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bristol's vintage
bicycle jamboree
•Sun may 3rd•
About
The Gert Lush is a vintage cycle event that lets you step back in time in the company of like-minded souls. We celebrate the collective joy of riding bikes through the magnificent Somerset countryside with two sportive rides and a free kids’ ride.
Our aim is to bring the past to life and, for 2020 we’re providing themed entertainment and surprises to mark the 75th anniversary of
Victory in Europe Day 1945.
Come as you will, wearing whichever outfits you prefer from any era, riding any bikes but full carbon, though feel free to embrace
in costume and attitude the collective joy that marked the outbreak
of peace on VE Day – May 1945.
After the rides kick back and mingle at our Street Party finale.
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Early bird offer: The first five riders who can email info@gertlush.com with photographic evidence of a pre-1945 bike that they'll ride, with costume will receive free entry to The Gert Lush 2020!
what's in a theme?
For this year we’ve introduced a theme, VE Day 1945.
We’ve chosen this because it’s the 75th anniversary of The Liberation Of Europe
1945 in May 2020 and this gives us the chance to celebrate peace and the rapprochement that was felt at the end of the Second World War. We’re not encouraging militarism, rather acknowledging the sacrifice of many during that period and the joy of an end to conflict.
The VE Day theme allows us to focus entertainment, refreshments, and our street party finale on that moment in time and have a bit of nostalgic fun on the day. We’d love people to embrace the theme but are very happy for anyone to turn up in whatever era bike and kit they prefer. The only proviso - no full carbon bikes!
Please feel free to contact us with suggestions for themes for the future years.
The rides
Embrace vintage fun on journeys through time and space.
65 miles and 3420
feet of climbing.
A glorious bike ride from the edge of Bristol and across the Chew valley to the Mendip Hills and Cheddar Gorge via the Somerset Levels
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The Gert Lush
34 miles and 1791
feet of climbing.
A leisurely cycle ride past the Chew valley Lakes to the foot of the Mendips with a saunter back along The Strawberry Line and home.
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The Roight Lush
A free fancy dress bike ride for kids accompanied by parents and escorted by our Land Girl Chaperones. Four glorious miles along mostly traffic free tarmac cycle paths suitable for five to nine year olds.
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The Babba Lush
our proud
sponsors
vintage bike hire
Glory Days Bikes, a wonderful vintage bike hire company, will be attending The Gert Lush and will be bringing some rather lovely vintage bikes to rent.
Click here to book and specify your hire is for The Gert Lush
bespoked
Bespoked, the rather glorious UK Handmade Bicycle Show is running in Bristol over the same weekend as The Gert Lush. Bespoked, for those who don’t know, is the UK’s best celebration of handmade bicycles & those who make them. There’s vintage bikes and the best of modern steel and titanium, with even some carbon on display.
We’d encourage all our riders to pop into Bespoked on the Friday or Saturday and then come along to The Gert Lush on Sunday. Likewise, any Bespoked visitors, or exhibitors, who fancy coming along with us on the Sunday are more than welcome. We’d like to make The Gert Lush a place where modern steel and titanium find a place to ride and be of help in keeping the long lineage of bespoke frame building alive and kicking.
CONTACT
Drop us a line and we’ll get back to you.
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Volunteers please get in touch – you’re more than welcome to help out with roles including marshalling, registration and with the street party.
Anyone wishing to have a stall at The Gert Lush finale please also use the below form.