Outerbike: In the Pits, Other Bits, and Why You Should Attend

Another bike season has come and gone for most people. But for those looking for one more trip, or to get a jump on next year’s gear selection process, Outerbike in Moab, Utah is a great way to get away to the desert with a few of your friends and really blow it out.

Outerbike is headquartered at the Bar M trailhead, about 6 miles north of Moab. A large demo expo area provides 30 second access to fantastic riding.

The Juliana demo van was tagged by an "I Love Enduro" sticker, but then Kathy Pruitt provide some fun art. — The Juliana demo van was tagged by an “I Love Enduro” sticker, but then Kathy Pruitt provide some fun art.

Waiting for the gates to open. Lots of different travel styles and camper vans were spotted in the parking lot. Get inspired for your next purchase that isn't a bike. — Waiting for the gates to open. Lots of different travel styles and camper vans were spotted in the parking lot. Get inspired for your next purchase that isn’t a bike.

So many smiling faces at Outerbike. Everywhere you looked, people were having fun.

Moab has been on the mountain bike radar for over twenty years, and for good reason. It has awesome terrain, that in most years can be ridden year round. It has plentiful camping, but also fairly priced family hotels if that’s more your style. Throw in the fact that most campgrounds can handle RV’s, and there are a lot of in town RV parks, and you have most of your demographics handled. It’s not a place for the super high end, Four Seasons type travelers, but we as mountain bikers are almost always not that person. The red sand of Moab becomes almost a part of our soul.

For a great end of season party, Outerbike has quickly filled a niche. Happening about a month after Interbike, where all of the new gear has been announced, many of the companies demoing product at Outerbike bring that new gear for the general population to ride on and test. Now, with a new Spring edition of Outerbike being announced, slated for mid-March, this biannual event will become a vacation for families or groups of friends to hit two times a year.
Outerbike is really pretty awesome. Lunch taken care of three days in a row, clinics happening before and during the event for both sexes, but some female only (which is very popular) and beer everyday. And the bikes. Many bike companies, big and small, bring to equipment to the amped up and ready to purchase masses. Lots of folks we talked to were there to hit hard 3-5 bikes that they had on their list. They were ready to purchase and in Moab to make final decisions. Companies like Pivot, Yeti, Rocky Mountain and Ibis have learned this, and they bring the gear that people want.

Pre opening day of Outerbike was a 2 hour version of the 5 Point Film Festival, showing a handful of outdoorsy short films.

You can't keep a good rider down. She may have needed the crutch to walk, but nothing was stopping this gal from riding the sick trails in Moab. — You can’t keep a good rider down. She may have needed the crutch to walk, but nothing was stopping this gal from riding the sick trails in Moab.

Keeping the mayhem somewhat at bay by throwing some freebies out to the rowdy crowd, who was waiting to get in.

Another way to keep the crowds happy-feed them! The bacon hand up was one of the more popular and animated times of the day.

Here, you take this piece! No really, it's hot and yummy! — Here, you take this piece! No really, it’s hot and yummy!

And then the gates open and the craziness begins. Ibis and Yeti were the closest booths to the front gate and got crushed within seconds of the bell.

The crowds were caffeinated, but extremely friendly and polite and just wanted to have a good time.

They kept coming. People are anxious to get their top pick of bike they're thinking about purchasing. Think Pamplona Running of the Bulls. — They kept coming. People are anxious to get their top pick of bike they’re thinking about purchasing. Think Pamplona Running of the Bulls.

Another popular add on to this year’s event was two nights of the 5 Point Film Festival, held at Star Hall in downtown Moab. Tons of cool movies being shown on the big screen two nights in a row round out a great list of things to fill your day up with. In case you didn’t go quite as big as you thought you did on the gap jump on Captain Ahab during the day, you can make yourself feel better by watching some insanity later that night from the crews of Red Bull Media House or Anthill Films.

