Big Chill By Bike
The MRCC are planning a UK tour in the summer if 2008, where the cinema will not only be powered by bikes, but transported by them too. Eight members of the MRCC are undertaking the 140 mile journey from Cambridge to the Malvern hills in three days as a little test trip, to see if they can cut it on the open road. There are concerns about the possibility that bicycles will need to be swapped for boats, however morale is high upon departure and the odd puddle can only add to the fun!
This is the story of their little trip.
Day 1 - Friday 27th July
Thankfully the sun was shining for our comrades on day one. However Dafydd was reported missing shortly after departing Cambridge. After some hard riding and a sneaky beer stop the remaining seven arrived in Woburn and settled down for their first night on the road, with a campfire and some beer, but still without Dafydd!
Nice pipe Barbora
“two hours in. Brutal face wind. Dry. Happy. Bit of a dull road. Babs pirate flag flying. Beer stop. Tanning nicely. People getting used to the weight” - Andy
“Ah, fire, beer and rest” - Ben
Day 2 - Saturday 28th July
Another scorching day for the team on day two with Dafydd back in tow and 55 miles of open road ahead.
Ben chowing down some tasty looking breakfast
“Found coffee. Found dafyd. Good breakfast. Planning on 55 miles today, done one and a half so far. Sunny. Less wind. Ben dreaming of lunch time pint. About to bypass milton keynes. Looks like it’s going to be a corking day” - Andy
“Expected two inches if rain and flooding, found an awesome hay barn just outside Morton which gave us our slap up meal. Everyone happily tired and ready to watch the storms” - George
Day 3 - Sunday 29th July
An exciting day as many of the roads were closed to traffic and some even to bikes. This added a very painful extra 10miles onto the journey for Krystl and Barbora’s poorly knees. Thankfully out team make it safely to the big chill before sunset where they be playing house until the festival begins on Friday. As a reaction to life on the road Shaun sports a new, more aerodynamic hair do!
Julie’s Mexican safety gear awaits her
More lunchtime beer!
Sunset over the site
“On the road, good breakfast. Dry. Spent night in abandoned barn. 30 miles to do today. Easy. Just finished a brutal hill. Pip-pip” - Andy
“Tewkesbury. 15 miles to go. No water here because of floods. About to head out. Road closed to cars. Bikes and pedestrians ok though. Babs and krystl got knee problems. Julie painful thumbs. Argument about going to tesco for knee braces. Nothing too heated. Sunny, tanning nicely. Rock on” - Andy
“Arrived. Eaten big food. Great mood. Big top looks great. Been down the hill on the trike already. Amazing sunset. Extra ten miles on our trip due to floods. But we made it, rockin.” - Andy
And we’re off, almost…
The last night before we set off to The Big Chill on our bikes. We’ve given ourselves three days for the journey, so it should be easy going, unless we get caught in floods / typhoons / a sudden ice age. Eight of us are biking and the rest of our 42 crew and 20 guests will meet us there.
The paint job on the console is finished, the door will be screwed on tomorrow… The red LED is still blinking away, the thing is alive. The techs are happy, the ten bike test last night went well and we’re looking forward to giving the thing a proper thrashing at The Big Chill.
The bikes have had their slick back tyres swapped out ready for the tour, bike racks we’re ‘found’ and panniers are getting stuffed full of socks and chocolate right now…
Some of our less energetic crew will hopefully be updating the blog with news from the road. Until then.
More Workshop Action
The last few days before we head off on our bikes… and as expected, a last minute mad dash to make sure everything’s up and running…
Felix welding the last stand…
Lots of lots of motors… And skate wheels!
A bike power station with built in 700W sound system. You don’t see that too often.
Andy getting a little bored of motors and skate wheels.
Shaun made light work of the speakers, superior craftsmanship…
… on the other hand Andy’s command console has been described as “pre-D.I.Y”.
Mike and Felix, wiring up some test speakers, ready for the first sound test with the new amp.
Proud Felix, 5 stands completed!
Happy people! A ten bike test!
And just to prove the command console works, we have a flashing red light…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L8_1rBZYOq8]
BONUS!! The cycle powered gig mega mix!
SUPER BONUS!! In fact, thanks to ‘Big George C’, there’s loads more music from the gig!
AND ANOTHER THING!!! The full screening list for our three nights at The Big Chill festival!
