2020 Minnesota Gravel Events

Rural Minnesota is home to quite a few long standing gravel road races and in recent years many new events have started to become a yearly tradition with cyclists.  With varying terrain, minimum maintenance roads, elevation changes, great rural scenery and unpredictable weather in the Spring and Fall, these events are sure to be fun and challenging.  Some are free while others require registration fees.  Almost all are unsupported requiring the participants to be their own repair and support crew.

This year's calendar will include all types of  gravel races and rides from around the state.  Some of these have registration cutoff dates, have a rider cap, or more information and registration details that are yet to be announced.  Below is a list of all of the gravel events in Minnesota that I'm aware of in chronological order.  I will continue to update and add events to this post as they become available.  If you are a race or event organizer and would like your event listed here and on my 2020 Minnesota Bike Tours, Rides, Races & Events Schedule, please send me an e-mail.

*Due to the Covid-19 outbreak some events may have been cancelled, postponed or rescheduled.

Gravel Collective Training Ride-February 15, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Gravel Collective Training Ride-February 22, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Gravel Collective Training Ride-February 29, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Gravel Collective Training Ride-March 7, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Group Ride: Minneapolis (gravel)-March 7, 2020
Angry Catfish Bicycles & Coffee
Minneapolis, MN
57 miles

Gravel Collective Training Ride-March 14, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Gravel Collective Training Ride-March 21, 2020 Canceled
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Gravel Collective Training Ride-March 28, 2020 Canceled
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Dickie Scramble-April 4, 2020 Indefinitely postponed
Tailgators
Elgin, MN
65-70 miles

Ragnarök 105-April 18, 2020 Indefinitely postponed
Mississippi National Golf Course
Red Wing, MN
Postcard Registration open November 29-December 31, 2019
150 racer cap
Facebook Page

Earth Day Gravel Grinder 2020 - Now Virtual!-April 22-26, 2020
Imminent Brewing
Northfield, MN
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Miesville FiftySix-April 26, 2020 Postponed
Jack Ruhr Stadium
Miesville, MN
56 miles
Online Registration opens February 4, 2020

LymeGrinder 2020 Solo Edition-May 1-31, 2020
Tanners Brook Golf Course
Forest Lake, MN
50 miles
Facebook Event Page

La Crosse Spring Gravel Classic-May 9, 2020 Canceled
Riverside Park
La Crosse, WI
63 miles
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Gravel Drama 200-May 16, 2020
Bay City, WI
200 miles

The Heywood-May 16, 2020 Postponed
Northfield, MN
380, 170, 110, 50 miles
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Le Grand Du Nord-May 23, 2020 Canceled
Grand Marais, MN
100+, 50+, 20 miles
600 rider cap
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Memorial Day Sunday Gravel Ride-May 24, 2020
United States Post Office
Brownsville, MN
48, 40, 24, 13 miles
RSVP

LymeGrinder Solo Challenge Finale Ride & Prize Giveaway-May 30, 2020
Wal-Mart parking lot
Lakeville, MN
70 miles

Extreme North Dakota Terrifically Intense Country Klassic (END-TICK)-June 6, 2020 Canceled
Lake Park, MN
200 miles, 100 miles, 100 km, 50 km
Online Registration

Gravel Collective Training Ride-June 6, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Mixed Surface and Destination Rides-June 6, 2020
Michael's Cycles - Prior Lake
Prior Lake, MN

Spring Valley 100-June 6, 2020 Canceled
Spring Valley, MN
100 miles

Gravel Collective Training Ride-June 13, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Westside Dirty Benjamin-June 13, 2020
Chaska, MN

Luce Line Loops Bike Ride-June 14, 2020 Canceled
Crow River Winery
Hutchinson, MN
75k gravel grinder, 50, 25, 12 miles

Gravel Collective Training Ride-June 20, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Gravel Series - Sioux Falls Bike Racing-June 23, 2020
Fernson Brewing Company
Sioux Falls, SD

Gravel Collective Training Ride-June 27, 2020
Dunn Bros.
Hugo, MN

Freedhem 76 Gravel Ride Solo/Social Distance Edition-June 28-July 12, 2020
Freedhem Store
Little Falls, MN
76, 46 miles
Online Registration

Gravel Series - Sioux Falls Bike Racing-July 14, 2020
Fernson Brewing Company
Sioux Falls, SD

