It doesn’t matter if you’re a longtime rider or a total newbieÌýat theseÌýbike festivals,Ìýthe perks of being there are numerous—you can stock up on the latest gear (many festivals offer bike demos as part of the entry fee), learn critical skills,Ìýjoin group rides, or grab a map and head out on your own. When you’re done riding, returnÌýto the grounds for whatÌýgood festivals do best: music, food, and beer.
Sedona Mountain Bike Festival
Sedona, Arizona
Every March, theÌý brings together thousands of singletrack fans for a laid-back gathering of riding, beer drinking, and gear testing. ItsÌýthree-day event pass grants access to demo fleets from more than 90 top mountain-bike brands, shuttled drop-offs to the area’s best trails, skills clinics, live music, food-truck fare, and craft beer. Riders get to traverse the scenic trail system within the Red Rock Ranger District of Coconino National Forest, and proceeds from the event go towardÌýits maintenance.Ìý (from $169), a 20-minute shuttle ride from next year’sÌýevent location at Posse Grounds Park,Ìýhas nine A-frame chalets that sleep up to fiveÌýand five two-person studios, plus an outdoor pool and private entryÌýto trailheads like Bell Rock and Slim Shady.
Sea Otter Classic
Monterey, California
As one of the oldest and most well-attended festivals in the country, the annual , held on the PacificÌýcoast in April, is a sight to behold. Started in 1991, the four-day gathering has a massive gear expo with over a thousand brands, as well as stunt shows, kids’ programs, and road and mountain-bike races for elites and recreational riders, who show up in numbers nearing 10,000. The competitionsÌýcover almost every discipline, from cross-country and downhill to dual slalom, plus noncompetitive races for all ages. Camp on-site (from $70) or rent an RV from nearby Ìý(from $150) for the full festival experience. In 2017, the event expanded to Europe, too, with the still growing taking place every May in Costa Brava, Spain.
Crankworx
Whistler, British Columbia
is the ten-day mountain-bike party that has taken over this resort townÌýevery August since 2004. Watch as the pros battle it out in downhill or best-trick contests, sign up for a women’s or adaptive group ride, get the family involved through Kidsworx, or check out the accompanying photo and film competitions. The centrally locatedÌý (from $225) has 192 modernÌýrooms and a valet bike service. The event has also gone global: you’ll now find Crankworx in New Zealand and Austria, too.
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Portland, Oregon
,Ìýthe monthlong tradition that takes place every June,Ìýis as much a worthy bike festival as it is a way to experience the true spirit of Portland. It'sÌýwacky collection of free, volunteer-organized events and gatherings includesÌýgalactic disco rides, a banh mi–powered bike tour of the city, and the notorious local version of World Naked Bike Ride, which sees upwardÌýof 10,000 participants. In true Portland style, there are group rides for every sector of the community, from vegans andÌýremote workers to human-rights activists and bookstore enthusiasts. The recently openedÌý (from $179) has 179 design-forward rooms, plus bikes and film cameras to rent from an on-site gear shed.
Virginia Trail Festival
Stokesville, Virginia
Held over Memorial Day weekend, theÌýÌýtakes place within the 200,000-acre Shenandoah National Park, which is an easy 90-minuteÌýdrive from Washington, D.C.ÌýOrganized by local bike-touring outfitter Shenandoah Mountain Touring, it’s a family-friendly campout at theÌýÌý(from $50), where you’ll have access to up to 500 miles of purpose-built mountain-bike trails from your tent and group meals prepared by volunteer cooks. After your ride, take a plunge in the North River, which flows through the campground. At night, post up around the campfire or stargaze from the on-site observatory.
Alyeska Bike Festival
Girdwood, Alaska
More and moreÌýski resorts are realizing they need to attract summertime visitors—and what better way to do that than by throwing a killer bike festival? Alyeska Ski Resort, located an hour by car from Anchorage, hosts theÌýÌýat the start ofÌýSeptember to mark the final weekend of its summertimeÌýbike park. Participants can ride lift-accessed downhill mountain-bike trails, sign up for dirt-jump contests and enduro races, or enter more lighthearted events like a tractor pull or pond crossing. Stay at the 300-room, château-styleÌý (from $299) so you can hop on the aerial tram atÌýsunset and soak in the saltwater pool at the end of the day.
Rebecca’s Private IdahoÌý
Ketchum, Idaho
Join professional cyclist Rebecca Rusch in her hometown of Ketchum forÌý, a bike festival over Labor Day weekend that features gravel races of varying lengths, from 18 miles to a four-day stage race. The event raises funds for bike and trail-building organizations. To counter its growing popularity, Rusch limitsÌýthe number of registrants to around 1,000Ìýin orderÌýto keep the vibe more low-key. That said, the festival ends with a raucous beer-guzzling, gelande-quaffingÌýcontest. Many of the group rides start from theÌý (from $385), which has 93 rooms andÌýsix suites, and Four Mountain Sports, an on-siteÌýbike shop that offersÌýdemos and rentals from the brands Giant and Norco.
Fruita Fat Tire Festival
Fruita, Colorado
The trail-heavy town of Fruita is a verified mountain-biker’s hub in Colorado. Many of those knobby-tire enthusiasts unite for one weekend in May every year for the fun-lovingÌý. You can test out new bikes from the demo fleet, listen to live bluegrass from a central beer garden, and join skill camps and guided group rides throughÌýwine country andÌýColorado National MonumentÌýand over Douglas Pass. The companyÌý has a number of vacation rentals, from downtown bungalows to a teardrop camper.