Those who weren’t there missed out. Germany’s mountain biking capital braves rain, hail, and snow to kick off the season with perfect test tracks, small mini-events, and a familial charm. The Bike Festival Freiburg is a diamond among festivals.
The Freiburg crew has mastered the art of not taking themselves too seriously. Events like high jump contests among the exhibitor stands turn the Expo Area into a main artery of the MTB scene.
It was cold, it was wet, it was splendid. The Bike Festival Freiburg suffered under April weather yet managed to appropriately celebrate the season kick-off. While other festivals turn the expo area into an end in itself, Freiburg excels with perfect, easily accessible test trails, mini-events, and a family-friendly vibe. This event made not just the latest tech tangible, but the mountain biking community itself.
For over 10 years, Mountainbike Freiburg e.V. has been organizing its own bike festival, thus underscoring: Freiburg is Germany’s mountain biking capital! While some companies have recently turned their backs on the most renowned bike festival in Riva, the Bike Festival Freiburg continues to grow. If one were to graph the evolution of both events, the “attractiveness curves” for bikers are likely to intersect soon. This isn’t just because of the expanding expo, but primarily because the folks in Freiburg have understood that the mountain bike scene thrives not only on the sales of new bikes.
For the little shredders, there wasn't just a race, but also a skills course and a playmobile stocked with wooden toys.
Whether it’s a kids’ race or a high jump competition, the small events that take place between the trails of the Expo are what make the festival a thriving melting pot of the scene. It’s where people sweat, laugh, discuss, and ride together. The organizers successfully balance a holistic approach from the kids’ area to the food truck street, all the way to the exclusive exhibitors, with a focus on what’s essential: the sport of biking.
In addition to major companies like Mondraker, YT, Orbea, or Merida, smaller scene brands such as Cross Worx, Deviate, or Intend not only filled the Expo area to the brim. The diverse mix of exhibitors mainly ensures an Expo area that’s a pleasure to wander through, be inspired by, or where you can engage in direct conversation with manufacturers. Despite the most challenging weather conditions, the demo fleets from the bike manufacturers were fully booked. Even under hail storms, the queues for the test bike stations did not let up. In the aftermath, power washers were running at full tilt.
We’ve captured a few impressions of the festival for you and say:
Thank you, Freiburg, for this festival!
The folks from Freiburg master the art of not taking themselves too seriously. The track check for the kids' race is conducted by the exhibitors.
Instead of result lists for the youngest riders, there are motivational words from someone in the know. Former road racing pro and bike-components legend Markus Knöpfle pumped up the kids before their first race.
Santa Cruz wasn't just blasting the sickest beats at their booth but also had a never-ending line at the demo bike checkout.
Those who couldn't snag a test bike at least took a gander at the latest rigs from California.
The festival aisles were not only packed, but also a place of high spirits.
Even the Bavarian Broadcasting station set up shop in unfamiliar territory. This public service broadcaster regularly covers topics surrounding mountain biking. The mountain bike community is viewed as a significant opportunity to rejuvenate their audience on modern platforms like YouTube.
At Freiburg, "Berg Mensch" producer Sebastian Breitkreuz (right) was present along with the shredding female leads of his 10th season. Ines Thoma (left), Raphaela Richter, Tanja Naber, Julia Hofmann, and Tina Lang were even signing autographs at the booth and were always approachable for the young target demographic.
Attention Weight Weenies: Last Bike showcased an Asco with 140mm of travel, tipping the scales at under 11kg!
Lightweight wheels with textile spokes from Pirope make the bike incredibly light.
The carbon frame made in Germany impresses with its flawless craftsmanship.
Deviate unveiled its high-pivot bikes. The Scottish contingent of the crew demonstrated full commitment with a tent at the campsite.
He despises foul weather but has a soft spot for sleek bikes. Munich's scene veteran Rob Heran was flying high at the BOLD booth.
Rocky Mountain had not only their new Altitude on display but also the recently launched Instinct available for demo rides.
Stefan Schwind had his baptism by fire for his mobile RIDE 'n' Roll bike repair service in Freiburg. Starting May 1st, the concept will be operational in Mannheim.
No need for explanation. Stefan lives and breathes mountain biking to the fullest.
Patagonia was on-site with its "Worn Wear" program.
At the mobile tailoring station, damaged clothing from all brands was repaired free of charge.
The service aimed to highlight sustainability and was so popular that the sewing machine was fully booked by midday.
