Need your help / input

Readers – many of you have responded positively via email and comments to the planned February 2012 Fatbike Frozen Forty.  I’ve been discussing sponsorships with several companies who will undoubtedly enhance this event, and make it well worth attending.  Read below and you’ll see we’ve got a preliminary date set.

While it is still early, and the event planning is in its beginning stages, some fun things are coming together.  To help, please leave a comment or send me an email to brad AT ride Fatbikes dot com.  The three current issues I need some help with from the loyal Ride Fatbikes community are the following:

1) Trail Selection Help

2) Insurance Ideas

3) Volunteer and rider sign-up

Trail Selection.  The most popular trail in our poll so far is Elm Creek.  However, it appears they may want us on the singletrack trail, rather than the multi-purpose trails.  I’ve been out there, and the singletrack trails, while awesome in summer, are somewhat narrow for winter riding.  It’s a 12-mile loop, so we’d run approximately 3 loops.  The downside is that while the main indoor facilities are within a long ride or a close drive, the trailhead does not have an indoor area for volunteers to hang out, sponsors to promote themselves or riders to warm-up.

Can someone on here suggest another metro area trail to explore?  Criteria include – sufficient area to ride 40 miles with no more than 4 loops, ample parking, room for sponsors, gathering and warming up, and (obviously) snow-covered trails.  Ideas?

Insurance.  I’m sure many small events run with a liability waiver/release only, but I’m exploring insurance.  If anyone reading has set up a small bike event, can you recommend resources for single-day event insurance?

Volunteer and Rider Sign-up.  This is preliminary, but it’s quite likely the event will occur February 11, 2012.  I’ve had several people comment or email that they are in and will be riding.  We’ll also need volunteers to help with day-of-event organization, points of contact, and mechanical help (tire flats, broken chain).  If you are in for either volunteering or riding, please send an email to Brad at Ride fatbikes Dot Com or leave a comment with your name and email below.

Thank you for any help you can offer.   I’m not wishing for snow yet, but when it comes, it will be fatbike season!