Hundreds of the world’s best mountain bikers head to Windham, New York, in the heart of the Catskill Mountains this weekend, August 21-23, for the finals of the 2010 Mountain Bike World Cup finals. This is the first time the finals have been held in the United States, so this is your chance to see the world’s top professional cyclists. They are competing in three disciplines of racing — cross-country, downhill and “four-cross (4X). The U.S. last hosted a mountain bike World Cup in 2005 at the Angel Fire resort in New Mexico; but that was just an event, not the finals.
There are events all weekend, starting with a family-friendly block party Friday night, closing off the streets of downtown Windham. It’s a chance for families and non-profesional mountain bike enthusiasts to learn more about biking and Windham, and meet some of the the racers. Additional festival activities include: “Race the World” citizen races for pros and amateurs; indoor and outdoor expos showcasing bikes and accessories, local crafts and retail products; a “Big Wheel” race; a kids’ fun race and a free outdoor concert by Chris Barron and The Time Bandits. Most of the events are free. There are plenty of campsites around Windham, and some charming bed & breakfast inns.
