BikeOut
LGBTQ+ Cycling Festival
23–25 July 2027
Hathersage, Peak District
In 2026, we created the world’s first cycling festival for the LGBTQ+ community. BikeOut was a celebration of road and gravel cycling, bringing together multiple LGBTQ+ clubs and cyclists from around the world. We will return in 2027!
Our Festival
BikeOut is free to attend, and is supported by a range of organisations and brands within cycling. In 2026, we had over 90 cyclists attending from across the UK and the world.
BikeOut caters for most cyclists, from those who want easy gravel on the rail trails, through casual road rides, to harder gravel, audax distance and fast paced road rides.
Our aims
We know how important LGBTQ+ cycling clubs are, they provide a safe space and a sense of community, with LGBTQ+ sports having largely replaced the ‘scene’ formerly found in bars and clubs.
Our aim at BikeOut is to bring the LGBTQ+ cycling community together, to make it stronger and to benefit more people.
Similar festivals in other sports support an ecosystem of independent local LGBTQ+ sports clubs across the country, hugely benefiting the physical and mental health of hundreds of LGBTQ+ people.
BikeOut aims to achieve the same, and also to move to different places over time
Partner Clubs
to be confirmed for 2027
Out Velo
Queers on Wheels
CycleOut London
Rainbow Riders
GOC
OutdoorLads
Queer Cycle Club
Peak Queer Adventures
Meet the team
BikeOut is a story of grassroots community collaboration. We are formed of several UK based LGBTQ+ cycling clubs working together to create something special.
We may be grassroots, but we have years of experience in running major events and festivals, including 13 years running cycling events in the Peak District for LGBTQ+ people. We’ve helped run major festivals including OutdoorLads’ Big Spring Camp and the major festivals run by Queer Surf Club.
In addition, our partners at Rapha have extensive event experience, including running High Camp series of LGBTQ+ cycling mini festivals, which will be running again this year as part of BikeOut.
We are an independent organisation with no connection to other LGBTQ+ sports festivals, and are not run by a single club.
Partner Organisations
Rapha
All in Racing
Your Brand Here
FAQs
Our app will launch for sign ups in the spring. Please check back then, and follow us on Instagram for updates.
We aim to cater for all. Many of the gravel rides will be shorter and at an easier pace, although still adventurous and hilly – suitable for those used to riding 40km on a gravel/road mix with hills.
On road, if you’re used to riding 80km with hills, you will be fine for the longer road routes. We will split each ride into smaller groups so that everyone is comfortable with the pace. For the road rides, we expect the biggest groups of riders to complete the hilly routes at about 22kph average but this will vary widely, with some bunches at 19 and some at 25+.
This is unlikely. There are a couple of local event organisers who can ride above the pace any UK LGBTQ+ club runs regular rides – 30kph+ on a flat ride – and blast up their local hills. So you’ll have company! Good luck chasing!
If you have to choose, choose gravel – if you do one of the easier pace road rides on the gravel bike, you’ll be fine, the terrain is very hilly, and we’ll not be going crazy on pace. Gravel bikes will not be suitable for the faster road rides, however.
Yes, you can hire good quality bikes from Alpkit in Hathersage. Please contact them directly. We also hope to have demo bikes available from Canyon but this is TBC.
Rides will have an allocated Ride Captain but they are all unsupported and self led in terms of navigation. The event organisers cannot assist you in the event of medial or mechanical emergency.
Our base, Hathersage, offers unparalleled opportunities for road and gravel cycling in the UK, making it a premier destination for riders of all levels.
We are not providing accommodation as part of BikeOut, but the area has a range of accommodation options for all budgets, from camping to high-end hotels.