Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo is set for January 2018

Are you ready? Time is fast approaching for the largest bicycle and outdoor expo in the region. Mark your calendars for the Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo on Sunday, January 14. Presented by BWorks and Terrain Magazine, the event takes place at the Gateway Conference Center in Collinsville, Ill., 1 Gateway Dr., 62234. With approximately 160 booths from individuals and businesses selling new and used bicycles and other outdoor equipment at prices to move, this 16-year-old event is the place to get those items you need for the upcoming season. Those interested in becoming a vendor, please find out more online at http://bikeandoutdoorexpo.com/index.php/exhibit/ or contact Zac Metcalf at 314-561-4701 as vendor space is filling up quickly.

Expo hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and cost is $8 in advance (online ticket sales to start mid-November) or $12 at the door (children age 10 and under are free). Proceeds from ticket sales will benefit the not-for-profit BWorks.

The event started with a bicycle-only focus in the early 2000s and has transformed into the Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo to include other outdoor activities such as running, hiking, climbing, camping and paddling, to correspond with the more comprehensive focus of Terrain Magazine. “Last year’s event was the biggest yet, attracting more than 2,000 attendees and 100 vendors,” said Brad Kovach, editor of Terrain. “The response we got from everyone who participated was overwhelmingly positive. We’re excited to offer this high-quality event with the goal of helping grow the outdoor community in and around St. Louis.”

The Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo features 40,000 square feet of exhibit space located just a 12-minute drive from downtown St. Louis. Vendors are invited to share the latest information about their products and services and sell items directly to customers at the show.

“BWorks’ Earn-A-Bike program aims to teach kids that they can set goals, and reach them,” said Patrick Van Der Tuin, executive director of BWorks, which is benefitting from the Expo. During the free bicycle program, kids attend a series of hands-on courses held once a week for six weeks. “They learn about bikes, including maintenance and safety, but the other lessons they learn are even more valuable. They learn to solve problems individually and as a group. They also learn a sense of responsibility, as students must attend every session to graduate,” Van Der Tuin added.

For more information about attending and exhibiting at the Mississippi Valley Bike + Outdoor Expo, visit www.bikeandoutdoorexpo.com.