A student-built full-suspension mountain bike on display at the Sea Otter Classic

Student-Built Bikes. Judged at Sea Otter.

University teams design and build their own bikes, then bring them to the Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California.

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Participating Schools

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A student team with their bikes at Sea Otter

About IBEC

How one club’s showcase became a competition.

 The dirt jump line in the hills at Laguna Seca

The Venue

Laguna Seca, in the middle of Sea Otter.

 A student standing with the bike his team built

Past Years

Bikes and teams from Sea Otter 2023 to 2026.

 Visitors looking over a student-built bike

Sponsor Us

Put your brand behind student engineers.

How It Works

Rules, deadlines and judging categories go out to registered teams.

  1. Register

    Sign up your school’s team so we can send you rules, deadlines and logistics.

  2. Design and Build

    Your team designs and fabricates its bike over the school year, in your own shop.

  3. Travel to Sea Otter

    Teams set up together at Laguna Seca, in space donated by the Sea Otter Classic.

  4. Present and Compete

    Show your bike to judges, riders and the bike industry.

A student team with their bike at their Sea Otter booth

Register Your School

Any college or university team that designs and builds its own bike can enter.

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A student-built steel mountain bike

Become a Partner

Help fund prizes, team travel and the event itself.

Sponsor IBEC