Mountain Biking, Live Music + Family Fun at Grand Junction’s 4th Annual Rides & Vibes
As the weather heats up this May, there's no better place to be than Western Colorado. The Grand Junction Sports Commission, in partnership with Intermountain Health, invites locals and visitors to celebrate the season at the fourth annual Rides & Vibes — a high-energy event blending mountain biking, live music and community fun. Downtown Grand Junction’s Main Street hosts the weekend, May 9–10, 2025, promising two full days of excitement with something for all ages to enjoy.
With a wide selection of casual and competitive mountain biking events, there is fun to be had for the whole family. Plus, with opportunities to win cash prizes and a $20,000 pro cash purse, you can try to pad your Strava stats and bank account at the same time. Mountain bike races require registration, so make sure to sign up now to guarantee a place in the race.
And what better way is there to unwind after an exhilarating day of exercise than to enjoy some live music with friends and family? With 14 different artists performing on the 4th and 5th Street outdoor stages, there is something for everyone to enjoy. Come see an old favorite or discover new ones during this two-day music festival. Those interested can check out a preview of the featured artists in the Ride & Vibes 2025 playlist on Spotify.
This year, Rides & Vibes is partnering with The Cycle Effect, a nonprofit organization that empowers young women through mountain cycling events and community building. “They’re a fantastic group,” says Kate Ellyson, marketing coordinator for the Grand Junction Sports Commission. “We worked with them last year, and we’re looking to do even more with them this year.” Members of The Cycle Effect and young women in their mountain biking program will be participating in the Community Costume Crit cycling event on May 9, starting at 5:30 p.m., to fundraise for five new bikes for their program. Learn more at thecycleeffect.org.
After kicking the celebrations off with a yoga and spin class on the main stage, the events taking place on day one are as follows: Kids Ride with a Doctor (presented by Intermountain Health), Community Costume Crit, pro women crit and pro men crit. On day two you can expect the Filthy 40, Dirty 30, Fresh 15, men’s pro race, women’s pro race and an awards ceremony.
A beer garden will open for the entirety of the events on both days. The music festival will also take place on both days, with Still House String Band headlining on May 9 and Black Pistol Fire headlining on May 10.
The 4th annual Rides & Vibes rolls on May 9 (1 p.m. – 10 p.m.) and May 10 (6:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.) at 401 Main St. in Grand Junction. Casual cycling events and the music festival are free. Entries into the competitive races range from $97.10 to $176.15.
To learn more or to register for races, visit gjridesandvibes.com and follow them on @gjridesandvibes and @grandjunctionsports for live event updates.
This article is a sponsored spotlight.