Malverns Classic 2025

[boy"O"boy]

More race pics from the hill.

 

[xcstu]

What a cracking weekend at the Malverns!! Camped from the Thursday with the family and they haven't stopped talking about it haha I had wished to race the retro xc but fork rebuild came back just in time and lack of retro parts turned into a resto mod and used as the pit bike all weekend have a very soft spot for the event as raced in the 90s and both grand parent lived either side of the malvern hills so like our 2nd home!




always great to see the retro gear but the highlight had to be the JMC tent.. remember well him turning up at the Malverns on his Harley and the crowds round him

 

[xcstu]

 

[retrobikeguy]

 

[GT-TJR]

Looks like another great edition of the retro show. Unfortunately I couldn't justify the ticket price this year. Which is a shame as I live in Malvern and have ridden my retro over the hills to the event for the last three years. Plus without GT/Retro GT or Hans Rey it was less appealing for me.

I hope the organisers can re think their pricing for next year as they risk killing it.

 

[xcstu]

 

[retrobikeguy]

 

[retrobikeguy]

I have to say the judges were spoilt for choice, a really good selection of early steeds were on display and most in their own right were worth a prize, my favourites were the alu O, a red Mercian and my winner based on what we could all afford was the really tidy GT tequesta.
It would be really nice to see more of the run of the mill affordable classics next year

Overall I know it's expensive, but it's worth it to see lots of great people again, some nice bikes, eat, drink and be merry in a like minded community..... For some, this IS their holiday.

Roll on York festival next year for the next community meet

 

[al-onestare]

Right, I think I've cleared my lungs and ears of dust. This is my personal take so please take it as such I was very fortunate to be on the Kona stand again.

Overall, a mixed bag compared with previous years, but a positive experience. In summary, if you've never been before, I do recommend going once to soak it all in. There's nothing else like it in the UK, and for that we should be grateful. If you've been before, then definitely have a good think about what you want to get out of it and see if the offered experience meets your expectations and budget.

Good stuff:

- Vastly improved food selection. Big-up Deathrow sandwiches that were top-tier and meant we didn't live on circular food for 4 days
- Great day-time vibes. The positivity is off the scale and a pleasure to be in and around. It's wonderful meeting and chatting about bikes, the culture, both new and old. It was ace to put some old names here to faces
- XC race. A personal highlight. Proper fun, nice little course and great to ride our toy bikes as they were intended. I met my goal of a top 15 finish...but it could have been much better (see next section)
- The organisation and placement of the show 'n shine. Whilst I couldn't see it during the day, it was ace to come back from the Enduro runs and see a proper structure and great spot for all to see and hear about our old bikes. It just shows what some good thinking and planning can do. More of this please!
- The Jason McRoy stand. 11/10 for the people and the artifacts. Top-tier.
- Security. Definitely felt the best it's been, and it wasn't that bad before.
- The weather. Total score on that but blimey it was dusty!

Rubbish stuff:

- The day ticket prices. I won't repeat what I've said already. The evidence was clear to see for everyone. Sunday did pick-up a bit thanks to the show 'n shine, but it still wasn't anywhere near as busy as last year.
- Lack of major bike brands. Kona, Cannondale, Atherton, Orbea. I think that was it. That says a lot about the industry, and where the festival is heading. I'm not knocking the smaller and boutique brands; it's great they are there. Like life, we need a healthy mix.
- Gasser Diaries. Honestly, I get the schtick, good for the kids and teens. Not knocking that. I'm looking at the adults who should know better. I'll leave it at that.
- The entertainment. It's the same. Again. A "best (worst) of" from the past 4 years.
- Racing and the riders pass. If you've entered a race at a cost, why on earth should you have to pay for a riders pass as well? That's obnoxious.
- The Enduro. £40 for 5-7 minutes total racing. Please. That's daylight robbery considering the number of entrants. Outrageous pricing. Then there's the course design. The leap from stage 1 to 2 and 3 is absurd. Stage 2 was the worst design I've ever experienced and showed a total lack of thought about the conditions. It was extremely lucky no-one was seriously injured.
- Showers and shitters. It's 2025. We don't need to live like it's 1604. With so many good events across the year, increasingly folks know what's possible, at a local level through to national big ticket festivals. Having just 20 showers, 10 at each end, is far too few. The bogs are appalling; this was the first time shit was overflowing.
- My racecraft. Easing up on the line and being pipped to 14th in XC was as stupid as it sounds.

And that leads me to the overall point. As prices rise what's going to evolve and keep interest high enough for folks to part their cash to attend? Take a look at the festival from 2021 to date: it's copy/paste. Will we/I be back? It's very much up in the air.

Not many pic's as it was all hands to the stand-pump and racing.

I was ready for another few laps

Ringers...didn't leave as amateurs any chance!

 

[baron von greenback]

Looks fun had by all some really nice bikes think I can see a couple of people's on here well done orange on the win Jesus's 2 prototypes you done something right mate them manitous are they new builds that there selling don't like them not a sniff on the originals but each to there own