General Rules and Description

Please note that any brand of balance bike may be used and that it must be propelled by the rider alone, no motors. The riders that accumulate the most points in their category over the three races will be crowned the Pinkbike Balance Bike World Champion on Sunday on the main stage.

Riders will receive points for each race on each day with the top 15 in each category receiving the following points:

1st – 100 points, 2nd – 80 points, 3rd 70 points, 4th – 60 points, 5th – 50 points, 6th – 45 points, 7th – 40 points, 8th – 35 points, 9th – 30 points, 10th – 25 points, 11th – 20 points, 12th – 15 points, 13th – 10 points, 14th 5 – points, 15th – 2 points and 16th – 1 point.

Race entries are £15.00 and are payable in advance online and are limited.

Before entering, please note:

– We will happily refund you on your race entry less the booking fee up until 23:00 on Wednesday the 31st of July 2024

– Everyone entering the festival has to purchase a festival ticket to gain entry

– Bring a bike lock and ensure your bike/s when not sat on are locked up at all times

– Bikes should be stored inside your vehicle when not being used (bring an old sheet and remove the wheels if need be). We then highly recommend you bring additional locks and lock the bike up further, even when inside your vehicles. Bring an additional sheet to cover over your bike/s in your vehicle

-You DO NOT need to be a British Cycling Member or hold a race licence to enter

 

-Mountain biking is an inherently dangerous sport with the distinct possibility of severe injuries, or even worse. No matter where you ride or how well you know the course you should never ride beyond your skill level and always ride in control and in a sensible manner. Riding in control does not just mean being able to stop, it also means having the requisite skills to recognise and avoid potentially dangerous situations on the course. You must also be able to recognise where it is safe to stop on the course. Avoiding accidents with other riders is an essential mountain biking skill. Riders must use the course in a sensible manner compatible with their level of experience. Riders should walk the course, observing current ground conditions, making yourself aware of any obstacles prior to riding the course. We ask riders to accept that they will ride the course at their own risk and accept that no liability can be accepted by the event organisers.

Friday 23rd of August - Balance Bike Quad Eliminator

Four riders on the BMX style start gate, elbows out and go! This is action-packed head to head racing down into the main arena. Riders will fire out of the four-man start gate at the same time, battling elbows high into the first corner. The course will be fast and flowing with plenty of passing places for the skilled and the brave. The top two racers from each round will go through to the next heat, a simple elimination format as we head to the super finals! 

Location – In the main arena down the finish straight.

Thursday

15:00 to 20:00 – Race Registration

Friday

08:00 to 09:00 – Race Registration 

09:00 to 10:00 – Practice

10:00 to 11:00 – Racing for girls

11:00 to 13:00 – Racing for boys

Podiums – Straight after racing by the main stage for the top three in each category

 

Saturday 24th of August – Balance Bike Slalom

Racing one at a time down the slalom course, the race is against the clock! This is action-packed racing as riders fire out of the start gate and around the coloured gates. The fastest four from each category will go into the super finals.

The 1st and 2nd fastest riders will be in the A Final. The 3rd and 4th fastest will be in the B final. (B final will run first, the winner will be awarded 3rd place). These super finals will be based on one race, racing dual slalom head to head. Gate pick goes to the rider that qualified fastest. 

Location – Exit the main arena and head up the gravel road for 200 meters, the start is located in the field on the left hand side opposite the bomb hole.

Friday

14:00 to 18:00 – Race Registration 

Saturday

08:00 to 09:00 – Race Registration 

09:00 to 10:00 – Practice

10:00 to 11:00 – Racing for girls, one timed run followed by the super finals

11:00 to 13:00 – Racing for boys, one timed run, followed by the super finals

Podiums – Straight after each final by the main stage for the top three in each category

Sunday 25th of August – Balance Bike Downhill

Downhill is the Formula 1 of mountainbike racing. The purest form of racing with riders racing against the clock. The course will be fast and flowing with plenty of corners for the riders to showcase their skills. 

Location – In the main arena down the finish straight.

Saturday 

14:00 to 18:00 – Race Registration

Sunday

08:00 to 09:00 – Race Registration 

09:00 to 10:00 – Practice for all

10:00 to 12:00 – Racing, one timed run

Podiums – Straight after the boys racing by the main stage for the top three in each category

RACE REGISTRATION

Race Registration / Sign In:

1. Enter online in advance only. There are no on the day entries

2. When entering online, please enter using your childs name. This is very important and a common mistake!

3. Entering one race? You must enter the age category that your child is on the day of the race.

4. Sign in, even though you have entered in advance you must head on over to race registration and ‘Sign In’

5. Race registration will be located in the main arena in the black gazeebos.

6. Head to race registration with I.D for your child that shows their date of birth, we accept birth certificates or passports (non presentation of I.D will mean your child is unable to race) and sign in on behalf of your child and collect their number board, then attach it to the front of your child’s bike prior to the start of practice.

7. Timing is by light beam, no transponders are required

8. If you miss race registration (times/schedule are listed above) your child will not be allowed to either practice or race

RULES AND REGULATIONS

Equipment: The Bicycle can be of any make or brand, though it must be capable of safely and efficiently completing the task and must, as a minimum, be mechanically sound and all reasonable steps must be taken to ensure the safety of the rider and others. As part of the latter, bar plugs are compulsory. Bikes must be a balance bike with no stabilisers. A regular pedal bike with the chain, pedals or cranks removed is not allowed. Brakes are permitted.

Helmets: It is compulsory to wear a protective helmet when racing or training on the course and such helmet must comply with the required safety standards. A full-face helmet is recommended though we will allow an open face helmet to be worn. The helmet must be properly secured in both training and racing. Helmets with a removable chin piece are acceptable, please ensure the chin piece is correctly attached as recommended by the manufacturer. POV cameras are allowed and must be correctly fitted to the helmet.

-During practice, each rider must complete at least two runs of the course to be able to race
-Any rider that misses their start slot/call-up will be disqualified
-Riders must ride around, not over, each gate, with both tyre tracks passing on the outside of each gate. A missed gate (that is not returned to and passed correctly), or a run over a gate, will result in the rider being disqualified.

If you have any questions, please contact the Festival Director Si Paton [email protected] or call/text 07968 229 359.

between 09:00 and 20:00, 7 days a week.