Upcoming Winter Cycling Events for January 2014

 

IImage Credit:  RideFatbikes.com

January kicks off 2014 with plenty of winter cycling events to get you outside on your bike whether it be a fatbike race or ride, a winter alleycat or an ice race. 

Image Credit: Tom Warner

The Cold Bear Challenge Winter Racing Series returns for the 8th year at Hillside Park in Elk River.  This fatbike race series consists of two races in January and wraps up with the third race and FatBike Fest on February 16th.  The course is a 7.8 mile loop lap of wooded and cross-country singletrack.  Race classes are Advanced Men (2 laps), Recreational Men (1 lap), Open Women (1 lap) and there will be prizes for the top three finishers in each class.  Bring your lights for race one on January 4th because this is a night race that has a 6pm start time.  Race two is on January 26th at noon.  Entry fee is only $10 ($15 for Fatbike Fest).

If street racing is more your style, meet up at the bandshell on the northeast end of the Stone Arch Bridge at 6:30pm for the No Name Alleycat Race January 5th.  Race through the streets of Minneapolis with a manifest of unmanned stops.  Make sure to bring a bike lock, pen, lights, map and your helmet.

For fatbike fun in the Duluth area, make plans to attend the COGGS 2nd Annual Duluth Fatbike Weekend January 10th through the 12th.  Friday night's ride starts at Grandma's Restaurant and will be a beach ride at Park Point on the shore of Lake Superior.  Saturday will start with a morning ride at Lester Park and an afternoon ride at Hartley Park.  Sunday's ride details are still to be determined.  Don't miss out on this great weekend of riding in the beautiful Duluth area.

Join in on the Fat Bike versus Skinny Ski Challenge at the Boulder Lake Recreation Area near Duluth on January 11th for the only challenge of its kind in the world.  Fat tire bikers will chase down cross-country skiers in a 20 km race to determine which group is faster based on the fastest average time of the top 10 finishers.  Prizes will be awarded to the top 10 finishers in each race.  Online registration is now open and raceday registration is available for those that show up 1½ hours before the race start.

The Frozen Frolic Winter Race Series is a series of six races co-sponsored by Freewheel Bike and Maple Grove Cycling and takes place at two venues, Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove and Murphey-Hanrehan Park Reserve in Savage.  Race one is on January 11th at Elm Creek and race two is at Murphy-Hanrehan on January 18th.  Registration begins at 10am and races start at 11am.  Online registration for all six races is also available by visiting the link above.  Awards and door prizes will be given out after each race.  Helmets are required and studded tires are permitted.  Brought to you by the Three Rivers Park District.

Excelsior Brewing and Erik's Bike Shop bring you the Arctic Fat Fever Fatbike Race taking place on Lake Minnetonka January 18th.  This is a 15 mile race (3" minimum tire width) that starts and ends at Excelsior Brewing Company.  The men's race starts at 2pm and the women's race at 2:10pm.  This is a free race and is limited to 200 races so be sure to register online to reserve your spot.

Penn Cycle and Fitness will be holding the annual Get Phat with Pat Fatbike Race at the Minnesota River Bottoms as part of the Bloomington Winter Fete.  Owner Pat Sorensen has worked with the City of Bloomington to hold two races, January 18th and 25th.  Both races will start and finish underneath the 35W bridge located near the Russell A Sorenson Landing at the end of Lyndale Ave. S.  Race classes will consist of Beginner, Recreational and Advanced and prizes will be awarded to the top three finishers in each class.  A Grand Prize Drawing for a 9:Zero:7 fatbike frameset will be held at the January 25th race for race participants.  Registration will start and 9 am the morning of each race and closes 30 minutes prior to race start.  A $10 entry fee and $5 donation to MORC are required to race.  For complete details, see my post Get Phat with Pat Returns to the MN River Bottoms with Two Races for 2014.

The 3rd Annual Carver Lake Cold Catfish Cup sponsored by Angry Catfish Bike Shop + Coffee Bar and Salsa Cycles is set for January 19th at Carver Lake Park in Woodbury.  Day-of registration and check-in starts at 11am with the race starting at noon.  Register online and guarantee your spot as there will be a 125 rider cap for this one.  Cost is $15 pre-registered and $20 day-of.  Professional chip timing has been added and the overall fastest rider will receive the Cold Catfish Cup.  Swag and prizes will also be handed out to race participants. 

The 5th Annual Lake Minnetonka Ice Race hosted Three Rivers Park District and sponsored by Freewheel Bike is scheduled for January 25th at Lake Minnetonka Regional Park in Minnetrista.  The winding race course will be laid out on the icy surface of Lake Minnetonka so studded tires are highly recommended and fatbikes are welcome.  Online registration is now available (until January 22nd) for $20 and day-of registration (opens at 9:30am) for $25.  Beginner race starts at 10:30am and Open Men's and Women's races start at 11:30am.  After the race stick around for the awards, drawing for prizes, food, music and a dance party.