On the World Famous Birkie Trail in Cable, Wisconsin!
The 45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie, Presented by Freewheel Bike, is the premier on snow bike event in North America. Riders test their skill and endurance on the professionally groomed American Birkebeiner Ski Trail!
THREE events to choose from this year; the 47K Big Fat, the 21K Chico and the un-timed 10K Tour – there is something for every rider!
Two days of fun! Friday – Check out the Fat Bike Birkie EXPO and Fat Bike Demos! Saturday – Race day and a Post-Race Party in the Great Hall!
There are no restrictions on the specific tire size allowed. 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 condition, on a bike equipped with at least 3.5 inch wide tires.
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.
All 47K participants must be at least 18 years of age on race day. All 21K and 10K participants must be at least 13 years of age on race day.
| May 1 to Sep 6 | Sep 7 to Nov 1 | Nov 2 to January 31 | February 1 to 11:59pm March 7 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 km or 21 km Race | $65 | $75 | $85 | $95 |
| 10 km Tour | $65 | $65 | $65 | $75 |
The deadline for requesting a change in race/event distances is Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 4:00pm CST. Request a race/event change HERE.
Get reimbursed up to 100% on your Fat Bike Birkie registration if you can’t compete for a number of reasons including:
Event Registration Protector also comes with Competition Care: a 24 hour assistance hotline that can give you race-day information, locate bicycle repair shops, find nearby equipment stores, and much, much more.
Two Full Days of Fat Bike Birkie at the Birkie Trailhead in Cable!
| Courses Open for Pre-Riding | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Expo / Bib Pick-Up / Bike Demos / Birkie Store | 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Bib Pick Up - In the Great Hall | 7:30 AM to 8:30 AM |
| 47 km Fat Bike Birkie - The Big Fat | 9:00 AM |
| 21 km Fat Bike Birkie - The Chico | 9:15 AM |
| 10 km Fat Bike Birkie - Tour | 9:30 AM |
| Expo / Bib Pick-Up / Bike Demos / Birkie Store / Brats + Beer! | All Day |
| 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 3:00 PM |
| After Party at the Sawmill Saloon, Seeley, WI - CAMBA Fundraiser with raffle/auction & more! | 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM |
Avoid the race morning rush and pick up your bib at the Fat Bike Expo located in the Great Hall at the Birkie Trailhead. Open from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Friday, March 8.
Race Day Bib Pick up available on Saturday from 7:30 to 8:30 am.
Both races and the Tour will start and finish at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI.
The 47K course will go out on the Birkie Classic Trail after the Powerlines and return on the Birkie Skate Trail to the Powerlines where it will come into the finish on the Birkie Classic Trail. The 21K course will ride out the Birkie Classic Trail after the Powerlines to Timber Trail where it will enter the 21K only course. The 10K Tour will ride on a mix of Birkie Classic Trail, smaller ski trails, and the 21K course before finishing the same way as the 47K and 21K races.
Experience the race again or for the first time! Roll over the epic hills on the legendary Birkie Trail, witness the race rollout, ride along with the pace cameras, check out the 21K and 47K courses, and feel the rush as you virtually ride the Fat Bike Birkie. This interactive map experience has it all!
The race course will be ridden clockwise starting with the Birkie Classic Trail and finishing on the Birkie Skate Trail!
| Big Fat Aid Stations | Distance from the Start (K) | Cut-Off Time |
|---|---|---|
| Timber Trail Southbound | 8 | 10:00 |
| Fire Tower Southbound | 14 | 10:30 |
| Boedecker Southbound | 19 | 11:00 |
| Boedecker Northbound | 29 | 12:15 |
| Fire Tower Northbound | 34 | 12:40 |
| Timber Trail Northbound | 38 | 1:20 |
| Finish | 47 | 3:00 |
| 21K Aid Station | Distance from the Start (K) | Cut-Off Time |
| Timber Trail | 8 | 10:15 |
| 16K | 16 | 11:20 |
| Finish | 21 | 12:30 |
The Fat Bike Birkie Race Courses will be groomed and marked for pre-riding on Friday, March 8 from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Please follow signs carefully.
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.
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 Chico (21K) races. See the Gate Seeding Criteria tables below. Riders without a result in the past 3 Big Fat or Chico races will be assigned to Gate 4.
| Big Fat Gate | 2018 Big Fat Finish Time | 2017 Big Fat Finish Time | 2016 Big Fat Finish Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate 1 | 1:48:11 to 2:04:25 | 2:05:09 to 2:23:55 | 1:46:56 to 2:02:58 |
| Gate 2 | 2:04:26 to 2:29:18 | 2:23:56 to 2:52:42 | 2:02:59 to 2:27:34 |
| Gate 3 | 2:29:18 to 3:03:55 | 2:52:43 to 3:32:45 | 2:27:35 to 3:01:47 |
| Gate 4 | 3:03:56 + | 3:32:46 + | 3:01:48 + |
| Big Fat Gate | 2018 Chico Finish Time | 2017 Chico Finish Time | 2016 Chico Finish Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate 1 | Achieved with Big Fat results only | Achieved with Big Fat results only | Achieved with Big Fat results only |
| Gate 2 | 55:48 to 1:04:10 | 55:58 to 1:04:22 | 54:44 to 1:02:57 |
| Gate 3 | 1:04:11 to 1:17:00 | 1:04:23 to 1:17:14 | 1:02:58 to 1:15:32 |
| Gate 4 | 1:17:01 + | 1:17:15 + | 1:15:33 + |
Requests for gate upgrade based on other fat bike or mountain bike races can be made HERE. There is a $10 fee required to process these requests. To be used as a qualifying race, the race must meet certain criteria based on strength of competition, distance, and course elevation profile, determined by the Event Director.
Elite riders may request to be placed in Gate 1 at any time by sending a request and credentials to elite@birkie.com. Riders will be placed on a wait list and notified of placement in February.
There are no gate assignments for the 21K race or the Tour.
Fat Bike Birkie Overall Trophies will be presented to the first three male & female finishers of both races.
Cash Prizes for the first three men & women in the “Big Fat” $500 | $250 | $100
Winners must be present at award ceremony to receive the cash prize.
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.
Starting at 11:00 am, riders are treated to a free post-race party with great food by the Corner Deli, Birkie Brewski Ale, or soda. Spectators can eat for just $5.
Stick around for the After Party on Saturday from 4:00 – 8:00 at the Sawmill Saloon in Seeley hosted by CAMBA! This event is a fundraiser for CAMBA FAT BIKE and will include their raffle prize drawings and silent auction from Fat Bike Birkie sponsors and more. It’s a party you don’t want to miss!
Want to get involved, see this event up close and personal, and be part of what makes Birkie events great? We’d love to hear from you! Contact the Birkie at 715-634-5025 x:2,2 or click here for available shifts. There is no obligation — we’re happy to answer your questions. Contact us today!
Please contact us with any questions at birkie@birkie.com or 715-634-5025.
