Preview Argus Bike Festival 2024
08.03.24 13:18 7942024-03-08T13:18:00+01:00Text: NoMan, PM (translated by AI)Photos: Michi Meindl, Johannes Friedl, Peter Provaznik, Christian , NR22, NoManCountdown is on: The 25th annual season opening will be celebrated at Vienna's Rathausplatz on April 13 and 14! Pack your sunscreen and come in droves to the anniversary edition of Austria's most diverse cycling event!08.03.24 13:18 1.1302024-03-08T13:18:00+01:00Preview Argus Bike Festival 2024
08.03.24 13:18 1.1302024-03-08T13:18:00+01:00 NoMan, PM (translated by AI) Michi Meindl, Johannes Friedl, Peter Provaznik, Christian , NR22, NoManCountdown is on: The 25th annual season opening will be celebrated at Vienna's Rathausplatz on April 13 and 14! Pack your sunscreen and come in droves to the anniversary edition of Austria's most diverse cycling event!08.03.24 13:18 1.1302024-03-08T13:18:00+01:00
Superlatives are a delicate matter. No sooner are they claimed than they are already surpassed, put into perspective, or even exposed as incorrect. But one thing is incontrovertible: There is no more multifaceted way to present our beloved sport, preferred hobby, and favorite means of transportation than the Argus Bike Festival at Vienna's Rathausplatz. Really not. Especially not in 2024, when it celebrates its 25th anniversary.
Since 1999, this event has been taking place in the heart of Austria's federal capital, and this year it is happening again on April 13 and 14.
Once again, the big gathering of the bicycle industry, scene, and fans also marks the beginning of the local spring season. And on this occasion, it turns the area in front of the town hall, including the outpost Burgtheater, into a playground for everything that is and constitutes a bicycle.
Bike Festival
The Argus Bike Festival is a platform for all bicycle topics and a meeting point for all cycling enthusiasts from Austria and the surrounding area.
New Products for Young and Old
Brand new this year is the large E-Mountainbike Area right in the middle of Rathausplatz. It consists of a spectacular course specially designed for E-MTBs, where on the one hand, shows and workshops take place – among others with Bosch brand ambassador Stefan Schlie. On the other hand, here the latest models can be "appropriately" tested to one's heart's content.
The Bicycle Children's World next to the Burgtheater is getting even more space than before. In addition, there are new offers there especially for the little ones in the bicycle universe.
And once again, right at Rathausplatz, the Kids Bike Trophy makes its first stop at the Argus Bike Festival. Its course is suitable for all motivated stars of tomorrow – whether still on a balance bike or already on a bike. The event is held by Cycling Austria, formerly known as ÖRV, which, by the way, will once again honor Austria's Cyclists of the Year as part of the festival. (Pre-)registrations are possible at www.kidsbiketrophy.at – and depending on available starting places also at the Cycling Austria tent on-site.
For the first time right in the center of the event area, there’s also a Cargo Bike Test Area, where over 20 different cargo bikes of all types can be tried out.
Further Program Highlights
The sporting highlight and fixture as usual will be the Dirt Battle Vienna. But what we mean by as usual, the spectacular highjump and best trick contest offers anew every year moments of thrill that captivate even the most jaded or clueless audience. Just remember David Godziek's world premiere (the first Cash Roll Windshield Wiper on a mountain bike) in the last attempt of the Best Trick Competition 2023, or even the perfect Double-Backflip by the two teenagers Samy Fernbach and Lennox Zimmermann during the first-ever Synchro-Sessions!
These pair runs will also take place this year, and what the top riders of the World-Pro-Tour show on this occasion and the two main competitions of the contest, will be explained to all mortals in the usual cheerful and competent manner by cult host Andi Brewi. Add a bit of music (no, not Viennese songs), this time by DJ Daniel Hammerschmied, and the show is perfect.
Speaking of perfect: How beautiful, cozy, and quiet, yet full of life Vienna would be if cars didn't always set the tone and pace, will be demonstrated again on Sunday. More precisely: the bike parade on Sunday starting at 12:00 PM at Universitätsring 2.
Depending on the weather, at this unique opportunity – with the Ring closed to other traffic! – 5,000 to 15,000 people will joyfully cycle through the city, optionally listening to music groups along the route or birds in the trees. Nice!
And then, of course, as always, there's the big bike fair, the actual heart of the event and bracket over other special areas like bike flea market or Histo-Corner.
Here, visitors can get comprehensive information about the latest products and recent trends, discover new brands, and of course, snag some bargains. Additionally, there’s information about the expansion program of Vienna's bike paths and the latest edition of the free bike map for Vienna, plus a lot of products worth seeing – from handmade items made of old tubes to trailers for the ultimate trip around the world.
By the way: Bike tourism is becoming increasingly important. Almost a third of all exhibition stands in 2024 will be dedicated to travel destinations and organizers.
Detailed information about the program, exhibitors, travel options, etc., can be found at www.bikefestival.at
