Vail Outlier Offroad Festival growing
Organizers of Vail, Colorado’s Outlier Offroad Festival presented SRAM and Scott Bicycles have announced significant additions to the annual event. Held during the week between the Interbike trade show and Outerbike Moab, Outlier 2018 will feature an expanded expo, an additional day of enduro racing, a gravel and e-bike adventure, and a weekend long vertical challenge.
“We’re bursting at the seams and took this offseason as an opportunity to rethink our footprint as well as what we offered to the consumer,” said event director Mike McCormack. “The demo sits in the heart of the village and is served by two high speed gondolas. That’s a rarity and has proven an amazing opportunity for multiple inventory turns for attending brands (and a great opportunity for consumers to test ride more bikes). More importantly, Vail is surrounded by incredible trails, rec paths and USFS gravel roads. In recognition of the emerging e-bike and gravel categories, we’re delivering programming meant to provide a meaningful experience for those riders.”
In response to increasing demand, Outlier’s consumer demo opens to the public a full day early on Friday, September 28. In a similar nod to the event’s growing numbers of attending brands, the demo expands beyond its normal footprint and into Vail Village for 2018. Increased real estate allows the accommodation of additional vendors that in years past have been turned away due to space constraints. Increased capacity means greater value for consumers. It also means that they were able to reduce expo fees while increasing amenities (lift tickets and event comps) for attending brands.
RockShox Enduro
Vail is placing a tremendous amount of resources into reinvigorating its trail network over the coming summer, so there will be some new terrain for riders to enjoy. This year’s enduro expands from one day to a two-day affair allowing for longer courses with better connectivity. If the stars align, you may even see a new stage added to the mix. Limited entries available.
Goodyear Gravel Grinder
Presented by Goodyear Bicycle Tires, this 45-mile loop takes riders through the historic mining towns of Minturn and Redcliff before ascending Shrine and Vail Passes via a stunningly beautiful USFS gravel road. Riders descend 7 miles of glorious paved rec path back into town. For demo brands with e-bikes in their fleets, this Sunday AM features excellent e-bike sections.
Scott Bicycles Vertical Challenge
This low-key friendly competition pits buddy against buddy for descending supremacy bragging rights. Riders are tracked at the top and bottom of both lifts to see how many laps they can complete. Prizes are awarded in 6 different categories at the end of each day (Friday-Sunday). $500 for the weekend’s best men’s and women’s lap count.
Find out more at www.outlier.bike.
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