On the World Famous Birkie Trail in Cable, Wisconsin!

The 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: The Big Fat 47K, The Half Fat 21K, and the Fun Fat 10K Tour – there is something for every rider!

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 21K Race 

The Fun Fat 10K Tour

 

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!

(2023 Fat Bike Birkie shirt is shown)

Race/Event Change Request

The deadline for requesting a change in race/event distances is Tuesday, March 5, 2024 at 11:59pm 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.  Next Wave Insurance offers Regsaver so you can insure your non-refundable registration fee in the case injury, illness, or another covered peril occurs.* Please see policy for complete list of covered perils at www.registrationsaver.com/birkie. Limitations and exclusions apply. Next Wave Insurance, CA License #: OF00755.

Regsaver - An AIG insurance policy to cover your registration fees - Learn More

Learn More About RegSaver 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

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 – 7:30 am to 9:00 am

Expo – 8:00 am to 3:00 pm

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

Friday

Courses Open for Pre-Riding10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Expo / Bib Pick-Up / Bike Demos / Birkie Store 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Saturday 

Bib Pick Up - In the Great Hall7:30 AM to 9:00 AM
Expo / Bike Demos / Birkie Store / Brats + Beer!8:00 AM to 3:00 PM
47 km Fat Bike Birkie - The Big Fat 9:00 AM
21 km Fat Bike Birkie - The Half Fat9:15 AM
10 km Fat Bike Birkie - The Fun Fat Tour9:30 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
Overall Awards12:00 PM
Age Group Awards1:00 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:

The Big Fat 47K course will ride out on the Birkie Skate Trail to the Powerlines, make a quick turn to the left and rejoin the Classic Trail. After riding on the Classic Trail to OO, the course will return on the Birkie Skate Trail to the Powerlines where it will come into the finish.The Half Fat 21K course will ride out the Birkie Skate Trail to the Powerlines to Timber Trail where it will enter the Half Fat only course.  The Fun Fat 10K Tour will ride on a mix of Birkie Classic Trail, smaller ski trails, and the Half Fat course before finishing the same way as the Big Fat 47K and Half Fat 21K races

Interactive Course Map

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 Half Fat 21K and Big Fat 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!

View Interactive Course Map »

Fat Bike Birkie Course Timetable

 Big Fat Aid StationsDistance from the Start (K)Cut-Off Time
Timber Trail Southbound810:00 AM
Fire Tower Southbound1410:40 AM
Boedecker Southbound1911:15 AM
Boedecker Northbound2912:30 PM
Fire Tower Northbound341:00 PM
Timber Trail Northbound381:30 PM
Finish473:00 PM
Half Fat Aid StationsDistance from the Start (K)Cut-Off Time
Timber Trail 810:30 AM
13K1311:15 AM
Finish211:30 PM

Pre-Riding the Course — When & Where

The Fat Bike Birkie Race Courses will be groomed and marked for pre-riding on Friday, March 12 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.

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 Gate2022 Big Fat Finish Time2021 Big Fat Finish Time2020 Big Fat Finish Time
Gate 11:50:51 to 2:07:291:38:46 to 1:53:351:41:10 to 1:56:20
Gate 22:07:30 to 2:32:581:53:36 to 2:16:181:56:21 to 2:19:36
Gate 32:32:59 to 3:08:272:16:19 to 2:47:542:19:37 to 2:51:58
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 Gate2022 Half Fat Finish Time2021 Half Fat Finish Time2020 Half Fat Finish Time
Gate 1ACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLYACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLYACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLY
Gate 20:52:44 to 1:00:390:42:40 to 0:49:040:49:18 to 0:56:41
Gate 31:00:40 to 1:12:460:49:05 to 0:58:530:56:42 to 1:08:01
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-podiumThe awards ceremony will take place at the podium outside of the Dersken Family Great Hall. Overall awards will begin at 12:00 pm and age group awards will begin at 1:00 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

Title Sponsor
Overall Title Sponsor of the Fat Bike Birkie


Supporting Sponsors of the Fat Bike Birkie

 

Backroads Coffee
Borah
Onyx Racing Products
Lynn's Custom Meats and Catering
Wolf Tooth
Otso
Untapped
Voyageur Custom Saunas

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

Salomon
AriensCo
Untapped
Kwik Trip
Anderson's
Hayward Area Memorial Hospital
Republic Services
Backroads Coffee
TIOA
Earth Rider Brewery
Maloja

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