On the World Famous Birkie Trail in Cable, Wisconsin!
2018 Race Guide • American Birkebeiner Trailhead Map • Venue Map
The 45NRTH Fat Bike Birkie is the premier on snow bike event in North America. Riders test their skill and endurance on the professionally groomed American Birkebeiner Ski Trail!
Two days of fun! Friday, March 8 – Check out the Fat Bike Birkie EXPO and Fat Bike Demos! March 9 – 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.
No special equipment classes will be recognized in the Fat Bike Birkie results or awards
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 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.
All long race participants must be at least 18 years of age on race day. All short race participants must be at least 13 years of age.
This event has a participant cap of 1200. The deadline for requesting a race change is the same day/time that registration closes.
| May 1 to September 6 | September 7 to November 1 | November 2 to January 31 | After January 31 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 Km or 21 km Race | $65 | $75 | $85 | $95 |
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 K Fat Bike Birkie - The Chico | 9:15 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 |
| Stay tuned for more fun! |
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 9.
Race Day Bib Pick up available on Saturday from 7:30 to 8:30 am.
Races will start and finish at the American Birkebeiner Trailhead in Cable, WI.
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!
Register for the Fat Bike Birkie and make it real! Because…once the race is closed…it’s closed. Don’t miss out!
| Big Fat Aid Stations | Distance from the Start (K) | Cut-Off Time |
|---|---|---|
| Timber Trail Southbound | 7 | 10:00 |
| Fire Tower Southbound | 12 | 10:30 |
| Boedecker Southbound | 16.5 | 11:00 |
| Boedecker Northbound | 26.5 | 12:15 |
| Fire Tower Northbound | 32 | 12:45 |
| Timber Trail Northbound | 38.5 | 1:40 |
| Finish | 47 | 3:00 |
| 21K Aid Station | Distance from the Start (K) | Cut-Off Time |
| Timber Trail | 7 | 10:00 |
| 16K | 16 | 11:30 |
| Finish | 21 | 12:30 |
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 | 2017 Big Fat Finish Time | 2016 Big Fat Finish Time | 2015 Big Fat Finish Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gate 1 | 2:05:09 to 2:23:55 | 1:46:56 to 2:02:58 | 1:55:30 to 2:12:50 |
| Gate 2 | 2:23:56 to 2:52:42 | 2:02:59 to 2:27:34 | 2:12:51 to 2:39:23 |
| Gate 3 | 2:52:43 to 3:32:45 | 2:27:35 to 3:01:47 | 2:39:24 to 3:16:21 |
| Gate 4 | 3:32:46 + | 3:01:48 + | 3:16:22 + |
| Big Fat Gate | 2017 Chico Finish Time | 2016 Chico Finish Time | 2015 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 | 55:58 to 1:04:22 | 54:44 to 1:02:57 | 55:32 to 1:03:52 |
| Gate 3 | 1:04:23 to 1:17:14 | 1:02:58 to 1:15:32 | 1:03:53 to 1:16:38 |
| Gate 4 | 1:17:15 + | 1:15:33 + | 1:16:39 + |
Requests for gate upgrade based on other fat bike or mountain bike races can be made here. There may be a 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 with out previous Fat Bike Birkie results should send gate requests with credentials to elite@birkie.com
There are no gate assignments for the Chico race.
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.
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!