Heck Epic-July 17-19, 2020 Canceled
Two Harbors, MN
200+ miles
150 rider cap
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Third Friday Gravel Ride!-July 17, 2020
Sioux Falls Bicycle Company
Sioux Falls, SD

Spoke-n-Sport Saturday Gravel Roundup-July 25, 2020
Spoke-N-Sport
Sioux Falls, SD

Tour de SAVE - Northfield-July 25, 2020
Sechler Park
Northfield, MN
50, 25, 7 miles, 74, 55, 28 mile gravel
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Zumbro Gravel Challenge-August 8, 2020 Canceled

Minnesota Randonneurs
Zumbrota, MN
135 km

Zumbro Gravel Challenge-August 8, 2020 Canceled
Minnesota Randonneurs
Zumbrota, MN
200 km

Rugged Growler-August 9, 2020

Hiawatha Golf Club
Canton, SD

The Day Across Minnesota (The DAMn)-August 15, 2020

Gary, SD to Hager City, WI
240 miles
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Third Friday Gravel Ride!-August 21, 2020
Sioux Falls Bicycle Company
Sioux Falls, SD

Carver Gravel Ride-August 22, 2020
Michael's Cycles-Chaska
Chaska, MN
20 miles

Spoke-n-Sport Saturday Gravel Roundup-August 22, 2020 Canceled
Spoke-N-Sport
Sioux Falls, SD

14er Gravel Challenge-August 23, 2020

265th St.
Welch, MN
14,000, 7,000, 3,500 ft. of climbing

Shakopee Gravel Adventure-August 23, 2020 Canceled

Minnesota Randonneurs
Shakopee, MN
100 km

HERO Gravel Classic - Solo Edition 2020-September 1-15, 2020

Gasthaus Bavarian Hunter
Stillwater, MN

La Crosse Area Bicycle Festival-September 4-7, 2020

La Crosse, WI
Facebook Page

Gravel Monster-September 5, 2020
Riverside Park
La Crosse, WI
129, 104 miles

Facebook Event Page
RSVP

Dirt Bag Fall Colors Challenge-September 18-October 18, 2020

Sportsman’s Park-Clearwater, MN

Bad Habit-St. Joseph, MN

100, 67, 55, 37 miles

Third Friday Gravel Ride!-September 18, 2020
Sioux Falls Bicycle Company
Sioux Falls, SD

Riotgrrravel-September 19, 2020 Canceled
Hope Lutheran Church
Hastings, MN
33, 21, 10 miles

Fall Gravel Ride-September 19, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Proior Lake, MN

40+ miles

Cuyuna Class 5 Century-September 20, 2020

The Woodtick Inn
Deerwood, MN
10, 70, 40 miles

Heck of the North-September 26, 2020 Canceled
Two Harbors, MN
100+, 50+, 20 miles
600 rider cap
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration

Spoke-n-Sport Saturday Gravel Roundup-September 26, 2020 Canceled
Spoke-N-Sport
Sioux Falls, SD

Thursday Night Gravel-October 1, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-October 8, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

MN Valley Apple Orchard Gravel Ride-October 10, 2020

Michael's Cycle-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

40 miles

The Filthy 50-October 10, 2020 Canceled

Lanesboro, MN
50, 24 miles
Facebook Page
Facebook Event Page
Online Registration opens July 19, 2020

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-October 15, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

Gravel West-October 16-18, 2020

Gear West
Long Lake, MN
Online Registration

Third Friday Gravel Ride!-October 16, 2020

Sioux Falls Bicycle Company
Sioux Falls, SD

Shakopee Gravel Adventure-October 17, 2020

Minnesota Randonneurs

City Parking Lot

Shakopee, MN

100 km

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-October 22, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-October 29, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-November 5, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

U4ic Brewing Gravel Ride-November 7, 2020

U4ic Brewery

Belle Plaine, MN

25 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-November 12, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-November 19, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-November 26, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

35-45 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-December 3, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

25-35 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-December 10, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

25-35 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-December 17, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

25-35 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-December 24, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

25-35 miles

Thursday Night Gravel Rides-December 31, 2020

Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake

Prior Lake, MN

25-35 miles

2019 Thanksgiving Weekend MN Cycling Events

There are plenty of cycling events going on around Minnesota over the long Thanksgiving weekend to burn off those extra calories from your feast.  Join in on a social ride, fatbike ride or demo, do some cyclocross racing or an alley cat race.

