2018 MN Global Fat Bike Day Events

Global Fat-Bike Day is a worldwide grassroots campaign that started six years ago to bring people from the fatbike community together to ride and make new friends.  In honor of Global Fat-Bike Day there are several rides scheduled here in Minnesota and close to the border in Wisconsin on December 1st that you may want to get in on.  I have complied a list of them so you can get your "fat on" and ride with others of the "well-endowed tire crowd".  New events will be added to this post as they become available.

Members of the Minnesota Off Road Cyclists will host their weekly ride with a special Faturday-Global Fat Bike Day event.  The ride starts under the Cedar Avenue Bridge on the Eagan side of the river at 9:00 am.

Meet under the Cedar Ave. bridge on the Eagan side of the river at 9:00 a.m. The usual route to 9 mile creek and back then towards the beaver dam area, maybe more. 18 miles or more, you can turn back if needed. You are responsible for yourself. Lets make a good showing.

Trailhead Cycling will be hosting their Global Fat Bike Day ride from their shop in Champlin.  Ride leaves the shop at 10:00 am and returns around noon.  Fat bike demos available, contact the shop for more information.

Global Fat Bike Day! Join the world of Fat at Trailhead's Global Fat Bike Day Event. Meet at Trailhead 10:00 am. We will ride single track along side the Rush Creek Trail to the Coon Rapids Dam. When we arrive at the Dam we'll be riding the river bottoms to the south of the Dam along the Mississippi. We'll ride back to Trailhead. arriving around noon. Round trip is only 10 miles but it will be hundred's of smiles! Need a Fat Bike? We have some demo bikes available email me pam@trailheadcycling.com

The Fargo Moorhead Trailbuilders are hosting Global Fat Bike Day at Iwen Park in Fargo at 9:00 am.

Come out to Iwen Park! Donuts & Coffee will be provided and then we can ride a few laps!

Now Bikes is hosting their Global Fat Bike Day ride starting from Rice Lake Elementary School in Lino Lakes.  The ride will start at 10:00 am and consist of a mix of bike path, single track and gravel roads.

Join us as we celebrate Global Fat Bike Day on Saturday, Dec 1!
Where to meet: Rice Lake Elementary School in Lino Lakes (park at the northeast corner of the school).
The course: Trails consist of a mix of bike path, single track and gravel roads. Plan to ride for 2+ hours. Shorter or longer loops available.
Please call us (651-490-7709) if you or a friend are interested in trying a fat bike. Free demos available by appointment. Supplies limited.
Prizes will be given to those who are able to conquer the Goliaths Gorge.
Please RSVP at 651-490-7709.
Join us afterwards at the Arden Hills shop for refreshments and brats on us.

Gear West is celebrating Global Fat Bike Day with a ride at the trails at Lake Rebecca Park Reserve in Rockford.  The ride starts at the trailhead parking lot at 10:00 am and there will be food and beverage afterward at Gear West.

Join us at Lake Rebecca on the morning of December 1st. We will meet at the at the single track trailhead parking lot at 10am and ride the park's wonderful single-track trails. We'll have two groups — one will ride a shorter route of about 8 miles and the other a longer ride of about 12 miles. Both rides will be 'no-drop' and every skill set and fitness level is encouraged to participate. There'll be hot chocolate available at the park and afterward your invited to share hot cider, hot dogs and s’mores back at Gear West.

Nicollet Bike Shop will be hosting their Global Fat Bike Day 2018! ride starting and finishing from the shop located at 607 N Riverfront Dr in Mankato.  Ride rolls out at 1:00 pm.

A few details so far. 
1: It will be the greatest ride of the year. 
2: Ride time will start @ 1pm from the shop. 
3: We will return to the shop at 4pm for food and beverages (Fireball).

Tonka Cycle & Ski is hosting their Global Fat Bike Day 2018 ride from their shop located at 16 Shady Oak Rd S in Hopkins.  Ride groups of various speeds will ensure there's a group for you.  Fatbike rentals from the shop are available online.  See the Facebook event page for more details.

