Fatbike Frozen Forty – all results for all finishers

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In the 3 short days since the Fatbike Frozen Forty (Triple F), we’ve been extremely busy reviewing and responding to all the positive comments on Facebook, Twitter, the MORC forum, and email.  It sounds like the consensus is that this event should definitely occur next year.  Be sure to tell your friends to check out the photos and race recap while it’s still fresh, so they remember your enthusiasm from this year when registration starts next year.

In the meantime, we’ve had several racers request that we post the full race results.  Remember, this is a grass-roots effort that had tremendous turnout, and we don’t have dedicated staff or updating gremlins that get all the pictures sorted, recaps written, etc.  All the post-race wrap-up requires time.

With that in mind, here are the results for all racers who finished the 40-mile open class at Fatbike Frozen Forty 2012.  We had over 45 racers, including teams.  There were a total of 17 racers who finished all 40 miles in the 40-mile open solo class.  2 teams finished all 40 miles in the 40-mile team class.  The singletrack mountain bike trails at Elm Creek Park Reserve could not have been more perfect – snow-covered and nicely packed; it made for a fast and perfect fatbike race course.

In order, here are the 40-mile open solo class results from the February 25, 2012 Fatbike Frozen Forty at Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove, MN:

1. Jeff Colbert =   3hr, 52min, 5 sec  (Winner of the Frozen 40 open class!)
2. Dave Hoglund = 3hr, 54min, 23sec
3. CJ Smith = 3hr, 56min, 54sec
4. Jeff Young = 4hr, 38 sec
5. Mat Moore = 4hr, 7min, 15sec
6. Jacque Poquette = 4hr, 7min, 51sec
7. John Reinan = 4hr, 11min, 57 sec
8. John Hartland = 4hr, 21 min, 57 sec
9. Gary Ingle = 4hr, 25min, 19 sec
10. John Smith = 4hr, 29min, 9sec
11. Mick Lovin = 4hr, 31min, 36sec
12. Don Weber = 4hr, 31min, 56sec
13. Greg Gleason = 4hr, 44min, 13sec
14. Joe Stiller = 4hr, 49min, 15sec
15. Steve Schneider = 5hr, 17min, 14sec
16. Craig Brown = 5hr, 32min, 15sec
17. Ted Clausen = 5hr, 32min, 16sec

The twist in our race format for the 2012 Fatbike Frozen Forty was our “King of the Triple F” event.  The racer who logged the most laps in 6 hours was awarded “King of the Triple F”.  The prize for the King of the Triple F was a pair of Husker Du tires, donated by Triple F sponsor 45Nrth.  The 2012 King of the Triple F is CJ Smith (3rd place finisher in the 40-mile open class).

Here are the 2012 Fatbike Frozen Forty Team results:

1. Straight River Studs; 3-person team (Tony Schwichtenberg, David Chabot, Cutis Tesch) = 5hr, 9min, 5sec
2. Easy Riders; 2-person team (Curtis Gacek, Stephen Eisenmenger) = 5hr, 10min, 10sec

Photo credit: Bill Vitali

There are some great photos and write-ups by some of the photographers and bloggers who attended the Triple F.  In one of our next posts, we will provide some of these links.  If you’d like everyone to see your Fatbike Frozen Forty photos or race recap, please leave a comment here or Contact Us so we can include yours.

Again, a huge thank you goes out to all participants, sponsors and volunteers.  Twenty2 Cycles, from Vail, Colorado was the primary/headline sponsor of the 2012 Fatbike Frozen Forty and was invaluable in supporting this event from the beginning.  Ben and Todd travelled from Colorado to display and demo their custom-designed and handmade-in-the-USA fatbikes, and helped with race planning, supporting racers on the day of the event, and being an advocate of this grass-roots race when it was only a concept.  Twenty2 Cycles, thank you!

Frozen 40 (Triple F) Race Recap, Part I

Frozen 40 prerace (Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com)

The Fatbike Only Endurance Race

The first ever Triple F (Fatbike Frozen Forty) was ON today at Elm Creek Park Reserve Singletrack trail.  This event was SMOKIN’!  Our turnout was beyond expectations (over 50 registered and 45 raced).   Bear in mind, this is a fatbike-only, event, rather than a winter racing event.  Seeing 45 fatbike racers on race day is incredible.

