bringing excitement, nostalgia, and plenty of two-wheeled action to Newark Showground on January 11-12, 2025. Here’s why you won’t want to miss it:

THE BRISTOL CLASSIC MOTORCYCLE SHOW

1. Marvel at the finest private collection motorcycles

2. Autojumble galore!

3. Racing legends, Alex George & Chas Mortimer!

4. Club stands so good you will be begging to join them!

5. Under the hammer at the Dore & Rees auction

Saturday 5th July 2025

If you’re searching for the perfect gift for a motorcycle enthusiast, look no further... why not treat them to tickets to Bike Bonanza!

Motorcycle action returns to Shelsley Walsh on Saturday 5 July 2025 when the famous hill climb welcomes the return of Bike Bonanza. The high-octane event features everything from classic motorcycles to hotly contested road-going classes, all taking on the narrow, fast and challenging 1000-yard course. Be sure to stick around and watch the thrilling end-of-day run-offs as the fastest 10 riders go head-to-head for overall honours.

The day features a full programme of exciting hill climb competition, plus:

• NEW for 2025 a celebrity biker led ‘ride in’
• Watch the UK’s fastest hill climb motorcycles tackle the thrilling cours
• Fancy a go? you can also take part in the spectacle
• Star bike displays and demonstrations
• Dick Shepherd display of iconic Triumphs
• Roam the paddock, get close to the action and savour the sounds
• Bike clubs welcomed, camping available
• Plus, Steve Parrish ‘meet n greet’, interview sessions, live music, bike club zone, licensed bars and more!

Saturday 5th July 2025
Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, Worcestershire, WR6 6RP

• Event open from 8.00am - 5.30pm
• Early Bird tickets: £15. (until 30th April), Advance tickets £18.00, Gate price: £20.
• Under 16s Free
• Spectator camping £10 per night

HOME | Bike Bonanza

With the relatively high price of petrol and cars, along with persistent traffic issues, it’s no wonder why half of the people in England have a bicycle (or at least access to one). But whether you’ve recently got into cycling or just need a refresher, knowing basic UK road rules is essential to remain safe and vigilant and to avoid getting fined for infractions.

Don’t Cycle on Pavement

In the United Kingdom, the pavement is designated for pedestrians, not cyclists. Whether cyclists should be allowed on pavements remains a matter of debate. Many walkers have expressed concerns about cyclists who disregard pedestrian safety by speeding through foot traffic. However, cyclists with families often feel differently, arguing that riding on busy city streets with kids is a risk they shouldn’t have to take. For them, the safety of the pavement is a far better option—much like choosing online operators that accept Revolut payments when playing cash games online.

It doesn’t help that the government introduced a law in 1999 that allows the police to impose a £50 to £500 fine for biking on pavements. Thankfully, the police have taken a balanced approach to enforcing the law and are allowing officers to take a common-sense approach.

Riding Patterns for Groups

Safety and space are a priority on busy streets. Cyclists in groups are encouraged to ride ‘two abreast’, which is side by side, with no more than two people in a row. Rows larger than two take up more space on the road and have potential hazards.

Bike riders should also adapt to traffic conditions. If a group of bicycles might slow down cars, the group should form a single file line instead of cycling side by side. Being mindful of these changes helps keep drivers and cyclists safe.  

Lights and Safety for Cycling

UK laws have specific requirements for light and reflector use. Cyclists will need a white front light and a red rear light between sunset and sunrise. They also need a red rear reflector and amber pedal reflectors. These laws are especially necessary as the weather in the United Kingdom provides dark, cloudy days and plenty of rain, which puts a cycle light to frequent use.

There are more specifics when it comes to lighting laws. Lights must be mounted on the bike, no higher than 1.5m, so helmet-mounted lights are not allowed. While there isn’t a specific fine or penalty, a cyclist may be found at fault due to contributory negligence if they get into an accident without taking proper lighting precautions.

Lane Rules

Some streets in the United Kingdom have separate lanes painted for cyclists. The UK’s highway code says that cyclists are not required to use cycling lanes, but they can use them if it makes their travel safer. In some areas, the designated cycling lanes may not be adequate, so cyclists can use the rest of the road for efficient travel. Since cyclists may use regular traffic lanes for travel, they are encouraged to stay in the middle of the lane when possible to help avoid collisions with opening car doors and to discourage cars from overtaking cyclists unsafely. The law does not require slower cyclists to keep to the left of the lane or move to a different lane, though it does ask that the cyclists be mindful of faster-moving traffic and move when needed.

