BIKE MONTH EVENT ROUNDUP

May is Bike Month, which makes a lot of sense—it’s one of the best times of the year to ride. The trails and paths are clearing of snow, the weather is warm but not too hot, and everyone is reclaiming their long-lost tan lines after a cold, dark winter. To help you celebrate in style, we’ve pulled together a few of the most notable bike-related events happening this month.

Fruita Fat Tire Festival—May 12-14

So, uh, what are you up to this weekend? If you’re within a day’s drive of western Colorado, you should seriously consider checking out the Fruita Fat Tire Festival. It’s a three-day mountain bike event filled with bike demos, guided rides, live music, and tasty food and beverages. You’ll get to ride some of the finest and flowiest desert trails around (or get into some teeth-rattling chunk, if that’s what you’re looking for.) Fruita and Grand Junction attract riders from all over, thanks to amazing trails and scenic desert terrain. And a multi-day party with a bunch of like-minded folks is a surefire way to meet some new riding friends.

Crankworx Cairns—May 17-21

The second event of the Crankworx World Tour season takes place in Cairns, Australia, where last year’s proceedings earned a reputation for rowdy fans and creative dirt features. Competitions include downhill, dual slalom, and pump track races, plus slopestyle and speed & style contests with the world’s top riders throwing down mind-bending tricks. While it’s probably a tall order for most people to plan a trip to Australia in time for the actual festival, you can check out the broadcasts on the Crankworx YouTube channel. Invite a few friends over to watch and get stoked for your next bike park session—just take it easy on the backflip double-tailwhips for your first few runs of the day.

Bike to Work Day—May 19

The third Friday in May is Bike to Work Day—and if you’ve never ridden your bike to your job, you’re missing out. It’s a great way to release some brain-feeding endorphins on your way to and from work, and to enjoy some exercise and sightseeing instead of sitting in traffic. If you want extra credit, the whole week of May 15th-21st is technically Bike to Work Week. It’s a perfect time to establish the habit of using more human-powered transportation in your daily life. Almost half of all trips from home are within just a couple of miles, and replacing a handful of car rides per week with a bike trip benefits your health, your wallet, and the environment.

Bentonville Bike Fest—May 25-28

The massive variety of well-built trails in Bentonville, AR proves you don’t need huge mountains to have a ton of fun. With hundreds of miles of singletrack in the surrounding area, Bentonville has something for everyone from jump-line enthusiasts to cross-country hammerheads. It’s possible to put together epic rides with thousands of feet of climbing—it’s just spread out over rolling ups and downs instead of an extended uphill slog straight from the trailhead. Going on its third year, the Bentonville Bike Fest brings together riders, pros, and manufacturers from across the industry to ride, network, and generally have a good time. Visitors can expect an expo showcasing the latest products, guided rides, plus races, skills clinics, parties, and lots more.

Trail Days & Local Events—All Month Long!

In many places, Bike Month is also the perfect time to show a little love to your local trails. As the spring bloom happens, weeds and tree limbs start encroaching on your handlebar space and can often use a haircut. And in places where it snows, there’s likely to be some erosion damage that requires some hands-on time to fix. Contact your area’s trail organizations for info on volunteer days that are bound to be happening this time of year. Chances are, there are some other awesome bike-centric events in your area, too. Check the social media pages for your local parks departments and bike shops to find out what’s happening nearby. You might find group rides, guided tours of the local bike infrastructure, casual all-abilities races, and lots of other fun happenings. With the right attitude, every month is Bike Month. Still, making it official during the month of May helps more people discover the joys of riding on two wheels. Participating in local events also helps convince city leaders and policymakers of the need for bike infrastructure like trails, paths, and protected lanes. However you celebrate Bike Month, you’re doing it right. Whether you’re planning an epic festival trip or staying close to home, we wish you sunny rides, good times, and no flat tires. TJ Parsons is a semi-reformed snowboard bum who now has a semi-adult career as a professional writer and creative. He's a self-proclaimed perpetual intermediate who thinks the outdoors are for everyone, and who wants to help dismantle gatekeeping and elitism in outdoor sports. When he's not squeezing brain juice into a keyboard, you'll find him riding boards or bikes throughout the Intermountain West. Follow us on Instagram + Facebook: Tag us @geartrade with the hashtag #unnewoutdoor #wearitout on your post or story for a chance to be featured on our page.

Have Spring & Summer gear to sell? Get cracking.

Spring is here. Have Tents, Sleeping bags, Hike & Camp gear, or Bike gear? Now is the time to sell them. It is now easier than ever to sell your gear on Geartrade. With our Consignment Selling option you can finally reclaim your gear closet. Send it in. We take care of the rest. Geartrade is Climate Neutral Certified.