$11,000 Cash Prize Purse Offered
 (Eagle,
Colo.) - April 5, 2013 - The Greenspeed Project, Inc., organizers of
the popular Breck Epic MTB Stage Race, are pleased to announce the
launch of the inaugural Eagle Outside Festival. Scheduled for May 11-12,
2013 in Eagle, CO, the event serves as a showcase for the community's
extensive trail network and as a centerpiece for the town's destination
tourism marketing effort.
"We've
made a commitment to increase the quality and quantity of our already
substantial trail network," states Mayor Yuri Kostick, "We believe that
Eagle offers some of the best riding in the Rockies, all within
an easy drive of the front range. The Eagle Outside Festival shines a
spotlight on what we consider to be a perfect early season riding option
for the Colorado mountain biking community."
Accurately
described as a 're-envisioning' of Eagle's former Get Out Expo, the new
event incorporates many new elements for riders, runners and outdoor
enthusiasts alike. First among them is the inaugural Firebird MTB Race
and its counterpart, the women's only Firebird la Femme. Non-USAC
sanctioned, the mountain bike events take place on Saturday and Sunday
respectively and collectively boast a $10,000 cash purse with equal
payouts for men's and women's fields.
The
festival also features the 1st annual Rocky Mountain Bike and Outdoor
Expo, a consumer facing demo boasting some of the bike industry's
leading brands. Santa Cruz, Pivot, Ibis, Felt, Niner, Specialized, Yeti,
Ellsworth, Twenty Two Cycles, Orbea, Wilier, Ridley, BMC and many, many
more will all be on hand with their latest models. The free demo
invites consumers to test ride their dream rigs all day long on Eagle's
signature climbs and descents.
"With
three great coffee shops, a VERY good brewery, some killer Mex, dining
options galore and a full grip of trails leading riders from town into
the back of beyond, Eagle is sort of an undiscovered secret," says event
producer Mike McCormack, "The racing part is obvious, and we're
thrilled to have the town's support in offering a sizable purse. The
current dynamic as dictated by USA Cycling is universally unpopular -
hopefully another great race without their sanction will prompt them to
invest additional thought into their recent decision. Then again, maybe
it won't."
"The
demo is a direct extension of the success we've seen at events like Sea
Otter, Interbike and Outerbike," continued McCormack, "People LOVE to
try the bikes they've only seen reviewed online or in a magazine. Events
like these are packed with smiling people. With the industry
placing more and more resources into dealer relationship and support
demo-type programs, we think we've come pretty close to the mark in
terms of offering a great venue along with tremendous energy and
critical mass, all during the important early season purchasing period.
And besides - what better way to introduce riders to Eagle?"
The
event will also offer a no-cost set of Strava Challenges. Riders can
test themselves on some of Eagle's signature climbs and descents, trying
to best the local hammers and rippers for digital bragging rights.
There's more than just biking though. New
for this year is the Mother of a Half-Marathon, a downhill road
marathon that sees competitors finish in the heart of Eagle Ranch. In
addition, there will be a 10K longboard push race, a "Chro-Moly Chef"
competition, and a wide variety of Mother's Day activities including
yoga, spa treatments, flower delivery, special meal offers from local
dining spots and much, much more.
For
more information on the Eagle Outside Festival, the Rocky Mountain Bike
and Outdoor Expo or any of the events held throughout the weekend,
please visit the Eagle Outside Festival site or contact Mike McCormack.
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About The Greenspeed Project
The Greenspeed Project was founded in 2008 to utilize cycling
events as a mechanism to underwrite trail improvements and enhance MTB
access in the Central Rockies. The team has effectively harnessed the
power of the collective cycling consciousness in service of demanding
accountability and ethical discourse from those that would see mountain
bike access greatly marginalized. Greenspeed has also been
instrumental in validating the term 'companion designation', bringing it
into the land protection dialogue along with the concept of the
Wilderness B (Wilderness with Bikes), of which Greenspeed is the
founder.Through these initiatives, the organization has played a
modest role in the crafting of stronger, more meaningful land
protections for all. While the group can be found most recently jousting
at windmills in the Colorado Springs area, The Breck Epic, Greenspeed's
signature 6-day MTB stage race event, is sold out for 2013.
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