Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout – this weekend!

Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout - this weekend!

As I look out the window and see snow falling (in a MN winter that has been largely snowless), I can’t help but think about what amazing fortune we had to have snow-covered trail for last weekend’s Fatbike Frozen Forty. By the same token, the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout this weekend in the Brainerd Lakes area is equally blessed with the amazing recent snowfall.

I’ve been following the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout information and updates, but am unfortunately unable to attend.  There are quite simply too many great fatbike events in MN (and elsewhere) to get to participate in all of them.  The folks putting on the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout obviously have done their homework, and have created what appears to be an exceedingly well organized and exciting fatbike event, winter race, and festival.  I wish them great luck and success with their event this weekend.

They are continually updating their site with new information about the event, so be sure to check in from time to time if you’re interested about what they’ve got going on this weekend.  For those of us who are observing but not participating, we’d love to get a race report and recap from someone who was in Brained this weekend for the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout festivities.  If you’d like to see your photos of the event and race report on RideFatbikes.com (with a visibility of over 5000 visitors a month), Contact Us to submit your post and photos for consideration.  Who knows, maybe your photos can even be showcased in the Fatbike Gallery!

 

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!