions after the Sportive has happened!

And many thanks to the artist, who wishes to remain nameless, who kindly sent us the front artwork…

We’re in the latest CTC ‘Cycle’ magazine!

We’re featured in the latest (Aug/Sept) issue of ‘Cycle’ – the CTC magazine! See the scan below and click to enlarge…

Welcome to all ‘Cycle’ readers. You can find out more about who we are at About us and how you can help support the Rally’s revival by becoming a Friend of York Rally or taking part in the Sportive. We are starting from scratch and your support at this early stage will really help. If you could also dedicate any time as a volunteer, please do contact the committee or come along to our next meeting – details are here!

Like many of you, most of us have valued the Rally for decades as a sociable get-together to meet old friends. We look forward to seeing you again next year!

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Follow us on Twitter and Facebook!

We’re delighted to announce that the Rally’s Twitter account @yorkrally is up and running!


And a warm welcome to the Rally team for Charlotte Gray, who will be doing most of the tweeting for us!

Charlotte has many years of service to the Rally behind her already, along with her father Peter Gray, a stalwart Rally volunteer for many years. Here’s a glimpse of the Gray family preparing pegs for the campsite back in the late ’80s:

Finally, I’d also like to mention the  Friends of York Rally Facebook page, which is growing steadily 🙂

York Rally 2015: press release

The press release is out! And I’ve just had a call from the York Press: watch out for a story on Friday…

You can download the press release here as a 300k PDF: PR York Rally 09-07-14 and do feel free to pass it around! Or read on:

PRESS RELEASE:

Ride Yorkshire for the Rally!

Legacy and history combine in this spectacular Yorkshire ride to support the revival of the York Rally. 70 years of cycling heritage will be reborn in York, one year after the Tour’s incredible visit.

In July 1945, heady with post-war excitement, a gathering of cycling enthusiasts from clubs across the North of England made a momentous decision: to hold a rally “in or near York”. The title of the event was to be “The Grand All-Yorkshire Cyclists Rally”.

So on a Sunday in September 1945 the very first Rally was held on York’s Knavesmire, a sociable gathering of the northern cycling associations which soon developed into the main annual meeting-point for cyclists across the UK and beyond. The event was repeated for 68 years, as the CTC York Rally, and more recently as the York Cycle Show, until its temporary demise in 2013.

70 years on, today’s cyclists are not prepared to let the Rally die.

A group of volunteers has formed to revive the Rally for 2015. The 2015 Rally will build on the fantastic legacy of the Tour de France 2014, whose second stage started right at the Rally’s traditional venue, York Racecourse on the Knavesmire in York.

The York Rally 2015 will take place on the 20-21st June on the Knavesmire, and annually thereafter, continuing the tradition of fellowship and the joy of cycling embodied by the post-war founders. The new committee will also bring fresh ideas to keep the Rally sustainable for the decades to come.

The new Rally is still taking shape but it will aim to attract cyclists and potential cyclists old and new, and it will be a wonderful opportunity for those new to cycling to share in the unparalleled depth of cycling experience among the Rally regulars.

Cycling clubs, associations, online cycling forums and social media groups from across Yorkshire and the UK are warmly invited to attend, and to take full advantage of the almost unlimited space available on the Knavesmire to showcase their activities, and to come together with their members in a ‘Grand All-Welcome’ cycling meeting. Cycle trade exhibitors will also be made welcome.

Ride the York Rally Grande Classic Sportive

To support the re-launch of the event, the organisers are staging the York Rally Grande Classic Sportive in September through spectacular North York Moors scenery. There is a choice of rides:

  • the 36 km ride is mostly flat, and is perfect for families or perhaps for anyone inspired by the Tour looking for a challenge on their new bike! The ride will be well-signed with marshals. There will be feeding stations en route and free rider recovery will be on hand.
  • The 100 km ride is a serious challenge, taking in significant climbing and amazing Yorkshire views. Again feeding stations and a tea stop will be provided, as is recovery if needed.
  • The 140 km ride is worthy of champions! The famous Rosedale Chimney is an even more challenging climb than anything the Tour attempted, with a fearsome gradient but an exhilarating view over the moors at the summit.

