Start pedalling for mountain-bike festival

Get ready to see the top names in cross-country mountain biking at the 2018 Bear Mountain Bike Festival, Saturday and Sunday at the Bear Mountain Bike Park.

The festival will see more than 5,000 spectators watching 500-plus participants competing on 10 kilometres of single and double tracks, a flow trail and a pump track.

The event is also the opening round of Canada Cup XCO racing, featuring UCI XC Canada Cup Double-Header XC and Short Track races.

As the event is being held early in the season, the festival is an opportunity for people to see competitors test their legs leading up to national and international events later in the season.

New for 2018 is Russ Hay’s Short Track race, with races for beginner, intermediate, expert, masters, youth, as well as elite categories.

Children are not forgotten, with the Oak Bay Bikes Westshore Kids Bike Day.

Children ages six to 10 will get to take a free guided trail ride with one of Canada’s top mountain bike racers.

There will be free food and prizes at the end of the ride.

The festival is also the inaugural enduro race for the Vancouver Island Cup MTB series, with Marty’s Mountain Cycle, featuring three epic runs — the Canada Cup Trail, Flow Trail and Chainsaw Trail. The festival is free to attend (registration for competitors) and view.

Activities and races run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Kids Bike Day runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday.

All events take place at the Bike Park of the Westin Bear Mountain Golf Resort and Spa, 1999 Country Club Way.

For more information, go to victoriabikerace.com.