Note that local rules also govern lanes in some cases. Watch for unique signs that disallow the use of bus lanes or other areas where road design isn’t as bike-friendly.

Basic Traffic Laws

The United Kingdom doesn’t have a specific speed limit for bikes since they aren’t motorised, but a cyclist can still face significant fines if speed is the cause of an accident with bodily injury or property damage. The government even calls the law ‘wanton and furious cycling’, with penalties beyond a fine with the potential for two years in prison. Generally speaking, bikes aren’t as well protected as motor vehicles and could easily harm their riders and pedestrians. A good rule of thumb is that if there’s a question about safety, don’t go faster.

Red lights are still red lights. Cyclists are required to stop at stop signs and red lights, even if no other people or vehicles are present. Cyclists who ignore traffic signs could face fines.

Cyclists in the United Kingdom can legally use their phones while cycling because they are not travelling with a motorised vehicle. Even though phone use is legal, a bike rider can still be held accountable for talking or texting if they cause an accident because of inattention.

Where to Learn More About British Biking Laws

Knowing biking laws is an excellent start to cycling safely. A cyclist can find laws within the Highway Code directly through the United Kingdom government website. Meanwhile, CyclingUK is a cycling advocate that has contributed to creating road laws that benefit cyclists, drivers, and public transit.

Conclusion

Cyclists should familiarise themselves with the rules of the road before biking in the United Kingdom. Thankfully, the UK has clear rules outlining how cyclists and motorists should interact, as well as dedicated bus and bike lanes to maintain distance. Cyclists will want to watch their speed, obey many of the same laws for traffic lights as motorised vehicles, and be mindful of how much space they are taking up.

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In 1997, when Christopher Many started overlanding, he couldn’t imagine how the travel bug would hit him. 27 years later, and he’s still on the move. Somewhere Beyond the Horizon tells the story of his most recent adventure. Publishing date: November 2024

Christopher Many turned his back on conventional society in 1997, having decided that a nomadic existence was a better fit for his restless soul. His plan was to embark on a perpetual journey, and never own more than a vehicle and whatever he could stuff inside it.

Around the same time, in faraway Australia, Laura Pattara felt a similar urge to free herself from the constraints of a settled life. She sold all her worldly belongings and bought a one-way ticket to South America. When the two passionate vagabonds crossed paths in Africa in 2008, the outcome was almost inevitable. They fell in love and have been exploring the globe together ever since. Kevin, an old, bright yellow, post-office delivery van, is their current home on wheels.  

Somewhere Beyond the Horizon isn’t an “around the world in 80 days” travelogue, nor is it a diary full of adrenaline adventures. It’s also not a guidebook or repair manual, detailing how to cross borders or fix a flat tyre. Instead, it narrates a curious tale of wanderlust and explores the nature of the eternal nomad. It’s a story of horizons, distant lands, wonderful encounters, unusual observations, and the freedom of the road. You’ll be taken on an overland quest from Europe to the Arabian Peninsula through a rapidly-changing world. En route to Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman, many questions will surface, some entertaining, others perhaps uncomfortable. Either way, the journey will be a memorable one. Hop in, and let’s go for a drive.

Christopher Many’s bestselling Horizon series was launched with the author’s debut book “Left Beyond the Horizon – A Land Rover Odyssey”, following his eight year journey around the world between 2002 and 2010. It was first published on 4 July 2011. “Right Beyond the Horizon – A Motorcycle Odyssey” is the second book in the Horizon series, and was published on 19 September 2016. “Somewhere Beyond the Horizon” is the third volume of the travel-trilogy (November 2024). Foreign language translations are available in German and Portuguese, and a Braille copy can be ordered for those who are visually impaired. The author strongly believes that everybody should have the privilege to experience the world, if only through literature. For further information about Christopher Many’s voyages and future projects, please visit the author’s website: https://christopher-many.com/en/

Christopher Many

Somewhere Beyond the Horizon

An Old Post Office Delivery Van, Two Perpetual Nomads, and a Journey to the Arabian Peninsula

347 pages, 64 photos (B/W), 8 maps, paperback 5.5” x 8.5”

Paperback (RRP): 17.99 € / $ 18.99 / £ 14.99 (ISBN: 9798341234765)

Kindle (RRP): 9.99 € / $ 9.99 / £ 9.99

All three books are available on Amazon in the USA, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain, India, Brazil, and Mexico. www.amazon.com/stores/Christopher-Many/author/B00OP6TQGE

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