SILVERADO, Calif. (BRAIN) — The Enthusiast Group, which puts on the well-known Over the Hump mid-week mountain bike race series in Southern California, has added a three-day celebration of bikes, music, food and family fun to its event lineup.
Starting on Friday, Revolution Bike Fest will bring together retailers, consumers and brands from all corners of the industry for a long weekend of fun and learning on two wheels. The event will be held at Oak Canyon Park near Irvine Lake in Orange County's Santiago Canyon.
Over the Hump co-founder Matt Wenger said he hopes Revolution Bike Fest will attract new and beginner riders, with 17 brands including Giant, Cannondale, Kona, Haibike, Black Market, Specialized, Santa Cruz, Ibis and several others, bringing around 600 bikes to try on the trails not only at Irvine Lake but in other parks in Orange County. Music, beer, food and other spectator-friendly activities should also draw a wide audience, Wenger said.
“We've added elements that are innovative and attractive for consumers: bike rides in Orange County, beer from local breweries including Artifex, Tustin Brewing Co. and Left Coast Brewing, along with an onsite terrain park we built in four days,” Wenger told BRAIN in an email. “The park will come down on Monday, but with the bike park at Snow Summit closing for the season recently, it's a perfect time for people to get their gravity on.”
Local retailers including Fullerton Bikes, The Path Bike Shop, Pure Ride Cycles, InCycle Bicycles, Bike Religion and Jax Bicycle Center will exhibit at the festival, along with a number of component and accessory brands.
“The industry support has been amazing, from local retailers to the biggest bike brands,” Wenger said in an email. “In a world where many are seeking to reach the already reached, industry stakeholders are adopting Revolution as a way to grow the audience. The people that buy the gear get to try it here.”
Clinics and demonstrations will be held throughout the weekend, from a confidence-building skills clinic put on by O.C.'s Non Dot Adventures to a bikepacking gear setup demo with Pure Ride Cycles, and decorated mountain bike champion Leigh Donovan will lead a suspension setup clinic at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Attendees will also have a chance to try an e-bike on a dedicated test track.
Local bands will play Friday and Saturday, and several food trucks will be set up alongside local breweries. Other activities include morning yoga, kids' rides, BMX shows and night rides with lights to demo. Camping is available at the park.
For more information and to register, visit revolutionbikefest.com.
