Jerry Cole, director of the Rapid City Parks and Recreation department, said the event had attracted more than 100 registrants and bike vendors from the U.S.

Thanks to nationwide marketing, Cole said, the event was able to bring in mountain bikers from states including Minnesota, Iowa, Colorado and Utah.

Saturday's cross-country races varied in length from two miles to 18 miles and had 48 registered racers. Cole said the events had varying difficulties and lengths in order to attract bike riders of all experience levels.

"Some people are here just to try these bikes out, and others came for the true ride, the jumps and the logs and such," he said. "We've got everything here."

On Saturday, more than 40 volunteers from Black Hills Mountain Bike Association led riders on tours of local paths and trails through the hills near Rockerville, Victoria Lake and Mount Rushmore.

Cole said the idea for the Black Hills Fat Tire Festival has been a dream for years, but it took participation from numerous groups including Black Hills Mountain Bike Association, Rapid City Sports Council and the Convention and Visitors Bureau to get the project on its feet.

"It's been talked about for years," he said. "A lot of the guys thought we should invite other people out to try out the Hills and see if they think they're as great as we do."

Kaleb Zook, the service-shop manager at Scheels in Rapid City, was on hand with bikes from the store in order to let visitors try out their bikes on the local paths just below M Hill.

"We want to get people familiar with the trails and raise their awareness with the area," he said.

Zook said he thought some locals wouldn't ride the trails and paths in the Black Hills because they were unfamiliar with where they are and where they lead.

Throughout the weekend, Zook and others from the local store are on hand to offer free tune-ups and repairs to registered riders at the festival.

Zook said the event was perfect for the area because many of the customers that come in the store looking for bikes are interested in mountain bikes for paths and trails.

"We see a lot of people who are just getting started in the sport," he said.

Ken and Sandi Bloomer of Gunnison, Colo., offered free clinics and basic mountain-bike training. Together, they recently founded Eventures, a bike and ski company that specialize in clinics, events and biking trips throughout the United States and Germany.

"We like to afford other people the opportunity to try this without all the question marks," Ken Bloomer said.

Bloomer said he grew up in Iowa and visited the Hills while growing up.

"I never thought there was any good riding out here," he said.

Bloomer, who has been riding professionally since 2001, said he has since changed his mind.

"This place could definitely support a mountain-biking scene," he said. "People right in town could go for a ride on their lunch breaks, and then, on the weekends, go out into the hills and do some bigger rides."

Cole said he hopes to make Black Hills Fat Tire Festival an annual event and market to more mountain-bike riders across the country.

RAPID CITY - The first Black Hills Fat Tire Festival kicked off Friday and Saturday with cross-country racing, vendors and bike tours through the hills.