Rugby Bikefest in pictures: Thousands turn out to enjoy spring sunshine, music and motorbikes

It was Rugby’s annual Bikefest, where bikers from all over the Midlands and beyond, rode into town to declare that two wheels are better than four.

Twenty minutes earlier, 1,000 machines, ranging from scooters to high powered super bikes, set off in convoy from Draycote Water to take part in the traditional Bikefest Ride-In.

Bunched up tightly they crawled along Church Street in low gear, cracking and growling as they rounded the clock tower.

They were flanked by hundreds of spectators, some of whom had been waiting for over an hour to admire the free-flowing procession of gleaming chrome, burnished paintwork and polished leather, as it slowly progressed down North Street.

Among them were mums and dads on a family day out, groups of hyper- active teenagers who had come for the music and leather clad motor-heads, who were happy to comment on the calibre and cubic capacity of every bike that passed.

When the noise of the engines fell silent, live music took over. At the Market Place and Church Street venues, an impressive line-up of local bands performed before cheering audiences. Some music fans arrived fully amped-up and ready to rock, some came to re-capture the lost energy of their youth and some were there to just to listen to some great music.

This year there was a great line-up of local bands and talented performers. One group of local musicians, who are heading high in the estimation of many in the music business, is a trio of pupils from Ashlawn School.

Calling themselves Vispatria they consist of Nelly on rhythm guitar, Liana who plays bass and Dylan on drums. Together they have been writing, performing and recording their own songs for four years. Their latest release, which is called Let Go, is available on Amazon.

Returning to Rugby by popular demand; The Extreme Bike Battle Teamdelighted the crowd with daring two wheeled stunts and gravity defying leaps into the air. This year petrol power was replaced by pedal power, but the show thrilled the crowd no less.

There were gasps of amazement when rider and bike went soaring off the end of the ramp and loud cheers greeted their safe, and sometime flamboyant, descent.

Rugby’s mayor, Cllr Barbara Brown, who is soon to complete her mayoral term said: “It was a fantastic Bikefest! Brilliant to see people working together to make it happen; and it brought about 6,000 people into town.”

Mayor-Designate, Cllr Nooria Sayani, said: “A big thank you to all the organisers and bikers who made this one of the biggest events in the calander year for Rugby; it is a fantastic achievement, one that was born from the community and attracts hundreds of people from all over the country, making us proud and giving us the most memorable and spectacular experience.

“The trike and bike cavalcade ride in, was truly exhilerating. I enjoyed waving and seeing Rugby families happy, smiling, lined up on the street, on the way in to town.

"It was an incredible and unforgettable experience.”