Mountain biking festival celebrates 10 years in Jamaica

Held annually in February, the 10th Jamaica Fat Tyre Festival is set for five days of mountain biking in the lush mountains of St. Mary from February 5 to 10.

The festival will kick off with a welcome and registration party on February 5 at John Crow's Tavern in the heart of Ocho Rios – the vibes capital of Jamaica's beautiful North Coast. On the first full day, festival riders will shuttle up to Murphy Hill, perched high above Ocho Rios. After taking in the view it will be time to let brakes overheat on the blistering descent to world reknown Dunn's River Falls. Other communities to be visited will include Oracabessa, Hamilton Mtn, and Jacks River.

On February 7, participants will go deep into rural Jamaica near Robin's Bay, St. Mary, including over Carlton Pass. The next day, riders will trek to Pimento Hill for a more relaxed day of singletrack, downhills, and waterfalls ending at Black Sand Beach.

Festivities will culminated February 10 with the Jamaica Bicycle bash including a five mile race loop through Oracabessa, a "Gas Done" gas cylinder carrying race, a "Big Man, Small Bicycle" race and other contests.

Profits will go to our Bicycling Works! project dedicated to promoting local ownership of the emerging mountain biking sector in the parish of St. Mary. For more info, visit www.smorba.com.