Do you want to get in a mountain bike ride before the big feast?  Join Michael's Cycles at their shop in Chaska Thanksgiving morning at 8:00 am for Turkey Day AM Ride through Mammoth.

Paul & Jason are leading a ride thru Mammoth to pre-burn those Turkey calories. 

The Joyful Riders Club along with Surly Brewing, Freewheel Bike and 30 Days of Biking will be holding the Fifth-Annual Leftovers Ride with the Joyful Riders Club on the day after Thanksgiving.  The ride leaves Surly Brewing in Minneapolis at 3:30 pm.

Our fifth-annual Black Friday #LeftoversRide is back! Celebrate the day after Thanksgiving by riding your bike, sharing your favorite leftovers, and meeting new friends.

We'll meet at Surly Brewing Company at 3 p.m., ride at 3:30 p.m., bike somewhere special at whistling pace, build a fire, and perform the ceremonial Burning of the Table. This is the perfect way to mash off all those mashed potatoes.

The Leftovers Ride is one of our most favorite and special events of the year. A total can't-miss, if we're being quite honest.

Touright Bicycle Shop will be hosting Little Falls Light Parade V by joining in on the Little Falls Parade of Lights.  Ride meets at the shop at 5:30 pm on Friday night and will navigate to the start of the parade.

We have been requested to return and be involved again with the Little Falls Parade of Lights that typically brings Santa into Central MN. (The Bunny might be there again this year too!)

We'll meet at Touright, 124 2nd St NE, Little Falls at 5:30 to cycle over to the start of the route and ride with lights along the route!
Touright will sell lights to display to you at cost if you let me know you want them by November 22nd at 2 pm

Following the Parade the first one is on the Bunny as we gather Starry Eyed!

See you then!

Hit the Minnesota River Bottoms with One On One Bicycle Studio for Opt Outside. Ride with OOOBS.  Ride from one end to the other before making your way back through town to the shop for refreshments and a bonfire.  This no-drop ride departs OOOBS in Minneapolis on Friday at 11:00 am.

Friends! Cyclists! Adventurers!

We're going to #OptOutside again this year and will be closed for business on Black Friday, and in place of workin', we're doing what we love most. Riding our bikes!

Come join us for a ramble ride leaving from the shop at 11am (hopefully that's enough time for you to sleep off that turkey hangover) as we head to the MN River Bottoms to ride end to end, where we'll head back northeast and snake our way back through town to the shop afterward, where everyone is welcome to join us for a bonfire and some beers. ALL ARE WELCOME and we encourage you all to come ride with us! This will be a no-drop ride, and we'll be stopping often to re-group, so don't worry if you fall off the back a little bit, we'll wait for you and beverage stops will be 'aplenty.

A few notes:
- Bring lights! We anticipate wrapping up before dark, but if we don't or if you plan on hanging out, you'll want 'em.
- Don't be a jerk, we'll ask you to get out.
- Ride something with wide-ish tires. It'll be sandy / snowy / muddy / etc. down there, so keep that in mind when choosing your rig for the day.
- As always, come with ur party hats on, and get ready to have some fun!

Photo Credit: That beautiful photo up there is from our good friend, Kurt Stafki

#getsome

Are you interested in trying out a new Salsa, Cannondale or Otso fatbike before you buy?  Head to Lake Elmo Park Reserve on Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm for the Now Bikes Lake Elmo Fat Bike Demo.  This is a free demo, however there is a $7 daily fee for entering the park.

Come join us at Lake Elmo Park Reserve for a day of fat biking! We'll be out from 10am to 2pm the last Saturday of every month. This is a FREE demo put on by us at Now Bikes. Come and see what all the hype is about. We will have demo bikes from Salsa, Cannondale, and Otso. 

More info: https://www.nowbikes-fitness.com/articles/saturday-fat-bike-demo-pg220.htm

If a fatbike group ride is more your thing, Now Bikes Saturday Fat Ride will be taking place Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at a mountain bike trail to be determined.  Visit the Facebook event page for trail location announcement a few days before the ride.

