Cycle Touring Festival 2024
Friday 3 May – Sunday 5 May 2024

John Ruskin School, Coniston

This year’s Cycle Touring Festival is an in-person event, at John Ruskin School in Coniston, Cumbria.

Tickets need to be bought in advance. No tickets will be available on the door. Please note that tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets

  • Weekend tickets: £100. Includes 2 nights of camping, dinner on Saturday night, self service tea/coffee throughout the weekend and entry to all talks/events/squash.
  • Saturday day ticket: £50. Includes entry to all talks/events on Saturday including the evening, dinner on Saturday night and self service tea/coffee/squash.
  • Sunday day ticket: £35. Includes entry to all talks/events on Sunday and self service tea/coffee/squash.
  • Sunday family ticket: £20. Includes entry to family session on Sunday (1pm – 4pm) and self service tea/coffee/squash (read more about the family session here).

Weekend programme

It may change a bit, but the draft timetable for the weekend is now live.

Saturday

TimeMain hallClassroom
9amWelcome & festival opening
10amBuilding bicycles to last, building bicycles sustainably
Richard Scrase
Exploring Cuba and a south to north tour of Mexico
Pauline & Hugh Symonds
11amCycling Every OS Map in Numerical Order
Mark Wedgwood
12pmCycling sustainably
Libby Bowles
Short trips ideas generator
1pmLUNCHLUNCH
2pmTouring with a hammock : A trip through Northern Europe
Catherine Cannon
Cycling the ViaRhôna (film & discussion)
Andrew Sykes
3pmSri Lanka,North to South and places in between
Neil Wheadon
FILMS
4pmTouring a Poetry Show by Bike from Bristol to Berwick-upon-Tweed
Caroline Burrows
FILMS
5pmTouring bike catwalk
6pmDINNER – food by Joeys, tarp pitching, music by Rain of Animals
7pmDINNER
8pmTheBigRecord:UK – Capturing the sound of the UK on two wheels
Paul Cheese
9pmOpen mic

Sunday

TimeMain hallClassroom
9amYoga for cyclists
Lou Curry
Bike bodge jobs on the road (dining hall)
Ghyllside Cycles
Cycling north along the Finnish-Russian Border
Julie Coldwell
10amThe coast is my compass
Martyn Howe
Bikerafting show and tell
Marcus & Kirsty
11amBiodiversity Life Cycle
Kate Rawles
Making your own gear
Tarps, tops and even bikes
12pmLUNCHLUNCH
1pmMyanmar: a tandem ride through the land of the Golden Pagoda
Marcus & Kirsty
Family cycling (see here)
2pm1970s touring… in 2024
Rob Ainsley
Family cycling (see here)
3pmTaking Thunderbolts to the Sea
Henry Barrkman
Family cycling (see here)
4pmFestival close

Plus all sorts of other stuff…

  • Cycle touring films
  • Wheelbuilding (email [email protected] if you’re interested in this one!)
  • Bike-powered smoothies
  • Tent & stove display
  • Family cycle touring – a dedicated session just for families! Read more about this here.

Key information

  • Location: John Ruskin School, Coniston (details here)
  • Campers will have access to a toilet block and portaloos. There are basic (communal, gender-segregated) showers only. 
  • Self-contained camper vans and motorhomes are welcome. Please park on the hard standing area. NB no electric hook-ups are available.
  • Weekend ticket holders: Arrive on Friday night; leave Sunday afternoon.  No camping available on Sunday night, but there are plenty of other local options. Weekend timings will be confirmed to all ticket holders, but you won’t be able to access the site until 5pm on Friday at the very earliest, because the venue is a working school.
  • Breakfasts and lunches are not included but there are plenty of options in Coniston if you need anything.
  • Tea and coffee will be provided throughout the event, on a self-serve basis – just bring your own mug.
  • The bar will be open from 6pm – 11pm on Friday and Saturday evening.    
  • Travel: please consider travelling to the event by public transport and/or by bike.  Take a train to Kendal or Windermere, then cycle or catch the bus to Coniston. If public transport/cycling isn’t possible, there is parking available on-site.
  • You don’t need to buy a ticket for anyone aged 17 or under, but they must be accompanied by an adult.  Let us know they’re coming by adding a note to your order.
  • Please note that no refunds are available on tickets.

The event is being run at cost.  Ticket prices cover our overheads (camping and catering costs, venue hire, speaker travel costs, insurance and a small margin for error).



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