Winter '19-'20 Weekly Fatbike Group Rides

Now that winter is into full swing there are a bunch of weekly fatbike group rides you can get in on.  Some are put on by bike shops, others are organized by clubs or individuals.  Below is a list with links to more details about these rides.

Sunday

Image Credit: Brady Larson-Mankato Fatbikers

Sundays are when the Mankato Fat Bikers set out for their weekly ride at various locations around Mankato including Mount Kato, the Red Jacket Trail, river bottoms and Kiwanis Park.  Visit the Mankato Fatbikers Facebook page for information on upcoming rides.

Image Credit: Now Bikes

Now Bikes hosts is currently hosting their weekly Sunday Morning Fat Bike Demo & Ride all winter long at various ride locations throughout the Twin Cities.   Rides are generally from 9:00 to 11:00 am and if you call ahead you can schedule a demo bike to ride.  Visit the Now Bikes Facebook page for weekly locations and more details.

Come out and ride with riders of all levels, meet new friends and pick up riding tips on our Fat/MTB demo & group ride on Sunday mornings!

- Free demo bikes to ride! Must call ahead (651-490-7709) or stop by the Arden Hills location to schedule for us to bring a bike for you to ride

- Demo bikes from the following brands may be available: Santa Cruz, Salsa, Felt, Otso in all sizes XS, SM, MD, LG, XL

- Ride generally goes from 9-11AM

- No drop ride, all rider levels are welcome!

- Location for ride is determined the Friday or Saturday before the ride and is based on trail conditions. Check our Facebook page for the location.

Monday

Big Ole Bike Club in Alexandria is now into their Fat Tire Monday Rides schedule for the winter.  Ride locations and ride leaders change weekly and start at 6:00 pm.  To get a text reminder: Text @snowbiker to 81010

The mountain biking branch of the Rochester Active Sports Club hosts Mon/Wed Fat Bike Rides twice a week at Gamehaven Reservoir Park lasting into mid-March.  Meet at 6:30 pm with lights for this night ride.

Mon/Wed Fat Bike Ride, bring lights!  See you at the lower/city lot!

Tuesday

Freewheel Bike-Bloomington hosts their Bloomington Tuesday Fatbike Rides! now through the end of February.  Meet at the Bloomington shop for a 6:00 pm roll out on this fun and educational ride through the Minnesota River Bottoms.  Lights and helmet required.

Every Tuesday this winter, join the #FreewheelBike Bloomington crew for a fun-paced fatbike ride through the River Bottoms! This friendly and educational ride will depart from the shop at 6 p.m., and we’ll all stick together and ensure no one gets left behind.

Participating in this ride requires wearing a helmet and placing both front and back lights on your bike. Check this event page just in case for weather updates and remember to bring water and a snack to stay hydrated and energized.

Let us know if you have any questions! 

Wednesday

Great Northern Bicycle Company in Fargo, ND hosts their weekly Wednesday night fatbike ride for the duration of the winter.  Ride departs the shop at 6:00 pm and meets at the MB Johnson Park trailhead at 6:30 pm.  Check the Great Northern Bicycle Company Facebook page for weekly updates.

Every Wednesday during the winter months we'll roll out from the shop at 6:00pm and begin riding at the trailhead at 6:30pm. Remember that a minimum of 3.8" wide tires are required to ride on the trails, and we'll be recommending 5psi or lower air pressure tonight with current trail conditions. We'd like to send a big thank you to the Fargo Moorhead Trailbuilders for all their hard work! Give them a like if you haven't already to get the latest on trail conditions and other updates!

Life Wellness Center-Eagan switched their weekly mountain bike ride to Wednesdays for the winter.  This no-drop fatbike ride will alternate between south metro mountain bike trails.  Meet at that week's trailhead at 6:00 pm with your lights.  Check the Life Wellness Group Rides - Wednesdays Facebook event page or join the Life Wellness Group Rides group for details about weekly locations and updates.

These Fat Bike/Mt. Bike group rides will rotate between south metro singletrack trails (Murphy, Lebanon Hills, West Lake Marion) depending on trail conditions. Join the "Life Wellness Group Rides" Facebook page for locations and weekly updates. We will break into groups based on skill levels, so everyone enjoys the ride! This is a “No Drop” ride meant to build community. We’ll regroup often and afterwards socialize!

The mountain biking branch of the Rochester Active Sports Club hosts Mon/Wed Fat Bike Rides twice a week at Gamehaven Reservoir Park lasting into mid-March.  Meet at 6:30 pm with lights for this night ride.

