#nembafest

[weshipyourride]

NEMBAfest Recap

As the heat and humidity of summer starts to settle into the East Coast, the New England Mountain Bike Association throws its annual party, NEMBAfest, way up north in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont where the air feels of spring and the 100-plus miles of twisty trails are in prime condition.

The East Coast BikeFlights.com was there again this year to talk about bike shipping (and ride!).

With panoramic green mountain views and situated at the entrance to Kingdom Trails, one of the premiere trail systems on the continent, it’s obvious why this remote pocket of Vermont is a popular mountain bike destination. Throw in more than 100 vendors representing all facets of mountain biking, including demo bike fleets from brands both venerable and new on the scene, a legit stage with live music, onsite camping and activities for the whole family and it’s easy to see why more than 4000 attendees from all over the US and Canada flock way up to NEMBAfest on the last weekend in June.

Mountain bikers prepare for a full day on the trails with daily early morning yoga overlooking the vendors and the sun rising over green mountains.

What? You’ve never seen a sticker-collecting sheep on a leash? This is Vermont. 

The festival ran from Friday through Sunday and two-thirds of that time presented perfect weather conditions. Friday night Roots of Creation, a reggae-spun Grateful Dead tribute band, took the beer garden-adjacent stage in front of an impressive crowd.

Early Saturday morning even added a little sprinkle before anyone was awake, just to add a little extra magic to the trail conditions which persisted under bright sun for most of the day.

But all perfect weather ends at some point, and that point was Saturday evening. As BikeFlights.com East Coast Marketing Manager, Vince, and a handful of other industry folks were on their “after work” ride storms rolled in with wind and rain, and the rain didn’t roll back out until it was time to head home Sunday afternoon. The spirits of the attendees, however, seemed to hardly notice, as the smiles they wore all weekend shined through splatters of mud.

Dark clouds and a steady rain on Sunday didn’t keep enthusiastic mountain bikers from the expo or the trails.

If you’ve never experienced the Kingdom Trails put it on your mountain bike bucket list. If you’d like to experience the Kingdom Trails on the latest and greatest bikes and gear, see some live music, drink some great beer, camp and hang out with some great people, put NEMBAfest on your calendar.

Either way, we’ll help you get your bike there. 

[emgeemann]

#NEMBAfest is officially a RIP! So glad @nofriendsonapowday pitched us on going, and hard to imagine we slept on it for so long. Epic @kingdomtrails, incredible scenery, @killingtonmtn camping compound, and tons of homies and vendors. Huge thanks to @killingtonmtn Resort team and @killingtonbikepark For the awesome hospitality and bad ass @norcobicycles demos. We will definitely be back - this event is not to be missed! #killingtonbikepark #kingdomtrails #nemba #nembafest2019 #mountainbiking #norcobikes #norcorange (at Kingdom Trails) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzWDA1UhbM-/?igshid=13lq3gsu2mftz

[amxfld19]

#nembafest was so amazing! So stoked to have gotten the chance to be apart of such an event! #vmbatribe #wheresyourstrip #burkebikepark #kingdomtrails (at Kingdom Trails)

[amxfld19]

#nembafest has been awesome so far!! I'm leading another group ride at 11am if anyone wants to join! Then heading up to @burkemountainofficial bike park for some faster paced braaping! @kingdomtrails @nemba_mtb @vmba802 #vmbatribe #wheresyourstrip #braap #dirtcraftkingdom (at Kingdom Trails)

[artfulstationer]

Throwing my cares to the wind. #nembafest #brocation

[tinykittenuniverse]

Pretty good day, if, you know, you're into awesome things. #NEMBAfest #nembafest2016 #mtb #northeastkingdom #vermontbyvermonters #vermont #trekbikes #love

[tinykittenuniverse]

Someone's sad he didn't get to ride today. #bike dogs #dalmatiansofinstagram #dalmatian #mtb #nembafest