19/06/2026
Proud to be supporting this event!
Pedal Suffolk Cycling Festival 2026
Organised by TPR Events Community Interest Company
Supported by East Suffolk County Council, Adnams, CAMS, Elmy Cycles Ipswich, Madgetts Cycles Diss, Echelon Cycleworks Lowestoft, and Twisted Oaks Cycle Park Brightwell Country Park.
Next weekend, Trinity Park will host the return of the biggest celebration of everyday cycling in Suffolk, the Pedal Suffolk Cycling Festival, featuring some very special guests.
With the Tour de France only days away, local riders will have the opportunity to ride alongside, chat with and gain unique insights into the world's greatest bike race from both a rider's and engineer's perspective.
Essex-born former professional cyclist and 2015 Tour de France rider Alex Dowsett will be joining road riders on Saturday thanks to event sponsors Cycle Accident Management Services (CAMS). In 2015, Alex also broke the World Hour Record, regarded by many as the pinnacle of cycling achievements, and during his professional career won two stages of the Giro d'Italia, competing against some of the sport's biggest names, including Bradley Wiggins at the peak of his powers.
Alex's down-to-earth and relaxed nature means riders and show attendees will have the chance to chat with him, learn what it takes to succeed at the highest level of the sport and perhaps uncover a few hidden-gem anecdotes from his years racing alongside the world's top professionals.
Pedal Suffolk also welcomes another titan of the cycling world on Saturday in another former World Hour Record holder and one of the sport's leading innovators in aerodynamics and technology, Dan Bigham.
With a background in engineering and a relentless focus on aerodynamics and marginal gains, Dan has played a pivotal role in shaping cutting-edge technology within elite cycling. Now Head of Engineering at Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe, Dan works to make some of the sport's top athletes even faster, including current World Time Trial Champion Remco Evenepoel, who he will be working alongside at the Tour de France just days after joining us at the Pedal Suffolk Festival.
Dan, who has made his home in the region, is a passionate cycling enthusiast at heart and is always keen to discuss the engineering and technology that continues to transform the sport.
Saturday also sees the return of PedalRetro, a free-to-attend display show celebrating pre-2000 bicycles, memorabilia and cycling kit. Given Alex's and Dan's backgrounds, it promises to be a fascinating afternoon of nostalgia, shared memories, and discussion, highlighting just how much cycling has evolved over the decades.
Simply bring along a retro machine, give it a polish, put it on display and enjoy chatting with fellow enthusiasts.
At the end of the afternoon, local Ipswich bike shop owner and historic bicycle collector Steve Grimwood of Elmy Cycles will host an informal and free-to-attend "Evening With" session featuring Alex and Dan. Knowing Steve, there will no doubt be some intriguing and humorous questions put to the guests, along with plenty of audience participation.
Saturday's Pedal Suffolk Sportive is a non-competitive cycling event featuring fully signposted routes, inclusive feed stops and professional mechanical support for complete peace of mind. While the longer distances of up to 100 miles attract experienced cyclists seeking a challenge, most riders choose the 25 and 50-mile routes and have all day to complete them at their own pace.
Riders are welcomed back to the event village with a substantial finisher's medal and a refreshing drink from long-term grassroots cycling supporters Adnams.
Local event organisers TPR Events pride themselves on creating events that riders of all ages and abilities can enjoy on all types of bicycles, e-bikes and trikes. Last year alone, their events attracted more than 5,500 riders aged between 11 and 97, who collectively rode over 245,000 miles and burned an incredible 16 million calories.
The festival continues Sunday with The Untamed, a collection of mainly off-road rides using bridleways, byways and quiet country lanes, once again based at Trinity Park.
Each route visits the popular cycling destination Twisted Oaks at Brightwell Country Park, where riders will enjoy a lap of the venue's brand-new cross-country course, suitable for both gravel and mountain bikes. Twisted Oaks has grown significantly in popularity over recent years, and owners James and Mark will be on hand to welcome festival riders and introduce them to the new course.
The Untamed reflects the fast-growing popularity of gravel cycling, where riders can expect to spend much of their ride exploring bridleways and off-road tracks before linking sections together using quieter roads. The event can be completed on a variety of bicycles, although gravel bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes fitted with wider tyres are recommended.
Routes start from 25 miles and are suitable for riders of all ages and abilities. There is no timing involved, riders have all day to complete their chosen route, and everyone receives a bespoke finisher's medal and refreshing Adnams drink upon their return to the event village.
You can join the festival on Saturday for the road-based Pedal Suffolk and PedalRetro events, or on Sunday for The Untamed off-road rides. Full details and entry information can be found at:
https://tprevents.co.uk/pedalsuffolkfestival/
Entry to the PedalRetro display show and the "Evening With Alex and Dan" session is free. Entry to the fully supported and inclusive rides starts from ÂŁ25. On-site camping is also available.
For full details visit:
https://tprevents.co.uk/pedalsuffolkfestival/
Pedal Suffolk Festival is a two-day festival for pre-2000 retro bikes and modern road and gravel bikes with on-site camping, celebrity special guests & live entertainment.
