The Sedona Mountain Bike Festival is returning this spring for its tenth year. The festival had, in the words of its founder, Michael Raney, “humble beginnings.” “We did the first one down at Tlaquepaque with no idea what kind of support we get from the community and from our larger cycling community. Since then, it’s grown to one of the top cycling events in the country,” says Michael, the event director of the festival. “It’s super humbling that it’s something I get to be involved with.”
Avid mountain biker Michael spent years traveling around the country to other bike events and wanted to host one in Sedona. “It just brings a lot to the community, and it’s something I always personally wanted. You bring all the stars from the sport, and we’ll get Olympians and Red Bull Rampage riders and all sorts of people leading group rides. And it’s just incredible to have that in our hometown.” In keeping with its dedication to supporting the community, the festival also benefits the following groups: Verde Valley Cyclists Coalition, Red Rock Trail Fund and another organization called Wheel Fun, which provides bikes to underprivileged youth in Arizona. This year’s festival will feature over 100 bike and gear vendors, live bands, a beer garden and food trucks. Attendees are encouraged to park off site. New in 2024, the festival has partnered with mountain bike publication Freehub magazine to show the publication’s film festival in the afternoon hours. Attendees will receive special commemorative T-shirts and pint glasses if they purchase festival passes.
Michael told us that one of the festival’s keys to success is that it’s accessible for all. “Just making it affordable for people. We try to make sure that there’s enough going on up there that you come as a cyclist or non-cyclist and have a great time,” he says. Attendees also can look forward to meeting and even riding with some of the sport’s biggest stars. “One of the coolest things about mountain biking and the whole mountain biking culture is you can meet the heroes of the sport and really interact with them,” he says. “It’s just pretty amazing in that regard. It just brings all these people together for a whole bunch of different reasons.” – Teresa K. Traverse
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
