Long distance road cyclists have been catered for at this year’s Cream o’ the Croft Mountain Bike Festival (Friday 15 to Sunday 16 June 2018), supported by EventScotland – part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. They can look forward to the new ‘Breadalbane 160’, a 160km Audax. Riders of the Breadalbane 160 will head out from the event village at Comrie Croft, Braincroft, Perthshire, at 09.00 on Saturday 16 June 2018 to take on this 100-mile non-competitive, time-limited long distance ride out.

 

An Audax is non-competitive cycle ride, with distances as long as 1400km. Cyclists have a maximum speed and a minimum speed they must adhere to while riding the route.   The idea is to complete the miles whilst enjoying the cycling and sense of achievement at the end. Cyclists are self-sufficient, carrying their own repair kit and food. There are no feed stations along the route, as with more competitive cycling events, although organisers must ensure that routes pass places where riders are able to buy food and drink. If this is not possible then refreshments must be provided.

 

Emily Greaves, organiser of the Breadalbane 160, said: “Cream o’ the Croft will host its first ever Audax next Saturday, the ‘Breadalbane 160’. For the uninitiated an Audax is a long distance cycling event which uses timed checkpoints along the route. Although short by Audax standards, the ‘Breadalbane 160’ will not be a walk in the park. It will take riders through some of the most stunning scenery Perthshire has to offer. Starting at Comrie Croft the Audax will head West along Loch Earn before turning towards Killin and Glen Lyon described by Sir Walter Scott as the “Longest, loneliest and loveliest glen in Scotland”. With two Audax Altitude Award points it also has a plenty of climbing including cycling over the picturesque Glen Quaich road which is 522m above sea level at its highest point. Riders will finish to the sounds of the festival in full swing and be able to relax knowing they earnt their post ride beer!”

 

There are loads of landmarks and viewpoints on the Breadalbane 160 route that include Loch Earn and Loch Tay and a superb climb past the Ben Lawers Range over into Glen Lyon. From Amulree cyclists ride through the Sma’ Glen (small glen) which has a great downhill section. In Glen Lyon riders must also stop at the post office/tea room, a real destination café, to have their cards stamped. They will also stop in Aberfeldy, the last stop to refuel before Glen Quaich. A full route guide is attached.

 

Aaron Gray from Muckmedden Events, organisers of the Cream o’ the Croft Festival, said: “With an Audax UK AAA (Audax Altitude Awards) certification, this is sure to be a challenging but rewarding day on Highland Perthshire’s most iconic roads for all our riders, with some stunning locations and spectacular views to cherish en route.”

 

Cream o’ the Croft – ‘Scotland’s Mountain Bike Festival’ – is not only a festival of mountain bike racing for all ages, it is also a music festival with camping and fun activities and a gourmet food and drink festival, all crammed into one unbelievable family-friendly entertainment weekend; and its all within an hour’s drive of Glasgow, Edinburgh, Stirling and Perth. It is a perfect weekend for lovers of the outdoors, both on and off the bike at Comrie Croft, the award-winning green tourism destination, mountain bike trail centre (and onsite bike shop).

Audax is a non-profit association where individual event organisers do so out of the love for the sport and as a volunteer.

 

Tickets for the Breadalbane 160 Audax are either £15 (and include a Saturday festival pass) or £35 (and include a weekend festival pass). A camping pass is extra.

Audax UK members can enter here: http://www.aukweb.net/events/detail/18-144/

 

Non-Audax members can enter here: http://www.muckmedden.co.uk/event/cotc2018

 

The Breadalbane 160 route map can be viewed here – https://gb.mapometer.com/cycling/route_4689496.html

Ends

 

Media contact:

Paddy Cuthbert | Littlehouse Media | E: [email protected] | M: +44 (0)7913 951717

 

Please contact Paddy Cuthbert if you would like to arrange to attend either The Cream o’ the Croft for an event feature.

 

Notes to Editors:

Cream o’ the Croft Mountain Bike Festival will be staged at Comrie Croft, Braincroft, by Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland PH7 4JZ – situated between Crieff and Comrie on the A85 – from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 June 2018.

 

For more information about Cream o’ the Croft Mountain Bike Festival and to purchase festival passes and race entries go to https://www.muckmedden.co.uk/our-events/cream-o-the-croft/. All Cream o’ the Croft attendees must have either a Festival Pass or a Race Entry. If you’re looking to stay overnight, you also need a camping pass (unless you’ve paid for an accommodation upgrade).

 

A highly entertaining Cream o’ the Croft promotional video, filmed at the venue earlier in the year with the Beast from the East taking a lead role, has recently been released – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-B1zyZUAds.

 

Highlights of Cream o’ the Croft Mountain Bike Festival include:

 

Biking

• Pumptrack Challenge & Bunny Hop competition
• “The Breadalbane 160” – a brand-new Audax road ride which will showcase the very best roads and views of Highland Perthshire. https://db.tt/AcH7snU55m
• COTC Enduro – Multi-stage Enduro (age 12+) using every inch of trail on offer in a bid to find the “Cream o’ the Croft”
• Toddler Bike Racing and open Sessions – (in)famous Toddler Bike Racing (under 6)
• Monster Balance Bike Challenge #yoyp2018 – https://www.muckmedden.co.uk/event/monsterbb/
• Mini Enduro – (age 6-13) – small version of the big race

 

Gourmet Food and drink

Cream o’ the Croft has always been about showcasing the best locally-sourced food and drink too, so once again Comrie delicatessen Hansen’s Kitchen and Comrie Croft’s own Tea Garden will team up with many of Scotland’s finest food and drinks producers to serve up all manner of delicious locally-sourced edibles over the three days. Title sponsors Black Isle Brewery will ensure beer lovers are well catered for by serving up an assortment of organic craft ales at the bar, to compliment an array of local spirits and fresh juices.

