After a successful first year, the Meyers Mountain Bike Festival is returning on Sunday, Aug. 10.

“Last year was our first year and we had 300-400 people come through,” said event coordinator Brian Levy.

This year’s event is expected to be even bigger and is aimed at bringing together the Lake Tahoe mountain bike community and to raise money for the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association. In conjunction with the U.S. Forest Service and the Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship, TAMBA is in the process of developing the world class trails Lake Tahoe has to offer.

The event is hosted by Divided Sky on Highway 50 in Meyers and offers shuttles from the parking lot between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to different trailheads. The event is free of charge with food and drink to purchase, but donations to TAMBA is requested.

“Last year we raised over $1,000 for TAMBA,” Levy said.

The day starts with the Meyers Triple Crown, a fully pedal-powered tour of three of the South Shore’s best rides, Christmas Valley Downhill, Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride and the Corral Trail and covers 35 miles and about 5,500 vertical feet. Riders should arrive at 7:30 a.m. to register for the triple crown and the ride starts at 8.

“It was a butt kicker for sure,” said Pete Brumis, who works the event and rode the triple crown last year. “The guys who are working it usually ride it a couple days before so we can be moral support for people riding it.”

Brumis considered it his comeback ride after suffering a blown-out knee over the winter and took a bout five hours to complete.

Aside from biking, beginning a 3 p.m. the festival will have an outdoor barbecue, a kids zone, bike demos, raffles and a beer garden by Ninkasi Brewing. Live bands will be playing including Lazy Man, The Mark Sexton Band, Sierra Drifters, and DJ Berkmon.

“The idea is to get people out riding in the morning and be done by the time the festival starts,” Levy said.

For more information email Brian at Earthgood@me.com or visit the website http://www.facebook.com/MeyersMountainBikeFestival.