In case you don’t have enough fat biking in your life with our Sunday and Thursday rides, we’re adding a Saturday afternoon ride! Join Sam from the Saint Paul store on a weekly casual paced ride. The starting location for the ride will rotate around to different trails throughout the season. We will post where the ride will be a few days in advance, so check the event page for details. Previous mountain/fat biking experience not required, but encouraged. Demo fat bikes are available upon request with a 48 hour advance notice.

Please contact Sam Berglund at the Saint Paul location with any additional questions. 651-644-2354.

If you were one of the first 50 to get your postcard registration in before the November 8th deadline, you'll be riding the Iron Range in Hibbing on Saturday for the Pie Burner 2019.  Ride fee is a donation to the North Eastern St. Louis Country Toys For Tots Foundation.  If you missed the registration this year, keep an eye out for it in 2020 if you want to "FatBike in the heart of North Eastern Minnesota’s Iron Range..... True FatBike country."

Team Hollywood Cycles, Girl Fiend Cycling Team and Larson Cycle Racing will be hosting 'Cross Fer Tots on Sunday from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm at Cambridge City Park in Cambridge.  Entry for racing in Beginner (30 minute), Intermediate (45 minutes) and Advanced (60 minutes) classes requires a toy donation to Twin Cities Toys for Tots.  Party to follow after the races.

‘Cross fer Tots is a cyclocross race that collects toys & donations for the Twin Cities Toys for Tots organization by asking participants to donate toys rather than charge big entry fees. Be a part of something extraordinary and help make the holidays sparkle for families in our own community! 

Sunday night is the monthly Minneapolis alley cat, No Name 163: A Bar With No Name.  Meet at Father Hennepin Bluff Park at 6:30 pm with the recommended gear and roll out at 7:00 pm.

To commemorate “Closing Time”, the new history of MSP’s dive bars by Bill Lindeke & Andy Sturdevant, let’s chase down a few bars and discover obscure details about them. No imbibing req’d. 

10-15 miles total depending on temps & snow. Meet 6:30, depart 7. Bring lights, pen, map, & lock. Ending location tbd.

2019 MN Global Fat Bike Day Events

Image Credit: Fat-bike.com

Global Fat-Bike Day is a worldwide grassroots campaign that started seven 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 7th 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.

Big Ring Flyers hosts the 2019 BRF Global Fat Bike Day from the UW Wanderoos in Wanderoos, WI at 10:00 am for a 14 mile group ride.

The 5th Annual Big Ring Flyers Global Fat Bike Day Celebration!  
We’ve had a pretty good recipe historically so we’ll stick with it agajn. Park at the UW Wanderoos place of higher learning, hit the Stower westbound and back for 14 miles round trip. Duck into the UW to get educated afterwards! Pace will be friendly, this is not your VO2 max workout, this is fun with friends! Open to all!!

Avid mountain biker/fatbiker Steven Orwig will be hosting Cuyuna Global Fat Tire Day at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area in Crosby.  Make the trip for a full day of riding, food, beverage and fun.

Feel free to join us if you’d like.  Here is our tentative plan for Saturday Dec. 7th 09:00 AM to 05:00 PM.  Ride the awesome Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Trails!

9:00 AM – Breakfast North Country Cafe, Crosby (Will most likely park on Main St. between 1st & 2nd Ave. in between Café and Red Raven)
10:00 AM – Rolling down to ride the updated Yawkey Unit and most likely Portsmouth Unit as well
12:00 PM – Around this time head to Red Raven for lunch
1:00 – 1:30 PM – Meet at main trailhead to ride Mahnomen Unit (Bring extra clothes and warmers if needed)
3:30 PM – Head into Cuyuna Brewing Company for a cold beer and warm-up (change clothes if you’d like) 
4:00ish PM – Heading over to Iron Range Eatery for dinner
5:00-5:30 PM – Heading back to the cities for us non-locals

Above are estimated times.  Feel free to join us for all or part of the riding..  We will be in the area Friday as well and will have a day filled with local fun.  Of course riding, maybe some bowling at the Cuyuna Lanes, and be sure to grab some cheese, crackers, and wine from ShopVictual for the evening.  Can't wait!  

MORC members will be celebrating with Faturday-Global Fat Bike Day starting at 9:00 am from the parking lot at the Bloomington Ferry Unit trailhead in Bloomington. Ride will cover the western segment of the Minnesota River Bottoms between Bloomington Ferry Unit and Nine Mile Creek.

