Bike Festival Freiburg 2023: Biking, testing, celebrating at the Dreisamstadion
Stefan Loibl
· 16.03.2023
Since 2013, the Freiburg MTB club has been organising a small, but nice festival with a club atmosphere. The Bike Festival Freiburg has always been held in the beer garden of the Ganter brewery. After a break from 2020 to 2022 due to the pandemic, it's back to biking, testing and celebrating at the end of April. But this year, from 21-23 April, at a new location: the Bike Festival Freiburg is moving to the Dreisamstadion, which is located directly at the foot of the first legal mountain bike trail in Freiburg, the Borderline.
Larger location and local companies at the Bike Festival Freiburg
The heart of the festival is an expo where well-known companies from the bike industry present themselves. Manufacturers of mountain bikes with and without electric drive, clothing and accessories are represented, as are cycle tour providers. Thanks to the larger area at the Dreisamstadion, the organisers are expecting almost 40 exhibitors. Among them are not only many of the regionally based bike companies, such as Trickstuff or local bike shops, but also international names such as Orbea, YT and Last. Mountain bikers on site will have the opportunity to obtain comprehensive advice or to test bikes on presentation of an ID card. There will also be many offers at discounted trade fair conditions.
Those who prefer to explore the trails around the Bike Festival Freiburg can take part in guided tours and riding technique workshops. Food trucks provide the necessary refreshments after the test rides or tours, while drinks are sold by Mountainbike Freiburg e.V..
The Bike Festival Freiburg, which is organised entirely by volunteers, is known nationwide and attracts more visitors from outside the region every year. "We want to build on our reputation as a family-friendly cycling event on the new site and are looking forward to a great event and numerous guests," say Patrick Hecklinger and Philipp Martin, the festival organisers.
Facts about the Bike Festival Freiburg at a glance
- Date: 21-23 April 2023
- Venue: Dreisamstadion Freiburg
- free entry
- 40 exhibitors / 60 brands
- approx. 5000 visitors
- Largest bike festival in southern Germany
- Organised on a voluntary basis by Mountainbike Freiburg e.V.
About the Mountainbike Freiburg e.V.
The association was founded in 2011 by Freiburg locals in order to ensure the continued existence of the Borderline from the Rosskopf to the youth hostel. Since then, the collaboration with the forestry office and the city of Freiburg has resulted in further trails for mountain bikers, which have long been known beyond the region. In 2015, the Canadian Trail from the Kybfelsensattel to the Sternwaldwiese. This was followed in 2016 by the Badish Moon Rising Trailwhich connects the Schauinsland with the Kybfels saddle. 2017 saw the addition of the challenging, jumpier Baden to the Bone Trail from Rosskopf to Zähringen and, as part of the network of trails in the Southern Black Forest Nature Park, the Hubbelfuchs Trail from Rosskopf towards Herdern. The flea trails above the Ochsengespann playground (next to the youth hostel) are intended as practice trails for children, young people and beginners. In 2020, the Hexentrail between Luisenhöhe and Merzhausen/Au was legalised. In 2021, two short trails were added in the Emmendingen local group, and in 2022 the technical and natural Schädelwäg in Oberried. A trail in Waldkirch is currently still under construction.
The programme and activities of the MTB club have steadily expanded in its young history. There are currently many youth groups with around 70 group leaders and instructors, several bike get-togethers, the Freiburg Bike Festival, the Freiburger Dreierlei and the annual club championships. The club currently has around 2800 members.
