On the World Famous Birkie Trail in Cable, Wisconsin!

Fat Bike Birkie is an Open-Class Bike Race

The Birkie groomers are some of the best in the world and have the goal of providing a firm surface to ride on for the races. However, we cannot control the weather and the course conditions can vary widely, from hard packed to soft powder. Just like in the Birkie Ski race, Fat Bike Birkie participants are free to choose different equipment based on the conditions of the course. We recommend that participants be prepared to race in any course conditions.  Bikes should equipped with at least 3.5 inch wide tires, suitable to course conditions.

E-bikes are not allowed for any event of the Fat Bike Birkie.

No special equipment classes will be recognized in the Fat Bike Birkie results or awards.  Tandems bikes are allowed, but there is not a special class and will not be eligible for awards.  Each tandem rider must register and contact registration@birkie.com to ensure the proper results are shown.

Event/Distance Options

The Big Fat 47K Race

The Half Fat 16K Race 

The Fun Fat 10K Tour

March 4th Update: The Big Fat will be 3 laps (approximately 16K/lap); the Half Fat will be 1 lap; the Fun Fat will be 3/4 of a lap (around 10K). Each lap will be about 50% grassy ski trail and 50% machine made snow covered trail. We’ll be watching the trail closely to see how it all holds up this week.

Registration

2024 Fat Bike Birkie Registration is Open!

May 1 through September 14September 15 through November 9November 10 through January 26January 27 through March 8 or until full
Big Fat, Half Fat or Fun Fat $75$85$95$105

Registration closes on Friday, March 8, 2024 at 7:00pm CST.

All Big Fat 47K participants must be at least 16 years of age on race day. All Half Fat 21K and Fun Fat 10K participants must be at least 12 years of age on race day.

Register early to guarantee your Fat Bike Birkie t-shirt!Race/Event Change Request

The deadline for requesting a change in race/event distances is Friday, March 8, 2024 at 7:00pm CST.

  • To change your race event/technique (ALL EVENTS):
    • Log in to your RunSignUp Profile HERE
    • Scroll down to your event and click on “Manage Registration”
    • Click on “Transfer Event” (along both top and bottom menus).
    • Then select which new race you want to transfer to and complete new registration. You will be charged any differences and/or associated fees in the final cart.  There is a $25 change fee.

Protect Your Registration!

Get reimbursed up to 100% on your registration if you can’t compete for a number of reasons.  Vertical Insure offers Registration Cancellation Insurance so you can insure your non-refundable registration fee in the case injury, illness, or other unexpected events occur.* Please see policy for complete list of covered perils at https://landing.verticalinsure.com/birkie. Limitations and exclusions apply.

Learn More About Vertical Insure Registration Protection!

2024 Birkie Gear Bag

2024 Birkie Gear Bags are available for a limited time.

It’s back for 2024!  Again, as part of our ongoing Birkie Green initiative, we’ve partnered with SWIX on the Birkie gear bag!  The reusable Birkie gear bag is available for $60 and only during registration for the Birkie, Korte, Prince Haakon and Fat Bike Birkie.

 

Getting to the Venue

Driving to the American Birkebeiner Trailhead – Start & Finish Venue

All races start and finish at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead, Cable, Wisconsin.  Access to the start area is available ONLY from Telemark Road.  GPS Coordinates: 46.193613, -91.256976

  • From Cable, WI, Take Highway M traveling East out of Cable for 2-miles. Turn right on Telemark Road.  Follow the road past the former Telemark Lodge to the designated parking areas.  Follow the directions of the parking attendants.

Schedule of Events

New 2024 Updated Fat Bike Expo & Bib Pick Up at the Derksen Great Hall

Friday, March 8:

Expo and Bib Pick-Up – 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm

Saturday, March 9:

Bib Pick-Up – 7:00 am to 10:00 am

Expo – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

  • Fat Bike Birkie EXPO — Great Gear and Guidance from FBB Sponsors
  • The Birkie Store, with Great Birkie Merchandise

Friday

* Tentative- Course open for pre-ride1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Expo / Bib Pick-Up / Bike Demos / Birkie Store 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Saturday 

Bib Pick Up – In the Derksen Family Great Hall7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Expo / Birkie Store8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Half Fat & Fun Fat Tour Start8:00 AM
Half Fat Overall Awards9:30 AM
Big Fat Start10:00 AM
Post-Race Party for All Participants–Food! Plus your first beer is Free!
Spectators and families can purchase meal tickets, too!
11:00 AM to 3:30 PM
Big Fat Overall Awards & All Age Group Awards12:00 PM
Finisher Cut-Off3:00 PM

Course Information

Both races and the Tour will start and finish at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI.

