MTB
From Australia to the UK, these cycling-centric meet ups celebrate the best in the sport from fun trails to the newest tech and the best craft ales.
One of the best things about any sport or passion (OK, obsession) is geeking out about it with a host of likeminded individuals. When it comes to the bike community, of course, the network is strong and vibrant.
And while WhatsApp means we can be connected to cycle-mad comrades half a world away at any time of day or night, there’s nothing quite like getting out there and hanging out in real life.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled this handy guide to the biggest and best bike festivals in the world. From the latest gear to dream bikes, there’s something here for newbie and seasoned rider alike. The only problem you’ll have is deciding which to miss so that you can actually, you know, have a life outside those two wheels too. Then again, let’s cross that bridge when we come to it…
1. Sedona Mountain Bike Festival
- Where: Sedona, Arizona, United States
- When: March 6-9, 2020
Think of everything you could possibly want from a bike festival. Riding? Beer drinking? Obsession over new gears? Well, Arizona’s Sedona Mountain Bike Festival has the lot, and then some. Taking place every March, this three-day event draws thousands of singletrack aficionados from across the country, and abroad.
You’ll find demos from almost 100 of the best mountain bike brands, plus skills clinics, food trucks, live music and more. Best of all, you’ll also be granted access to the iconic and scenic trails in the Red Rock Ranger District of the beautiful Coconino National Park, which is well worth the $100 (€92) admission price.
Website: www.sedonamtbfestival.com
2. The Sea Otter Classic
- Where: Monterey, California, United States
- When: April 16-18, 2020
Dreamt up way back in 1991, the Sea Otter Classic festival is one of the oldest and most popular mountain biking events in the United States, and well worth your time. Over four days you’ll get to grips with the latest gear from a thousand-plus brands, while taking in multiple stunt expositions.
The main draw, however, is a number of road and mountain bike races for all abilities which attracts almost 10,000 competitors each year. With everything from cross country to dual slalom available (plus many non-competitive races). If you can't get to the US, maybe you can check out the European event, Sea Otter Europe, taking place on the Costa Brava, Spain each May.
Website: www.seaotterclassic.com
3. Bike Festival Garda Trentino
- Where: Lake Garda, Italy
- When: May 1-5, 2020
When it comes to scenic bike festivals, you’ll struggle to find anywhere more breathtaking than Italy’s beautiful Lake Garda. Surrounded by Venetian architecture, the May event features the Rocky Mountain BIKE Marathon, which sees 2,500 plus riders opt for one of four testing routes.
A good place to start is the 28km Ronda Facile, with 702m of vertical ascent. Most notable of these is the 90km Ronda Extrema, with a 3,838m of vertical gain. Or, you could just join the 40,000-odd other visitors enjoying the weekend of demos, trade stands and live music.
Website: www.riva.bike-festival.de
4. iXS Dirt Masters
- Where: Winterberg, Germany
- When: May 21-24
iXS Dirt Masters is a popular gravity festival that takes place every May. The festival, which has now been running for 14 years, regularly attracts crowds of 30,000 plus to its four days of operation. All the action takes place at Bikepark Winterberg in Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia region with the site hosting an iXS Downhill Cup round, a slopestyle event and an Enduro race. For many years the Festival hosted Red Bull Berg Line slopestyle event.
Bikepark Winterberg Bike has an excellent infrastructure of bike-ready hotels with the riding of trails in and around the festival site actively encouraged. Like most bike festivals, there's also lots of non-biking entertainment to enjoy including bands playing and other family-orientated events.
Website: www.dirtmasters-festival.de/en/
5. Tweedlove
- Where: Tweed Valley, Scotland
- When: May 29-31, 2020
TweedLove is probably the most well-known and biggest UK mountain bike-specific festivals. Now in its 10th year, this three-day festival combines racing and bike events in the Tweed Valley area of Scotland. On the racing side of the festival, TweedLove now stages around 30 events with the Enduro races a big draw. For 2020, electric bikes will take centre stage with a new element of the festival called "Electric TweedLove." The Bosch eMTB Challenge will be the largest race of its kind in the UK.
