Blackheath Bike and Kite Festival 2009

The Bike and Kite Festival is taking place on Blackheath, south east London, on Saturday and Sunday 13-14 June.

Entry is FREE!

For bike enthusiasts, highlights of the weekend include:

Europe’s premier mountain bike stunt team, M.A.D, who will be demonstrating gravity defying leaps, jumps, hops and balancing skills using only their custom-made bikes. Children can get in on the act with special interactive in-between show ‘skill sessions’, where they can learn tips and tricks to help them perform their own bike stunts
Guided bike rides to the O2, Surrey Docks City Farm and the 2012 Olympic site
Cycling activities for young people including slaloms, slow races and limbos
Vintage bikes dating from the 1800s, with riders in period dress
‘Try before you buy’ a range of bikes with Get Cycling
Experts from Dr Bike will be on hand to offer advice and help on how to keep your bike in top condition.

And kite lovers will enjoy:

The Wigsley Wings Team, with their array of very large inflatable kites, including a 40-metre long Octopus
The six man kite-stunt team, The Air Heads, performing with their Chinese dragon kites
Father and son duo Team Spectrum, specialising in flying dual-line duets to music. Carl, the dad, is one of only three people in the UK who is able to perform a “three kites, one man” display.
International kite-fighting competitions
Precision kite ballet performances by professional teams from Europe

The festival also includes:

kite-making workshops for all ages
a funfair for the under 12s
a range of stalls selling bikes, kites, arts and crafts, and different foods
a licensed bar

There are no parking facilities on Blackheath. Visitors should plan their journey using the Transport for London journey planner at www.tfl.gov.uk . Or come on your bike! And bring your kite!!

Both days of the Festival run from midday to 7pm.


This is Bike and Kite’s second year. Blackheath has been home to kite events since the 1970’s.
The event is being organised by Festival Special Events, on behalf of Lewisham Council, and is sponsored by Transport for London
Bike and Kite 2009 coincides with the start of National Bike Week (13-21 June) ) http://www.bikeweek.org.uk/
Kite-fighting competitions originate in Asia. Each kite is made from tissue and bamboo and is controlled by a single glass-coated line. The line is used to cut through the opponent’s line, thus forcing the kite out of the sky.
Team MAD are Europe’s No.1 mountain bike stunt display team and perform all over the UK and Europe. They have appeared on a number of television shows including ‘Blue Peter’. For more information about M.A.D. visit www.m-a-d.co.uk
For further kite-related information visit http://www.thekitesociety.org.uk/