The mud is barely dry on the bikes but already racers and spectators alike are looking forward to next year's Sea Otter Classic (April 12-15, 2007). The acknowledged kick-off to the road and MTB racing seasons in the United States and the self-avowed largest bicycle festival in the United States, this year's Sea Otter once again lived up to its billing as "A Celebration of Cycling."

The weather was sketchy, alternating between partly cloudy and pleasant to drearily drizzly, but there was almost nothing that could dampen the collective spirit of cycling that prevailed across the sprawling grounds of the Laguna Seca racetrack and the surrounding Fort Ord trail network this past weekend.

Treated to pleasant conditions on Thursday that helped dry out some of the mountain bike trails and the makeshift hillside parking lots, a small knot of diehard industry geeks and cycling freaks cruised the festival village checking out the latest in cycling innovations and chatting with old friends. The Otter is truly an industry rendezvous, with gear vendors and manufacturers coming from around the country to enthusiastically get the word out about their products. It's also a chance for smaller local businesses like Dirty Dog (customized disc brake rotors) Fringe, and Nor-Cal (uber-hip apparel) to get the word out to the entire cycling community about their products.