Custom Wooden Medals for Bonkers Bikers

Bonkers Bikers is not a standard cycling event.

It brings together cycling, railway heritage, charity, music and community over a full weekend of activity.

That meant the medal needed to carry more personality than a generic cycling award. It had to feel fun, specific and connected to the people taking part.

The custom wooden medal created for Bonkers Bikers.

About the Event

Bonkers Bikers is a community cycling event organised by Tour de Tours.

The event brings together railway employees, cycling enthusiasts and supporters for a weekend of biking, music, charity and local exploration.

With links to places such as Salisbury Cathedral, Stonehenge and Avebury, the event has a clear sense of place and character.

The Design Challenge

Some events need a clean and traditional medal. Bonkers Bikers needed something with more character.

The organiser needed a medal that could:

• Reflect the cycling side of the event.
• Include the railway connection in a clear way.
• Feel fun without looking messy.
• Work as a keepsake from a weekend event.
• Use a more sustainable, UK-made medal option.

Why a Wooden Medal Worked

A wooden medal was a good fit because it allowed more design flexibility than a standard medal format.

The event had several parts to bring together: bikes, railway heritage, community and charity. Wood gave enough room for a bold printed design while keeping the medal lightweight and practical.

• The custom design helped the medal feel event-specific.
• The train graphic reflected the railway connection.
• The colour print added personality and energy.
• The red ribbon gave the medal a strong visual finish.
• UK production helped keep the design and timeline easier to manage.

The Medal Approach

The final medal used a wooden base with bold event branding, colour print and a railway-themed graphic.

This was the right approach because the event itself had a clear identity. A plain medal would not have captured the humour, energy and community feel behind Bonkers Bikers.

The design gave participants something that felt tied to the weekend, not just the distance cycled.

What Other Event Organisers Can Learn

Bonkers Bikers is a useful example for organisers planning cycling events, charity rides, themed weekends or workplace challenges.

Before choosing your medal, ask:

• What is the one theme people will remember from the event?
• Can the medal show that theme clearly?
• Does the design feel fun without becoming cluttered?
• Will the medal work well in group photos?
• Does the ribbon colour support the event branding?
• Is the medal practical to produce within the deadline?

For community cycling events, the medal does not need to look corporate. It needs to feel like it belongs to the group.

Case Study Summary

The Final Result

The finished medal gave Bonkers Bikers an award that matched the personality of the event.

It brought together cycling, railway heritage and community spirit in a way that felt clear, fun and practical.

For themed events, that is the goal: a medal that reflects the story participants were part of.

Planning a Cycling Event or Charity Ride?

If you are organising a cycling event, charity ride, workplace challenge, themed weekend or community fundraiser, your medal should reflect the people and story behind the event.

We can help you choose the right material, shape, ribbon and finish based on your event, budget and deadline.