Bristol Vintage Velo

Find love on your bike

2012-01-30T08:29:00.002Z

Vintage Velo is all about supporting the Bristol Cycle Festival, and more importantly, having a jolly good time on bikes! So for those of you who wish to find a cycling paramour, we wholeheartedly recommend attending Madame Melski's Cycle Speed dating

Back for St Valentine's Day, Madame Melski's Cycle Speed dating is a jolly way to meet people and perhaps even find love on two wheels. Bristol is brimming with comely, witty, brilliant, single people riding bicycles - let Madame Melski bring you together on 14th February for an evening of relaxed pedalling and friendly chat.

Advance booking is essential as places are limited, with an £8 entry fee. The exact start point will be emailed to you when you book along with more information about what to expect.

Email Madame Melski to secure your place now!

Lovely picture courtesy of http://www.roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com

Vintage Velo is back for 2012

2012-01-18T22:05:00.000Z

Ladies and Gents its time to hold onto your monocles and party like its 1899 - The Bristol Vintage Velo ride will be back in April 2012!

We'll be posting the official date, how to buy tickets and much more in the coming weeks.

The Vintage Velo team x

p.s. missed out last year? Have a look at the photos and video of last years event

Tweed up for Bristol Cycle Festival and Carnivelo

2011-08-18T12:20:00.000+01:00

Attention, Tweed Army - Bristol Cycle Festival is almost upon us!

Running from 17 to 25 September 2011, it'll feature a huge variety of events, aimed at everyone from velocipede ingenues to seasoned wheelmen.

Carnivelo is back again after a successful first outing (as the Freewheelin' Carnival) in 2010. A rolling party on two wheels, there's talk of a "tweed troupe" being formed for 2011 - keep one's ear to the ground.

Organised by the same team as the Vintage Velo, WeLoveBikes promises to be a spectacular knees-up at the accommodating venue of the Mother's Ruin. The theme is "Vintage Velo vs Lycra Lovers" (although we understand that "lycra louts" will not necessarily be turned away either). Park up your steed, quaff some fine Arbor Ale, and shingaling to the grooviest in vintage sounds.

The Two Wheeled Drive In cinema also makes a welcome return for 2011. Vintage Velo-ites of a more dandyish stripe have the chance to show those pesky new romantics what's what at a screening of 80s cheese-fest Lost Boys. Or wearers of the classic tweed can take advantage of their resemblance to Lord Summerisle at a singalong screening (yes, you did read that correctly) of folk horror classic The Wicker Man. Summer is ycumen in, indeed!

Bike Olympics promises to be as thrilling as its Greenwich based namesake, only with a much wider participation and none of that tedious ticket lottery nonsense. Who will triumph at the long jump, the high jump, the mounted shot-put and and egg and spoon? There will also be some contests of speed and bike handling for our knobbly tyred brethren.

For the lonely of heart, Madame Melski's Cycle Speed Dating affords the chance to meet like-minded companions.

The Dundry Drubber is a challenge that will make even the hardiest of velocipedists blanch - an assault on local bete noire Dundry Hill from all four faces. Extra kudos to anyone attempting it on a vintage machine!

The event programme is currently having the finishing touches put to it so please do keep an eye on their website, their Face-tome and their Twitter for further missives.

Photo by Bristolbikes on Flickr

Well, that was marvellous!

2011-04-18T15:50:00.000+01:00

"Rad", "da bomb", "un-fun" and "not sunny enough" are all phrases that could not possibly be used to describe Sunday's inaugural edition of the Bristol Vintage Velo.

The sun shone, the riders came, ginger beer was quaffed, delicious cake was scoffed, lovely scenery was enjoyed, pedal-powered Ella Fitzgerald and the marvellous Hot Potato Syncopators entertained everyone, friendly marshalls ensured everyone's safety and Posh from Taylored Cycles kept even the most motheaten of bicycles rolling smoothly. An enormous round of thanks to everyone involved.