Cut off time is 3:00 pm for all events.

Course Description:

2024 Fat Bike Birkie Course

Changes to course may be likely given freeze/thaw nature of this week. The machine-made snow loop will be groomed on Friday night to create a better riding surface. We anticpate that the course will be 50% grassy ski trail and 50% machine-made snow. 100% fun!

There will be 1 Aid station at 12K on the lap. The aid station will have Untapped Fuel, Untapped Grape Mapleaid Hydration, and water. Fuel up!

Untapped All Natural Athletic Fuel logoLearn how to refuel with Untapped!

Pre-Riding the Course — When & Where

Stay tuned to find out when and where the pre-riding of the course will happen.

Please note that riding bikes on the Birkie Trail during the winter is only allowed on the days designated for the Fat Bike Birkie event. However, winter bike riding can be accessed from many of the trailheads utilizing the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association trail system. Trail conditions can be found on the CAMBA Winter FAT BIKE page.

Start Gates

Riders will be assigned to multiple start gates based on the last 3 year’s of Fat Bike Birkie results for all races.

The Big Fat (47K) race will feature 4 start gates.  Riders will be placed in one of these gates based on their best finish time from the previous 3 Big Fat or Half Fat (21K) races.  Riders without a result in the past 3 Big Fat or Half Fat races will be assigned to Gate 4.

The Half Fat (21K) has just one start time and gate.

2023 Big Fat Gate Assignments Based on BIG FAT Results

Big Fat Gate2023 Big Fat Finish Time2022 Big Fat Finish Time2021 Big Fat Finish Time
Gate 11:49:57 to 2:06:271:50:51 to 2:07:291:38:46 to 1:53:35
Gate 22:06:28 to 2:31:442:07:30 to 2:32:581:53:36 to 2:16:18
Gate 32:31:45 to 3:06:552:32:59 to 3:08:272:16:19 to 2:47:54
Gate 4NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARSNEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARSNEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS

2023 Big Fat Gate Assignments Based on Half Fat Results

Big Fat Gate2023 Half Fat Finish Time2022 Half Fat Finish Time2021 Half Fat Finish Time
Gate 1ACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLYACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLYACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLY
Gate 20:51:35 to 0:59:190:52:44 to 1:00:390:42:40 to 0:49:04
Gate 30:59:20 to 1:11:111:00:40 to 1:12:460:49:05 to 0:58:53
Gate 4NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARSNEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARSNEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS

Awards

fbb-podium

The awards ceremony will take place at the podium outside of the Dersken Family Great Hall. Overall awards for the Half Fat will begin at 9:30 am. Age Group awards for both races and Overall Awards for the Big Fat will begin at 12:00 pm.

Fat Bike Birkie Overall Trophies will be presented to the first three male & female finishers of the Big Fat and Half Fat races. The top three winners will also receive a custom race vest from Borah Teamwear.

Age Class Awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place riders, male and female, in

each age class for the Fat Bike Races.

  • Big Fat – 16-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
  • Half Fat – 12-17, 18-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70-79, 80+
 

Sponsors

Official Bicycle of the Birkie

Trek

Supporting Sponsors of the Fat Bike Birkie

Borah
Onyx Racing Products

Gold Circle Elite
Gold Level Sponsors of the Major Birkie Events Year-Round

Salomon
AriensCo
Untapped
Kwik Trip
Tamarack Health
Republic Services
Backroads Coffee
TIOA
Earth Rider Brewery
Maloja
Timber Ford

Be Part of the Birkie and the Markets We Serve!

Andrew Manocheo
Partnership Director
American Birkebeiner® Ski Foundation
andrew.manocheo@birkie.com

Volunteer

Want to get involved, see this event up close and personal, and be part of what makes Birkie events great?  Contact the Birkie at 715-634-5025 x:2 or click HERE for available shifts. There is no obligation — we’re happy to answer your questions. Contact us today!

Race Policies

ABSF Participant Rules