13 replies to this topic

[crow]

Hi all,

I've been taking a bike to glasto for the last few years, mainly to use as a pack-mule (whack all your stuff on it and push to your tent - much easier than a trolley) but also to bomb back to the car, pop around site at double speed.

First couple of years I took a small fold-up bike (as that was all i had at home) and my brother took his BMX. Now I take a full size (700c wheels) ladies town bike.

I don't really use paniers etc. Just pop my rucksack on and gaffa tape anything else to the bike, or just pile everything on the bike.

Far less chance of it breaking than a trolley. You prob already have one or can get one from ebay for less than a trolley. Great to have on site.

All you need is room in the car or a cheapo bike rack.

Anyway if anyone has any questions about bikes on site let me know - happy to help - always seem to get accosted by loads of randoms when i am there shocked you can bring a bike in, so thought I'd try to remind people up front!

[posthuman]

I know a lot of crew use them to get around site before the doors open on Wednesday, but my presumption had always been that once the site's open, it's too crowded for using a bike to be much of an advantage... what's your view?

[crow]

No it's fine really - have to pick your times.

I usually lock it to a flag pole nearish my tent, or simply lock it to itself and leave it in my tent (the years I took a big tent). You can put it in the lock-ups if you want to just use it as a trolley.

I'd say though - apart from using it to get between stages when the music is on (which would be madness) it's nearly always rideable. I usually use it to pop back to the car once or twice (since it's so fast), journeys to the lock-ups, visiting mates in far flung parts of the site.

Wed and Thursday at the easiest days to ride all day, but can still use the bike in most parts away from the pyramid every day, and obviously in the middle of the night it's perfect.

With a bike like mine or a mountain bike you sould also be ok in light mud, or at least it will be better than a trolley!

[Mackem]

I did this in about 2002/3. We were staying off site, parked up at that pub on the main road near East Pennard and cycled in. I found it a lot of hassle, to be honest. It was surprisingly easy to get around the site (particularly in retrospect, now I know the site better and know how crowded it can get), but you were stuck with the bloody thing when you didn't want it. We resorted to leaving the bikes at the Lock Up and picking up at the end of the night.

[crow]

Yup - you can always ditch them. Last year I rode them to Arcadia most nights and left them there until the morning - or rode back when it was dead in the middle of the night. Depends on how much you like cycling - and how much your bike it worth. Unlikely to get nicked anyway, but mine is doubly unlikely as it looks shart (but is actually quite nice).

[Lish Bish]

never mind cycling AROUND glastonbury, what about cycling TO glastonbury???
http://www.glastonbu...ng-here/by-bike
http://www.powwow-pe....uk/glastonbury
special bicycle lock up this year, near yellow gate, cyclists' campsite and lots of other perks for bikey types!

[markeee]

crow, on 26 May 2011 - 03:27 PM, said:

Yup - you can always ditch them. Last year I rode them to Arcadia most nights and left them there until the morning - or rode back when it was dead in the middle of the night. Depends on how much you like cycling - and how much your bike it worth. Unlikely to get nicked anyway, but mine is doubly unlikely as it looks shart (but is actually quite nice).

I'd have thought cycling to Arcadia or any of the late night areas would be a real pain

Last year there was some guy in the crush/jam/queue to shangri-la who had a bike, bit annoying as at that time it was just too busy for a bike to be there, he caught me with the pedals too - simply not enough room at the busy/crowded times when it's gridlock!

As you say about getting nicked, that would be part of my worry, i'd leave it soemwhere and either forget where, or it'd get nicked or some morons would trash it (i know 99% of people wouldn't but it only takes 1 twat)

Edited by markeee, 29 May 2011 - 12:12 AM.

[crow]

Yeah - by rode to Arcadia I mean i went over that way early (missing the headliner, when it was still quiet. Cycling in the crush would be pointless. But if you are leaving at 6am after a wicked night in the madness, then cycling back to your camp is well easy.

Still, I find it's main use it to get stuff too and from the car, quickly and easily.

[ianianian]

Definitely says in the fine guide that bikes aren't allowed on site, maybe that's a new rule for this year, maybe it's like the sky lantern ban and just not enforced very well.

[pie_and_a_pint]

Really? The Fine Guide in previous years said bikes WERE allowed on site. Would be odd to change the rules.

[Mackem]

ianianian, on 08 June 2011 - 02:40 PM, said:

Definitely says in the fine guide that bikes aren't allowed on site, maybe that's a new rule for this year, maybe it's like the sky lantern ban and just not enforced very well.

I've looked all the way through and can't see any mention of it. Whereabouts in the FG?

[staggerlee]

My cousin is cycling up from France, wearing a suit all the way too, for charity.

Edited by staggerlee, 08 June 2011 - 04:36 PM.

[ianianian]

It says on http://www.glastonbu...ng-here/by-bike
"However your bike will not be able to be used on site."
under the "Making your own way" section.

Although on reading that again I am not sure if it applies only to the Team Tor arrangements. Maybe their lockup is outside the superfence and that's what it means. It's not very clear.

Edited by ianianian, 12 June 2011 - 12:11 AM.

[geebus]

I've perhaps taken the concept a step further

Still a lot easier and quicker than walking, despite being able to easily take 4x as much at least!

I wouldn't use the site for getting around when the festival's on 'proper'.
However, for getting about on generally on Wednesday (without the trailer) and some bits of Thursday, it's fine.
Also, generally quite useful for getting too/from your vehicle in the mornings, where it's generally still a load quicker.  More of a nusicane to others once you get past midday, definitely on Friday/Saturday/Sunday, so don't use it then.

Also good for scooting around on Monday - find some bargains in shops packing up, etc .

Edited by geebus, 12 June 2011 - 05:46 PM.