There are some more photos from the day here:

Colin Davies' photos on Flickr

Katie Aartse-Tuyn's photos on Facebook

Billy the Lens' photos on Flickr

Lizzie Thal-Jensen's photos on Facebook

Drew Batchelor's photos on Flickr

Deborah Jones' photos on Facebook

Roger Harbord's photos on Facebook

Martin McDonnell's photos on Facebook

Catherine Hicks' photos on Flickr

Kirsty McGaul's photos on Facebook

Ben from Better By Bike has also made this rather snazzy video. Enjoy!

We're stuffed

2011-04-14T10:07:00.000+01:00

Unfortunately the entry list and the reserve list for the ride are now full. If you know someone who won't be able to attend, drop us an email and we can transfer their entry. Otherwise, that's it!

Unfortunately we can't sell any tickets on the day due to insurance and capacity of the destination venue. If you've not got a ticket and were thinking of "tagging along", please don't for the same reasons.

Spectators for the grande depart are welcome.

No time to make do and mend before Sunday?

2011-04-12T12:24:00.000+01:00

Don't worry, help is at hand. Take your shillings to St Nicks market and avail yourself of a beautiful vintage outfit at Custard House Clothing. Already chosen your finest apparel? You could win a £20 voucher that they have kindly donated to the Vintage Velo grand raffle!

Not only that, but the lovely people at No 1 Harbourside have been good enough to offer a meal for two in their historic waterfront setting, and the Lanes have donated free bowling for a lucky winner and five friends!

Heartfelt thanks to all the local businesses who are supporting the Vintage Velo. Toodle pip!

We're full up!

2011-04-11T14:45:00.000+01:00

It gives us great pleasure to announce that our event has reached capacity. Congratulations to those that got a place, commiserations to those who didn't.

If you would like to be put on the reserve list for the event, or volunteer to help out on the day, send us a missive at Vintageveloride@gmail.com.

Gentlemens guide to looking dapper

2011-04-10T10:36:00.000+01:00

Gentlemen! Read on to create your vintage look...
Moustaches

The lovely chaps from Ape to Gentleman provided this handy guide to all the styles available when supporting the noble cause that is Movemb er:

If you want to grow even more hair on your face, check out this beard maintenance guide

Hair

Don't let the ladies steal all the limelight, there are a few vintage styles guaranteed to turn heads - here are some from Beauty and the Bath:

The Ramon Navarro - The suave centre-parter

The John Barrymore - the slick back master

Wallace Reid - side parting impressario

If you don't wish all that bother styling hair, there are an array of hats you can use:

The Victorian crime fighter

Country weekender

Master Punter

Victorian Commuter

Cautious Mariner

"A handbag!"

2011-04-07T14:58:00.000+01:00

Not just any handbag but a beautiful chocolate affair from the lovely folks at Clifton Cakes who not only make the delicious items, but have kindly donated one for the Vintage Velo raffle!

Tremendous thanks to them, and also to Atmosphere Bikes who have donated a wonderful Keep You Going kit which will probably come in mighty useful for those of you with very vintage velocipedes.

We're also mighty grateful to Motel on Park Street who have promised us a vintage goody bag to raffle - top news for vintage fans! Plus, the lovely Watershed have given us a couple of pairs of tickets to raffle - the lucky winners will be able to enjoy their pick of independent pictures or one of the upcoming Easter family films.

There are even more terrific prizes to be announced so don't forget to bring some great british pounds to support our raffle and hopefully win one of these super prizes.

Cox and Baloney's vintage boutique are on board!

2011-04-06T14:32:00.000+01:00

We're very excited to announce that the lovely ladies from Cox and Baloney's Vintage Boutique will be serving hot drinks and food at the Vintage Velo Village Hall after the ride.

Served on their beautiful vintage china, there will be tea, coffee, a delightful selection of cakes and sandwiches for sale to help raise funds for the Bristol Cycle Festival.
The vintage velo team will also be hosting a bar serving soft and and hard tipples to enjoy whilst you enjoy the entertainment, fun and games.

If you can't wait until then, visit their shop at 182 Cheltenham road (Just down from the Arches, next to Colston girls school) - you can purchase pre-ride vintage clothing and accessories in the boutique and sample thier wares in the tearoom.

