Fat Bike Birkie
March 12, 2022
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 un-timed Fun Fat 10K Tour – there is something for every rider!
We remain committed to providing inspiring opportunities to promote a healthy active lifestyle and wellness events for all. We will take every safety precaution and measure to ensure the safety of our participants, volunteers, spectators, staff, and local communities.
Fat Bike Birkie is an Open-Class Bike Race
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 on Saturday, however, may be ridden during Friday’s pre-ride of the trail only.
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
2022 Fat Bike Birkie Registration Opens on May 1, 2021!
All Big Fat 47K participants must be at least 18 years of age on race day. All Half Fat 21K and Fun Fat 10K participants must be at least 13 years of age on race day.
Registration closed Tuesday, March 9, 2021 at 11:59 pm.
Register now to guarantee your Fat Bike Birkie t-shirt!
2021 T-shirt Design
Race/Event Change Request
The deadline for requesting a change in race/event distances was Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 4:00pm CST.
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.
Learn More About RegSaver Registration Protection!
Getting There
Driving to the American Birkebeiner Trailhead – Start & Finish Venue
The Slumberland American Birkebeiner, the Kortelopet, and the Prince Haakon races all 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.
Please Note!
- There are no warming tents or indoor spaces – do not arrive at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead early! Please do not drop skiers off earlier than their assigned start time.
- Only participants with 2021 chipped bibs will be allowed into the starting area.
We take the health and safety of participants, volunteers, and staff seriously. Spectators are not allowed in the start/finish areas, along the course, or at aid stations.
Fat Bike Expo & Bib Pick Up
There will be no Fat Bike Expo in 2021.
Drive-up bib pick-up will be at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead. Access bib pickup and parking from Telemark Road only. See Getting There for directions.
Bib pick-up will be open during the following times:
- Friday, March 12th: 2:00 pm – 6:00 pm
- Saturday, March 13th: 7:00 am – 9:00 am
We recommend you pick up your bib packet on Friday to avoid the race morning rush!
Course Information
Please note the course has changed slightly in the first 3K and last 3K from previous years! The race will start on the left side of the start area (instead of the right like previous years). The course will make a left hand turn 500m from the start on to the Birkie Classic Trail- this is the course that you normally return to the finish line on. After briefly rejoining the powerline section, the course will make another hard left hand turn and you will make your way to the normal course and the Classic trail. On the way back in, you will experience the Powerline hills as usual, but will stay on the Birkie Skate Trail to the finish line. Pre-ride on Friday to see the changes.
2021 Course from Start to Timber Trail
Both races and the Tour will start and finish at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI.
Cut off time is 2pm for all events.
Course description:
The Big Fat 47K course will ride out on the Birkie Classic 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 Classic 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 »
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
*New Start Times! Due to the forecasted temperatures, all races will start 1 hour earlier!
Riders will be assigned to multiple start gates based on the last 3 year’s of Fat Bike Birkie results for all races. Gate qualification times will be available in January. Gate sizes will allow for a physically distanced start.
Full Fat Start Gates:
- 8:00 am start- New time!
- 50 riders/5 minutes
- 9 start waves
- Based on finish times of past 3 Full Fat or Half Fat races
- will be assinged in early March
- Winners of Men’s and Women’s races are first across line
- Gate 1 is gun timed
- Gates 2-9 are chipped time (your time starts when you cross the line)
- Riders have 3 minutes to cross the line
Half Fat Start Gates:
- 9:00 am start- New time!
- 50 riders/5 minutes
- 7 start waves
- Winners of Men’s and Women’s races are first across line
- Gate 1 is gun timed
- Gates 2-9 are chipped time (your time starts when you cross the line)
- Riders have 3 minutes to cross the line
- Self seeded based on expected finish time- If you hope to be the Half Fat champion, please choose the 9 am start time. If you did not choose a start time during registration, you will be sent an email with information.
Fun Fat Tour:
- 9:35 am start- New time!
