Stormy Weather

You've probably noticed that there is a spot of metereological bother forecast for tomorrow. With this in mind, we've decided to give people the option of skipping the outdoor part of the ride and proceeding to the scoffing of cakes, raffling of prizes, drinking and dancing.

Entrants should have received an email giving full details but if not, send us an indignant missive at vintageveloride@gmail.com.

For the brave or foolhardy, we'll be running the ride tomorrow as planned, with a few tweaks (e.g. the ginger beer stop has now been replaced by tea).

Get me to the church (hall) on time

Just a gentle reminder that you'll need to turn up half an hour before the ride starts. This will enable us to sign you on in good time. We're aiming for a prompt start as we have a packed schedule for the day, starting with an appointment with a Very Important Person.

Toodle pip!

Crikey! More prizes!

The prize list keeps growing! Some of these will be given away as awards for the most dapper chap and chapess, best bike, and so forth. Others will be thrown into our mighty Vintage Velo tombola, to be raffled on the day. Tickets will be cheap, so buy plenty!

Longtime supporter of the Velo, Il Soigneur is upping the ante this year by offering customised, bespoke bags, which the lucky winners can design themselves with the new Build a Bag.

The kind folks at North Street's most atmospheric new hangout The Old Bookshop have donated Tapas for Two.

We have a chocolate shoe (yes, really) to give away, courtesy of curious confectionary creators Clifton Cakes.

Park Street freak boutique Motel Rocks have thrown in two goody bags.

The Tobacco Factory have donated a pair of theatre tickets, together with £10 to spend on excellent Bristol Beer Factory libations at their bar.

Long-time pureveyors of cinematic excellence The Watershed are offering a pair of cinema tickets.

We're now down to our last handful of tickets, so get in quick if you want to swan off with any of this excellent booty!

In the bowels of the Vintage Velo Kitchen things are afoot...

Polishing and painting has been taking place at furious pace and we hereby announce to you - our two wheeled public - a secret kept for many a month: THE bike is coming...

Being created by hand, right now, by our own resident Bike Geek (we call him Ryan, and keep him in a small cage...) is the Vintage Velo Prize Bike! Along with a many other a prize from our Kind Sponsors the people and places of Bristol have come together to provide the parts and know how to create a 3 Speed Beauty that could well be yours!  Yes! That's right folks: along with the help of Bristol Bike Project, Griff''s Reality Motorworks and Jake's Bikes this is the top notch raffle prize that will be up for grabs next Sunday!  Only available to be won at Bristol Vintage Velo 2012 this is your chance to own a piece of Bristol Biking History!  AND ticket's are fast selling out so grab yours now: TORA TORA TORA!!!

Want to know all the geeky tech specs about this machine?! Tune in on Wednesday!

Pedals Win Prizes

God bless Bristol, and all who sail in her! As with last year, we've found any number of local businesses willing to dip a hand in their pockets and donate some amazing prizes in order to make the Vintage Velo extra-special for you, the lucky participant.

So, in addition to a fancy Brooks saddle from Bools, and a stunning portrait of your pride and joy from Bespoke Bike Portraits, we'll be giving away some quality riding water courtesy of Grape and Grind, tea for two at Boston Tea Party, and some really useful bike accessories from, er, Really Useful Bikes.

We'll also shortly have details of a very special prize provided by Bristol Bike Workshop, which promises to be the most spectacular giveaway yet. Keep perusing this space!

The accompanying photograph, from Classic Lighweights, depicts track racer Dennis Horn with a selection of his trophies. 

Guest of honour?

We can neither confirm nor deny rumours that a certain Thomas Boonen, Esq, is to participate in this year's Vintage Velo.

But look at that get-up. He's got to be planning something.

(Image courtesy of Cripes Yes Cycling)

Sheila take a bow

Exuberant and ill-advised singing to camera while riding a bike, plus straw boaters.

Dreamy American bikes of old

Hold on to your Paypal accounts and do not immediately log in to Ebay; Dave's Vintage Bicycles has a selection of images of rare vintage bicycles from the USA to savour and wonder at. including this dreamboat...puts me somewhat in mind of Pee Wee Herman.

By Bike! It's hello to the Velo!

Thanks to Better By Bike for splashing out on a whole page for VV 2012 on their website. Cheers m'dears!

Also quite excellent are some of the images of appropriate cycling attire on the 'web log' oldbike.eu

Exciting prize!

This just in; one lucky winner on the day will get a portrait of their beloved bicycle courtesy of our esteemed friend Dr Rob of bespokebikeportraits.blogspot.com
Lovely.

Salty dogs

How about a nautical theme? It certainly doesn't have to mean going all "stag night pirate". There are some great possibilities for groups, or budding Clark Gable types...