This annual event features biking opportunities for everybody: cross country races, road rides of 35, 70, or 100 miles through some of North Central Washington’s most inviting scenery, and awesome mountain bike rides for different skill levels and ages. A kid's race, and a bike rodeo for riders ten years and under make this a wonderful family event.

Friday, October 2

Self Guided Rides all day long
Free maps are available at Winthrop Mountain Sports, the MVSTA office, Methow Cycle & Sport and Sun Mountain Lodge Activities Shop.

Cycling Film Night, 8:00 p.m. at the Twisp River Pub. Enjoy a meal or just the film at this Valley favorite eatery and watering hole. The movie is free.

Saturday, October 3

Pancake Breakfast, Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-9:00 a.m. at the Winthrop Barn
Fuel up for a day of mountain bike and road riding! $6.00 adult, (9 and older); $4.00 children (8 and under). Everyone is welcome. Purchase tickets at check-in Friday, or at the door. A fundraiser for the Methow Valley Junior Nordic Team.

Bike 101 Repair Clinic - Saturday, 2:00 - 3:00pm at the Winthrop park.
Participants will learn to change a flat tire by either patching the tube or replacing the tube, as well as how to repair a broken chain. Bring your bike and—if you have them—a chain tool, spare tube, patch kit, and tire levers. Clinic is limited to 15 participants. Register online; Friday, 3:00-5:45 p.m. at the Winthrop Barn, or or Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. at MVSTA. Cost: $10.00

Road Rides, All weekend long
Come and explore the Methow and lower Okanogan Valleys on your bike. Free road maps will be provided all weekend long with detailed course map directions. A few of the routes to choose from are: the Tour de Methow along the Chewuch River, follows the Twisp River to Carlton and back along the highway and back roads through alfalfa and hay fields (approximately 35 or 70 miles). Click here for the map and directions.

Or use your pedal power on the Tour d' Okanogan Century. The 100-mile route meanders from Winthrop to Twisp, up over the Loup Loup Mountain Pass (4300’) into Malott, down to Brewster and back up the valley to Winthrop. Click here for the map and directions.

Buck Mountain Ride, Depart Saturday, 8:30 a.m., from the Winthrop Barn
For the Buck Mountain Ride, you and your bike are chauffeured Methow-style to the top of the pass. The ride is 25 miles with some technically challenging sections. Register online; Friday, 3:00-7:00 p.m. or Saturday, 6:30-8:15 a.m., at the Winthrop Barn. Cost, $40.00. Registration fee includes transportation of the rider and bicycle to the start of the ride, guided ride and food stop. Click here for the map.

Mazama Ride, Saturday, 9:00 a.m. start from Brown’s Farm. Great ride on the valley floor for riders of all ages not wanting to climb single track. Riders meet at Brown’s Farm (Wolf Creed Road, just off highway 20) to ride the Community Trail over the suspension bridge, up to Goat Creek, down into the Mazama Junction for a small food stop at the community club. From there, you’ll ride out to Jack’s Hut at Wilson Ranch before pedaling back to your car. Register online, Friday, 3:00-7:00 p.m., or Saturday, 6:30-8:30 a.m., at the Winthrop Barn. Cost: $20.00. Registration fee includes guided ride and food stop.

Food, Beer Garden, Exhibitors, and Contests, Saturday, 1:00-5:00 p.m. and the Winthrop Barn and Park. Recover from the day’s activities and whet your appetite for dinner. Everyone is invited to enjoy food, drink and cycling exhibitors at the Winthrop Park. Visit exhibitors and vendors Kona, Winthrop Mountain Sports, Curtlo, MVSTA, Methow Cycle & Sport, Black Diamond, Shimano, Hutchinson, and Methow Time, among others.

Kids' Rodeo, Saturday, 2:00 p.m. start at the Winthrop Park
A favorite for the budding bike rider. Come to the Winthrop Park and put your bike through the many challenges offered to kids 10 years or younger. Snacks and goodie bags for all participants. Free. No need to pre-register; just show up.

Mountain Bike Beginner Skills Clinic, Saturday, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m., at the Winthrop Park
Participants will learn basic bike handling skills involving balance, body position, braking, climbing, and riding over small obstacles. After some building exercises, we’ll take a short ride and put the new skills into practice. Bring a helmet, bike, gloves, and water. Clinic is limited to 20 participants. Register online; Friday, 3-7 p.m., or Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m., at the Winthrop Barn. Cost: $20.

