Another Sea Otter Classic cometh to Laguna Seca.

Forgive the misnomer.

The Sea Otter Classic isn’t cute or aquatic.

It is, however, often fuzzy – facial hair! – and soaring, dusty, fast, massive, beer-drinking, sun-splashed, competitive, colorful, balls-to-the-wall, brave, borderline nuts, exhilarating and alive.

And hell, it is cute: Check out The Little Bellas bike crew. (See Summer Activites Guide insert, p. 10.)

The point is this: The Sea Otter is a little bit of everything bike-based, from breathable socks to road races to ramp jumps to fiendish obstacles. Here, a cheat sheet on the 50,000-person Subaru Sea Otter Classic.

Things to do as a spectator

Camp Laguna Seca | Sites sell out months in advance because the only thing cooler than a pop-up city dedicated to bikes is living in one.

Wander the Expo | So much to check out (see list, this page), only four days to do it.

Climb The Swale | Viewers can look over the whole lake bed and enjoy first row seats for the ruthless Dual Slalom.

Hang in the Sierra Nevada Beer and BBQ Garden | Four drafts from the kegerator-trailer, picnic tables and views of the Big Air Bag.

Ride the 8-person Beer Bike Trolley | Crank the foot pedals and sip the Sierra.

Bike into the Event | Bike home too, beating traffic both ways.

Most prestigious Prizes

Cyclocross | Easily one of the most insane obstacle tests is also one of the most competitive.

SRAM Road | SOC marks the first event of the year for racers; high-profile events like this multiply that fired-up anticipation and resulting action.

SRAM Enduro | The debut long-distance trail event drew all sorts of entrants. “One of the most growing and trending races,” says one organizer. 

Sea Otter Sender | The biggest names in dirt jumping compete across mountain and BMX bikes. Another hot debut event.

Best things at the expo

New Product Launch | There’s always some new or innovative product to get pumped up, or lose all its air (think suspended hubs). This year tech company Magisto intros a video editing algorithm app that processes your action footage into a slicker flick.

Electric Bike Demos | Bosch eBike Systems showcase and test drive both mountain and road varieties.

Direct Deals from Producers | It’s not always bike specific (lip balm, sunglass cleaner, dog leashes), but it’s always a good deal.

The Talent | Whether you like weird bikes or the weirdos who ride them – professionally or very unprofessionally – there are plenty. 

The Setting | Laguna Seca is famous for its hills, curves and cars, but deserves more love for its sweeping vistas, warm weather and endless bike trails on your tax-preserving BLM land. 

Swaggy Giveaways | Maté tea, nutrition boosts and energy drinks are just the beginning, with Clif bars, frisbees, beer openers, drink koozies and more.

Top participant activities

Grand Fondo | These rambling rides have gotten so popular there are now three: a 96-mile Carmel Valley, 49-mile coastal and 24-mile Specialized versions.

Ladies Lounge | “No drop” rides, happy hours and discussions with pros reiterate SOC’s commitment to make the event a prereq for female bikers. 

Sea Otter Sender | This 2014 newbie allows amateurs to try their hand at trick jumping in mountain bike and BMX.

SRAM Skills Zone | Bring an ID and a helmet, maximize fun in the berms, jumps, ramps and tabletops elements.

Sea Otter Pump Park | An onslaught of up-downs, wood ramps and other items make this a great one to watch (see below) – and an even better one to try.

Magicshine Night Ride | Road and mountain rides happen by starlight Friday with limited lights available to demo.

Yoga by Subaru | Pro rider/yoga instructors Ryan Leech and Rita Leon lead salutations and muscle-restoring sessions for free all weekend.

Kids’ Zone | In the SRAM Ride Zone, with enough adventure (and egg hunts) to make everyone wish they were little. 

Skratch Labs | Sports nutrition gurus dish wholesome and filling foods and sample exercise hydration formulas.

Most exciting things to watch

Sea Otter Pump Park Invitational | Jeff Lenosky, legendary course designer, calls it “a throwdown of speed and bike handling skills”: Two riders race head-to-head on identical – and super compact – “pump tracks” loaded with rails, ramps and hills. 

Dual Slalom | It’s got it all: insane turns, even crazier speeds, crashes and – best of all – two racers going side by side so we don’t have to wonder how their time held up.

Downhill | Athletes bring peak fitness and precision handling and braking to a great mix of jumps, turns, pedaling sections and hi-rev speed traps.

Cyclocross | Between the off-camber sections, traverses through multiple “kitty litter” sections, a high speed barrier section (located near the Sierra Nevada Beer Garden), and a surprise obstacle or two, this baby’s a must-see.

SUBARU SEA OTTER CLASSIC takes place 8am-6pm Thursday-Sunday at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, 1025 Monterey-Salinas Highway 68, Monterey. For complete schedules and more, call 373-2331 or visit www.seaotterclassic.com