The 4th Annual Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival is coming up on Saturday, October 1st from 10:00am to 4:00pm at the West Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park in Eagan. This fun-filled free event is made possible through Dakota County Parks and a partnering with MORC (Minnesota Off-Road Cyclists), local area bike shops, businesses and organizations.
Join in on the fun and celebrate one of Minnesota's best mountain bike trail systems and the many hours of volunteer work that MORC members have put in to maintain nearly 12 miles of single-track. This event is not only for the avid mountain biker but also a fun and festive way to introduce new riders to the sport.
"This is event is ½ fun community festival trying to introduce mountain biking and the fantastic amenities at the West Trailhead at Lebanon Hills Regional Park to a greater audience and ½ recognition for MORC for the many MANY hours their volunteers put in making that system possible." - Katie Pata, Park Operations Coordinator for Dakota County Parks
Scheduled activities are FREE and include:
Mountain Bike Skills Clinics
11 AM Mountain Bike Skills Clinic (Learn correct riding positions and more)
1 PM Mountain Bike Skills Clinic (Learn correct riding positions and more)
Fix-it Clinics
NOON Basic Bike Repair (Flat tires, shifting and brake adjustments and more)
2 PM Basic Bike Repair (Flat tires, shifting and brake adjustments and more)
Training Clinics
11 AM How to Improve Performance Out of the Saddle
1:30 PM How to Improve Performance Out of the Saddle
2:30 PM How to Improve Performance Out of the Saddle
Group Rides
10 AM Advanced Men Group Ride
10:30 AM Intermediate Men Group Ride
11 AM Levo Electric-assist Bike Demo Group Ride
11:30 AM Intermediate Women Group Ride
NOON Beginner Teen Group Ride
12:30 PM Beginner Women Group Ride
1:30 PM Beginner Men Group Ride
2 PM Levo Electric-assist Bike Demo Group Ride
2:30 PM Open to All Beginner Group Ride
3 PM Open to All Beginner Group Ride
Kids Activities
11 AM I Spy From My Bike Up High
Noon Kids Bike Races
1 PM I Spy From My Bike Up High
2 PM Bike Games for All Ages
3 PM Kids Bike Races
3:30 PM Adults-on-kids-bikes Race
All day Bikes to Demo (Bring your own helmet, drivers license and credit card)
All day Chair Massages
Food and beer will be available for purchase all day from the Blue Door Pub. They'll be cooking up mini Blucy's and serving craft beer from Indeed Brewing Company.
Updates for the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival can be found on the Wild Ride Mountain Bike Festival Facebook event page.
Event parking will be available at the West Trailhead and at the School of Environmental Studies just a couple of blocks to the south on Johnny Cake Ridge Road. Overflow street parking is also available along Galaxie Avenue with entrance to the bike trails. Overnight camping at the Lebanon Hills Campground (located just across the road, and south about half mile from the event grounds) is an option for those needing accommodations. Camping reservations can be made by visiting the Dakota County Campgrounds page.