- 3 minute start window for a relaxed and physically distanced start
The Big Fat (47K) race will feature 9 start gates of 50 riders. 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 Gates 7, 8, and 9.
2021 Big Fat Gate Assignments Based on BIG FAT Results
| Start Time | Big Fat Gate | 2020 Big Fat Finish Time | 2019 Big Fat Finish Time | 2018 Big Fat Finish Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:00 AM | Gate 1 | 1:41:10 to 1:56:20 | 1:46:27 to 2:02:25 | 1:48:11 to 2:04:25 |
| 8:05 AM | Gate 2 | 1:56:21 to 2:08:28 | 2:02:26 to 2:15:11 | 2:04:26 to 2:17:24 |
| 8:10 AM | Gate 3 | 2:08:29 to 2:22:38 | 2:15:12 to 2:30:06 | 2:17:25 to 2:32:32 |
| 8:15 AM | Gate 4 | 2:22:39 to 2:35:47 | 2:30:07 to 2:43:56 | 2:32:33 to 2:46:36 |
| 8:20 AM | Gate 5 | 2:35:48 to 2:56:01 | 2:43:57 to 3:05:13 | 2:46:37 to 3:08:15 |
| 8:25 AM | Gate 6 | 2:57:01 + | 3:05:14 + | 3:08:16 + |
| 8:30 AM | Gate 7 | NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS | ||
| 8:35 AM | Gate 8 | NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS | ||
| 8:40 AM | Gate 9 | NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS | ||
2021 Big Fat Gate Assignments Based on Half Fat Results
| Big Fat Gate | 2020 Half Fat Finish Time | 2019 Half Fat Finish Time | 2018 Half Fat Finish Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate 1 | ACHIEVED WITH BIG FAT RESULTS ONLY | ||
| Gate 2 | 49:18 to 56:41 | 53:58 to 1:02:04 | 55:48 to 1:04:10 |
| Gate 3 | 56:42 to 1:02:36 | 1:02:05 to 1:08:32 | 1:04:11 to 1:10:52 |
| Gate 4 | 1:02:37 to 1:09:30 | 1:08:33 to 1:16:06 | 1:10:53 to 1:18:41 |
| Gate 5 | 1:09:31 to 1:15:55 | 1:16:06 to 1:23:07 | 1:18:42 to 1:25:56 |
| Gate 6 | 1:15:56 + | 1:23:08 + | 1:25:57 + |
| Gate 7 | NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS | ||
| Gate 8 | NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS | ||
| Gate 9 | NEW PARTICIPANTS & PARTICIPANTS WITH NO RESULTS FOR LAST 3 YEARS | ||
Track Your Rider
Family and friends can track their riders as they journey toward the finish line.
- Here’s How You Can Track a Rider:
- Sign-up to receive tracking updates via SMS/text or email for Fat Bike Birkie riders, by clicking here, or through the Birkie app.
- Enter the participant’s name along with your mobile/cell phone number or email address to receive SMS/text messages (charges may apply).
- Here are the points along the trail where you’ll be able to track your skier’s progress:
- Big Fat: Timber Trail (6.6K), OO Trailhead (24K), Timber Trail (37.7K), Finish Line
- Half Fat: Timber Trail (6.6K), Nordmoor (18K), Finish Line
- Fun Fat: Finish line only
- CLICK HERE to track your rider
Awards
Fat Bike Birkie Overall Trophies will be presented to the first three male & female finishers of the Full Fat and Half Fat races. The top 3 winners in each race will also receive a custom vest created by Borah Teamwear!
Awards will be immediately following the finish of the top 3 racers.
Post-Race
Starting at 10:00 am, finishers are treated to a to-go lunch by the Northern Lakes Coop Corner Deli, Earth Rider beer, or soda. We have to save the party and gathering for next year- please take your food and beverage and enjoy after you have left the venue.
Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Volunteer
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:2,1 or click here for available shifts. There is no obligation — we’re happy to answer your questions. Contact us today!
Questions
Please contact us with any questions at birkie@birkie.com or 715-634-5025.