Meet us for a group fat bike ride in honor of Global Fat Bike Day! There will be different groups, so you are sure to find one that is your speed. Food and beer at the shop when you get back.

The Mid MN Cycling Club is celebrating with their 2nd annual Global Fat Bike Day Poker Ride and Membership Drive starting at 10:00 am at the Beaver Island Paved Bike Trail - Plum Creek Trail Pavilion in St. Cloud.  This fat bike poker ride ends at the Beaver Island Tap Room where the final card will be drawn and winning hand announced.

When: December 1, 2018
Start Time: 10 a.m.
Start Location: Beaver Island Paved Bike Trail - Plum Creek Trail Pavilion (Just behind FedEx) Green Star on Map
Ride Time: ~2.5 hours 

Rules: Everyone will draw a card at the meet up spot; Plum Creek Pavilion on the Beaver Island Paved Trail (behind FedEx shipping location). Then you will navigate yourself on your Fat Bike to the 3 other locations on the South Side with a BONUS round on the South East Side of the Mississippi river (Bonus card draw time is 11-12:30). Keep your "hand" in a good location and then join us at the Beaver Island Tap Room at 6:30 p.m. for the final card draw and too see who the winner is!

Our get together at BIBCO will also be our Annual Membership Drive where we will have a stacked raffle with products donated from 45North, Onyx Racing Products, Fitzharris, Revolution Cycle and Ski and Beaver Island Brewery!

Spokengear is celebrating with a Global Fat-Bike Day Pot-Luck and Group Ride in Two Harbors from 2:00-8:00 pm.  Ride your fatbike or try one of their rental fleet Mukluks on one of several group rides and stick around after for the pot-luck dinner and bonfire.

Our friend, Kevin has opened up his network of private trails to YOU for Global Fat-Bike Day! Kevin and his neighbors own, build, and maintain some of the most well groomed trails in the area and they are truly a gem! Come on out and join us for a group ride! Bring a bike, a friend, and if you can, something tasty to share! Group rides will happen throughout the afternoon and into the evening, as will a pot-luck dinner and bonfire! We will be providing our rental fleet of 2018 Salsa Mukluks for people to use if they don't have a bike of their own! It's going to be a great time in the woods with friends old and new! We hope to see you there!

My Bike Guy will be hosting the Global Fatbike Day Social Ride at Gamehaven Reservoir in Rochester from 6:30-9:00pm.

Global Fatbike Day is a made up holiday that is weirdly celebrated around the world. Join us in the lower parking lot at Gamehaven for a social night ride on singletrack. Post ride social time/entertainment will be provided, but feel free to add to the fun.

Downtown Bicycles is hosting Global Fat Bike Day with Downtown Bicycles for their fifth year.  The ride will start and finish from Downtown Bicycles in Northfield.  Gather at the shop around 1:00pm for a ride around Northfield's parks and trails and enjoy "treats and Craft beer" afterward.

Join Downtown Bicycles for it's 5th Annual Global Fat Biking Event. We will meet at the shop to start the ride as soon as everyone gathers around 1pm. We'll explore around Northfield parks and trails on a group ride before returning to the shop for treats and Craft beer. This is a family friendly event, so bundle everyone up and come join the fun! Limited rentals available - reserve early!

Levis Mound Trail and Sand Creek Brewing Company will host Levis Mound Global Fatbike Day at the Levis Mound Trail in Niellsville, WI at 10:00 am.  Ride will depart from the trailhead where riders can choose any route they wish to meet up at the GFBD overlook on Dan's Berm.  No registration fee is required but donations to the Levis Mound Trail "re-funding" are encouraged.

Global Fabike Day-Usual spot, high above Goat Dance on Dans Berm. BYO, share treats and Sand Creek Beer (and other breweries?) Camp fire, rides and fun. Enjoy the view!

Touright Bicycle Shop in Little Falls is hosting Local Global Fat Bike Day with a ride and sale.  After the ride there will beverages and pizza served.  Festivities kick-off at 10:15 am.

