Ride Sun Valley Bike Fest is underway

The fourth annual Smith Optics Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival has returned to the stunning scenery and world-class singletrack of Sun Valley, Idaho, through July 5. Smith Optics joins this year as the title sponsor of the festival which is a rowdy and homegrown celebration geared for anyone who enjoys life on two wheels.

Expect to find a wide array of entertainment and activities including the second stop of the Scott Enduro Cup presented by GoPro, a downtown bike expo, guided rides for all abilities and a number of raucous community races.

“We started this event to show the world how much amazing riding we have here, but it’s the community and town that really sets this experience apart.” remarked Greg Randolph, founder of Ride Sun Valley. “Ride Sun Valley is about having a good time with friends with rides and events that are fun for everyone.”

Tonight the festival will kick off with the opening party in downtown Ketchum featuring a team criterium relay for the public and Enduro Cup Race Prologue Time Trial. Downtown Ketchum will also serve as festival headquarters featuring a Bike Expo with demos from top brands June 27-29 located on East Avenue near the Visitor’s Center.

The town will be alive and kicking during the Downtown Criterium presented by Borealis Fat Bikes, which is grin-inducing whether you are on the sidelines or in the saddle. This multi-lap race through town is lined with enthusiastic crowds cheering on goofy relay teams vying for cold hard cash. Team costumes are mandatory and local bragging rights are on the line.

During the Enduro Cup Prologue, racers will charge two laps around the downtown core on a course featuring obstacles to determine their race seeding for the following day. A number of local bands will play during the Opening Concerts presented by PlayHard GiveBack from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m., complemented by Sierra Nevada and Ninkasi beer gardens.

Saturday, June 28, is the first day of the Scott Enduro Cup presented by GoPro with stages 1-6 on Bald Mountain. The start, finish, and sponsor village is at the River Run Base Area. COX Communications, the official media and timing sponsor of Ride Sun Valley, will be streaming live video of the Enduro Cup start to the finish and the downtown Bike Expo area. This race is a stop on the North American Enduro Tour. Registration is still open and available for junior, amateur and pro riders.

Following the Enduro Cup, the future of the sport will rip it up in the Kids’ Mountain Bike Race presented by COX Communications, with medals for all finishers. A Mountain Bike Biathlon will also be offered for riders of all abilities to storm the hills equipped with laser guns. Rounding out the evening is the Ride Sun Valley Movie Night presented by Club Ride featuring the film, Single Track High, a story about high school-aged mountain bike racers.

Sunday features the final day of the Scott Enduro Cup presented by GoPro which finishes at the Warm Springs Base Area. Sierra Nevada will be pouring beers for all riders over 21. Awards and a big raffle will ensue after the race at the Bike Expo area downtown Ketchum. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the Wood River Bicycle Coalition, the local IMBA Chapter, which promotes sustainable trails and encourages biking for transportation and recreation in the area. The action keeps rolling into the evening with the Idaho Pump Track State Championships at the Ketchum Bike Park, one of the state’s premiere public pump track facilities.

The Local Stoker Rides will run Saturday and Sunday as local experts guide group rides around the beautiful and extensive singletrack terrain of Sun Valley. Rides for beginners and more seasoned riders will be available, and Ninkasi beer will be served. The remainder of the festival includes three days of Reba’s Ride Camp, the 4th of July Hailey Criterium, and the US Marathon Mountain Bike National Championships on July 5.

The Ride Sun Valley Bike Festival is located in the heart of a mountain bike gold-mine. Literally, the town was founded in the 1870’s when gold was discovered, and it thrives today as a four season outdoor recreation Mecca. The bike festival features the area’s more than 400 miles of continuous singletrack, 32 miles of multi-use paved bike paths, two bike parks, and miles of scenic road riding. Located in central Idaho, the northern latitude creates long days of 15 hours of sunshine in the summer, the ideal location for a weekend family get-a-way.

For more information or to register, visit ridesunvalley.com or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ride Sun Valley and Enduro Cup are MSI productions.