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 (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

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Submit

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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.