Final Instructions
for participants 2023
Event village, start, finish
Gebrüder Schnell Terrasse, Burgdorf
Program of the event
Find the actual program here
Parking
There is no special parking for participants. The ideal public parking is Parkhaus Oberstadt. A lift brings you to the event village (top floor).
Distribution of start numbers
Distribution in the event village:
Saturday, 26 August 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday, 27 August 06:30 - 09:00
These hours are binding.
Participants will receive :
- 1 start number participant (to be fixed to rear of jersey)
- 1 start number bike (to be fixed to the front of the frame triangle)
- Roadbook with description of routings and block fields for passage controls
- Wristband for catering areas long the circuits and in the event village
Know your start number
Attention: distribution of start numbers is based on the individual number. To have a quick and easy process, please communicate your individual start number at the desk, you find it here (on mobile phones only visible in landscape position).
Concours d'Elegance
Saturday 10-16 Uhr
In Hotel Stadthaus, just a few steps from the event village, there is a Concours d'Elegance for outstanding collectors bikes. The exhibition is nicely presented, entrance is free. Public can vote for the best bike. Absolutely worth visiting.
Riders Parade, Saturday 17:30
There is a mass start at 17:30
- Please be ready and lined up IN TIME!
- The peloton will be lead by a Police car and by the car of the race director. You are not allowed to overtake in no case
- The parcours leads through the town of Burgdorf and is about 2.5 km
- Junctions will be blocked for us by security
- But there is oncoming traffic, so please ride on the right lane only
- This is a parade, it will be real slow ... NOT A RACE! PLEASE REMEMBER THIS DURING THE FULL RIDE! We don't want stupid accidents.
- The parade will be closed by a Police car. If the peloton will lengthen too much (specially in the uphill section back to the event village), this Police car may overtake the slowest participants. The overtaken participants are automatically back in NORMAL TRAFFIC and need to respect traffic law. Please keep on the right.
Closing time beer for all participants | Saturday 18:15
Burgdorfer Bier offers a Beer to all participants of the parade.
Special Style Trophy
Style-Expert Jeroen van Rooijen gives away 5 “Special Style Trophies" for cool, special or authentic Outfits. Giving of these trophies is during the closing time beer on Saturday.
Bekleidung
Appropriate clothing that fits the style of your bicycle is an integral part of the event regulations. If you are unsure what to wear, please check the dress-code-section on our website here There are stands in the event village selling vintage and retro clothing and you can also buy an official event jersey
Starting times on Sunday
According to the program on the website here
Helmet
Bicycle helmets have been launched about 25 years ago (with exception of the old leather racing helmets). So modern bicycle helmets are not “Vintage” and disturb the appropriate styling. On the other hand there is no doubt that riding with a helmet offers more security. Participants can freely decide if they concentrate more on style or more on security. Therefore a bicycle helmet is neither mandatory nor forbidden.
Signage of the parcours
On every street junction long the parcours there will be signs where to go to (signs are 20x20cm – left – right – straight). ATTENTION: Signage is clear … but not intended for racing speeds. You will have to watch, we are not the Tour de France. Signals show a black arrow on yellow ground.
GPX-files of the parcours
Please remember that either a navigation system nor a mobile phone on handle bar are "vintage". The parcours are signed perfectly, so you don't need digital help. However, for the non-believers we have the gpx-files for download here
Ride schedules
The schedules with approx passing times and open/closing times of the catering stations are here. If you are behind the closing times, you may find yourself without signage and with closed stations. If you are quicker than the opening time, catering will not be ready. Please check thoroughly.
For Pedaleur de Charme parcours (57 km): If you are really slow - like an average speed of 14 km/h or below in flat country - please start EARLYER than the official start at 09:00, so rather at 08:00 or even earlyer. If on the other hand you are pretty quick - means usually an average speed of 25+ km/h on flat - please take yorself enough time at the catering stations (more than the calculated 20 minutes) or start later than 09:00 ... to avoid to arrive at stations before opening.
For Bergkönig parcours (115 km): If usually you ride on an average speed of 20 km/h or less on flat terrain, please start BEFORE the official start at 08:00 ... if not you risk to be overtaken by the broom wagon and find yourself without signage and catering stations.
