Tag: birkie.com

Fat Bike Birkie Gears Up for Second Big Year

Fat Bike Birkie (Photo: Kelly Randolph)

(Press release)

Next Early Fee Deadline Nov. 30 – Save $10 on Your Entry

CLICK HERE
For Details and to Register Online
(Register by Nov. 30 and Save $10)

See All 141 Photos from the 2013 Event on
Birkie Facebook

Everything’s a go for the American Birkebeiner’s second annual FAT BIKE BIRKIE, presented by Freewheel Bike on March 8, 2014. Register by the next early fee deadline on November 30 to save $10 on your entry. The Birkie’s first-ever fat bike event last March was a huge success with 300 registered riders–a fantastic group that the Birkie is looking forward to hosting again! The event is held on the groomed Birkie Trail system. Last year, the event was was capped at 300 riders to make sure we and the riders got off to a good start. Now the Birkie is opening it up to more who are ready to take to the Birkie Trail on their Fat Bikes.

There are two distances to choose from–45K and 18K. This year will be for fat bikes only, not mountain bikes since only a few participated last year and fat bikes definitely perform better on the trail. Both distances start and finish on the grounds at Telemark, in Cable, WI, with the long race reaching the Birkie “OO” trailhead before looping back north to the finish.

The Fat Bike Birkie is a once-a-year chance to ride a fat bike on the world-famous, snow-covered, and beautifully groomed American Birkebeiner Trail system. Bikes are otherwise NOT allowed when there is groomed snow on the trails. Last year riders reported that the course was firm and fast, and the trails held up well to the fat bikes.

Says Ben Popp, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, “We are really excited about the growing interest in this event. The Fat Bike community is great, and we are looking forward to again giving them their own event on the Birkie Trail on some amazing terrain. See you at the starting line!”

For more information about the Fat Bike Birkie and other American Birkebeiner events, like the Birkie Trail Run & Trek on September 21, 2013, visit www.Birkie.com, email birkie@birkie.com, or call the Birkie office at 715-634-5025.

November 28, 2013
Fat Bike Birkie Debuts to Sold-Out Crowd

2013 Fat Bike Birkie (Photo: Kelly Randolph)

First-Annual Event Welcomes 300 Riders to the Snow-Covered Birkie Trail

See All 141 Photos on Facebook

The American Birkebeiner’s first-annual Fat Bike Birkie, presented by Freewheel Bike, held Saturday, March 9, in Cable, WI, was a great success with 300 registered riders. The main event, the 45K Fat Bike Birkie was won by Jorden Wakeley, Grayling, MI, while Danielle Musto, Grand Rapids, MI, won the 45K women’s race. All races were held on the expertly groomed Birkie Trail system. The event was capped at 300 riders to ensure a great snow-biking experience on the Birkie Trail for everyone involved.

There were four races: the 45K Fat Bike Birkie, an 18K Fat Bike Birkie, a 45K mountain bike race, and an 18K mountain bike race. All races started and finished at Telemark Resort, with the long races reaching the Birkie “OO” trailhead.

Congratulations to all riders who participated in this first-ever event! The overall champions in each bike and distance category are listed below.

Please see complete race results at

www.itiming.com

45K Fat Bike Race:

Jorden Wakeley, Grayling, MI, in 1:48:30

Danielle Musto, Grand Rapids, MI, in 2:14:11

45K Mountain Bike Race

Leo Kendrick, Minneapolis, MN, in 2:38:54

18K Fat Bike Race

John Riley, Cross Plaines, WI, in 00:42:45

Cindy Bijold, Hayward, WI, 00:48:52

18K Mountain Bike Race

Tom Gaier, Hayward, WI, in 00:43:18

Elsa Hansen, Duluth, MN, in 1:03:11

The Fat Bike Birkie is a once-a-year chance to ride a fat bike or mountain bike on the world-famous, snow-covered, and beautifully groomed American Birkebeiner Trail system. Fat bikes and mountain bikes are otherwise not allowed when there is groomed snow on the trails. In fact, this new Birkie event took place just two weeks after the 40th annual American Birkebeiner ski marathon, which hosted 13,000 skiers from February 21-23.

According to columnist Tom Held, who regularly reports on endurance sports in the Upper Midwest, “Interest in fat bikes has increased dramatically over the last three years, from a couple races to about 80 in the Midwest alone. Fat Bikes are the fastest growing segment of the bike market, with sales reported as increasing from a couple hundred a year to nearly 10,000 in that same three-year time period.”

Of course, snow was mandatory for this to be the kind of fast, fun event that got everyone so excited about heading for the Birkie Trail on their bikes. After low- to no-snow conditions in the Hayward/Cable area in much of January, the tables turned. The snow started in February and has kept coming, all the way through the beginning of the week leading up to the Fat Bike Birkie. Even though temperatures reached the low 30sF by Friday, the Birkie Trail was offering some of the best corduroy of the season.

Saturday morning, race day, opened with a “winter mix” of rain and sleet that quickly changed to light snow. It did change to a rainy mist later, but by then most participants were already swapping stories and digging into the post-race lunch of brats and burgers provided by the Birkie at Telemark Lodge.

“Riders reported the course was firm and fast, and the trails held up well to the fat bikes,” said Ned Zuelsdorff, Executive Director of the American Birkebeiner Ski Foundation, who added, “This is a great crowd who made this a very fun event for everyone, and we will do it again next year!”

For more information about the Fat Bike Birkie and other American Birkebeiner events, like the Birkie Trail Run & Trek on September 21, 2013, visit www.Birkie.com, email birkie@birkie.com, or call the Birkie office at 715-634-5025.

March 11, 2013
Birkie Trail Run & Trek Preview Video
The 10th annual Birkie Trail Run & Trek is set for Sept. 22, but here’s a video showing all five events to keep you occupied in the meantime.

Five Events to Choose From!
The 10th Birkie Trail Run & Trek offers several fun and challenging events including the Individual Marathon Run, Half Marathon, Marathon Relay, Birkie Trek Nordic Walk and the 5K Fun Run! The events are guaranteed to challenge even the strongest runners and Nordic Walkers.

All events take place on the famous and hilly Birkie trail at one of the most beautiful times of the year in the Cable-Hayward, WI area. The course is wide, mowed, and relatively free from rocks and roots.

There’s something for everyone! More than 95% of participants indicated they would “likely return” for the 2012 event and over 98% would recommend the race to a friend.

Start Locations & Event Info

The Marathon Run and Marathon Relay will start at Hatchery Park, two miles west of Hayward, off highway 77. The Half-Marathon Run and Half-Marathon Birkie Trek will start at the highway “OO” trailhead. All events will finish at Telemark Resort. The 5K Run/Walk starts and finishes at Telemark Resort.

For more information on individual events, see the links on the left side of this page or click on the highlighted event name in the descriptions below.

Great Tech-Ts from SportHill guaranteed for the first 750 participants registered in any of the five events.

Fun & Festivities Following the Events

Complimentary food and beverages will be available for all participants at the finish area, as well as be available for spectators at a nominal cost. Expect lots of door prizes, plus awards for top finishers and age class winners. Plan to be part of this fun event at a beautiful time of the year at a fantastic site.

* All race proceeds are used for Birkie Trail maintenance and improvement.

For more info, click here.
September 5, 2012