We’re counting down the days. For some of the team, this will be their first ABR Festival. For others… not so much. Personally, this will be my fifth time, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that no two ABR weekends are ever quite the same. This year feels a bit different for us as well. We’re even more excited to be there, as ABR will also mark the launch of the JUSTRIDE app.
What is consistent, though, is this: if you show up unprepared, you’ll still have a good time. But if you get a few key things right, you’ll have a great one. Here’s what’s worth thinking about before you head off.
Packing for ABR is always a bit of a balancing act. You want to be comfortable, but you also don’t want to turn your bike into a fully loaded expedition setup for a weekend in the UK.
Truth is, you don’t need as much as you think. A solid tent, something warm for the evenings, and the basics to keep you going will get you a long way. You’ll still see people turn up with half their garage strapped to the bike, but most of it won’t get used. Overpacking usually just means more hassle when you arrive and when you pack up again on Sunday.
The only thing worth slightly over-preparing for is power. Charging your phone and action cam isn’t as straightforward as it sounds once you’re on site, so a decent power bank quickly becomes one of the most valuable things you’ve packed.
There are a few things that come up every single year, usually followed by someone saying, “I can’t believe I didn’t bring that.”
Earplugs are a big one, and not just for riding. Although not like at music festivals, campsites can get noisy, and if you’re hoping for a decent night’s sleep, you’ll be glad you packed them. Warm layers are another, because even in the middle of summer, the evenings can turn quickly once the sun goes down.
Sunscreen is one that often gets overlooked as well. It might not feel like a priority when you’re packing, but during a full day walking around in the sun, it doesn’t take long to get caught out. At the same time, it is still the UK, so having a lightweight rain jacket as a backup is never a bad idea either.
Power banks, as mentioned, are essential, and having some cash on you isn’t a bad idea either, just in case.
The good news is that there’s a camp shop on-site that stocks most of the essentials, so if you do forget something, you’re not completely stuck. That said, it’s still easier to bring the basics with you than rely on picking things up once you’re there.
One thing that often catches people out is how limited phone signal can be during the event. With that many people in one place, coverage becomes patchy at best, and you can’t rely on your phone working the way it normally does.
Charging your devices isn’t much easier either. Power outlets are limited, and finding a free spot can take time, especially during the busy parts of the day.
This becomes particularly noticeable when you lose track of someone. If you get separated, it’s not always easy to find each other again, especially without signal.
A simple solution is to agree on a clear meeting point before you head off. Somewhere easy to find, somewhere everyone in your group knows to return to if needed.
A good option for that is to make the JUSTRIDE booth your dedicated regroup spot for the weekend. We’ll have a Riders Checkpoint set up with a comfortable lounge, charging stations and WiFi, so it’s not just easy to find, it’s actually a good place to spend some time. Whether you’re waiting for your friends, taking a break from walking around, or just looking for a bit of shade and somewhere to sit down for a few minutes, it gives you a reliable base to come back to.
A lot of riders hesitate about going to ABR on their own, which is understandable. It’s a big event, and it can feel like something you should experience with a group so as not to end up feeling a bit lonely. In reality, it rarely works out that way.
What happens instead is that conversations just start naturally. You’re waiting for a demo ride, sharing a table, sitting next to someone during a talk, or setting up camp next to another rider. Before long, you’re chatting about bikes, swapping route ideas, and often sharing a drink later in the evening. After all, you have at least one shared interest.
By the end of the weekend, most people who came alone have met plenty of others and end up saying the same thing: they’d do it again without hesitation. You don’t need to arrive with a group to feel part of one.
There’s a lot going on at ABR. Talks, demo rides, exhibitors, routes… more than you can realistically fit into a single weekend.
The temptation is to try and see everything, but that usually leads to rushing around and not really enjoying any of it. A better approach is to pick a few things you actually want to do and leave some space in between to just wander and see what you come across.
Some of the best moments tend to be the unplanned ones anyway.
If you want to get a feel for the event before you even get there, it’s worth joining the ABR Festival Facebook Group.
It’s a great place to ask questions, stay up to date, and see what others are planning. You’ll often find riders organising meetups or planning to ride to the event together, which can be a good way to ease into the weekend before you’ve even arrived.
ABR Festival is one of those events where a bit of preparation goes a long way. You don’t need to overthink it, but being aware of the small things, like signal, charging, and how you’ll find your group again, makes a noticeable difference once you’re there.
For us, this year’s festival is also a big milestone, as it marks the official launch of JUSTRIDE. It’s something we’ve been working on for a while now, and there’s no better place to bring it to life than in the middle of the riding community it’s built for.
From planning your route to the event to staying connected with your group along the way, it’s all about removing the small frictions that can get in the way of a great ride.
If you’d like to be among the first to try it, you can pre-register below and we’ll let you know as soon as the app goes live.
