The fourth annual Outerbike Expo unofficially marks the end of mountain biking season for many, traditionally held the first weekend of October, but leaves attendees anxiously awaiting spring.
The five-day event is a unique consumer expo that is growing in popularity – by about 20 percent in fact this year – designed to connect customers with the bikes they want to buy next season.
Want to ride the latest Fat Bike from Borealis? Or the most expensive full-suspension 29er from Intense Cycles, Santa Cruz, Specialized, Giant, GT or Kona? This is the place to do it.
For a paltry $150 you get access to unlimited trade show swag, free shuttles to some of Moab’s most iconic rides, free lunch every day, and unlimited demo rides on next-season’s steeds.
Outerbike is the brainchild of Moab’s Western Spirit Cycling, a national cycling touring company that was founded in 1989 and revamped by bicycle industry veteran Ashley Korenblat in 1997. Outerbike coordinator Sean Hazell is the man on the ground at the event, a full-time employee of Western Spirit and year-round Moab local.
Despite snows in Colorado during the event, almost all of the 1,200 registrants showed up in Moab to ride bikes and enjoy the camaraderie. “The vast majority of our attendees come from several states away and therefore do not cancel their trip to Outerbike unless they absolutely have to. I often hear from our attendees that they sign-up early and look forward to the trip all year long,” said Hazell. “We had 41 states represented in the U.S. and three provinces in Canada. We also had attendees come specifically for Outerbike from New Zealand, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.”
“We had a 17-percent increase in the number exhibitors with roughly the same increase in our footprint,” Hazell said. And despite the growth, the event maintains a small feel and is committed to a nearly a one-to-one bike-to-consumer ratio. 
Because Western Spirit leads trips throughout the region and is equipped with massive four-wheel-drive trucks and vans, attendees can take advantage of the classic and the new trails Moab has to offer. “This trend of trail building will continue into the future so attendees to next year’s event can expect some killer new singletrack,” Hazell said. “The Moab Trails Alliance (MTA) has been the force behind these new trails.” Outerbike along with several exhibiting companies donate money each year to the MTA.
“Outerbike is perfect for connecting with core bike customers,” said Adrian Montgomery, representing Competitive Cyclist, the official online retail partner of Outerbike. “I’m a real fan of what Outerbike has grown into and a proud supporter of the event.” Competitive Cyclist aims to educate and engage the cycling community about its stable of vendor partners. Bike brands attending Outerbike that Competitive Cyclist sells include: Santa Cruz, Yeti, Ibis, Pivot, Niner, SRAM, Continental, Industry Nine, ENVE and Smith Optics.
“This is our second time at Outerbike and we’re really excited about the turnout and high energy vibe at the event,” said Scott Kaier, public relations manager for Boulder- based American Rec, parent company of Kelty and Sierra Designs. “We’re not a traditional bike brand but for Kelty, Outerbike is an opportunity to connect the dots between riding bikes and gear that helps support the activity. When people step under our sunshade, sit in our folding chairs, and enjoy a cold beverage out of our coolers, they instantly understand how easily Kelty can complement the mountain bike lifestyle.”
“Outerbike is a bike demo event for the people,” said Korenblat, CEO of Western Spirit Cycling. “We provide the opportunity for everyone to test ride next year’s bikes on world-class trails in Moab.” The first two days of Outerbike offer guided rides and clinics, while the final three days are the demo expo. Event registration gets you lunches, shuttle rides, prizes, movies and entrance to all the evening parties.
For more information, visit: outerbike.com
