Saddle up for One Good Weekend

Chili, bikes, beer and bands

by Stan Cola

For three days this weekend you get chili, biking, beer and bands for just $89. This fall in Mt. Crested Butte, a brand new festival celebrates the soul of mountain biking in the town where some of the sport’s first pioneers took their klunkers into the mountains. Follow their lead September 9-11 with a weekend of live music, delicious beer, hot chili, and mountain biking.

Take the already terrific Chili & Beer Festival, add in great lift-served mountain biking at Evolution Bike Park, and enjoy a great weekend of music featuring Colorado headliners The Reminders and Rapidgrass Quintet.

Festival Schedule:

Friday Evening Welcome Party

Red Lady Stage at Evolution Bike Park. Featuring Gunnison’s own MILLK opening for bluegrass powerhouse Rapidgrass Quintet. 5:30 to 8 p.m. Free beer for all festival attendees.

Saturday

Lift-served cross-country and downhill mountain biking from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join six-time Leadville 100 winner Dave Wiens for a guided ride on Meander at 10 a.m. (guided ride limited to the first 30 people to sign up). The 18th annual Chili and Beer Festival will be held from noon to 4 p.m. featuring beer from 20-plus craft breweries, a chili cook-off, and music from The Sweet Lilies and The Workshy.

Sunday

Lift-served cross-country and downhill mountain biking from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Join Mountain Bike Hall of Famer and Crested Butte local Doug Bradbury for a guided cross-country ride on Meander at 10 a.m. (guided ride limited to first 30 people to sign up). Ruby Chief starts at 2 p.m. on Red Lady Stage. Festival awards at 3 p.m. The Reminders take the stage at 3:30. Two free beers per person.

Strava anyone?

We’ll also have a weekend-long Strava Challenge with sweet prizes, including Most Climbing Challenge, Most Descending Challenge and segment races on green, blue, and black downhill trails.

Discounts available until Thursday, September 8 at 5 p.m. To get the discount, you must call before Thursday at 5 p.m. The number is 866-508-4212 (Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and the code is CBMBA.

For more information check out http://www.mtbhome.com/events/one-good-weekend/.

All for just $89. You spend that much in one night at the Eldo.