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After two years of planning and building, the new Marin Museum of Bicycling will formally open its doors on June 6th at 11 a.m.
Located in the middle of Fairfax, California, the MMB’s primary purpose is to serve as the new home of the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame. Previously located in Crested Butte, Colorado, the MBHoF recognizes individuals who have contributed to the sport in the areas of advocacy, industry, journalism, pioneers, promotion, and racing history. After 15 years in the Butte–a beautiful town rich in mountain bike history, but tiny and difficult to access–the MBHoF moved to a bigger space, in a more accessible and population-dense location.
Despite a more urban location, Marin County is arguably the place where the mountain bike was born, making it a mostly-appropriate location for the sport’s hall of fame. I say "mostly" because Marin County was also the place where the anti-mountain bike movement began and riders in Marin continue to struggle with legal access to singletrack.
According to Joe Breeze, a MMB board member and MBHoF inductee, “The MBHoF collection includes about 40 bikes and frames, including many with important provenance—they were ridden by people who contributed significantly to the sport. MMB has 28 bicycles on permanent display on the mountain bike decks. We will also be displaying numerous supporting artifacts (parts, jerseys, ephemera).” The musesum will also display numerous other bicycles, both from the MBHoF collection and on loan. The bikes will be rotated in and out over time.
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The MMB’s displays also include eight 19th-century bicycles from the Ralph Igler collection. “These cycles represent the key stepping stones in the bicycle's formative evolution,” said Breeze. Parts of the Matteo Martignoni collection of bikes, parts, and cycling miscellanea from the 1930s to 1970s will also be on display, as will historical photographs, including Wende Cragg’s documentation of the early days of mountain biking. In addition, the MMB plans to host temporary exhibits.
The MMB also aims to host lectures, act as a meeting place for bicycle clubs and rides, screen movies, and host live events.
The grand opening will feature live music, trick riders, face painting and a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting. At opening, the museum will not be 100 percent complete; but according to Breeze, “[The] MMB is a work in progress. This is an entirely volunteer effort. No paid staff; thousands of hours of work. All will not be in place when we open this Saturday, not by a long stretch, but it is time to open!”
The Marin Museum of Bicycling will be open 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. on June 6th. Opening day admission will be $8 for adults, $5 for youths and students with current student ID, free for kids under 12 accompanied by adults. Marin Museum of Bicycling members get in free. Regular operating hours will be Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission prices are $10 for adults ($8 with advance purchase), $5 for 12–17-year-olds and students with ID, $3 for 6–11-year-olds, and free for visitors five and under.
