April 6, 2006 – The Sea Otter Classic, the world’s largest bicycling festival, means something different for everyone. For the Mendoza family the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, CA represents an opportunity for their family to share quality time together while they bicycle the beautiful, green hills of the Laguna Seca Recreational Area. Between rides they hang out with friends in the Sea Otter Village, shop for deals in the massive Sports Expo and, of course, they cheer on the world’s best cyclists as they battle for titles in a thrilling blend of road and mountain bike events.

“Sea Otter is a really fun thing to do together as a family,” said Ray Mendoza, who will attend Sea Otter Classic with his wife, Martha, and their two children, Thomas, 11, and Raymond, 12.

It’s a special time that they look forward to each spring. This year members of the Mendoza family can be found racing individually in a variety of amateur mountain bike categories and then they’ll ride together on a recreational mountain bike tour. The recreational mountain bike tour is one of six recreational rides offered at Sea Otter that encourages family fun in a non-competitive environment.

FAMILY ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS AT SEA OTTER:

RECREATIONAL BIKE TOURS EXPANDED with more distance options and routes

Saturday, April 8 – Mountain bike fans can choose from a 10-mile, 20-mile or epic mountain bike tour.

Sunday, April 9 – Road cyclists can ride through the gorgeous rolling hills of Monterey County on a 20-mile, 40-mile or 100-mile road course.

All recreational tours end with a delicious BBQ celebration. Pre-registration is required.

ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS at “The Schoolyard” and Kids’ Bike Rodeo, presented by the Napa Sheriff’s Activities League and Team NSO/DEVO

All day Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9, “The Schoolyard” – new this year – is FREE for kids 18 and under who are already registered for a Sea Otter event. The Schoolyard provides an opportunity for kids to learn about basic bike maintenance from professional mechanics and practice hands-on repairs.

All day Saturday and Sunday, April 8-9, the Kids’ Bike Rodeo, FREE for kids 12 and under, is a fun, safe way for children to learn about basic bike safety and navigation. By popular demand, the Bike Rodeo happens from 11 a.m.-noon both Saturday and Sunday.

Sea Otter Village

FAMILY-FUN ACTIVITIES: The Sea Otter Village has a Kids Carnival with Bouncy Houses, Friday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. FREE! At the Sea Otter Easter Egg Hunt, hosted by Skipper the Sea Otter, kids can participate in an Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. on both Saturday AND Sunday this year! FREE for kids 8 and under. The SRAM Mountain Bike Ride Zone is a playground where kids of all ages can learn tricks and get huge air on jumps, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Sunday, FREE for kids 12 and under.

SPECTATOR FAVORITES: SRAM Invitational Dirt Jump Contest, extended from two to four days, now offers four full days of Dirt Jumping excitement. Watch 45 of the world’s best Dirt Jumpers take on Sea Otter’s infamous Dirt Jump.

BMX Demos: Ryan Leech from Norco Performance Bicycles, undoubtedly one of the world’s best Mountain Bike Trials Show performers, will be on hand along with several other talented BMXers from GT-Mongoose to show their tricks for audiences at Sea Otter’s BMX Demo’s .

For more details on family fun at Sea Otter Classic, visit http://www.seaotterclassic.com/family_fun.asp