Registration Deadlines and Rider Caps



2012 Noquemanon World Snowbike Champion Danielle Musto out on a training ride in Marquette, MI. photo by Scott Chambers


With snowflakes falling in the Northern Great Lakes region fatbikes are hitting the trails.  All those summer skinny tire base miles are going to soon come in handy!  The kick-off of the Great Lakes Fat Bike Series is close at hand.  If you're planning to sample an event or two in the GLFBS or go after a spot on the series podium, there are a few things to pay attention to right now.

Several of the races in the GLFBS have rider caps.  That means promoters are limiting the number of entries.  This is usually due to capacity issues at the venue or trail system where the races are being held.

Farmer's Fat Bike Race (January 12) is the first such race in the series. Registration is already open. Last year the race was capped at under 100.  This year Farmer's Fat Bike Race is moving to a larger venue and the cap has been raised to 200.  As of today one third of those entries have already been sold and the race is likely to sell out well before the online entry cut-off in early January.  Get in now for $40 before the registration rate increases to $45 and save a few bucks in the process. 

Registration is open for the Noquemanon World Championship Snowbike (January 26). While they have room for a lot of riders there is an incentive to register early.  Race registration for the 50k event goes up $10 on December 1st.  Register now and save!  

Race registration for The Fatbike Frozen 40 (February 16) will be capped at 100 riders.  Utilizing a 10 mile singletrack loop at Elm Creek Park Reserve in Maple Grove, MN, The Fatbike Frozen 40 sports one of the best fatbike courses in the series.  It is a must do event, especially for those living in the twin cities area.  With only 100 spots open, you'll never forgive yourself for missing out!  Registration is open now at PreRace.com.

Registration for the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout opens soon.  The Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout isn't just a fatbike Race.  Besides the Iron Yeti XC style fatbike race that is part of the GLFBS, there's also a snowshoe tour and ice bike racing.  The weekend starts on the evening of March 1st and wraps up with a final awards ceremony at 5:30pm on March 2nd.  Stay tuned to the Cuyuna Lakes Whiteout website for registration details.

The Fat Bike Birkie, the newest addition to the GLFBS, also has a rider cap.  300 lucky racers will have the priviledge of riding bikes on the American Birkebeiner race course.  This is sure to become an instant classic.  Registration is open now, and pricing is also tiered.  Register before December and pay $40.  You may want to consider getting into this one early.  The race may be three months away (March 9), but interest is high.  The question isn't whether the race will sell out of entries, but when it will sell out.

The Barry-Roubaix is the last race in the GLFBS (March 23), and in the event of a series points tie it is the tie breaker event. It is also where we will award the GLFBS trophies. To qualify for GLFBS points at Barry-Roubaix you need to register in the Fat Bike class in the 36 mile event.  It has a rider cap of 1800 that includes all the other race categories, even the 100k pro cyclocross field.  1800 people seems like a lot, but Barry-Roubaix is a spring classic in the midwest. People from all over the country look forward to racing their CX bike at Barry-Roubaix as a way of kicking off the Spring season.  The race will fill up before March.  Registration for Barry-Roubaix opens on December 1, 2012.  Don't wait!  If you're serious about contesting the GLFBS you'll want to be at the series finale.

Winter is here.  We are only 2 months away from the series kick-off.  Don't wait to make your fatbike travel and race plans.