North West Velo Fest 2016, preview: Ready, steady, go

This popular, free, ten day cycling festival returns to Manchester this month, with some strange and wonderful events to keep those wheels turning.

The North West Velo Fest is aimed at the every day cyclist – as well as those who might feel tempted to start cycling but haven’t yet taken the plunge. Events are pleasantly spread out, taking place over ten days from 3-10 June, and you can dip a wheel into the water as much or as little as you fancy.

The organisers take no responsibility for any chafing that might result

The festival is now in its fifth year and it’s safe to say that the volunteers, who organise it entirely, have it covered when it comes to bringing the fun into cycling. Events this year include a ‘Beer and Deer‘ day of cycling to Dunham Massey (not hunting the aforementioned deer, we hasten to add, just admiring them), there’s a tweed bike ride for the aspiring English country gent or lady, a treasure hunt – taking place on bikes of course, and the infamous ‘Bare as you Dare’ naked mass bike ride. Organisers take no responsibility for any chafing that might result from this one… So take care as you bare.

The North West Velo Fest encourages us to: “Put down your Lycra and pick up your bike! We hear a lot about the negative side of cycling in our city; dodgy bike lanes and clashes between cyclists and drivers. We’d like to show you something different. Come along for free and find beautiful bike routes you didn’t know existed, meet new people and have some fun”. Sounds good to us.