Crickley Flyers Go-ride races for 2026 take place on 22nd March, 28th June, 27th September and 29th November.
Unsure of whether it’s for you?
Find out more here, whether you’re a first-time racer or you’ve raced before but are new to FlyUp 417 Bike Park.
What am I signing up for?
Go-ride is an introductory race series, with categories for different age groups and genders, so you’ll only ever compete against your peers in the same demographic. You’ll get two timed runs down a specified trail and access to the bike park all day. There are 4 Crickley Flyers Go-ride races at FlyUp417 Bike Park during the year and if you compete in at least 3 of them, you’re also able to compete for the overall championship league table (there’s no extra racing involved in this, but the points you earn in each individual race go towards the annual championship standings).
How are the categories split?
We have 16 categories:
- U7 girls
- U7 boys
- U9 girls
- U9 boys
- U11 girls
- U11 boys
- U13 girls
- U14 boys
- U16 girls
- U16 boys
- U19 girls
- U19 boys
- U34 women
- U34 open
- 35+ women
- 35+ open
If you have a child who will tip into the next category during the race season, they will compete in the higher category from the start of the year. For example, a 10 year old who will turn 11 in June will compete in U13 from the start of the race season.
Do I get any practice runs?
You can book in on the days prior to the race day to get some practice in, and we have race prep sessions available on the Saturday prior to a Sunday race. These can all be booked on our website. As you also get bike park entry for the day of the race, you can continue riding in between your races (we tend to do one in the morning and another after lunch). However, the trail we’re using for racing will be closed to riders who are not competing in the live race, so you won’t be able to use that trail between races. If you’d like to use the uplift, you’ll have to book that separately on the website – get in there early as we usually fill up fast.
How many people will I be competing against?
We don’t cap individual categories so in the more popular categories, which tend to be the Under 13 Boys and Under 16 Boys, there may be 20 or more riders. However, we do cap the overall number of racers to ensure a better experience for all, so you should be able to access uplift runs in a timely fashion if you have booked a spot on the bus.
What time is the bike park open on the day of the race?
We open from 7.30am for registration and practice runs can be taken once you’ve registered. The bike park closes at 5pm, and during winter DST hours, we stop our uplift at 4pm due to failing light. There should be no riders on the hill after this time.
Can I ride down with my little ripper?
We do not allow parents or carers to ride down with their little ones during the timed runs, but we can provide a chaperone to ride down with them if required – this will be one of our coaches.
If you’d like to tow your child up the push up path or want to ride with them during race day outside of the timed runs, you’ll need to have a valid session pass for the day too, either for the Uplift or a General Admission pass.
Will there be refreshments?
Yes, our café will be open from 7.30am serving hot and cold food and drinks. For breakfast, we serve bacon and sausage baguettes then for lunch, we have stone-baked pizzas, jacket potatoes, baguettes and pastries available on race days. We also make awesome coffee and milkshakes.
Where can we stay?
If you would like to make a weekend of it but aren’t local, there are quite a few places to stay nearby. The nearest is the Premier Inn at Little Witcombe, which is less than two minutes’ drive from our bike park. They will allow you to take bikes into your room, which is great for secure bike storage. You might want to make sure your muddy wheels have been washed off! There’s a pub next door for dinner and breakfast too.
There are also numerous campsites locally that we recommend. Try Star Glamping at Ullenwood for relatively basic facilities, or try Cherry Tree Glamping at Sheepscombe or Big Skies Cotswold Glamping at Seven Springs for a more comfortable experience. You can get an electric hook up for your own van or bring your own tent to these sites too.
All sounds great, how do I book?
Go to British Cycling and select one of our Crickley Flyers races, then click ‘enter’. It’s as simple as that. We’re confident you’ll love it and want to ride in the next race…and the next race…and the next!