Sponsors

Our generous sponsor involvement and support made the event a thrilling success, and from every rider report I heard all day, the trail, the course, the food, the fun, the people were awesome.  Trail conditions for this 10-mile, 4-lap trail could not have been more perfect.  Nicely packed snow, free of significant ice or major open dirt/mud events.

Twenty2 Cycles

Twenty2 Cycles at Frozen 40 (Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com)

Thanks to our first, primary, and strongest advocate from the inception of this concept, Twenty2 Cycles. Ben and Todd came out from Colorado, packing their truck full of some of the finest looking and most meticulously built fatbikes anyone has ever seen.  Twenty2 Cycles is on my list of all time favorite companies, lead by all-time coolest people.  Ben and Todd (and Twenty2 Cycles), thanks for supporting this event!  Their presence at this event was enough, but these guys brought hand-crafted breakfast burritos to kick-start our 7am set-up.  Twenty2 is class. If you haven’t run into them yet, you should, and you will.

Supporting Sponsors

Our other sponsors are incredible as well.  Maple Grove Cycling and Trailhead Cycling and Fitness each brought significant components to this event.  Maple Grove Cycling contributed music, mechanical support, bike stand, gift certificates, and food.  Trailhead Cycling and Fitness brought a heated tent set-up, grill-out, lots of volunteers & support, LOTS of prizes & give-aways, and plenty of food and encouragement.  This was a full-featured, fully supported bike race, for fatbikes.  Racers had plenty of food, beverage, encouragement, mechanical support, warm-up tent, GREAT trail, handmade in the USA custom fatbikes to test ride, and most importantly, a gathering devoted to fatbikes with an opportunity to race 40 miles, or ride any number of laps a rider was inclined to ride.  Whether it was food, support, or good times, our local bike shop sponsors had racers and spectators covered!

Then add on beer from our beer sponsor (the official beer of the 2012 Triple F) – Surly Brewing Co.  Peace Coffee supplied the coffee that was donated as prizes and used as our morning brew (coffee, that is).  Thanks to Surly and Peace for our beverage support!!  It was hard to find a rider who had completed the event without a Surly in hand or close by.  At 7am pre-race set-up, many of us were fueled by enthusiasm & Peace Coffee.

Prizes

Fatbike Frozen 40 Prizes (Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com)

Our prize table was something to behold.  The best prize was contributed by 45Nrth, a pair of the difficult-to-obtain yet remarkably desirable Husker Du tires.  I got the chance to meet David from 45Nrth.   He is an accomplished photographer and a knowledgeable rider.  Their tires rock in part because they ride what they sell, and are at events talking to racers.  Thanks 44Nrth for supporting those who ride fatbikes!  Check back here or on FatbikeGallery.com – we hope to post some of the great photos taken at this event.

Prizes & swag were rounded out by great stuff from Bar Mitts, XXCMag, and Cognition Caps.  Trailhead had a large amount of swag & prizes, and Maple Grove Cycling added gift cards into the prizes as well.

Thanks also to my friend Matt, who came from Boulder, CO just for the race, and his father, Ray, who made the journey from Brainerd to join Matt in a father-son team.  Thanks to riders who came from Sioux Falls (SD), from IA, and elsewhere to support (and have a blast at) a grass-roots first time event.   If we had 50 registered this year, might this occur again next year?  Hmmm.  stay tuned.

Frozen40 racers, thanks for turning out today and supporting this event.  Without people to take part in such an event, it wouldn’t be an event.  Hopefully you had a great time and will be back again.  Let’s keep the fun going – leave a comment below or share your photos from today to post to FatbikeGallery.com.  We’ll try to add photos as we can.

The Winner

SO, HOW DID THE RACERS DO?  WHO IS THE KING OF THE TRIPLE F?  WHO WON THE FROZEN 40 OPEN CLASS? Let’s just say the bike drop with running start was a blast

King of the Triple F (Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com)

for spectators, and some racers crushed 40 miles of snow-covered singletrack in admirable time.  Check back here tomorrow for results…

Snow, glorious snow!

Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com

The snow has finally arrived in MN, making it look like it’s actually winter.  While not everyone welcomes snow, it’s great for fatbike riding.  Better yet, it allows the show to go on for the several events happening locally (Freewheel’s Frozen Frolic, the Cold Bear Challenge, and our Fatbike Frozen Forty).

What’s new with the TripleF?  For those of you keeping tabs on the Fatbike Frozen Forty, be sure to check out our new event site at Frozen40.com.  Here’s a quick update with a few new event highlights and reasons you’ll want to be sure to register for this event.

Cool prizes and give-aways for registered riders:

• Registered riders will be eligible for give-aways and door prizes from our generous sponsors.  Prizes include Husker Du tires from 45Nrth, pogies from BarMitts, energy bars from BraaapEnergy.com, handmade cycling caps from Cognition Caps, swag from XXCMag.com, and more!

What else will you find at TripleF?

• A heated warm-up and registration tent as well as food and mechanical support contributed by Trailhead Cycling and Fitness, 3 Coloardo-built Bully fatbikes to see and demo from our primary sponsor and event collaborator Twenty2 Cycles, mechanical support and help from Maple Grove Cycling, a post-ride event at the end of the day on the 25th, and more.  The 40-mile trail will be comprised of 4 10-mile loops, and riders will be given a printed trailmap with directions, mapped by GPS so the route should be easy to navigate.  Several of our sponsors will be there to meet and talk to riders, so it’s a great chance to talk and be surrounded by fatbike enthusiasts.

Finally, if you are coming in from out of town (we’ve got riders coming from several destinations so far), you might be looking for things to do with your family.  Although the Minneapolis metro area has limitless possibilities, the event is being held at Elm Creek Park, and you don’t have to go any farther than the park itself to find great snowshoeing, cross country skiing, downhill ski lessons, sledding, etc.  Find out more about Elm Creek Park here.

Fatbike Frozen Forty

For those of you thinking about riding the Fatbike Frozen Forty, we’ve got good news.  The registration page is live through the awesome registration system at Triple F sponsor PreRace.com, here.  Our prizes and give-away items include caps from Cognition, pogies from Bar Mitts, some schwag from XXCMag.com, energy bars from Braaap Energy, and more!  We may even have a set of Husker Du tires to give away, from 45Nrth.  Registered riders will all be eligible for great prizes.

We have mechanical support, warm-up tents, and demos at the Triple F, courtesy of sponsors Maple Grove Cycling and Trailhead Cycling and Fitness.  An amazing ride flyer/poster will soon be circulated to promote the event, with illustration used by permission from Triple F sponsor (and amazing local artist) Adam Turman.

What else will be happening?  Our primary sponsor and collaborator, Twenty2 Cycles, will be bringing out their beautiful titanium fatbike, the Bully.  If you’ve been curious about this Colorado company, February 25th will present an opportunity to learn more about them, at Triple F.

Registered riders are invited to join us for a post-ride gathering, at a venue yet to be determined.  Finally, find all the Fatbike Frozen Forty information you’ve been looking for in one streamlined website, at our recently launched Frozen40.com.   Please mark your calendar for the Fatbike Frozen Forty, on February 25, 2012.  Stay tuned for more updates!

 

Happy New Year!

Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com (elm creek park 12-31-11)

Happy New Year everyone!  Last year, in the last month of the year, we had over 4000 visitors at RideFatbikes.com.  This site has really grown, and I appreciate those of you who are regular readers, regular commenters, and everyone who has helped with the growth and popularity of this site.

In 2012, we hope to continue to serve the fatbike community as a resource for reviews, fatbike photos (at FatbikeGallery.com), fatbike resources (at FatbikeLibrary.com) and cool events (like the Fatbike Frozen Forty coming on February 25 of this year.