Mon/Wed Fat Bike Ride, bring lights!  See you at the lower/city lot!

In addition to their Tuesday night fatbike ride, Freewheel Bike has added Woodbury Wednesday Fatbike Rides! which starts January 8th and goes through the end of February.  Meet at the Woodbury shop for a 5:00 pm roll out on this fun-paced fatbike ride at singletrack trails at Carver Lake Park.

On Wednesday evenings this winter, join the #FreewheelBike Woodbury crew for a fun-paced fatbike ride at Carver Lake Park Off-Road Cycling Trail! Winter biking is a blast and we can't wait to ride along with you.

These friendly and educational rides will be led by Woodbury service manager Todd Sieler. We'll meet at the shop at 5 p.m., roll out together to Carver Lake, and ensure no one gets left behind. We encourage riders of all skill levels and speeds to join!

Participating requires wearing a helmet and placing both front and back lights on your bike. Check this event page for weather updates and remember to bring water and a snack to stay hydrated and energized.

Let us know if you have any questions! 

Thursday

Sam and Ambrose from Now Bikes are now hosting their weekly ride, Rolling Fatties Thursday Night Ride  from the St. Paul shop throughout the winter on Thursday nights at 6:00 pm. 

It's that time of year again! Let's survive winter together! Join Ambrose and Sam Thursday nights at our St. Paul location for a weekly recreational urban ride. Please be prepared to leave from the St. Paul location at 6pm. Rolling Fatties is a no drop, fun ride with both on road and off road sections. We do have a refreshment stop halfway as well as at the shop post ride. The goal is to be back to the shop by 8:00 PM, but sometimes things get rowdy.
Lights and previous Mountain Bike riding experience are required, but that's about it. Demo fat bikes are available upon request with a 48 hour advanced notice.
Please contact the St. Paul shop with any additional questions.

Now St. Paul
(651) 644-2354
75 Snelling Ave, St Paul, MN 55104

Michael's Cycles hosts their weekly Thursday Night Fat Bike Ride out of their Prior Lakes store at 6:00 pm. Some ride locations include Murphy-Hanrehan and Cleary Lake Regional Park.  Check the Michael's Cycles-Prior Lake Facebook page for updates and weekly ride details.  Rentals available from the shop.

The Thursday Night Group Ride is held every Thursday that the trail is open at Elm Creek Singletrack in Champlin.  Rides start at 6:30pm and are no-drop.  Details for each week's ride can be found on their Facebook page.

Are you looking for a group of fun mountain bikers to have fun with on mountain bikes? Then you've come to the right place! The Thursday Night Group ride at Elm Creek Singletrack is a no-drop mountain bike group ride for any rider from beginner to expert.

We ride every Thursday that the trail is open, starting at about 6:30pm. However, if the air temp is below 5º or the windchill is below 0º, we won't have an official ride.

Saturday

Faturday is a weekly fatbike ride that has taken place for years on Saturday mornings at the Minnesota River Bottoms.  Start location changes week to week as well as routes and distances depending on the weather and trail conditions.  Rides are usually posted a few days before on the MORC Group Rides Forum and in the MN Fatbike Group Rides Facebook group with that week's details.

This ride stops to regroup frequently along the trail making it a good one for riders of all abilities. Most rides usually last two to three hours and sometimes conclude for a beer or two afterward at Bald Man Brewing in Eagan.

Now Bikes-St. Paul has started their Now Bikes Saturday Fat Ride for the winter season.  This Saturday afternoon, casual paced ride will alternate around various trails in the Twin Cities metro area starting at 1:00 pm.  Ride locations will be posted on their Facebook event page a few days prior.  Call the St. Paul shop 48 hours ahead to request a demo fatbike for 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.

Michael's Cycles hosts their weekly Sat Morn Ride! from their shop in Chaska.  They open the doors to the shop at 7:30 am with donuts and coffee and roll out at 8:00 am sharp.  Depending on trail conditions and the weather rides include both paved/aggregate and singletrack. Visit the Michael's Cycles-Chaska Facebook page for details on upcoming rides.

Fo//ow Ho//ow

Performance Alpaca
All Day Comfort
No Itch
No Stink
No Quit

Field Tested Gifts for Cyclists

For the last couple of years I have put out a list of cycling gift ideas containing quality products that I have tested and use regularly.  This year's list contains eight of those items that will make the cyclist on your shopping list happy without breaking the bank.

