2023 Mid Week Fat Bike Series Race #1 - Tuesday, January 10

Thank you to everyone who participated in our inaugural fat bike race! Despite the torrential downpour that slowly turned into a legit blizzard, the most common comment that described the evening was “this is the most fun you can have on two wheels!”

REGISTRATION LINKS

CLICK HERE to purchase a FAT BIKE SERIES SEASON PASS - Save time & money! - $120 for all categories. Register once and be entered into all four races. Registration fee includes a race plate. Deadline to purchase a season pass is 11:59pm on Sunday, January 8, 2023.

CLICK HERE to register for FAT BIKE RACE #1 ONLY - $35 for all categories. Registration fee includes race plate. Deadline for online registration for Race #1 is 11:59pm on Sunday, January 8, 2023.

Volunteers

Link for volunteer registration coming soon!

CATEGORY INFORMATION

Beginner Category - for those who are new to fat biking or fat bike racing. Course distance will be shortest of each race. Racers in the Beginner category will likely do 1 lap of each course and can expect ride for approximately 30-45 minutes (3-4 miles), depending on fitness and ability.

Intermediate Category - for those who are experienced fat biking or fat bike racing. Course distance will be longer than the Beginner course, but shorter than Expert/Pro course. Racers in the Intermediate category will likely do 2 laps of each course and can expect to ride for approximately 45-60 minutes (6-8 miles), depending on fitness and ability.

Expert/Pro Category - for those who are experienced fat biking or fat bike racing and desire to push themselves on race night. Course distance will be the longest of each race. Racers in the Expert/Pro category will likely do 3 laps of each course and can expect to ride for approximately 60 minutes (9-12 miles), depending on fitness and ability.

Single Speed Category - for those special few who are experienced fat biking or fat bike racing with one gear. Course distance will be the same as the Intermediate Category.

Adaptive Category - for those who are experienced fat biking or fat bike racing on adaptive fat bikes or hand cycles. Course distance will be chosen by the rider (1, 2, or 3 laps), depending on fitness and ability.

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT THIS RACE

Sign a separate Soldier Hollow Nordic Center waiver - if you didn’t do it already as a part of your registration, you MUST have digitally signed a SHNC waiver to be allowed to participate. CLICK HERE to sign that waiver!

Your bike must be CLEAN to participate in this race - we are riding on groomed nordic trails, and dirt, mud, rocks, etc do not play well with the grooming machine and the skate/classic skis that glide over these trails every day. You WILL NOT be allowed to participate if your bike is dirty (frame or tires) at all. If spring conditions pop up before our race series is over and you ride on dirt/mud, please clean your bike BEFORE you come to our event.

Stay on packed/groomed trails at all times - we are guests of Soldier Hollow Nordic Center, and we will leave the venue as nice as we found it! Fat biking is not a regular activity at SHNC - please only ride on packed/groomed trails that are a part of the race course or warm-up area. DO NOT ride or walk off of these trails (this includes volunteers and spectators). Shortcutting is not permissible for any reason.

Lights are mandatory - we will not always be riding on trails that have lights overhead. Please have a bright handlebar light and/or a bright helmet light.

Helmets are mandatory - this is a bike race.

This is a fun community race - and no one is here to qualify for the Olympics or win a big prize purse. Those who take home medals will be the ones who are the most friendly and supportive of all riders on course. Race results may not necessarily be available on race night, but some great sponsor-provided swag will be!

parking & pre-race check-in

The main parking lot is located inside the Soldier Hollow Nordic Center venue - an exact link to the main lot is HERE. At the stop sign at the intersection of Stringtown Rd and W Soldier Hollow Ln, go straight through the barricades (there will likely be a sign that says “Event Parking Only”) into a parking lot. Drive through that lot to the far southeast corner and continue past the gate and under the bridge into the main SHNC venue. If we fill up that lot, a volunteer will direct riders to park in the big lot. See map below.

Race Night Schedule

5:00-6:15pm - Check-in & number plate pick up at the Bike Utah tents at the Start/Finish Area.

There is NO RIDING on the trails before 5:30pm. If you arrive early, please do not plan on warming up until after 5:30pm. There may be a designated warm-up area, which will be announced before the race (if possible).

6:30pm - Expert/Pro - Men & Women Start - 3 Lap

6:32pm - Single Speed Start - 2 Lap

6:34pm - Intermediate - Men Start - 2 Lap

6:36pm - Intermediate - Women Start - 2 Lap

6:38pm - Beginner - Men Start - 1 Lap

6:40pm - Beginner - Women Start - 1 Lap

7:45pm - Post-race sponsor swag giveaway (approximate time, depending on when everyone finishes)

Race Rules - please play nice!

Please be nice to each other. These will be short courses with riders riding multiple laps. At some point, everyone will be on the course at the same time. We will be riding on wide Nordic track, so passing should be pretty easy. Please be nice to all volunteers and race staff! The Race Director, at their sole discretion, can/will disqualify anyone who exhibits unsportsmanlike behavior.

Follow the flags and cones. We’ll have limited course markings, but general rule of thumb is that the bright orange Mid Week flags will always be on your right, and the cones will be on your left. We’ll have some sections of trail with two-way traffic. Keep your eyes up and your brain engaged!

Stay on the packed trails. Again, we will be riding on wide Nordic track (very firm manmade snow!), so passing should be easy. You should not be riding off the track for any reason. If you have a mechanical or need to stop, please pull over to the side of the track.

Clean bikes only! As mentioned before, bikes with dirt/mud/rocks/etc on the tires or frame will not be allowed in the venue and out on course. Please clean your bike BEFORE you show up for the race if it is dirty!

Helmets and lights are mandatory! Please bring both!

Questions? Email Race Director Trilby Cox - trilby@bikeutah.org