The 11th annual Pedro's Mountain Bike Festival will return to the Berkshires Aug. 5-7. The largest mountain bike festival in America, "Pedrosfest" is a rendezvous for cyclists of all ages, types, and abilities.
Although the festival retains its muddy mountain bike heritage, this three-day extravaganza is also about music, great food, camping, and family oriented activities.
"Just about every year we have added something to the event to attract new people. Sometimes it's something accidental, like the mud bog drag races. Other times it's an off shoot of that," said Richard Fries, who will return as the emcee of the event. "We started the slip 'n' slide to get the kids all cleaned up after the mud bog! Now it's a favorite event."
The musical acts have always been highlights of the festival, with bands playing Saturday night. A favorite event for families looking for a quieter evening has been the outdoor "ride-in" movie theater held Friday night. Increasingly road cycling events have been included in the schedule to complement the fat tire offerings. This year will feature special rides led by Olympic gold medalist Tyler Hamilton.
This year will also see the Mavic Lymphoma Research Foundation Marathon held Saturday morning.
"I have to say that what makes this event unique is the potluck supper attitude that my colleagues, and even my competitors, bring to this event," said Chris Zigmont, marketing director for Mavic USA. "We do our marathon to raise funds for a great cause. But all of the vendors pull together to offer something fun. It's just a carnival atmosphere."
One of the great features of the festival is the large selection of demo bikes offered by leading manufacturers. There is also a huge selection of components, clothing, and accessories in the expo area.
The 11th Annual Pedro's Mountain Bike Festival will be held Aug. 5-7 at Lanesborough, Mass. For more information visit www.pedrosfest.com.
