One of the nation’s biggest cycling events is rolling into Indy this weekend — and all the events are free.

What to watch

Momentum Indy is a two-day biking festival (Sat., Aug. 27-Sun., Aug. 28) that is a cross between a street party + a community festival. Held in the heart of downtown, it’s raised upwards of $180,000 in event proceeds for local nonprofits. The main event? The Mass Ave. Crit.

So what is a “crit,” exactly? Well, the term is short for “criterium,” which is a multi-lap, closed course event where laps are a mile or less. The crit that’s taking place here is just one stop on the American Criterium Cup — a 10-part series with the country’s top cyclists. The racers are not only competing to be first to the finish line, they’re also racing toward coveted prizes (known as “primes” in the cycling world).

The festival celebrates healthy lifestyles through fitness activities, but you don’t have to be a cyclist to take advantage of the programming. Momentum is packed with family-friendly events, including INSPIRE: An Evening Conversation — a panel discussion with IndyCar driver Tony Kanaan.

Who to watch

If you’re new to the cycling scene, these are the top teams to track for the American Criterium Cup:

Men’s teams

Women’s teams

Where to watch

Saturday’s Mass Ave. Crit promises a lot of sights to see, and a lot of spectators. To get the best view, we recommend somewhere near the start/finish line near Silver in the City and on one of the two tight turns (at the corners of East and North streets + Vermont and Alabama streets).

On Sunday, you can get a front-row seat to the Indy Crit at the start/finish line on New York Street between Meridian + Pennsylvania streets, as well as from University Park, where there will also be family-friendly activities.