Join together with thousands around the globe and ride a Fat Bike! Yes Touright is once again proud to be a part of Global Fat Bike Day. We'll start the morning with some Pete and Joy’s tasteful pastry and then ride the land of Lindbergh all to return to Touright for a warm up of coffee some 1919 root beer and pizza! Come on and join us as we celebrate GFBD as well as LBS Day. After we close at 4 we'll head to Starry Eyed for a cold one or two.

Major Taylor Bicycling Club of MN, Slow Roll Mpls, Freewheel Bike and Birchwood Cafe will be hosting the Major Taylor Birthday Ride and Tribute on Global Fat Bike Day.  This 90 minute ride will depart at 10:30 am from the Freewheel Midtown Bike Center.

Join Freewheel Bikes, Slow Roll Mpls and Major Taylor Bicycling Club of MN for the 2018 celebration of Marshall "Major" Taylor's birthday. It is also Global Fat Bike Day, so Fat Bikes are suggested but not required. We will meet at the Freewheel on the Midtwon Greenway at 10:00 am refreshments and free bike checks will be available (9:30-10:30 am) We will depart at 10:30 am and the ride will last approximately 90 minutes based on weather. Cycling clubs across the country honor Marshall W. "Major" Taylor, who was born on Nov. 26, 1878, with birthday rides around that date.

Penn Cycle MTB Team members and staff will be leading Penn Cycle Celebrates Global Fat Bike Day, a no-drop fatbike group ride through the Minnesota River Bottoms.  Roll out is at 10:15 am from the Penn Cycle in Eagan.  Food and beverages will be provided after the ride at the shop.

We will be celebrating Global Fat Bike Day once again with a memorable ride through the Minnesota River Bottoms. Meet at Penn Cycle in Eagan at 9:45am and roll out will be at 10:15am. Ride will consist of two groups, a shorter route and a longer moderate-pace route. Both will be no-drop so find the one that fits your speed. Please bring everything you will need (water, tubes, tools, etc.) to get you back to the start. Upon returning to the shop there will be food and beverages waiting. We ask that you ride within your ability and helmets are required.

Michael's Cycles is celebrating Global Fat Bike Day with their Saturday Morn Bikes and Coffee! rides from their Chaska store.  Rides depart at 8:00 am and 1:30 pm.

We will have special treats for this Saturday's ride. We will have coffee at the start, a toasty fire mid-ride, and a hearty breakfast of eggs and sausage when we get back to the shop. 

Also, there will be a second ride later in the day. That ride will begin at 1:30pm. At the end of the ride we will tap a couple of beers provided by Chaska’s NEWEST brewery! (Riders get first serve)

Since conditions look to be nice and cold, we will be returning to Louisville Swamp. The snowmobile club has done us a solid and cleared the trail of any debris from this summer's flood, so riding conditions should be good. The ride will be about six miles out and then six miles back for a round trip total of about twelve miles.

The pace will be casual, with all ability levels welcome; we don't leave anybody on their own. Please join us for a kick start into your winter biking groove! Meet at the Michael's Cycles between 7:30 and 8; we ride at 8! 

The Woolly Bike Club will be hosting their Woolly Global Fat Bike Day 2018 ride which will start at the Howlin' Wolf Creek Bar in St. Croix Falls, WI at 10:00 am.  There will be two groups to choose from depending on a rider's ability.  Stick around after the ride for burgers and beer at Howlin' Wolf.

A fat bike ride in the Barrens is a must each year. Snow on the ground or not, fat bikes up there are too much fun to not go back. Over the last few years we have had 30+ folks up each year and I haven't heard any complaints. We are going to have an A and B ride again this year. I'm calling them the Shreddy Group and the I'm Just Here For A Good Time Group. Both groups are no drop, but expect to have to ride faster with the Shreddy Group to not get dropped. After about 2 hours, give or take, of riding and exploring, we will reconvene at Wolf Creek Bar for burgers and recovery beverages. It should be another fabulous GFBD ride. I wouldn't be surprised to find another bacon and beverage stop again this year. Yes, bacon.