Meet at the Bloomington Ferry bridge lot
9:00 a.m. so we get done before it warms up
will ride East to 9 mile creek and back and then some not so known trails
studded tires might be nice to have
post up so we know who to look for
you are responsible for yourself

Trailhead Cycling will be hosting their Global Fat Bike Day ride from their shop in Champlin.  Ride leaves the shop at 10:30 am and returns around 1:30 pm.  Fat bike demos available, contact the shop for more information.

Meet your friends at Trailhead for Global Fat Bike Day! We'll ride to the Coon Rapids Dam; have a snack then break into groups; those that ride along the Mississippi, those that ride over to Alloy Brewing for a refreshing mid-ride beverage, and those that ride back to Trailhead. No matter your skill level, your allotted time, or what Fat Bike you ride we've got a ride for you! Demo bikes are available, reach out to pam@trailheadcycling to reserve one! 

Ride and socialize with GRIMBA members at Global Fat Bike Day taking place at the Tioga Recreation Area in Cohasset from Noon to 3:00 pm.

Group ride at Tioga Recreation Area to celebrate Global Fat Bike day. We welcome new members, existing members, and anyone interested in learning more about GRIMBA. Some fat bikes are available to use, check with us at info@grimba.org.

We plan to have a campfire to keep warm and socialize after riding. Great opportunity to ride and get acquainted with what GRIMBA is about.

Now Bikes hosts their Global Fat Bike Day 2019 ride from Rice Lake Elementary School in Lino Lakes at 10:00 am.  Refreshments will follow the ride at their Arden Hills shop.

Join us as we celebrate Global Fat Bike Day on Saturday, Dec 7!
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.
Please RSVP at 651-490-7709.
Join us afterwards at the Arden Hills shop for refreshments and brats on us. We hope to see you there!

Tonka Cycle & Ski hosts Global Fat Bike Day 2019 with three rides to accommodate riders of all abilities.  Meet at the shop at 10:00 am and roll out at 10:30 am. Refreshments following the rides.

Come join us on this amazing day of celebrating fat bikes. We will have three different rides featuring different mileage and speeds ( ride routes are tbd and  routes will be posted soon). Meet up time is 10am and ride out time will be be 10:30am ( please DO NOT park right at the store, lot fills up too fast, use available parking at Shady Oak and Excelsior). There will be raffle prizes as we arrive back at the shop to give out following the ride and riders will receive a coupon for 20% off of fat bike accessories that day. 
Immediately following the ride we will have a grill going and some cold beverages. Then join us for some fun filled activities on your bikes. Can’t wait to see all of you. 

Falls Area Singletrack and Falls Area Bicyclists will be hosting Global Fatbike Day 2019 from Brandon Valley High School in Brandon, SD.  The ride will depart at 11:00 am.

Join us for Global Fatbike Day, Saturday, Dec 7th. The group will meet in the Brandon Valley High School parking lot at 11:00 a.m. The total ride distance will be about 25 miles. There will be a bonfire and grilled food at roughly the half-way mark.

Continental Ski & Bike hosts their Global fat bike day group ride from Chambers Grove Park in Duluth from 9:00 to 3:00 pm with two rides and a barbecue.

Come on out  for GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY 2019! Join us at Chambers Grove Park for a ride around Mission Creek, a fire, and a barbecue! We will have two rides, the first will take off at 9am and return around 11pm. We will then take a break and enjoy some food from the grill and warmth from the fire! At 1pm the second ride will leave Chambers Grove and return around 3pm! We will have our rental fleet of Rocky Mountain Blizzards available for free on a first come first serve basis for both rides. So, grab your bike, a friend, and come join us for the fun! Keep an eye on this page for more details as the event draws near. 

If you're in Duluth on December 7th stop in at Ursa Minor Brewing for the Global Fat Bike Day 2019 Afterparty! Ride your bike to the taproom for 1/2 off your first beer as well as a bonfire and live music from 7:00-9:00 pm.

Global Fat Bike Day 2019 is coming to Duluth on December 7th, and we are hosting the afterparty! We will have a bike-in promo going all day. If you ride your bike down to the taproom, you will receive 1/2 off your first beer! There will be a bonfire going on the patio as well as live music provided by Camille Marsten from 7:00-9:00pm!