Speaking of the Triple F, some cool things are coming together.  Platinum sponsor Twenty2 Cycles (from Colorado) has played a major role in planning and coordinating various aspects of this event, and we thank them particularly!  Not only have they helped with planning and coordination, but they’ll be coming to MN with a titanium fatbike (their “Bully”) that you can see on the 25th. I was out on the trail at Elm Creek yesterday, and it’s a beautiful ride in a terrific park (Elm Creek is one of the jewels of the Three Rivers Park District).

Sponsors such as Cognition Caps, Bar Mitts and Braaap Bars have all contributed some awesome schwag for prizes and give-aways (all registered riders will be eligible for these prizes).  We’ve got other sponsors in the works who may have additional cool things to give away that you won’t want to miss.  If you want to register right away, registration is going to go through Prerace.com (view the event registration page here).  Note that the fee will go up shortly before the event, so to save a few bucks, sign up early.

This will be a “no profit” event, meaning the hard costs are anticipated to exceed the registration fees.  If we have registration fees in excess of hard costs, we will apply those proceeds to the post-race dinner/gathering open to all riders in the afternoon/evening of the 25th.  We depend on riders and sponsors to help support the costs of this event.

Plan to spend the day on the 25th, as the ride will begin around 9am, and one category (to determine Champion of the Triple F) will be most miles logged by 3pm (for those who really want an endurance test).  After the ride, we’ll have a post ride gathering in or around the Maple Grove/Champlin area.  If anyone has contacts at Surly or Summit, maybe they’d even like to contribute a few beers for us to sample?  🙂

Finally, want to show your support and enthusiasm for the Fatbike Frozen Forty?  We’ll post the ride flyer here in the next few weeks, and you’re welcome to help by circulating the flyer.  In the meantime, maybe you want to wear a New Era baseball cap with Fatbike Frozen Forty custom embroidery?  If so, pick one up for less than $25 from LogoSportswear.com, here.

Happy 2012 – and we hope to see more fatbikes on the trails in the year to come.  Thanks for spreading the word about RideFatbikes.com!

Fatbike Frozen Forty (Triple F) moved to Feb 25, 2012

Complete the form below (in this post) to be on the preliminary registration/early sign-up list.

Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com reader Craig S

For everyone who has been following or expressed an interest in riding in or sponsoring the Fatbike Frozen Forty, it has now been moved to Saturday February 25, 2012 (the Fatbike State Championship Fatbike Rally).  It was originally set for February 11th, but the Cold Bear Challenge (the 3-race fatbike series at Hillside) has its last race on February 12th.

In an effort to avoid conflict with the riders and organizers of the Hillside Cold Bear Challenge series, many of whom might be interested in riding at Fatbike Frozen Forty, I’ve arranged to have our event moved.  This way, people who want to race on the 12th, and those who want to test their mettle at the 40-mile middle distance endurance event (Fatbike Frozen Forty) can do each, on separate weekends.  Their event has been around a long time, so we’d like to keep a cooperative energy between these two events.

We’ve also planned around QBP’s Frostbike weekend, so dealers, bike shops and mechanics who might be interested in coming out to sponsor, display product or ride can do so without missing any of the Frostbike festivities (which are the weekend before the 25th).

Consider this the capstone fatbike event in Minnesota for the winter – the Fatbike State Championship, if you will.  While this won’t be a race, the “state championship” is a chance to ride with people you’ve seen at other races throughout the season, and test your own endurance or just come out for a fun ride in a 40-mile singletrack snow ride.

So, if everyone who is interested in riding in, cross-promoting, sponsoring, or supporting this event can reserve February 25h, 2012, we’ll be off to a great start.  It will be held at Elm Creek Park in Maple Grove (http://www.threeriversparks.org/parks/elm-creek-park.aspx)  on the singletrack (newly developed and opened this past summer).

Next, we need to assemble a preliminary list of riders and sponsors.  There are going to be event costs, such as insurance, food, etc. that we need your help with.  We’ll be asking sponsors to contribute what they can, and likely asking for a small registration fee to offset event costs (perhaps in the $15-25 range) depending on rider numbers (we don’t plan to profit from the event, but simply recover some of the costs).  Use the contact form at the top of this page to provide your name and confirm your interest in the event.