For LE FOU! parcours: If you arrive later than 12:00 at the catering station in Eggiwil (Hotel Hirschen), please switch to the Bergkönig parcours. Otherwise you will not make it in time, be overtaken by the broom wagon and will find yourself without signage and catering stations.
No DANGER warnings
On the various parcours you will find dangerous situations all over, like gravel sections, potholes, dirt, roadworks and so on. Some of these are even unexpectedly behind corners, in dark wood sections, fast descends or similar. NONE OF THESE DANGERS WILL BE MARKED!!! It is in the responsibility of every single participant to adapt speed and preview and master dangerous situations.
Catering stations
The numerous catering stations along the parcours will serve you only if you have your wrist band fixed. Descriptions of the catering stations are here
Finish line catering
With the many catering stations along the parcours we doubt that you will come back hungry ;-) However, there is a final catering station in the event village that will serve you raclette or a local cheese soup and beer. ATTENTION: food & beer will only be served if you have your wrist band ... and you need to be at the desk in person (can't bring to others)
Passage controls / Memorial medal
Long the circuits there are passage controls. The passage stamps are self service, they are signed by flags and are marked in your roadbook. Stamps need to be placed in the appropriate block fields of your roadbook.
Traffic law / decency and respect
Please remember during the complete event that roads are NOT closed and that you need to respect traffic law at all times. Please treat other road users always with decency and respect. Some of the paths we are using are official hiking trails or are otherwise frequently used by pedestrians; please allow priority to pedestrians if needed. ATTENTION: Rude behaviour is not in the spirit of BERGKÖNIG.
Draw of high class Chronograph among all finishers
On Sunday at 16:15 we will draw in the event village an artisanal Chronograph among all present participants RB Baumgartner, Modell Scheidegg. The winner will be drawn by lot (concordance to start number). If the drawn winner is not present - representation strictly excluded - the lot will lapse and a new one will be drawn ... to be repeated until the drawn number is present.
for participants 2023
Event village, start, finish
Gebrüder Schnell Terrasse, Burgdorf
Program of the event
Find the actual program here
Parking
There is no special parking for participants. The ideal public parking is Parkhaus Oberstadt. A lift brings you to the event village (top floor).
Distribution of start numbers
Distribution in the event village:
Saturday, 26 August 09:00 - 17:00
Sunday, 27 August 06:30 - 09:00
These hours are binding.
Participants will receive :
- 1 start number participant (to be fixed to rear of jersey)
- 1 start number bike (to be fixed to the front of the frame triangle)
- Roadbook with description of routings and block fields for passage controls
- Wristband for catering areas long the circuits and in the event village
Know your start number
Attention: distribution of start numbers is based on the individual number. To have a quick and easy process, please communicate your individual start number at the desk, you find it here (on mobile phones only visible in landscape position).
Concours d'Elegance
Saturday 10-16 Uhr
In Hotel Stadthaus, just a few steps from the event village, there is a Concours d'Elegance for outstanding collectors bikes. The exhibition is nicely presented, entrance is free. Public can vote for the best bike. Absolutely worth visiting.
Riders Parade, Saturday 17:30
There is a mass start at 17:30
- Please be ready and lined up IN TIME!
- The peloton will be lead by a Police car and by the car of the race director. You are not allowed to overtake in no case
- The parcours leads through the town of Burgdorf and is about 2.5 km
- Junctions will be blocked for us by security
- But there is oncoming traffic, so please ride on the right lane only
- This is a parade, it will be real slow ... NOT A RACE! PLEASE REMEMBER THIS DURING THE FULL RIDE! We don't want stupid accidents.
- The parade will be closed by a Police car. If the peloton will lengthen too much (specially in the uphill section back to the event village), this Police car may overtake the slowest participants. The overtaken participants are automatically back in NORMAL TRAFFIC and need to respect traffic law. Please keep on the right.
Closing time beer for all participants | Saturday 18:15
Burgdorfer Bier offers a Beer to all participants of the parade.
