Gran Fondo National Championship & 2nd Annual Asheville Bike Fest @ Rabbit Rabbit
July 14-16, 2023
The 2nd annual Bike Fest, presented by Cane Creek Cycling Components in support of Asheville on Bikes, returns to Asheville on Friday and Saturday (7-14 & 15 – 23) with Gran Fondo Asheville rolling out on Sunday, July 16, hosted at Rabbit Rabbit (75 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801) in the heart of downtown Asheville.
Bike Fest offers a variety of experiences for every type of rider. The event kicks off on Friday with Bicycle Industry Night and features fast-paced dynamic presentations from WNC’s cycling entrepreneurs, service providers, and industry leaders.
On Saturday, Asheville’s downtown open-air event space, Rabbit Rabbit hosts a variety of cycle-centric activities from pop-up bike parks, town rides, clinic, and product expo.
On Sunday, Bike Fest combines with Gran Fondo Asheville, a Gran Fondo National Series event, which was born of a desire to combine the best aspects of bike racing and social rides to create an event that’s fun, challenging, competitive, and inclusive. Gran Fondo National Series has a remarkable history of creating partnerships and enriching premium events, to create engaging cycling experiences.
“Gran Fondo Asheville is the premier road cycling event of the summer in Asheville, North Carolina, and Asheville Bike Fest is an opportunity for Cane Creek to give back to the community that supports us and so many great Western North Carolina outdoor sports companies.”–Brent Graves, Cane Creek CEO
All sponsorship and vendor fees support the mission and work of Asheville on Bikes, a 501(c)3 organization whose mission is to cultivate the culture of urban and commuter riding through advocacy, education, and celebration.
We can’t wait to see you there!
If you’re interested in sponsoring or being a vendor at a Bike Fest, please complete the Asheville Bike Fest Vendor Form
Bike Fest Program: Friday & Saturday, July 14-15, 2023
Asheville Bike Fest is a 2-day event hosted at Rabbit Rabbit on Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16 that brings together local outdoor companies and national cycling brands, with plenty of family-friendly activities for all ages. It is a free event, open to the public, where you’ll find:
- an extensive outdoor expo
- food trucks & local beer
- cycling clinics
- a children’s bike park
- a cargo bike expo
- urban rides
- a cycling-centric film festival
Friday, July 14, 2023: 6-8 PM
Industry Night at Gravelo Workshop (793 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804)
Seating is limited to 100 guests so please RSVP for Bike Fest Industry Night.
This event features a variety of local cycling entrepreneurs, service providers, and industry leaders who share their stories, products, and services in a series of 5min dynamic presentations facilitated by Asheville on Bikes’ executive director, Mike Sule. Following presentations Asheville Brewing Company sponsors a pint and conversation with presenters and attendees.
Presenters:
- Reuben Kline, founder and director of Gran Fondo National Series. Reuben has partnered with a variety of local organizations and businesses to host his bicycling series.
- Emi Kubota, principal of Kid Cycle Club a bicycle skills education program who teaches “your child to ride a bike so your family can share our love of movement and outdoor adventure.”
- Becca Lee, Riding in Color WNC, “we create intersectional affinity spaces for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPoC) of all genders, body sizes, and levels of ability to build skills and community within the sport of bike riding in WNC”
- Alex Bryenton principle of Valentine Bicycles a handbuilt bicycle manufacturer who is “dedicated to the advancement of bicycle culture through quality builds and inclusive actions.”
- Jen Weeks of Rockgeist Bike Pack USA who “is dedicated to expanding the boundaries of your bicycle travel.
- Clint Spiegel of Industry Nine whose products are “proven in Pisgah and the back roads of the Blue Ridge.”
- Brent Graves of Cane Creek Cycling Components whose “every product is influenced by the endless miles of rugged singletrack and the twisty roads of Pisgah.”