All proceeds from the event will be used towards staging the York Rally. Entries are open now on the British Cycling website:
https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/114853/York-Rally-Grande-Classic

Full details can also be found at the new York Rally website: www.yorkrally.org where supporters of the event are also invited to participate in the re-launch by becoming a ‘Friend of the York Rally’. All are welcome with ideas or to volunteer to help: details are on the website.

  • Further high resolution images are available: please see the ‘History’ page on the website or contact the Publicity Officer as below.
  • Press contacts:
    • Event Secretary: Paul Reid.
      Tel 016973 43089 or email: info@yorkrally.org
    • Press/Publicity: Peter Eland.
      Tel 0787 624 4818 or email: publicity@yorkrally.org
  • The York Rally’s 70-year heritage is a treasure trove of social history, vintage costume, cycling invention and evolution, and true (authentic? eccentric?) British cycling culture. See www.yorkrally.org/history/ or contact the Rally to be put in touch with experts who can tell you more!

Pennants of the York Rally

Thanks to Dave Bishop who brought these splendid pennants along to the last meeting, and for Paul Reid for letting me use his camera for the images. I’ll try to find out more from one of our historical experts.

Where were these pennants flown? Who designed them? Does a complete collection exist anywhere?

And do we have a volunteer to make a new one for 2015?

2015 Rally progress!

Plenty of progress to report!

  • You can now join the Friends of York Rally online!
  • Entries are live and route maps are up for the York Rally Grand Classic Sportive in September.
  • We’re preparing a press release campaign to go out very shortly, capitalising on the Tour de France and Yorkshire buzz. We’re also spreading the news via Facebook so please do share with your friends.
  • Finally for now our Event Secretary has been promoting the Rally at one of York’s Tour de France spectator hubs with this splendid poster:
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    More is in the works – keep watching!

York Rally to return: 20-21 June 2015!

Please excuse the quick update – we had a very productive meeting on Saturday but there’s lots to do. This website will be updated more fully over the next few days with details of the Friends scheme, the Sportive, details of the organising committee and initial plans for the Rally. Meanwhile, thanks to Gary Knighton for this summary as posted to the Friends of York Rally Facebook page:

The York Rally date has been booked for the weekend of 20/21 June  2015. York Rally will need to raise funds. This is being achieved in two  ways.

1 – The Friends of York Rally subscription scheme where there is an annual membership of minimum of £5 plus voluntary additional donation.

2 – The York Rally Grande Classic Sportive. 35, 100 or 140 km from Wigginton, north of York on Sunday 21st September 2014. The latter two follow a similar route to the York Rally’s Ron Kit Sportives. The 35km is a short route appropriate for families

All welcome at first meeting in York: Saturday 21st June 2014

York Rally Inaugural Meeting: Saturday 21st June 2014

All are welcome as we make plans for the first revived York Rally for 2015. Meet at Your Bike Shed, Micklegate Bar, York YO1 6JX (the cyclists’ café) at 10.00a.m. in the basement.

From its inception at the end of the war until recent times York Rally has, quite deservedly, been a mecca for cyclists from all over the country and beyond. The challenge now is to create an event which stays faithful to its grass roots but embraces current trends as well as developing new and exciting ideas which attract new and novice riders.

The key element is that the Rally should be run by cyclists for cyclists. It should be a fun and friendly weekend with lots of activities and opportunity to socialize.

All are welcome at the meeting! The proposed agenda is as follows:

  1. Apologies for absence
  2. Welcome and Introductions
  3. Proposal to run York Rally 2015
  4. Election of Committee
  5. Election of Officers
  6. Adoption of Constitution
  7. Statement of Financial Situation
  8. Any Other Business

Committee Meeting to follow after a short break

  1. Minutes of last meeting
  2. Matters arising.
  3. Membership
  4. Sportive
  5. Fund raising
  6. Publicity
  7. AoB

Date & time of next meeting.

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