Left the Triple Two, right Sour Bikes. Even though the Dresden steel forge didn't have a booth, they sent Triple Two owner Mathias Dreuws as an ambassador for their new steel full-suspension rig, which is still currently in prototype stage.
Mathias Dreuw can surely smile. Although he hasn't fixed any clothing, roughly 15 years ago he was one of the first manufacturers to tackle the issue of sustainability credibly and earnestly in the mountain biking scene. The clear orientation of his clothing brand Triple Two was also very well received at the Bike Festival.
Steel bikes, like those from Sour, may be technically outpaced, but they captivate with their aesthetic grace. Slim tubing, tiny welds, and perfect proportions know how to bypass the rational brain and head straight to the hearts of many riders.
Tight lines! Over at the YT booth, there was a flurry of activity as participants tried their luck and skill. Those fortunate and skilled enough snagged a prize from the Franconian direct-sales brand.
Three apples high, but already shredding with a Lefty fork. At the festival, a permanent practice course was set up for kids.
Sanne Moritz doesn't just teach kids mountain biking during festivals. With her riding skill school, Trailglück, she specializes in coaching children and adolescents.
Cross Worx is now also welding 24-inch kids' bikes in Thuringia. For €1299, the next generation can get their hands on a timeless Made in Germany hardtail.
Still in prototype status, Cross Worx's first e-MTB full-suspension rig was on display at the festival and is expected to hit production soon.
Merida didn't just showcase its new eOne-Sixty, but also had several test bikes consistently ripping it up on the trails.
Forest Bikes represents an automotive dealership chain's foray beyond their traditional realm. With E-MTBs, they aim to take a more holistic approach to mobility.
The limited run of just 12 units of an AI-designed bike is set to turn heads.
Claus Liedler has handed over his company Trickstuff to DT Swiss. Even though he's no longer involved in the day-to-day operations, he relishes walking through the festival. The exchange with his former employee Cornelius Kapfinger was filled with great stories and plenty of laughter.
Following his departure from Trickstuff, we've hailed Kapfinger as the owner of Intend as the pope of the tuning scene. But what bike does the pope actually ride?
Jacob Breitwieser not only hosted the High Jump Contest but was also omnipresent at the festival, always up for a chat.
Full Commitment! YT team rider Luis Blattner isn't into tears, so he opted to get a mountain bike tattooed under his eye instead.
Ludo May was just one of many MTB pros in Freiburg. The Swiss rider was surprised by how much grip the German soil had in wet conditions.
There's no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate gear. Rain pants and jackets were mandatory for serious test rides.
Fresh off the launch pad and now available for test rides in Freiburg: The ARC8 Extra Air
The concept featuring the glider rear suspension has become a hallmark of ARC8 and renders the frames impressively lightweight. We'll soon have an ARC8 test bike in the pipeline for you guys to give a comprehensive feature.
Handlebar-Stem Combo Reimagined. The Faserwerk's carbon rod minimizes complexity to its essentials.
Despite the mucky weather, nearly all the demo bikes at Mondraker were hitting the trails. One can't help but wonder: What would the turnout have been like in good weather?
Nicolai understands that cargo bikes are a hot topic in Freiburg and showcased this beauty in "Purple" alongside many mountain bikes.
The festival was repeatedly hit by some intense downpours.
Snow, hail, rain, and intermittent sunshine. April delivered everything it's known for.
Philipp Martin didn't let the weather dampen his spirits and warmly welcomed all participants and exhibitors to Freiburg.
He was the driving force behind the first bike festival in Freiburg over 10 years ago. Today, he is still one of the key figures spearheading the volunteer-organized event, alongside three other club mates.
A highlight: The Ridersparty on Saturday night. What happened there remains solely in the memories of those involved.
A tip for all who want to come next year: Camping Hirzberg is run by bikers and houses half the festival. The campground’s dryer wasn't just running once this weekend.
Upcoming Festival Dates 2024
For those eager to get a taste of festival vibes, you have the opportunity at the following upcoming events.
E-Bike Days Munich: April 26-28
Bike Festival Riva: May 2–5
BIKE Festival Willingen: May 25-26
Rock The Hill Festival (Geißkopf): June 13-16
About the author
Ludwig
... has spent more than 100,000 kilometers in the saddle of over 1000 different mountain bikes. The essence of many hours on the trail: Mountain bikes are awesome when they match your personal preferences! With this realization, he founded bike-test.com to assist cyclists in finding their very own dream bike.
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