Whether you're six or sixty, whether you want kamikaze downhill runs or a scenic tour, the Methow Valley Mountain Bike Festival has something for just about anyone under a helmet. Fifteen years old this year, the Mountain Bike Festival has become one of the most popular fat tire events in the Northwest. That's because it lives up to its name -- a true festival on two wheels.

The festival has always been held in early October, one of the most spectacular seasons in the Methow Valley and one of the best times to ride a bike -- with cool mornings, low humidity, clear mountain air and plenty of sunshine. Organizers have chosen not to seek Norba sanctioning for the races, preferring to emphasize fun over competition. "It's more a family thing," says Jay Lucas, executive director of Methow Valley Sport Trails Association, which has sponsored the bike festival since its early days. "It continues to grow. We have people who have been here every year, and now have kids who are racing." The festival has grown along with the popularity of mountain biking and racing. Last year it drew more than 660 participants for an array of events.

The weekend kicks off on Friday evening with the Bitterbrush Circuit Race, a 3/4 mile loop of off-road riding raced criterium style. Saturday and Sunday events include downhill on a 1.75 mile single and double track course through forests at Sun Mountain, and the popular cross-country races at Sun Mountain with a 3-mile kids course, a 10-mile beginners course, a 20-mile sport course and a 32-mile expert course. Saturday lunch rides offer riders a somewhat pampered tour of the upper Methow Valley.

Riders and bikes are chauffeured to the top of the Rendezvous area high above the valley floor, where they have a choice of two mostly downhill routes to suit their skill level, each ride providing a catered lunch halfway through the ride.

The Kids Rodeo has become another favorite for participants and audiences. Kids of all ages can try their skill at a timed slalom, an obstacle course, running the boards (riding along narrow boards), the slow ride (going as slow as possible while maintaining forward motion), the bike toss (throwing an old clunker as far as possible), and the pulling contest (pulling a weight).

For festival participants and the public, MVSTA sponsors a salmon dinner on Saturday night, with proceeds helping to maintain bike trails.

The festival has grown considerably since its introduction in 1986, says Dick Hamel, a Winthrop resident who helped organize the first event with Don Portman, now a member of the MVSTA board of directors. Hamel said the inspiration for the first bike gathering came during an autumn ride. "We thought, 'Other places have events like Octoberfest, what about having a mountain bike festival?'" More than 100 riders came to the first festival -- a one-day event with cross-country races only -- and after two years MVSTA took on the job of sponsoring the growing event.

Since many festival events are held on ski trails maintained by MVSTA, the bike festival helps showcase both the biking and skiing opportunities in the valley. "We wanted to expose more people who weren't skiers to the ski trails to bring them back to ski in winter," says Jay Lucas. And the hundreds of riders who come to the festival, bringing along friends and family members, provide a boost to the valley's economy during a slow time of year.

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