Check them out at:

http://coxandbaloney.com/
http://www.facebook.com/coxandbaloney

Bespoked Bristol Handmade Cycle Show

2011-04-04T16:06:00.000+01:00

We're pleased to announce that the Vintage Velo is being supported by Bespoked Bristol, a handmade and boutique bicycle show which will open its doors on 11th and 12 of June.

Come along to the Vintage Velo and you could win a pair of tickets to the launch event. The show features a huge range of exhibitors, including many that give a nod to the beautiful designs of yesteryear, and you'll have a chance to see them all without being jostled by the hoi polloi.

I say, have you bought your ticket yet? Don't miss out!

2011-04-03T13:43:00.000+01:00

What Ho Ladies & Gentlemen!

It is our very great pleasure to announce that the tickets for the Bristol Vintage Velo are selling very quickly

This is a ticketed event - and tickets need to be bought in advance - so don't miss your chance to join in possibly the most civilised event in the calendar!

It's only £5 and all in aid of the Bristol Cycle Festival in September - sign up now and ensure your place on the ride!

The ride will be a 10 mile round trip through the most beautiful country estates near Bristol, with ginger beer stops and games and a village fete in the middle.

For your enjoyment the fete will include entertainment from the Hot Potato Syncopators, interesting games, and sandwiches, cakes, cream teas and the odd alcoholic beverage for those who might like to imbibe.

Make sure you and your chums don't miss out!

Off to polish up the cycle croquet mallets now - Toodle Pip!

Nothing ages like the future

2011-04-01T16:45:00.000+01:00

Nothing ages quite the same way as things were were originally designed to look futuristic, and bicycles are no exception. From adverts that equate cycling to space travel, to bikes designed to tap into the 1980s arcade game craze, we take a look at a few examples of retro-future design.

Space first appears in bicycle adverts, in a sort of neoclassical setting. A cynical observer might conclude that the themes were adopted mostly in order to show pictures of scantily clad ladies:

But there were also adverts that equated a particular brand of bicycle with effortless travel, using space (and bizarre little goblin-men) to drive home the message

By the 1930s, the designers of the actual bicycles were beginning to incorporate space and jet age influences in a very noticeable way.

The Elgin Bluebird was available from the Sears catalogue, and its steel monocoque tubing included a built-in headlamp and speedometer.

The Schwinn Jaguar featured styling that was equal parts chopper and Shopper.

Another Sears product, this time from 1960, the Spaceliner boasted amazing styling - check out that rocket chainguard! These are meant to be hard to find with the original fittings as they used fragile plastic parts.

The most spacey of all space-age bikes - the Bowden Spacelander - was actually designed in Great Britain in 1946, but wasn't produced until 1960. With its fibreglass body it was pretty unwieldy to ride, and only 522 examples were originally produced.

It was however immortalised on a stamp in Vietnam.

By the 1980s, just like pop musicians and stockbrokers, bicycle designers had completely lost the plot. The result was the Raleigh Vektar - a BMX with lots of angular plastic crap bolted to it. Even a built-in radio and an advertorial on Blue Peter couldn't save it from being a commercial failure.

A more respectable modern effort is Tequila Sunrise, by designer Jason Battersby. While the bike geek in me ponders the effective head angle and wonders "Does it even go round corners?", another, louder voice is saying "Who cares?"

If what you've been reading has got you running out to the garage to wrap your bike in tinfoil, you might like to know that there'll be a special prize for the most retro-futuristic conveyance at the Vintage Velo, courtesy of our sponsors HubJub.

Ladies - mind your heads!

2011-03-31T08:59:00.000+01:00

Vintage styled hair - so many options - but what style to wear on your bike?

We have found a few vintage styling tips to get you going tips so your hair can look like Fleur De Guerre (above, left) at diary of a vintage girl who has also written a how-to on her 1940's hairdo

Fancy a different 'do? Here's a beehive guide

How about a simple vintage updo? there's loads more vintage how-to's on youtube

Keeping it a hair do and not a hair don't!

