More than 1000 mountain bike consumers and industry personnel
converged on the Bar M public lands trailhead in Moab, UT, October 2-7 for the
third annual Outerbike-a chance for the public to test and see many of next
year’s bicycle models and new products from select manufacturers. And word on
the dusty aisles is that the event is well worth peoples’ time, as suppliers
ranging from the usual Giant and Specialized to Native Eyewear, Sierra
Designs/Kelty, Club Ride, Osprey, Clif Bar, Skratch Labs and other performance
and accessory manufacturers came together for several days of riding, demos and
networking.

The fall event is the brainchild of Moab’s Western Spirit
Cycling, a national cycling touring company that was founded in 1989 and
revamped by bicycle industry veteran Ashley Korenblat in 1997. Outerbike
coordinator Sean Hazell is the man on the ground at the event, a full-time
employee of Western Spirit and year-round Moab local.

“Pretty much what we hear from people is that they want to
go bigger,” Hazell said about his participating exhibitors. “We are helping
make Moab the premier mountain biking destination again.” Hazell said that the
event is a place for manufacturers to gain very targeted exposure and to reach
trendsetters, people who influence others in their towns and riding groups.

The original vision of Outerbike was to attract people who
are in the market to buy a high-end bike. Not very many industries ask people
to spend upwards of $5,000 on a product they have never ridden, at least not in
their size or with their preferred specs, and Outerbike provided a solution for
that. What it has morphed into is a specialized consumer bike show and the
opportunity for people from around North America to take an inexpensive
mountain biking vacation in Moab. The event features several days of guided
rides and clinics, discounts on gear from exhibitors, shuttles, movie
screenings, parties and networking opportunities, all while demo-ing next
year’s bikes and riding with friends.

“The unfiltered direct access to end consumers and actual
users is awesome,” said Andy Russell, director of national accounts for
American Rec, one of the few camping and accessory specific suppliers on site. “It’s
great to engage active customers face to face and hear from them firsthand.”
American Rec worked with its local Moab retailer Gear Heads Outdoor Store to
provide discounts at the event.

The show was capped for 1,000 people this year, topping out
at 1,024, with riders from more than 42 states, Canada, Australia, Mexico,
Singapore and the UK. The goal is to keep the bike-to-person ratio 1:1 or
higher, so that people don’t have to wait to take out the bikes they want to
test. Outerbike is also committed to supporting cycling non-profits, including
the Moab Trails Alliance, Moab Trail Mix, and International Mountain Biking
Association (IMBA). In 2013, look for more diverse exhibitors, aiming to hone
in on the event’s targeted and eager demographic.

“If you want to put your brand in front of a group of
mountain bike enthusiasts who are willing to invest time and money in an
activity they love, Outerbike is a great opportunity to do that,” said Scott
Kaier, PR manager for attending American Rec brands Kelty, Sierra Designs and
Ultimate Direction. “We’re already making plans to return next year and are
looking into increasing our exhibitor space while finding ways to engage
attendees with fun activities and more products. Kelty, Sierra Designs and
Ultimate Direction were so well received, we want to have an even bigger
presence next year.”