FRUITA, Colo. (BRAIN) — The Fruita Fat Tire Festival has reached a preliminary agreement with the Bureau of Land Management to stage a bike demo and expo on-site at the Bookcliffs/18 Road trail system north of the Colorado town.
Previously, the demo and expo have been located in downtown Fruita, with festival attendees transporting bikes out to trail centers like Bookcliffs/18 Road or the Kokopelli Trails west of Fruita. The Bookcliffs/18 Road area is home to such iconic Fruita trails as Zippity Do Da, Joe's Ridge and Kessel Run.
The move means demos will go out directly next to trails for the first time in the Fruita fest's 23-year history. The change should reduce damage to suppliers' demo bikes since riders won't have to load them on car racks, and will allow consumers to sample more bikes over the festival's three days, said FFTF organizer George Gatseos, who also owns destination shop Over the Edge Sports in downtown Fruita.
"We are very excited by the opportunity put forth to us by the BLM. This change to the event along with moving the event back one weekend to May 4-6, 2018, is a big advancement for the Fruita Fat Tire Festival, its bicycle demo vendors and participants," Gatseos said.
"I am excited to work together with the BLM and get all the permits finalized to allow for this vendor area near trails for the Fruita Fat TIre Festival."
Brands and vendors interested in participating in the expo or demo can contact Over the Edge Fruita at (970) 858-7220 or email Gatseos at george@otesports.com. Organizers will update the festival website soon with 2018 event information at fruitafattirefestival.com.