Favorite Fall Rides In and Near the Twin Cities-Part 2

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year to ride and right now the leaves in and around the metro are starting to change color.  We have many trails and roads in Minnesota that are perfect for seeing all sights that Fall has to offer by bicycle.  There's something here for every type of cyclist whether you're a mountain biker, trail rider or gravel enthusiast.  Get out there soon as this opportunity comes and goes quickly.   Below are some of my favorites near the Twin Cities that I try to visit this time of year.

Minnesota River Bottoms

The Minnesota River Bottoms network of trails have always been a Fall favorite of mine for riding my fatbike.  The floodplain forest offers great views of the river and wildlife that inhabit this area.  However, with all the rain we have had recently some areas are too soft to ride or are underwater due to flooding.  The Bluffs section between 35W and Mound Springs Park has a high enough elevation where flooding shouldn't be a problem.  Other segments are rideable but there will be some spots that are muddy or under water and you may have to turn back.

The trail conditions in a floodplain are constantly changing so check for updates by visiting the MORC Trail Conditions page or see and hear about other's ride experiences on the MN River Bottoms Ride Report Facebook group.

Cannon Valley Trail/Hay Creek/

Goodhue-Pioneer State Trail

The Cannon Valley Trail is a little over 19 miles long and has trail access in Cannon Falls, Welch and Red Wing.  The trail was built on a former railway grade and offers beautiful views of the Cannon River, woods and prairies along the way.

The ride doesn't have to end in Red Wing.  Hop onto the city trail that follows along Hay Creek and it will lead you to the Goodhue-Pioneer State Trail which also follows Hay Creek with awesome views of  the changing colors as you roll through the Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood State Forest.  Follow the trail until it ends in the little town of Hay Creek which is the turn-around point.  Make a day of it and start at the Cannon Falls Trailhead and ride to the town of Hay Creek for a 52 mile round-trip ride.

Fort Snelling State Park

Fort Snelling State Park has trails to ride through the woods on both sides of the Minnesota River.  Near the historic fort on the north side of the Minnesota River there is plenty of parking and once you head down the hill on the trail near the fort you will come across both paved and unpaved trails on Picnic Island and around Snelling lake.  There is also the paved Minnehaha Trail that follows the Mississippi River north through the woods to Minnehaha Park.

Some of you may be very familiar with the Mendota Trail that follows along the Minnesota River on the south side from Mendota all the way to the Cedar Ave. bridge.  This section of natural treadway trail offers many views of the river as it meanders along through the woods past creeks, lakes and marshes.  With all of the rain we have had recently, some sections of the trail are very wet and/or underwater so keep that in mind.  Updates and photos for this section of trail can be found at the MN River Bottoms Ride Report Facebook group page.

Lilydale/Harriet Island Regional Park

The paved trails that run through Lilydale Regional Park and Harriet Island Regional Park are a joy to ride this time of year.  These trails pass through the floodplain forest along the south side of the Mississippi River from 35E in Lilydale all the way to Harriet Island in St. Paul.  The views of the changing colors along the way are spectacular and it's hard to believe that it's so close to downtown.  These trails also connect in Lilydale to the Big Rivers Regional Trail making for a longer ride along the river and multiple other trail options.  For a better view of the trails in this area, visit Google Maps to plan out your Fall color ride.

Umore Park/Vermillion Highlands

A place I continue to ride year after year in the Fall is close to home for me.  The Vermillion Highlands and UMore Park in Rosemount have paved and gravel roads that take you through part of what used to be the Gopher Works Ordinance plant during World War II and a wildlife management area.  Some of these roads I used to ride have been closed to the public by the University of Minnesota but there are still a lot of areas to see the Fall colors and experience nature.

Explore old paved roads with light car traffic throughout UMore Park on the north side of 160th St. E. and then venture into the Vermillion Highlands on the south side.  Some roads to ride include Station Trail, Annette Ave., 190th St. and Blaine Ave.  Just off of Station Trail is the entrance to Whitetail Woods Regional Park that has a picnic area and restrooms. 