Special Style Trophy
Style-Expert Jeroen van Rooijen gives away 5 “Special Style Trophies" for cool, special or authentic Outfits. Giving of these trophies is during the closing time beer on Saturday.
Bekleidung
Appropriate clothing that fits the style of your bicycle is an integral part of the event regulations. If you are unsure what to wear, please check the dress-code-section on our website here There are stands in the event village selling vintage and retro clothing and you can also buy an official event jersey
Starting times on Sunday
According to the program on the website here
Helmet
Bicycle helmets have been launched about 25 years ago (with exception of the old leather racing helmets). So modern bicycle helmets are not “Vintage” and disturb the appropriate styling. On the other hand there is no doubt that riding with a helmet offers more security. Participants can freely decide if they concentrate more on style or more on security. Therefore a bicycle helmet is neither mandatory nor forbidden.
Signage of the parcours
On every street junction long the parcours there will be signs where to go to (signs are 20x20cm – left – right – straight). ATTENTION: Signage is clear … but not intended for racing speeds. You will have to watch, we are not the Tour de France. Signals show a black arrow on yellow ground.
GPX-files of the parcours
Please remember that either a navigation system nor a mobile phone on handle bar are "vintage". The parcours are signed perfectly, so you don't need digital help. However, for the non-believers we have the gpx-files for download here
Ride schedules
The schedules with approx passing times and open/closing times of the catering stations are here. If you are behind the closing times, you may find yourself without signage and with closed stations. If you are quicker than the opening time, catering will not be ready. Please check thoroughly.
For Pedaleur de Charme parcours (57 km): If you are really slow - like an average speed of 14 km/h or below in flat country - please start EARLYER than the official start at 09:00, so rather at 08:00 or even earlyer. If on the other hand you are pretty quick - means usually an average speed of 25+ km/h on flat - please take yorself enough time at the catering stations (more than the calculated 20 minutes) or start later than 09:00 ... to avoid to arrive at stations before opening.
For Bergkönig parcours (115 km): If usually you ride on an average speed of 20 km/h or less on flat terrain, please start BEFORE the official start at 08:00 ... if not you risk to be overtaken by the broom wagon and find yourself without signage and catering stations.
For LE FOU! parcours: If you arrive later than 12:00 at the catering station in Eggiwil (Hotel Hirschen), please switch to the Bergkönig parcours. Otherwise you will not make it in time, be overtaken by the broom wagon and will find yourself without signage and catering stations.
No DANGER warnings
On the various parcours you will find dangerous situations all over, like gravel sections, potholes, dirt, roadworks and so on. Some of these are even unexpectedly behind corners, in dark wood sections, fast descends or similar. NONE OF THESE DANGERS WILL BE MARKED!!! It is in the responsibility of every single participant to adapt speed and preview and master dangerous situations.
Catering stations
The numerous catering stations along the parcours will serve you only if you have your wrist band fixed. Descriptions of the catering stations are here
Finish line catering
With the many catering stations along the parcours we doubt that you will come back hungry ;-) However, there is a final catering station in the event village that will serve you raclette or a local cheese soup and beer. ATTENTION: food & beer will only be served if you have your wrist band ... and you need to be at the desk in person (can't bring to others)
Passage controls / Memorial medal
Long the circuits there are passage controls. The passage stamps are self service, they are signed by flags and are marked in your roadbook. Stamps need to be placed in the appropriate block fields of your roadbook.
Traffic law / decency and respect
Please remember during the complete event that roads are NOT closed and that you need to respect traffic law at all times. Please treat other road users always with decency and respect. Some of the paths we are using are official hiking trails or are otherwise frequently used by pedestrians; please allow priority to pedestrians if needed. ATTENTION: Rude behaviour is not in the spirit of BERGKÖNIG.
Draw of high class Chronograph among all finishers
On Sunday at 16:15 we will draw in the event village an artisanal Chronograph among all present participants RB Baumgartner, Modell Scheidegg. The winner will be drawn by lot (concordance to start number). If the drawn winner is not present - representation strictly excluded - the lot will lapse and a new one will be drawn ... to be repeated until the drawn number is present.
