Fatbike Frozen 40

Triple F 2012 (photo credit: Bill Vitali)

Triple F 2012 is concluded; Triple F 2013 will build on its success

The information below was created for the 2012 Triple F, which occurred on February 25, 2012, with more than 45 fatbike racers taking to the 40-mile winter singletrack endurance challenge on fatbikes at Elm Creek’s newly established singletrack trail.  If the event described below (recapped here at RideFatbikes.com) is of interest to you, be sure to keep tabs on what’s in store for next year’s Fatbike Frozen Forty (Triple F 2013).  This is the official website of the Fatbike Frozen 40, so keep an eye on Frozen40.com (and RideFatbikes.com) for details about next year’s race.

Why the Triple F?

Fatbikes create obvious and immediate opportunity for fun rides and races on winter mountain bike singletrack.  Many of the early events have catered to short-distance race formats or extremely long distance multi-day ultra-endurance formats.

However, for those who are looking for a mid-distance endurance race (with the option of being a less intense race and more of a personal endurance challenge for those who don’t want to be at the front of the pack), there are few Minnesota events short of the Arrowhead 135, which is an ultra-endurance event that demands training, gear and fitness requirements that are daunting to many new or even veteran fatbikers.

While I have great respect for Minnesota’s Arrowhead 135 and the multiple ultra-endurance races in Alaska (and the athletes that take up the challenge), a mid-distance endurance event creates opportunity to another group of athletes (or perhaps to the same group in a more relaxed and social format).

February 25, 2012

With all that idea in mind, the Fatbike Frozen Forty (Triple F) was conceived.  Ride Enterprises, LLC presents the first Triple F fatbike endurance event on February 25, 2012.  This event combines several options: a 40-mile fatbike endurance race on singletrack trail is the focus, yet it offers riders the ability to ride 10, 20, 30, or 40 miles of singletrack at their own pace, welcoming fatbike riders of all abilities to challenge themselves as they see fit.  It was designed to combine fatbike racing, with a casual and social environment for a fatbike gathering, with sponsors, food, and fun.  This winter fatbike race is designed to have distance options for all abilities of fatbike riders, building goodwill in the fatbike community, and having a pile of fun in a month that is historically not the most exciting time to be in the frozen tundra of Minnesota.

Registration on the date of the ride will be between 8am and 8:30, with the ride beginning at 9am (in stages, depending on registration numbers).  At approximately 3pm the event will conclude.  Sponsors are providing mechanical support, demo bikes, product give-aways and more.  We’ll have food, beverages (including beer from sponsor Surly Beer), a heated warm-up tent, and possibly a grill-out.  Registered riders will be eligible for some great fatbike gear and bike-related products like energy bars, handmade cycling caps, Bar Mitts, Husker Du tires, laser-etched mugs, and some cool swag.

Event venue & Sponsors

The 2012 Fatbike Frozen Forty (Triple F) will be held at Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove on February 25, 2012.  Our primary spnosor and collaborator is Twenty2 Cycles (Twenty2Cycles.com) from Coloardo.   Other sponsors include Cognition Caps, Bar Mitts, BraaapEnergy.com, XXCMag.com, Maple Grove Cycling, Trailhead Cycling, Adam Turman, PreRace.com, 45Nrth.com, Peace Coffee, and our newest sponsor Surly Brewing Co.!  If you’d like a chance to get in on the ground floor of what is sure to be an awesome event, Contact Us.  Sponsorship in various levels is still available, whether you wish to demo gear at the event, contribute financially, or donate prizes or swag for give-aways.

Event Format

This is intended to be mid-distance endurance event (40 miles on snow-covered single-track), to be ridden on fatbikes only (those bikes with 3.7 inch or larger tires F&R), in 4 laps of approximately 10 miles each.  Choose to ride one lap, two laps or go for the full 40 miles or the King of the Triple F (most laps completed) – how  far you push yourself, and how fast, is up to you.  If we have no snow or the trail is closed, we’ll open up a paved trail route, and possibly break the event out to a race wave and a recreational wave.

In the event several riders want to share a bike (or conserve energy) we have a “team” format (2-4 riders can share a fatbike, switching riders between laps).  The title of “King of the Triple F” will be awarded to the rider who completes the most laps in 6 hours.  Depending on how many teams register, we may also have a team winner for most miles/laps logged.  At the end of the event, we plan to have a post-ride dinner/gathering at a local restaurant or bar.

Rider registration

To sign up, please use our registration page at Prerace.com, here.   If you’d like to ask a question, please contact us.  If you don’t register, you won’t be eligible for the cool prizes, give-aways, and other fun stuff we’ve got planned, and you won’t be in the loop for announcements and last-minute emails, etc.  Please register here today, so you don’t forget.

No fatbike?  Looking for a team?

For those who do not have a fatbike and would like to be placed on a team with other riders (where each rider would complete one or more laps), please leave a comment below or contact us and we’ll try to pair you with someone who has a fatbike and is also looking for a team.  If you have a fatbike and would like to team up with another rider who does not have a fatbike, please contact us to let us know so we can try to connect you with a teammate.  Or look for fatbike rental information to be posted at the newly established FatbikeRental.com.

Sponsor & support opportunities still available

As this is a grass-roots effort run with no profit from registration (registration fees in excess of hard costs will be spent on the post-ride gathering) financial contribution or other donations for prizes from sponsors, as well as product demos or other contributions are very much welcome!  Sponsorship of this event provides an opportunity to showcase your brand in front of a group of dedicated and enthusiastic fatbike riders through our various event and fatbike websites (RideFatbikes.com, FatbikeFrozen40.com, FatbikeLibrary.com, etc.)

Trail map

Keep checking back at this site for final event details and announcements.  We’ve got a map to the area and a trail map at our “Details” page, here.  We’ll make trail maps available at registration as well.

The Fatbike Frozen Forty is organized and operated by Ride Enterprises, LLC