Everyone wants to make sure their perfectly coiffed hair looks look 'tip top' whilst cycling, so these tips may help keep your hairdo in place and not looking like the unfortunate Miss Jones;

Headscarves - These can be a girls best friend - keep your hairdo in place, dry and static free. Be careful how you choose them, you want to look more like the lovely Grace Kelly, and a little less like our dear monarch:

Equally the scarf will protect your hair if you wear it under a helmet, or for those who want a little more protection and style on top, there are this lovely number from Cycle Chic:

The Yakkay helmet cover

Failing that, plenty of hairspray should do the trick, or one of these:

Ride Essentials

2011-03-30T14:56:00.000+01:00

Much as one should never contemplate leaving the house in the morning without a bloody mary or two under one's belt, is utter folly to think about setting out on a bike ride unprepared. What follows is a guide to some of the preparations that you, dear reader, may wish to make before setting off on our expedition.

While anyone attending the Vintage Velo ride in lycra runs the risk of being summarily ejected, a modicum of cycling specific clothing and accessories are recommended.

For the ladies (or those in Highland dress) a skirt guard is a sensible idea. Of course you could always don culottes, or a divided skirt, but these may well attract unwanted male attention.

If you're wondering where to get a skirt guard, the answer is, get an old Dutch lady to crochet you one. Yes, really.

The route features some unsealed surfaces, so in the event of bad weather, we would suggest protecting one's Oxfords with spats.

The dilemma of how to smoke while riding must have occupied many a fertile mind during the later years of the 19th century. Luckily in 1904 Mr Alfred Dunhill solved the problem once and for all with his patented Shield Pipe - described in this 1906 advert as "indispensible to the cyclist".

1970s catalogues are awash with ghastly soft-focus photos of couples enjoying picnics, having ostensibly just bicycled to their destination. It's never clarified how the picnic essentials are actually transported, but thanks to diligent research we now have the answer - a honking great basket, full to the brim with suspiciously unbranded crisps.

Luckily we will be supplying food on the Vintage Velo to avoid this unpleasant rigmarole. We'll also be supplying refreshments en route, perhaps via a similar device to the one pictured below.

Although ours will of course be filled with a fine Madeira, or the vital Oolong, rather than Mr Starbuck's corporate brew.

It's always advisable to have a good supply of spares. Here we see how one enterprising father has delegated his young son to carry tyres for the entire equipe:

Finally, wear a helmet if you must. It's always better to be safe than sorry.

Tip Top entertainment confirmed!

2011-03-22T08:30:00.000Z

Vintage Velo can confirm that tip top chaps the Hot Potato Syncapators will be entertaining the troops at our mystery destination at the end of the ride.

The Hot Potato Syncopators are a comedy swing whoopee band featuring a brace of ukuleles, musical saw and tea-chest bass played by three eccentric English gentlemen.

We're very excited to be able to host their talents. Check them out at http://www.tiptopchaps.com/

Portland Tweed Ride

2011-03-18T13:26:00.000Z

Bike Portland got their tweed fix early this year, with a ride on 5 March. While their attempts to speak the Queen's English are fooling no-one ("cheerio" indeed!) our American cousins do bring a certain insouciance to cycling, which is often sorely lacking in our sceptred isle.

View the full set here.

Historic Cycling Cat Artwork Uncovered

2011-03-17T21:00:00.000Z

It's conventional wisdom that the first LOLCat pictures appeared in 2004, in response to general Internet-induced boredom. However a stash of crudely recaptioned cat photographs dating back as far as 1890 was recently recovered from the attic of a boarding house in Weston-Super-Mare.

Surprisingly, many of the pictures feature cycling as a theme, and we therefore present a selection for your enjoyment.

Classic Vintage riders

2011-03-17T10:49:00.001Z

We're loving the collection of classic filmstars on bikes at Rides a bike blog
Some choice favourites include Marlene Dietrich dressing down for a quick ride and Jacques Tati's pipe 'n' passenger look.

Save the date!

2011-03-14T21:05:00.000Z

Coming soon...

2011-02-13T22:44:00.000Z

Coming in April 2011, the Bristol Cycle Festival Vintage Velo is a formal dress bike ride, inspired by London's Tweed Run, l'Eroica, and the many other events which recognise cycling's rich history.

It's a taster and fundraiser for Bristol's second annual Cycle Festival, this September.

Don your finest cycling garb, polish your most stylish and historic bicycle, and join us for a jolly jaunt out to the countryside .

Date and entry arrangements to follow.