The Grasshopper, the beloved Northern California mixed-terrain cycling series, is in its 20th year and it’s got a great story. Miguel Crawford, founder of this unique adventure series, will come to Marin Museum of Bicycling on April 26 with images gathered over the years, to share the lore of the Hopper.

Miguel grew up in Sebastopol, steeped in the fertile design, framebuilding, riding and racing cultures of Sonoma and Marin. The Grasshopper rides, he says, “were born from my love of riding and creating the perfect combination of road and dirt to challenge person and machine.” He’ll show us how the Hoppers evolved, why they’ve been so enduring, and what’s ahead.

Hoppers are not officially races, but they draw an experienced and competitive field. It’s a shape-shifting series, evolving with the positive spirit of strong riders in wide-ranging landscapes. Miguel offers that the rides are “fun, often very long and hard, magical mystery tours through the diverse, challenging and eclectic hills of Sonoma County and beyond.” The rides call for a variety of bike types, sometimes more than one for a single event, and have helped spark interest in “gravel riding” and the creation of a new genre of bikes. The Grasshopper is about bicycle diversity, artistry in movement, personal challenge, perseverance and self sufficiency. We hope you can join us to hear the story and enjoy great images of skilled riders in extraordinary Northern California landscapes.

Advance purchase is recommended. All proceeds benefit the Marin Museum of Bicycling. Doors open at 6:15 pm; show starts at 7:00 pm. Seating is limited and advance tickets do not reserve seats, so please arrive early to get your seat and enjoy the museum displays. Bring your tickets (paper or e-confirmation) for faster check-in. Refreshments will be available.

Thank you!