Outerbike is a really great event, put on by Western Spirit Cycling Adventures, who have been putting on amazing cycling trips around the world for over 25 years. They probably go to a place you want to ride in, so they know what gets mountain bikers excited. For the price of admission to Outerbike, you get the bike demos, lunch, beer, some clinics, film festival, and bike shuttles to popular riding spots. There is even a bus to take you from downtown Moab to the event venue, with is about 6 miles away. There is schwag being handed out like candy at every booth, so if you like to take home some souvenirs like ball caps, t-shirts, pint glasses and socks, you’ll love it here. Contests being held over the weekend, just upon a quick glance, included a frame, suspension parts, wheels, tires and clothing. Oh, and there is always the fresh “Skratch-arita” made using Skratch Labs drink mix, and tequila, blended to a frozen concoction by you powering along on the townie hooked up to the blender. It’s hydrating and refreshing all at the same time. You didn’t know an after ride drink was so good for you.

More bacon? Did they have an Army kitchen, or just someone who knew what mountain bike nuts want? Note the schwag being thrown out in the background.

A happy group of friends from around the US , these guys were pumped to get a photo, making jokes about how much they looked like XC racers.

Just a little bit of the bling waiting on the inside for people to take out and abuse.

Friends hanging out and catching up. Smiling faces.

The Western Spirit crew was always around to help in any way you could possibly need it.

Scenes from the crowd. Fit mountain bikers everywhere you looked.

Carla from Niner was stoked to answer questions about her very popular bikes. Lots of folks love this California/Colorado company.

Another mega popular booth was Pivot, with multiples models being high on the wish list. Josh is one of the best demo guys out there, always a pleasure to see him.

Smiling faces part 17. Ready to shred some Yeti SB5c trail bikes.

A bit of the trail along Bull Run in the Mag 7 area, one of the daily shuttles.

Oh, shuttles? Yes, they're included, and the awesome guides do most of the heavy lifting for you. — Oh, shuttles? Yes, they’re included, and the awesome guides do most of the heavy lifting for you.

Awesome clinics put on by Rebecca Rusch and her great staff were very well attended throughout the weekend.

Rusch was on hand, with a group of about 25 women, getting ready to go out and learn some new skills.

Daniel and Kitsbow were serving up some great pour over, San Francisco coffee every day, all day. They know what fuels mountain bikers.

And then there was this guy, with an authentic bull whip, doing his Indiana Jones impression. Why? Who cares, it was cool to see in person.

Crazy contest happened throughout the expo area. Foot down, blending the fastest Skratch-arita, and arcane mountain bike knowledge was popular.

Happy Hour was a reason to give more stuff away. Caroline just won a great prize pack including some sweet XTR pedals and signed book copy from the Gold Rusch crew.

Yes, it was a hard day mountain biking out in the sun. You've earned a cold, frothy beverage. — Yes, it was a hard day mountain biking out in the sun. You’ve earned a cold, frothy beverage.

And then, you hang out with your friends and tell stories. Does it get any better? No matter where you travel around the world, this scene plays out again and again. And we like it that way.

Really, if you’re looking for a great end of season trip, maybe for you and the guys, or you and the girls, or for your family, Outerbike should go on a short list of yours. It’s busy and you have to work a bit to get the bike you really want to ride, but it’s super fun, people smile all day long, the riding is exceptional, and the desert is incredibly gorgeous. Stay a few extra days before or after to get in more riding, or maybe a day of zipping around on a rented Razor (four wheel drive side by side dune buggy creation) and you’ll go home very tired and very happy.

For 2015, even more exciting news is happening. Not only will there be an early Spring event in Moab, but there’s also an Outerbike in Whistler, British Columbia, CAN. Oh boy, things just got really juicy. Is there enough time (and money in my bank account) to get to these amazing locations?! Whistler is so different from Moab, but has an equally rich history in mountain biking. I wonder if there’s a special something something from Western Spirit if you make it to all three Outerbikes? Hmmmmm….

Find out more information by heading over to the Outerbike website, or maybe look up a cool trip being offered by Western Spirit. You’ll be happy you did.

Words, Photos: Daniel Dunn

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Outerbike: In the Pits, Other Bits, and Why You Should Attend

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