Mildenhall Cycling Club Mini-Fest

Mildenhall Cycling Club Mini-Fest

29th August 2021

Mildenhall Cycling Club have confirmed that with most of the Government’s Covid-19 restrictions relaxed, they are to go ahead and run this year’s Cycling Mini-Fest!

“However, mindful of still taking precautions, it will unfortunately just be a one-day event, as this will make it safer for our visitors and also easier for us to run. We are sorry for the delayed announcement of this decision but we wanted to wait as late as we could so that when we did decide what to do, there would be a large degree of certainty the event will definitely go-ahead.” says Mark Burchett, Chairman of Mildenhall Cycling Club.

The one-day event will take place on Sunday 29th August 2021 based on the West Row Village Hall and playing fields, with its wonderful facilities

Headlining the day of cycling will be the Men’s National 8km Championship on the grass-track, as well as playing host to rounds of the National Endurance and Sprint Leagues.

In the morning will be the Fenland Gravel Time-Trial which is suitable for those aged 16 years or over. Riding individually against the clock over an 18 km course of almost entirely off-road consisting of farm tracks, droves, by-ways and a small section of minor road. This is a unique type of course that only the Fens can offer.

Also taking place during the morning will be some skills events for children. Local cycle retailer KL Cycles, will be on site offering cycle repairs, spares as well as the Highest Watt and Highest Cadence challenges on turbo bikes!

“Sadly, as hard as we tried, there just wasn’t a safe way of holding the Cycle Jumble in the village hall, without putting our visitors at risk in the current covid-19 climate.  However, in view of this, we will welcome visitors and competitors to buy/sell from their vehicles. There won’t be a charge, but anyone doing so will be encourage to make a donation to the event, subject to them making a sale!” added Mr Burchett

Although camping on site will is no longer available, West Row has three campsites and the organisers are very much encouraging regular visitors to previous events to still come and spend the weekend in Suffolk cycling and at the Mini-Fest.

Day admission is by donation and this includes free day parking.

The Festival and its predecessor the Cycling Rally, have always attracted many up-and-coming names from the world of cycling including the Mildenhall Club’s very own Golden Member Victoria Pendleton CBE who was a multi-Olympic and World Champion before retiring and more recently Laura Kenny CBE, who has just become Great Britain’s most successful female Olympian winning five gold medals so far in a glittering career.

Other well-known cyclists to have ridden at Mildenhall before going onto international fame include Welsh starlet Nicole Cooke MBE, Ben Swift, Jason Kenny OBE and Steve Burke MBE.

Further details of the Mini-Fest will be available at www.mildenhallfestival.bike