After a great day of riding the Methow trails, unclip and unwind on Saturday, October 3 with the Super Sones at the Winthrop Barn. Doors open at 6:30 for food and drink, and the family friendly concert will begin at 7pm with a local opener. The Super Sones will begin at 8 pm.  SuperSones play the sublime music known as Son - the acoustic dance music of the Cuban countryside that inspired modern Salsa. Son is a unique blend of Spanish guitars and harmony, Afro-Cuban percussion and swing, call-and-response singing, and trumpet improvisation. From the 1930's in Havana to the present moment, Cuban septets like SuperSones have inspired people around the world to dance and celebrate.$15 suggested donation at the door, students $5. Pre-schoolers are free. For more information check out methowartsalliance.org

Sunday, October 4

Cross Country Races: Sunday, 9:00 a.m. start at Chickadee Trailhead, Sun Mountain Races for all ages and skill levels. Choose from Beginner, one lap; Sport, two laps; and the Expert, three laps of a course with varied terrain. Register online; Friday, 3 - 7 p.m., or Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Winthrop Barn; or Sunday, starting at 7:30 a.m., at the Chickadee Day Lodge. All registration must be completed 1 hour prior to start time. Cost; $25.00; $20.00 for juniors (17 years and younger).
Click here for the map

Kids' Cross Country: Sunday, 11:45 a.m. start at Chickadee Trailhead, Sun Mountain
This race is run in conjunction with the adult cross-country race, on a 3 mile course for the budding racer 12 years and younger at Sun Mountain. Prizes for all participants are awarded at the conclusion of the race. Register online; Friday, 3-7 p.m., at MVSTA, or Saturday, 6:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m., at the Winthrop Barn; or Sunday 7:30-8:30 a.m. at Chickadee Day Lodge. Cost is $10.00 Click here for the map.

Schedule

Friday, October 2
All Day Long: Self-Guided Rides (maps provided) Maps available at Winthrop Mountain Sports, the MVSTA office, Methow Cycle & Sport and Sun Mountain Lodge Activities Shop.
3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Registration and packet pick-up at MVSTA
8:00 p.m. Film Night at the Twisp River Pub

Saturday: October 3
6:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at the Winthrop Barn.
6:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Registration and packet pick up at the Winthrop Barn for most events: Mountain Bike Rides, Kids’ Rodeo, Cross Country Races, and Potato Bar
8:30 a.m. Buck Mountain Ride loads up and leave from the Winthrop Barn
9:00 a.m. Mazama Ride leaves from Brown’s Farm at Wolf Creek Rd & Hwy 20
All day long: self-guided rides. Maps available at: Methow Cycle & Sport, Winthrop Mountain Sports, MVSTA and Sun Mountain Lodge Activities.
1:00-5:00 p.m. Food vendors, Beer Garden, and Exhibitors.
2:00 p.m. Kids' Rodeo at the Winthrop Park
6:30 p.m. Super Sones at the Winthrop Barn

Sunday: October 4 : Cross Country Mountain Bike Races
7:30 a.m. Registration and packet pick up at Chickadee Day Lodge, Sun Mountain
9:00 a.m. Cross Country races begin (see below)
      9:00 a.m. Beginner & Junior Cross Country Race Begins
     10:00 a.m. Sport Cross Country Race Begins
     11:30 a.m. Expert Cross Country Race Begins
     11:45 a.m. Kids' Cross Country Race Begins
2:00 p.m. Awards Ceremony & Raffle drawing for custom Curtlo frame

Registration

Online Registration ia now available. In-person registration opportunities include:

* Friday from 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Registration and packet pick-up at MVSTA.
* Saturday from 6:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Registration and packet pick up at the Winthrop Barn for most events: Mountain Bike Rides, Kids’ Rodeo, Road Rides, raffle tickets and Cross Country Races, and Potato Bar
* Sunday at 7:30 a.m. Registration and packet pick up at Chickadee Day Lodge, Sun Mountain

General Info:

AWARDS AND RANDOM PRIZES
The awards ceremony will be held at the conclusion of each mountain bike race. Awards will be given to the top three male and female finishers in each 10 year age group division for adults, two year age groups for juniors and "kids". Random prizes will be given at the conclusion of each award ceremonies.

FESTIVAL T-SHIRTS
T-shirts will be on sale at the Winthrop Barn throughout the festival and Chickadee Day Lodge on Sunday.

HEAD PROTECTION IS A MUST…. ANSI HELMETS REQUIRED

INFORMATION: call the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association @509-996-3287 or e-mail us at events@mvsta.com

RACE RESULTS: posted upon the conclusion of each race at the finish line and on our results page on Sunday, October 4th.

NO CAMPING AT SUN MOUNTAIN OR CHICKADEE PARKING LOT. Go to www.methownet.com/recreation.html for camping information.

DOGS MUST BE ON A LEASH!

RAFFLE: A custom CURTLO bike frame, made by local resident, Doug Curtiss will be given away on Sunday at the conclusion of the last race. You do not need to be a participant of the bike festival to enter this raffle. Tickets are available starting September 1 at the MVSTA office in Winthrop until Friday, October 2 at noon or at any of the race registration venues throughout the weekend. Tickets cost $2.50 each or 5 for $10.00. Odds of winning depend on the number of tickets sold. Sponsored by CURTLO bikes and the Methow Valley Sport Trails Association.

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS, BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT THE BIKE FESTIVAL. THANKS!