ABOUT THE FESTIVAL
“The Fruita Fat Tire Festival is one of my favorite events all year!”
WHY SHOW UP
Ability to focus: Demo a wide variety of bikes, including E Bikes, -see below- on the same trails. What better way to figure out the nuances of a bike than to boil it down to just how the bike feels and performs. Same rider, same trail, same time period, different bike. The location, layout, and selection of different trails let you find the trail tempo you like so you can focus on the bikes you want to sample.
Smaller crowds: While having great attendance the FFTF is not as crowded as of the other MTB gatherings and due to being located right at where the trails start, the vendors can quickly turn bikes around so many more people can have a turn.
E-Bikes: They are a thing and they are really FUN!, and they are now legal on the trails at our 18 road venue. This event will be an excellent way to demo your first or your next E-Bike and see what the hoopla is all about.
Beer, Food & Music: Ready to kick back and reminisce about the epic day you just spent riding. Festival Venue 2 in Downtown Fruita is ground zero for more MTB Vendors, SKA Brewing Beer, Food and Fun high energy music. Most of our apparel, gear and other outdoor rec vendors (who like to keep their stuff a little less dusty) will be set up downtown. Sitting around the campfire after a long day of riding has its appeal but you can do that anytime. Take full advantage of the festival by enjoying how the town of Fruita rolls out the welcome mat and celebrates all things mountain biking. The FFTF is one of the locals favorite festivals of the year and we are proud of the seamless mesh of natives and visitors all celebrating the sport we love.
TRAIL SYSTEMS
18 Road Trails: NEW TRAILS !!!! 18 Road got an upgrade !!!! there are many miles of new trails at our demo location. If you’ve never visited Fruita, 18 Rd or any of our other amazing Grand Valley trail systems then that’s reason enough to come by itself. If you haven’t been for a while come back and check out the new trails.
Location & Layout–18 Rd is a series of loops offering different challenges and appeals to differing skill levels.
Other Trail Systems: There are three other trail systems in the Grand Valley. Kokopelli Loops, The Tabeguache/Lunch Loops, and Rabbit Valley are very fun and worth exploring. We permit the event with the BLM to be run at 18 Road, so please stay at 18 Road with the Demo Bicycles. But… if you bring your own steed please check these other areas out. It’s worth the effort !
ALL LEVELS OF RIDERS WELCOME
The FFTF is geared at celebrating, exploring and LEARNING about mountain biking. We are not a festival aimed solely at big air, high speeds and epic crashes. Our goal is to have fun, pure ol’ fun. So if you are into riding mountain bikes for the fun of riding them, come check out our event. All are welcome, fast rider, slower rider, young or aging nicely we have something for everyone. The 18 Rd Trail System is considered a less technical system compared to other trail systems in the grand valley (although a few trails will give you all you want if you like Crunchy, Techy moves) and provides riders with manageable climbs, long flowing descents, some challenging technical moves and the chance to catch a little air if that’s what your heart desires. It is a great place to test out some sweet new bicycles.
The FFTF will also offer guided rides to Fest Pass holders where skilled locals and potentially a visiting pro or two will take you out on selected trails and offer tips and tricks to help improve your MTB skills. Festival Pass Information.
GUIDED RIDES
The FFTF also offers Guided Rides! Available for FEST PASS attendees only, skilled local riders and potentially a visiting PRO or two will take you out on trails selected for your skill level and offer tips and tricks to help improve your mtb skills! No advanced sign up necessary, just show up at the Pursuit Tent and show your Fest Pass wrist band and you’re in! Times below. Fest Pass Information
FFTF Guided Rides are provided by local riding group Pursuit. Your guides are all advanced level riders who have logged countless hours on the 18 Rd Trail System in all types of weather. They know their stuff but what’s important is this weekend isn’t about their ride, it’s about yours! The focus will be on you and helping make your rides more enjoyable and, just maybe, advancing your skills as a rider.
BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE GROUP - Your ride will start with a brief overview of body positioning for climbing, descending and cross country. Peddling mechanics, balance hints, cornering and more. On the trail the beginner groups can also expect to stop and session a few moves to improve your technical skills. Friday & Saturday at 10a & 1p.
INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED GROUP – Only offered at 1p on Friday & Saturday, riders can expect to ride more advanced trails at higher speeds. Any instruction for advanced riders will be more nuanced and collaborative in nature. Body positioning and the mechanics of riding Technical Features and Higher Speed Cornering will be addressed. Friday & Saturday at 1p.
Meet at the Pursuit Tent located near the Registration Tent, look for their Tent & Feather Flag!
BEGINNER / INTERMEDIATE GROUP – Friday & Saturday @ 10a & 1p
INTERMEDIATE / ADVANCED GROUP – Friday & Saturday @ 1p
VENDORS
Vendors will educate you on the differences in their range of models and direct you to the bike that best suits your style of riding as well as fit you to your proper bike size and positioning. A beginner can smile all day long doing laps on Kessel Run or cross country on Zip Off while the intermediate rider can challenge themselves on PBR, Joes Ridge or Western Zippity. Feeling like you’re ready for a stiffer challenge? Zippity Do Da and Chutes & Ladders will offer you all sorts of opportunities to challenge yourself. Almost all trails are accessed by climbing the venerable Prime Cut and picking your choice of the trail at the top. The beauty is all skill levels can climb together, take different trails down and easily connect at the bottom to do it all over again. Come See what 18 Rd and the FFTF is all about!