Bike Report: Bike Duluth Festival returns

The Kraus-Anderson Bike Duluth Festival is back at Spirit Mountain August 6th to 8th. The three-day event is returning after a hiatus last year due to COVID-19 concerns.

Chris White, expo director for the festival, said, "I think people are ready for events again. I think they want to get out to races. They just want to hang out with their friends and be outside, so I think it’s going to be a good time."

Organizers say proper COVID-19 protocols will be in place based on the latest guidelines. The festival is back in full swing, but the expo won’t feature as many demos or vendors as past years.

"We’re still going to have a nice village," White said, “It’s free to try the stuff out and there’ll be product there to look at, bike racks, clothing, shoes, sunglasses, whatever you want to see, that’ll all be there as well."

There are new additions to check out. A new cross-country trail allows racers to put their skills to the test.

White said, "It’ll be a challenge for anyone that wants to come out and ty it."

The event is welcoming new volunteers, and you can still sign up to race.

White said, "The enduros are limited so they could fill up, but the cross-country event, there’s two different distances, and there’s lots of room there yet."

They’ve got everything from the intense downhill races to kid’s races. There’s also plenty for those who’d rather watch than hop on the pedals.

"One, you can come out and ride some of the e-bikes that’ll be out there which is going to be a fun experience, but the other is there’ll be maps at the bottom to show you the best places to watch as spectators, so when you get there, we can help you get to those spots so you can go out and see exactly what’s happening. And it’s fun, it’s fun for everyone," White said.

Every Thursday, WDIO News will bring you a story about the sport of bike riding. We will focus on the trail systems in our viewing area as well as equipment and bike maintenance.

If you have a biking story that you think we should cover, e-mail Brandon Weathers at bweathers@wdio.com.