Saturday, July 15, 2023: 11 AM – 6 PM
Bike Fest at Rabbit Rabbit (75 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC 28801)
11am – 6pm: Gran Fondo Asheville rider packet pick up, approximately 1000 cyclists will visit the venue to pick up rider packets.
11am – 2pm: Kid Cycle Club’s Pop-Up Bike Park & Kid’s Bicycle Demo
Younger riders hone their bicycle skills on Kid Cycle Club’s pop-up bicycle park and enjoy testing riding a variety of bicycles.
12pm – 6pm: Clinics & Gimmicks – See more below!
Asheville Rides 6pm – 8pm
Parkake in one of two distinct Asheville group ride experiences: Gravelo Ride & Mtn Haulers.
Bicycle Film Festival 8:30pm – 9:45pm
Join us at Rabbit Rabbit for a night of cycling-themed films and fun with the first in-person Bicycle Film Festival in Asheville!
Advanced tickets are now available!
Clinics 12-2 PM
| Setting Sag w/ Cane Creek Learn the basics of how to set sag on your suspension. 2 sessions: 12pm – 1pm 1pm – 2pm This session is limited to 12 people/session. RSVP to secure your place! | Fix It Clinic w/ the Asheville Recyclery Learn how to: Fix a flat Weekly lube routine Shifting & adjusting gears 2 sessions: 12pm – 1pm 1pm – 2pm This session is limited to 6 people/session. RSVP to secure your place! | Cargo Bike Curious Local riders showcase their bikes and talk shop with the cargo bike curious. If you’re interested in showcasing your cargobike for the cargo curious, please register for a spot. |
Gimmicks 4-6 PM
| Paper Delivery Challenge Hop on a bike and test your newspaper delivery skills. | Slow Race Keep your bicycle upright, moving straight, and across the finish line last. | Track Stand Competition Balance over time wins. |
Grand Fondo Asheville: Sunday, July 16, 2023
We are thrilled to welcome back the SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Championship on Sunday, July 16th, hosted at Rabbit Rabbit. Riders will have their choice of 100-, 60-, or 30-mile routes that take them throughout north and west Asheville. The SUAREZ Gran Fondo National Series events have a unique ‘timed segment’ competition format, helping to reduce the need for road closures and allowing cyclists of varying abilities to regroup, ride together, and enjoy their ride.
Riders participating in Sunday’s Gran Fondo, will be able to pick up their packets at Rabbit Rabbit on Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning.
Registration for the Gran Fondo is now open.
Anyone who volunteers for Gran Fondo AVL receives an entry for an upcoming Gran Fondo race. Many AoB’ers opt to volunteer for the Asheville event and ride the Boone Gran Fondo in August (this year on August 7, 2023). If that sounds like a good deal, register to volunteer here.
Gran Fondo Race Schedule
Sunday 7/16:
8:00am – Gran Fondo race start
10:00am – First Riders Finish
8:30am-5pm – Bike Fest Vendor & Activities
Learn about our presenting sponsor Cane Creek Cycling Components (canecreek.com)
Cane Creek Cycling Components is a manufacturer of premium cycling products headquartered in Fletcher, NC. The company was founded in 1975 as the North American headquarters of Japanese brake manufacturer Dia-Compe. In 1996 the company was renamed Cane Creek Cycling Components and was subsequently purchased by its employees. Over the years, Cane Creek has introduced several groundbreaking products – including the original AheadSet threadless headset and the revolutionary Double Barrel Shock.
Learn more about Gran Fondo National Series (granfondonationalseries.com)
Founded in 2012 by event director Reuben Kline, the Gran Fondo National Series is the largest and most competitive series of gran fondo cycling events in the United States. Gran Fondo National Series was the first series to implement timed-segment racing into US gran fondo events and has crowned Gran Fondo National Champions and Gran Fondo National Series Champions since 2012. Since 2020, Gran Fondo National Series has been the organizer of the official USA Cycling Gran Fondo National Championships.