 

Cream o’ the Croft Velo Village

The event Velo Village will include stalls and bike related activities for festival goers to participate in and enjoy. There will be lots of ‘non-bikey’ stuff too, for little and big kids alike, with an emphasis on hands-on fun for everyone. Giant Water Slide, Petting Zoo, Bushcraft, Funky Mountain, Circus Workshops, live music and a silent disco, etc.

 

For little and big kids

• Remake Craft Workshops – Make cool stuff from household waste
• Smoothie Bikes – Make a fruit smoothie using your own pedal power!
• Giant Waterslide
• Mechanical Rodeo Bull – Age 8+
• Magical Fairy Trail – Kids follow clues around the fairy forest to get a prize at the end.
• Bouncy Castle
• Face Painting, Henna Tattoos & Hair Feathers
• The Funky Mountain – For 6 +. Conquer a family friendly obstacle course that has you climbing, crawling and running on all fours, all while being blasted by funky colour powder. An hour of fantastic fun.
• Nature Stories and Craft Workshop – Sit down for a nature-based story and then venture into the woods to find natural materials to make some of the characters from the book.
• Adventure Circus Workshops and circus show – Learn circus skills such as ribbons, juggling and trapeze and then marvel at the pros in action!
• Active Glen Quad Pods – A train of two-wheeled pods, towed behind a Quad bike.
• Active Glen Segways – Off-road Segway tours around Comrie Croft.

 

Health and Wellbeing

• The Kilted Coaches talk about mindset principles that promote good health, followed by a Q&A session
• Yoga Taster Sessions
• Swedish Massage and Remedial and Sports Massage
• Guided Trail/Hill Running – A selection of guided trail runs leaving from Comrie Croft.
• Pedal Powered Cinema (showing This Way Up, a film about mountain bike guide Andy McKenna’s life coping with Multiple Sclerosis)

 

Live Music

• Steel Band Workshop – Saltire Steel Band (Crieff High School) bring some Caribbean sunshine to COTC by providing live music on the Low Meadow. Learn how to play a steel drum in the steel band workshop sessions!
• Chitterybite Ceilidh – Family Ceilidh in the Hay Barn
• The Bullet Holes (TBC) – Comrie-based country rockers with swag.
• Banjo Lounge 4 – Old skool hip-hop with a touch of tweed.
• Colonel Mustard & The Dijon 5 – Colourful, playful, bonkers Scottish headliners!
• Silent Knights Silent Disco – DJ’s battle on wireless headphones! Those without headphones hear no music, giving the effect of a room full of people dancing to no sound at all!

 

Event Organiser:

Muckmedden Events – http://www.muckmedden.co.uk

 

Partners and supporters 

• Comrie Croft http://www.comriecroft.com/
• Perth and Kinross Council https://my.pkc.gov.uk/
• EventScotland eventscotland.org/

 

About EventScotland

EventScotland is working to make Scotland the perfect stage for events. By developing an exciting portfolio of sporting and cultural events EventScotland is helping to raise Scotland’s international profile and boost the economy by attracting more visitors. For further information about EventScotland, its funding programmes and latest event news visit www.EventScotland.org. Follow EventScotland on Twitter @EventScotNews.

 

EventScotland is a team within VisitScotland’s Events Directorate, the national tourism organisation which markets Scotland as a tourism destination across the world, gives support to the tourism industry and brings sustainable tourism growth to Scotland. For more information about VisitScotland see www.visitscotland.org or for consumer information on Scotland as a visitor destination see www.visitscotland.com.

 

Cream o’ the Croft Sponsors:

 

TITLE

• Black Isle Brewery https://www.blackislebrewery.com/

 

GOLD

• Comrie Croft Bikes –http://www.comriecroftbikes.co.uk/
• Fibrax – http://fibrax.org/
• Ultimate Sports Engineering http://www.ultimatesportsengineering.com/
• Progression Bikes https://www.progressionbikesscotland.com/
• MSC Tires) https://terraventure.co.uk/msctires/

 

SILVER

• The Famous Grouse Experience https://thefamousgrouse.com/
• Frog Bikes https://www.frogbikes.com/
• Craigdon Mountain Sports Perth http://www.craigdonmountainsportsperth.com/
• Highland Coffees http://www.highlandcoffees.co.uk/
• Haglofs http://www.haglofs.com/gb/en-gb/

 

BRONZE

• Horizon Watches http://www.horizonwatches.co.uk/
• Silent Knights http://www.silent-knights.co.uk/
• The Cycle Jersey http://www.thecyclejersey.com/
• Wigwam Socks https://www.wigwam.com/
• SOLE https://secure.yoursole.com/us/
• BQI Insurance bqigroup.com/bqi-insurance/

 

About Year of Young People 2018

• A global first, YoYP 2018 is a part of the Scottish Government’s themed-year programme which focuses on celebrating Scotland’s greatest assets.
• A year-long programme of events and festivals are taking place across the whole of the country for all ages to enjoy, led by EventScotland part of VisitScotland’s Events Directorate. More information at www.visitscotland.com/yoyp2018
• Local authorities, schools, youth groups and organisations are running their own YoYP 2018 activity. Search #YOYP2018 on Twitter for the latest news.
• Young people co-designed the Year. A group of young leaders, Communic18, lead on all key decision making. More than 500 Ambassadors based across every local authority are championing activity.
• The Year is delivered in partnership between the Scottish Government, VisitScotland and EventScotland – part of the VisitScotland Events Directorate, Young Scot, Scottish Youth Parliament, Children in Scotland, YouthLink Scotland and Creative Scotland.
• More information can be found at http://yoyp2018.scot/, searching @YOYP2018 #YOYP2018 on Twitter or by emailing [email protected]