Park Tool 
Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair

For the cyclist that would like to learn more about how to work on their bikes, the Park Tool Big Blue Book of Bicycle Repair is a perfect gift.  This mechanic's guide covers everything from simple adjustments to a complete overhaul.  It's full of step-by-step, easy to follow instructions with color pictures and charts that demonstrate the repairs.  This is a great pairing with any cyclist wrencher's toolbox.  Available in hard cover from Park Tool, local bike shops and book retailers for $29.95.  Paperback and e-book versions are also available.

Garmin Edge Remote

If you're shopping for a roadie or a mountain biker that has a Garmin Edge compatible cycling computer, they'll love the Garmin Edge Remote.  This Ant+ wireless connectivity 3-button remote comes with a road and mountain bike mount.  No more taking hands off the bars to swipe to the next screen, hit the lap button or a number of other programmable options from a preset list of functions.  I use this remote for both on and off-road and it is much more glove friendly than trying to use the touchscreen of the Edge.  The Garmin Edge Remote retails for $49.99 and is available from local bike shops, Garmin and outdoor retailers.

Pearl Izumi WxB Shoe Covers

The shoulder seasons (spring & fall) can present some challenges to keeping feet warm and dry so Pearl Izumi WxB Shoe Covers are my choice for chilly or wet rides.  These shoe covers feature a fleece lining for warmth, a two stage hook and loop closure for a proper fit and windproof/waterproof PRO Barrier WxB fabric.  Available in Black and Screaming Yellow for $55 from local bike shops, Pearl Izumi and outdoor retailers.

Fo//ow Ho//ow 

Performance Alpaca Socks

When it comes to cycling socks, I have a huge collection of them, but if I had to choose only one pair it would be Follow Hollow Performance Alpaca Socks.  These hypoallergenic, baby Alpaca fiber socks are outstanding at regulating heat, wicking moisture and are extremely soft and comfortable.  This is truly a no-itch, all-day, no-stink sock. I wear them for a morning ride and then the rest of the day at work.  Follow Hollow just recently surpassed their Kickstarter goal and these are now available for pre-order in two sizes. Single pair price is $25 with orders being shipped out before December 20, 2019.  Buy two, four or eight pairs and receive a discounted price.

Bontrager Windshell Balaclava

I'm a big fan of balaclavas during the cold months to keep my face, neck and head warm.  I have several of them but I really like the Bontrager Windshell Balaclava because of its Windshell fabric that has a brushed thermal interior and clamshell design that allows me easily adjust it up or down on my face while riding.  This year's model has added laser-cut holes by the mouth and nose.  Available from Authorized Trek Dealers and Trek for $29.99.

Pro Bike Gear

Discover Bikepacking Bags

If you have a cyclist on your list that is interested in getting into bikepacking or bikecamping there are a couple of quality bags from Pro-Bike Gear that aren't too expensive.  The Discover Seatpost Bag is a 15L waterproof bag with anti-swing construction.  This bag is big enough to hold my bivvy tent with plenty of room to spare.  For the cockpit there is the Discover Handlebar Bag.  This 8L waterproof bag with handlebar wrap also has anti-swing construction and opens at both ends for easy access.  I've used this bag for my sleeping roll on my gravel bike and my bivvy tent on my fatbike and still had room to load other smaller gear.  Available from local bike shops and outdoor retailers for $69.99 each.

VeloInk Decals

VeloInk has the perfect gift for the cyclist that would like to add that personal touch to their rides, helmets or other bike gear.  I've been using these high quality, laminated vinyl decals for years and they stand up to whatever I and the elements have thrown at them.  Choose from a variety of different flag/graphic styles, fonts, colors, sizes and finishes.  Create a design with VeloInk's easy to use templates so you can preview it before you buy.  VeloInk Personalized Decals start at $9.95 and come with a satifaction guarantee.

Prestacycle
Prestaflator Mini Bicycle Tire Inflator

Why use a tire pump if you have an air compressor? The Prestaflator Mini Bicycle Tire Inflator is a shop quality, one-handed tire inflator with models for both presta and schrader valves.  I check and adjust my tire pressure before just about every ride and using one of these with my compressor is much quicker and easier than using a hand pump, especially for my fatbike.   Top off that tire pressure or seat a tubeless tire in seconds with this handy shop tool.  Available at local bike shops, Prestacycle and Amazon for $24.95 to $36.95.