Our flagstone sponsor is Twenty2 Cycles, from Colorado.  Please take a moment to check out their website and their beautiful titanium fatbikes, here: https://www.twenty2cycles.com/.

We have other sponsors who will be involved in various capacities as well, and are still looking for bike shops, fatbike and component companies, and others who might be willing to donate help, dollars, or product (or even to exhibit at the event).  Please thank and support Twenty2 Cycles for their role as the first sponsor, as they have offered a great deal of help and going support.  They may even have one of their beautiful titanium frame “Bully” fatbikes on display at the event!

If you can’t make it to the Fatbike Frozen Forty, submit photos of your fatbike or your event, letting us know where you’ve been riding this year, and we’ll place it on the Fatbike Gallery (www.FatbikeGallery.com).

We’ve heard from lots of possible riders, but need to get a more certain list of who will be riding (to be able to plan accordingly) so please take a moment to complete the pre-registration form below.

Name(required)

Email(required)

Will be riding for sure

Likely to ride, but not for sure

Not riding, but want to sponsor (details in comments section)

Website

Comment(required)

Submit

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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!

Poll – best trail for Fatbike Frozen Forty?

Photo credit: RideFatbikes.com

RideFatbikes.com is putting together a 40-mile winter fatbike ride in the Minneapolis metro area in February 2012.  Since several people have already expressed interest in riding, and we’re also working on sponsorships, the next thing we need is a trail.  Ideally, a 10-20 mile loop would be perfect, so people could take a break or opt out if they didn’t want to or couldn’t complete the 40 miles.  It should also be in or near a park or area where sponsors, food and shelter could all be set up.  Let’s find a good trail and set-up an awesome fatbike ride.

So, here are a few trails that are early front-runners:  1) Murphy Hanrehan Park Reserve (Three Rivers Park District), 2) Elm Creek Park (Three Rivers Park District), 3) Luce Line Trail, 4) Other (your own recommendation).   Feel free to vote for or identify the trail you think is best, even if you won’t be riding in the event.  If anyone on here is from MORC or REI or any place that has insight on trails, please give us your input.

Elm Creek for Fatbikes?

If you live in or near Minneapolis, and you hike, bike, ski, or snowshoe, you know the Three Rivers Park District Parks are amazing.

Sunday, I had the fortune of getting up to Elm Creek Park (Maple Grove area) to try out some of their mountain biking trails on my Mukluk.  The trails are serene rolling grass/dirt trails in a beautiful and scenic park setting.  It’s not aggressive mountain bike singletrack, but it makes for a beautiful ride, great workout, and a chance to appreciate the great outdoors in Minnesota.

For those who want a few trail photos, I’ve included a few photos of my Salsa Mukluk exploring the trails at Elm Creek Park.

I’m still scouting for a venue for the Fatbike Frozen Forty,  so if anyone has any contacts at Three Rivers Park District, or you know how to get an organized ride going at a venue, leave a comment.  RideFatbikes.com needs some help in mkaing the Triple F a snowbike ride we can look forward to annually in the MN twin cities metro region.  To do that, we need a venue, sponsors, and volunteers. 

What’s your favorite fatbike park in Minnesota?  Please leave a comment so we can learn about the favorite fatbike parks for RideFatbikes.com Minnesota readers.

Fatbikes in Summer?

Do you ride your fatbike all year?

Fatbikes are often associated with snow, and adventure rides in winter.  They are also great fun in summer.  Their stability and huge tires make trail and even paved riding a good time year ’round.

If you ride a fatbike, does it sit on the sidelines in the summer, or how are you using it?  Please post your stories so others can be inspired by or live vicariously through your fatbike stories.

Also, don’t forget that we’re trying to organize the Fatbike Frozen Forty (Triple F) in February 2012.  If you’re interested in helping as a sponsor (great opportunity for bike shops, bike manufacturers, and gear/clothing vendors), drop us an email or comment.

Or, if you’re interested in riding or want to suggest a fun 40-mile route in or near the Twin Cities MN metro area, let us know while this is still in the planning stages – without your help this won’t happen.