Don't delay as the Fall colors don't stick around for long.  Visit one of the areas mentioned in this post if you haven't before and experience Minnesota Fall on a bicycle.

Favorite Fall Rides In and Near the Twin Cities-Part 1

Fall is one of my favorite times of the year to ride and right now the leaves in and around the metro are starting to change color.  We have many trails and roads in Minnesota that are perfect for seeing all sights that Fall has to offer by bicycle.  There's something here for every type of cyclist whether you're a mountain biker, trail rider or gravel enthusiast.  Get out there soon as this opportunity comes and goes quickly.   Below are some of my favorites near the Twin Cities that I try to visit this time of year.

Lebanon Hills

One very popular spot for mountain bikers in the Twin Cities is Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Trails.  With the majority of the trails in a hardwood forest, this is a prime spot to ride right among the changing colors.  Lebanon Hills has over 12 miles of beginner to expert level trails making it a great ride for mountain bikers of all abilities.  Fall's wet weather does present some challenges though so make sure the trails are open before heading out to there for a ride. Visit the Lebanon Hills Mountain Bike Trail Facebook page or the MORC Trail Conditions page for the latest updates on trail conditions and closings.

Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail

The Minnesota River Bluffs LRT Regional Trail is a 12 mile long aggregate trail that runs from Hopkins to Chaska.  It passes through several parks and offers great views of the changing colors around the Minnesota River Valley.  A portion of the trail is closed between Pioneer Trail in Eden Prairie and Highway 101 in Chanhassen due to trail washout from mudslides in 2014 so plan your ride here accordingly and follow the posted detour.

Big Rivers Regional Trail

The Big Rivers Regional Trail in Dakota County is only 4 1/2 miles long but offers great views of the river valley at the confluence of the Minnesota and Mississippi Rivers.  Trail access is available at the East Trailhead on Lilydale Rd. in St. Paul and along Hwy. 13 at I-494, Pilot Knob Rd., Hwy. 55 and I-35E.  The Big Rivers Regional Trail also links to many other area bikeways along both sides of the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers.  Visit Google Maps to plan out your ride in this beautiful river valley area and make a day of it.

Mississippi River Regional Trail-Dakota County

The south/east segment of the Mississippi River Regional Trail in Dakota County is one of my favorite new trails to ride for great views of the Mississippi River Valley and the hardwood forest that surrounds it.  Access to this part of the trail is available at the Lower Spring Lake Park Reserve Trailhead/West Trailhead, the Schaar's Bluff Trailhead and the Lock and Dame No. 2 Trailhead.  This segment of trail also continues on to the city of Hastings.

For a longer ride, I like to start in Hastings at Levee Park and follow the trail past Lock and Dam No. 2 all the way to the Lower Spring Lake Park Reserve Trailhead/West Trailhead and back for a 21 mile round-trip ride.  A map of this segment of trail can be found here.

Welch Gravel

The Cannon River Valley in and around Welch is a favorite of mine for riding gravel this time of year.  With deep ravines, big climbs, fast downhills and magnificent scenery along the way, this area showcases the Fall colors at their best.  I have returned to this area many times since I first got into gravel back in 2013 and some of these roads are part of the Miesville 56 course which is a gravel rider's favorite.

I have two routes that I like to ride in this area, one on the north side of the Cannon River and one on the south side.  Both of these rides start at the Welch Station on the Cannon Valley Trail.  The Welch-North Loop is a 16 mile ride that is just under 1,000 feet of climbing and the Welch-South Loop is also 16 miles with just over 750 feet of climbing.  Do both loops together for a longer ride, more climbing and plenty of great views that the Cannon River Valley has to offer.  Try mixing it up and doing these routes in reverse for a completely different ride.

Don't delay as the Fall colors don't stick around for long.  Visit one of the areas mentioned in this post if you haven't before and experience Minnesota Fall on a bicycle.  I will add five more of my favorite Fall rides soon in a second segment of this post.