The P&P World Cycling Revival has been revealed to an audience in London, with the event being billed as the greatest celebration of the bicycle the world has ever seen.
The World Cycling Revival, held 14th-16th June 2018, will be a high-end heritage sporting, music and lifestyle festival celebrating 200 years of the bicycle. The event is set in the halcyon days of the Herne Hill Velodrome, when it hosted the London 1948 Olympics, and the event’s patrons will be invited to wear vintage themed clothing throughout the whole festival.
It is a brand new event that combines the important cultural and societal impact of the bicycle with a celebration of the nation’s love for two wheels.
The event’s various sporting, lifestyle and musical activities will create an intoxicating atmosphere that will make attendance at the event an absolute must for any fan of cycling or heritage events. The event aims to become an annual highlight of the summer social and sporting calendar; creating the best hospitality experience in the sport of cycling.
The Herne Hill velodrome will host a full programme of racing including a Japanese Keirin Trophy where guests can place bets, via Fitzdares, on the five races each day. London bicycle brand Condor Cycles, founded in 1948, will provide steel framed Keirin bikes built with Japanese Keirin-style components.
The programme will also feature The Brompton 48 Invitational race, a brand new event, where winner takes all; riders, including former professional cyclist David Millar, will race to claim a £10,048 prize pot. Penny Farthing racing, derny and stayer racing will also take place
Event guests will be able to explore a huge array of exhibition space, featuring extensive interactive and engaging displays, which will transport them through the history of this wonderful invention. Exhibitions will include the History of the bicycle, run in partnership with The National Cycle Museum. A number of other must-do experiences will be unveiled on the day by some of the Festival’s major partners, such as Exodus Travel.
Speaking at the event launch, cycling commentator and author, Ned Boulting, said: “The Herne Hill velodrome is a magical place esteemed in history, which has a special place in my heart. I can’t think of a better venue to host a huge celebration of all things cycling; one that’ll appeal to cycling purists, vintage enthusiasts and anyone who enjoys a great and different day out.”
Joining Boulting at the launch was David Millar and Graeme Obree. The revival was launched at Cahoots, a secret bar unearthed in Soho, where guests are transported back in time, to post-war 1940s and to a disused underground tube station featuring dazzling cocktails, swing dancing and sing-a-longs around an old piano. Cahoots joins the impressive line up of hospitality partners, aiming to put on the best show that cycling has ever seen.
Joining them are Fuller’s, Pommery Champagne and Fever Tree – who will also be on hand to help guests enjoy the revival in style. The event is expected to be the largest hosted at Herne Hill since the 1948 Olympics and is run with the support of Herne Hill Velodrome Trust.
John Postlethwaite, Founder of The P&P World Cycling Revival, said: “We’re very excited to launch The P&P World Cycling Revival today. This is an event like no other for cycling and we’re delighted to be working with Herne Hill in creating the greatest celebration of the bicycle the world has ever seen.”
Speaking at the event, Graeme Obree said “There are tracks like Herne Hill, the same size, but they’re not the same to me. What I remember from 25 years ago at Herne Hill is the intensity and the atmosphere from thousands of people in the crowd. To me this track is London, it’s the heart of the action, it’s London’s velodrome. I want to be there to feel the vibrancy and the energy again”. Obree will be re-building is his “Old Faithful bike” which will be displayed at the festival and aptly re-named “Bold Faithful”.