The Duluth Experience is also running a shuttle from Ursa Minor, with an added incentive. If you register for the shuttle, you will be entered into an exclusive, shuttle-only raffle that is filled with goodies from #GFBD2019 and their sponsors. The raffle is ONLY for those in the shuttle and your odds of winning are fairly high. The drawing will be held at the after party here at our taproom! No stress, just fun and prizes. Secure your spot on the shuttle by clicking the link below. 

Check out the main event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2579673075412897/

Here's the link to sign up for the shuttle:
https://theduluthexperience.rezdy.com/361066/global-fat-bike-day-shuttle

Head to Northfield for Global Fat Bike Day hosted by Downtown Bicycles.  This family friendly event will roll out from the shop at 1:00 pm for a ride around Northfield and return for refreshments.

Join Downtown Bicycles for it's 6th Annual Global Fat Biking Event. 
We will gather at the shop before rolling out at 1:00pm. The plan is to cruise around Northfield trails and hopefully snow covered roads for a few hours before returning to the shop for beer, hot drinks, and snacks. This is a family friendly event, so bundle everyone up and come join the fun! We do offer a limited number of fat bike rentals - reserve early before they are gone!

Head to the Levis Mound Trail in Neillsville, WI for Global Fatbike Day-Levis & Trow mounds from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm for "low key social rides" and more.

Come join the fatbike fun at Levis & Trow Mounds!  Low key social rides, campfire, beverages and snacks.   Pot luck is encouraged.

My Bike Guy hosts their Global Fatbike Day Ride at Gamehaven Reservoir Park in Rochester.  This fun group ride starts at 6:30 pm with a bonfire afterward.

It's the time of the year we celebrate everything FAT.  Bring your fatbike, lights, and post ride refreshments.  Fun ride, not fast ride.  Post ride warmth and socializing around a fire.

Mesabi Outdoor Adventures is hosting Global Fat Bike Day Ride in the Sax/Zim Bog from the Mcdavitt Townhall in Forbes.  This no-drop, 2 to 3 hour ride rolls out at noon for a trip of about 23 miles.

Join us on a fat bike ride through the Sax/Zim bog for global fat bike day. We will meet up at the Mcdavitt town hall on Zim Rd (County 27) and roll out at noon for a 23 mile ride on the flat gravel roads with a chance to see various wild life including the Great Gray Owl. This will be a no-drop ride, meaning no one will be left behind. Dress for the projected weather and bring anything you will need to spend 2-3 hours on a bike. We hope to see you there! Mesabi Outdoor Adventures now has 2 fat bikes we could borrow out for this ride. If you would like to reserve one of these bikes, send us a message and we will arrange for you to pick up the bike the morning of the ride or we could arrange to have the bike brought to the starting location. 

Michael's Cycles in Chaska hosts Global Fat Tire Day from the shop.  Ride departs at 8:00 am with breakfast after the ride.

Ride rolls @ 8 am, breakfast after the ride.
We will have a fire in the woods during the ride and a Vendor Expo back in the shop during the day!

The Mid MN Cycling Club hosts their annual MMCC Global Fat Bike Day Poker Ride from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm from Riverside Park in St. Cloud.

The Mid MN Cycling Club will be hosting a Poker Ride and a Membership Drive/Fundraiser for Global Fat Bike Day 2019
The ride will be held on Saturday Dec. 7th starting at 10am.
Starting location will be the Riverside Park Parking Lot (1800 Kilian Blvd SE, St. Cloud, MN)
Additional route info to follow but plan on roughly a 2 hours with 5 planned stops.  Each stop will have a volunteer there with playing cards.

Nicollet Bike & Ski Shop will be celebrating with their Nicollet Bike Global Fat Bike Day Ride 2019 from their shop in Mankato at 1:00 pm for a two hour ride.

Join us for Global Fat Bike Day 2019- The greatest day of the year!
When: Saturday December 7th at 1 pm
Where: Meet at Nicollet Bike. The group will then ride out together to Kiwanis Trails.
What: Casual 2 hour group ride with plenty of chances to stop and take in the scenery followed by food, drinks, and socializing back at the shop.

The Woolly Bike Club will be hosting their Woolly Global Fat Bike Day 2019 ride which will start at the Howlin' Wolf Creek Bar in St. Croix Falls, WI at 10:30 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.

