World Bog Snorkelling Championships
On the late August bank holiday every year hundreds of 'cyclists' from around the world descend on Llanwrtyd Wells in Wales, to take part in the annual World Bog Snorkelling Championships. Lead weighted riders on bikes with lead-filled frames and water-filled tyres attempt to pedal through a 6ft deep water-filled trench cut through the Waen Rhydd bog as fast and and as far as possible.
Eroica Britannia
If you like retro bikes, clothes and riding in the classic British hill country, then this June's three-day Eroica Britannia cycling festival in and around Bakewell is the event for you. Buff up the chrome lugs of that pre-1987 classic racer in the back of the shed, don your finest retro woollen cycling gear and join 4,000 other retro biking fans in the glorious Peak District. More than just riding, there will be camping, music, food, drink, shopping and more!
Ski like Bond
If you want to ski in the tracks of 007, as seen in the latest Bond movie Spectre, head to Sölden in the ötztaland Obertilliach in Austria's East Tirol. Eat at the fancy ICE Q restaurant in Sölden, at 3048m, stay at the new 4-star Almfamilyhotel Scherer in Obertilliach. Half board, from £55 per adult per night.
Sarenne Snow Bike
This is another chance to combine two sports - mountain biking with downhill skiing (or at least a downhill ski run). Taking place on Alpe d'Huez's Sarenne run in April, hundreds of riders will climb on their bikes to hurtle down the 16km course with nearly 2000m of height loss, from the Le Pic Blanc at 3,330m down to Huez village. If you survive you can ski the rest of the resort for free for the rest of the day!
Painting in snow
Head to Les Gets, France, next March for a wacky event called Ski Color. You ski down a special 2,500m-long slope in special protective clothing. Every 500m there is a spray of coloured eco-friendly powder. After skiing through four coloured zones you emerge looking like a Jackson Pollock painting.
Snowball fight
Inspired by Yugikassen, the Japanese snowball-fighting competition, French resorts Avoriaz, Les Arcs and Morillon are introducing the epic team snowball fights this winter. These will take place in specially-designed arenas filled with obstacles, pumping sound systems and atmospheric lighting.
