When work feels like play โ€” an ASJ recap of North America’s premier cycling event

By Joe Kline

Sea Otter Classic 2018

High in the eastern hillsides of Monterey, where rolling green hills meet the ocean and sky, and California wildflowers splatter the landscape with color youโ€™ll find Sea Otter Classic every spring. The popular event is a cycling festival and exposition that has been going strong since 1991.

The four day event held at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey is considered the biggest bicycling festival and exposition in the country, bringing in 10,000 professional and amateur athletes as well as 70,000 fans. Whether you’re an avid cyclist or just an admirer, youโ€™ll find more to do here than you could fit in an entire weekend, from vendors to live sporting events you can either watch or participate in, and still have a rewarding experience.

With over 450 vendors, the Sea Otter expo is the best place to see the newest products in cycling and more. For those who want to get away from the crowds, there are miles of fun trails to ride and spectacular views to take in. Some vendors even have bicycle demos for those who are looking to try out some new wheels. The event is family friendly and they make sure to pack the event list with all sorts of activities for kids as well as adults.

There are a number of spectator-friendly cycling events that take place at this festival. My favorite was the Dual Slalom where two mountain bikers go head to head in a race down a windy dirt track. Grab yourself a beer, get a spot on the hill, and relax while watching pro athletes rail fast corners and catch a bit of air.

The Adventure Sports Journal booth was located near the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden. We had a great time making new friends and signing people up for a raffle to win top of the line new gear from our sponsors. We wanted to provide a space for everyone who needed some shade and a friendly conversation. It was nice to see all the old faces and new at the festival, and we are so grateful to all our friends at Sea Otter Classic who always give us a good welcome. We hope to see even more faces next year and make new friends!


The Sea Otter Classic was part of the 2018 ASJ Roadshow. Massive thanks to the following sponsors for making the ASJ Roadshow โ€˜18 possible!

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