Outdoor vendor fair & tent demo added to 3 State

Rock/Creek today announces plans for an outdoor vendor fair and camping tent demo day, as well as a pint night to celebrate the 2015 3 State 3 Mountain bike ride on Friday, May 1 and Saturday, May 2, 2015.

“We’re inviting our vendors and all outdoor enthusiasts to come celebrate with us on both Friday and Saturday as we wish the riders well and say ‘good luck’ as they embark on a big day of cycling,” said Rock/Creek Marketing Director, Mark McKnight; “We’d also like to get the word out that this is a fun, family-friendly event.

With the return to the ‘old course’ going up Suck Creek, the addition of a tent demo, a pint night, and of course the Hincapie family’s attendance this year, we feel that this is not a ride to miss. Bring the entire family and your friends, and sign up to ride. We want to show Chattanooga that we care about cyclists and we intend to raise real funds for advocacy in this area. To make it happen, we need your participation.”

In its 28th year, the Chattanooga Bike Club’s 3 State 3 Mountain Challenge is a premier event that features some of the most scenic and challenging road-cycling routes in the southeast.  With climbs up Suck Creek, Sand, and Lookout Mountains, it encompasses a spectacular tour of both the Cumberland Plateau and the Tennessee River basin of Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. After returning to the “original” course, this year’s Challenge takes riders back through some of their favorite terrain. Bridge construction has precluded this course for several years.

New for this year, there will be a full weekend of activities at Finley Stadium for riders, families, and spectators to enjoy.

Interested riders who have not already registered are encouraged to do so soon. Register online for the 25-mile option, the metric century (100km/62 mi) or the full century bike ride at the 3 State site.

Rock/Creek will incorporate an outdoor retailer vendor fair and tent demo day into the weekend festivities.  With a long-standing tradition of being Chattanooga’s “go-to” store for all outdoor gear needs, Rock/Creek and its associated vendors are sure to make this year’s ride the best yet.

Attending vendors include:

Mountain Hardwear
Marmot
ENO Hammocks
Smith Optics
The North Face
MSR (Mountain Safety Research)
Therm-A-Rest
Goal Zero
Swiftwick
RootsRated
Get Out Chattanooga

… plus, more to be added as we confirm them.

In conjunction with the Chattanooga Bike Club, local companies and national outdoor retail brands will be on hand at the 3 State 3 Mountain vendor fair to promote and demo a wide variety of outdoor products.  On Saturday, Finley Stadium will host a tent demo on its new turf field.

Rock/Creek’s Events Director, Brian Costilow, elaborates: “Bring the kids and let them run around the field and play in a tent city! There will be giveaways, incentives and discounts. Factory representatives from some of our top outdoor vendors will be setting up many of their tent (and hammock!) models for people to preview.”

As part of this celebration, our friends at RootsRated will be kicking off their first annual Road Tour at the event on Friday evening, May 1st, with a Pint Night alongside Rock/Creek at the Vendor Fair at Finley Stadium. A suggested donation of $5 will get you a commemorative pint glass and the first beer.  All proceeds will benefit Bike Walk Tennessee–our state advocacy organization for pedestrians and cyclists.

RootsRated’s team will begin at home, in the Scenic City, as the Tour sets out to over 40 venues across the country within a 5-month period, inspiring tens of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts to get out and explore the great outdoors! Enjoy local beer, live music and conversations about the best places to get outside in the Chattanooga area.

Come celebrate cycling and the outdoors with Rock/Creek, the Chattanooga Bike Club, RootsRated, and our wonderful city.