Fall Weather Cycling Tips

Fall is now upon us leading to changing weather and road/trail conditions for cyclists.  While this change of season can present some hurdles to getting out for a ride, these can be overcome with the right equipment, apparel and a little know-how.  In this post I will present some of the tricks and safety tips that I have learned over the years commuting and riding during this transitional season.

See and Be Seen

Fall means less daylight hours and darkness begins to set in during the evening rush hour.  Get yourself some quality rechargeable LED lights to see and be seen by motorists.  Cloudy days and pre-dawn hours are also good times to have your lights on.  I'm a firm believer in lights "always on" no matter the time of day to increase my visibility.

Adjust the angle of your front light to accommodate for speed or conditions so as to not over drive your headlight.   Over driving your headlight coverage can put you in danger of hitting obstacles, potholes and other road hazards.

Exercise caution at intersections, especially during dark hours.  Motorists aren't always expecting cyclists to be out during the cold months and any way you can get their attention before crossing can keep you from being hit.  I will use a loud whistle to make my presence known if I think motorists are unaware of me.  If you are not sure whether a motorist knows you are there, err on the side of caution and don't put yourself in a position that could lead to being struck.  It is better to be safe than sorry.

Reflectives, in addition to lights, will help get you seen during low light hours.  I use Brilliant Reflective Stick-on Strips placed on my forks for approaching traffic and on my seat stays for better visibility from behind and the side.  These strips are made with 3M Scotchlite Reflective Material that is super bright and can be seen from up to 500 feet away letting motorists know of your presence.  Bike bags and apparel with reflective accents and brightly colored clothing are also good choices after dark to make yourself more visible.

There are a lot of anti-fog products on the market as well as many home remedies that you can find online to keep your glasses or goggles clear in the cold.  I use one on my daytime and nighttime eyewear to avoid that irritating fogging of my lenses.  Using a neck gaiter, balaclava, scarf or working up a sweat can fog up your glasses quickly and using an anti-fog of some sort will keep you seeing clearly.

Road Conditions

The freeze/thaw cycle of fall can present some road hazards that you won't experience in warmer weather.  Frozen puddles and frost in the shadows can can present some slick riding conditions so keep alert and avoid these obstacles to keep your bike "rubber side down".

Fallen leaves on roadways and bike paths can hide potholes, frozen puddles and other obstacles you want to avoid to ride safely.  Moving over may mean you will have to take the lane to get safely by.

Check your tire pressure often and adjust accordingly as cold weather can lead to decreased psi.  Lowering your tire pressure can help put more of the tire in contact with the road providing better traction but release too much air and you risk pinch flats.  A lot of bike commuters will switch over to a wider tire choice this time of year to put a little more rubber on the road for a more confident ride feel.  I swap out my 35 mm tires to a wider 45 mm each year at this time.

Clothing Choices

Get your clothes picked out the night before based on the weather forecast for your commute or ride to save time getting ready in the morning.  This will also help to make sure you don't forget anything.

This is the time of year I start using all of my baselayers to provide the warmth and wicking needed to ride comfortably.  I use wool, polyester, and wool blends of different thicknesses to cover a wide variety of temperatures.  After some trial and error over the years I have gotten pretty good at picking the right one to pair with my jacket selection.  The key is to start out a ride a little chilly because you will start to generate your own heat soon enough.  Choosing a baseleayer that is too warm for the temperature will leave you starting out warm and cozy but soon lead to  overheating causing excessive sweat that will have you wet and chilled.

A neck gaiter and a windproof/breathable beanie under the helmet provides some extra warmth on chilly mornings and evenings.  When things warm up during the ride they can be removed and stored in a jacket pocket.

Get yourself a good pair of windproof/waterproof shoe covers to keep your feet warm and dry.  I wear mine over my cyclocross boots with wool socks to give me extra riding time in below freezing temperatures.

Keep the cold out with a quality windproof and breathable soft shell jacket.  It will cut wind's bite and let moisture and heat escape to help regulate your body temperature.  Jackets with zipper venting under the arms or in the front can be opened to cool you down so you don't become overheated and can be closed when you're comfortable again.  I'm a big fan of Gore Windstopper and Bontrager soft shell jackets but there are a lot of good choices out on the market.  If you don't have one of these in your cycling apparel arsenal, buying one is well worth the investment for cold weather cycling.

Riding during the fall months that lead into winter can be enjoyable with the right gear and know-how.  Don't let the cold or shorter days cut your riding season short.