You don't have to enter a race to enjoy the festival. Bringing your own bike is encouraged with ride outs to trails at Innerleithen, Glentress and the Golfie. TweedLove also has of the biggest MTB demo events in the UK and a social and "off-the-bike" programme of events lined up, so there is plenty to do as you enjoy the beauty of Scotland's countryside.
Website: www.tweedlove.com
6. Crankworx festivals in Rotorua, Innsbruck and Whistler
- Where: Rotorua in New Zealand, Innsbruck in Austria, Whistler in Canada
- When: Rotorua - March 1-8, 2020; Innsbruck - June 10-14, 2020; Whistler - August 5-16, 2020
Crankworx is the granddaddy of all biking festivals. From its inception in 2004 in Whistler, Canada, the mountain-bike festival has grown exponentially year on year and taken it's winning formula to other parts of the world.
Crankworx festivals in Rotorua, New Zealand and Innsbruck, Austria have joined the fold alongside the original festival in Whistler. What makes the Crankworx festivals special is that it is the place to be seen and ride if you're a pro rider or a mountain bike fan alike.
The main spectacle of any pro competition at any of the Crankworx rounds is the slopestyle event, which for Whistler is the iconic Red Bull Joyride contest. A King and Queen of Crankworx competition across all rounds encourages pro participation in downhill, enduro and trick events like Speed & Style.
For the fans, there's an expo and demo area alongside the racing at the locations while a big draw is also the athlete signings and high-energy after-parties that go off nearly every night of these week long festivals.
Website: www.crankworx.com
7. Global Cycle Festival
- Where: Saalbach, Austria
- When: June 18-21, 2020
This Austrian-based bike festival is a new player on the block for 2020, and is the brainchild of the Play Sports Group, the people behind the popular YouTube video cycling content providors Global Cycling Network (GCN) and Global Mountain Bike Network (GMBN).
The four-day festival will take place in and around the mountains of Saalbach, Austria, this summer. Riding wise both road and off-road cyclists will be catered for with access to hundreds of kilometres of routes, roads, trails, climbs and descents in the area. There is also plenty of après-ride stuff going on with, music and entertainment, live shows, hands-on bike tech tuition and coaching clinics by day, with epic parties and top DJ sets by night.
Website: www.globalbikefestival.com
8. Rebecca’s Private Idaho
- Where: Ketchum, Idaho, United States
- When: September 3-6, 2020.
This has nothing to do with the Keanu Reeves and River Phoenix classic but is instead a bike festival takes place in pro cyclist Rebecca Rusch’s hometown of Ketchum every Labour Day weekend.
The festival’s main attraction is a series of gravel races stretching from 18 miles to a four-day stage race, all of which raise money for numerous bike and trail-building organisations. Best (but definitely not most responsibly) of all, the festival ends with a beer-chugging contest, which sounds like the perfect way to unwind after some hard miles and a few gravel grazes.
Website: www.rebeccasprivateidaho.com
9. Bike Fest, Cape Town, South Africa
- Where: Cape Town
- When: November 6-8, 2020
South Africa’s biggest and best cycling celebration continues to gain speed. The festival boasts expos from almost every brand in the business, with exhibitors, a dedicated jumps area, an outdoor IMAX-sized cinema, plus talks by cycling experts, riders and celebrities. There’s lots more to participate in as well, from dedicated women-only workshops to family days. Plus, you can even test ride your dream bike and handle the best cycling tech. What’s not to love?
Website: www.bikefest.co.za
10. Cannonball MTB Festival 2020
- Where: Thredbo, Australia
- When: December 9-13
The Aussies sure love to party and ride, and the five day program at the Cannonball MTB Festival is one that lives up to the expectations. Promising non-stop entertainment for everyone this is where the biggest names of Southern Hemisphere mountain biking congregate each December. The mix of competitions on show include the prestigious SRAM Australian Open Downhill while the Deity Whip Wars is a particular favourite with the fans.
Off the bike, Thredbo village has DJ’s and live gigs to keep fans entertained and of course plenty of beer to quench the thirst of those watching under a hot Aussie sun.
