2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Race Video

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Fatbike Race from Dave Byers on Vimeo.

The 2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Fatbike race was held at Togwotee Mountain Lodge in near-perfect conditions with mild temps, clear skies, and firm trails. 44 racers took the start line and course records were set in the Men's & Women's 35-Mile categories. All video footage was shot using Drift Innovation cameras and K-Edge GoPro camera mounts.

Special thanks to Jay Petervary for a great job filming from various points along the course.

Thank You For Supporting The Togwotee Winter Classic

It was over six years ago when I decided to organize the first Togwotee Winter Classic and we had eight fat bike racers show up and slog it out in tough conditions.  This past Saturday, 44 racers from four western states took the start line and enjoyed near-perfect winter racing conditions.  44 is a tiny number of racers in comparison to the fields in events like the Leadville 100 or the Laramie Enduro.  However, when you consider that fat bike are still very new and that Togwotee Mountain Lodge is located at 9,000’ an hour north of Jackson, WY, 44 racers is a huge success in my opinion.

Racers warm up in front of Togwotee Mountain Lodge

Originally, I created this event to grow the niche of fat biking.  I absolutely love riding a fat bike on snowy trails in the winter and I wanted to give people a reason to try it for themselves.  The Togwotee Winter Classic is my small attempt to give back to the sport I love.  As long as I am organizing it, there will never be an entry fee and the event will retain its grass roots feel.

44 Racers started AND finished the 2013 Togwotee Winter Classic.

Togwotee Mountain Lodge has been a key partner for this event.  Keep in mind that this lodge caters to destination snowmobile riders in the winter.  The staff at Togwotee Mountain Lodge has been incredibly gracious about welcoming our merry band of fat bikers into their lodge and making us feel welcome.  This year they basically let us take over the entire Fireside Room for the day with race activity.

As I think back to the flurry of activity that started for me at 4:45am Saturday morning, I distinctly remember a post-race moment:  Fitzy and I were standing in the sunshine just outside the lodge, we were surrounded by fat bikes in one of the most beautiful mountain settings you can imagine, and racers were hanging out and re-living their glorious racing exploits from the day.  Everyone had smiles on their faces.  This is what it is all about for me.

Everyone gathered in the Lodge's Fireside Room for post-race food, beverages, awards, and  raffle

From my point of view as the race organizer, the Togwotee Winter Classic was the best ever.  Thank you to the awesome sponsors, the racers, and friends who supported the event. 

The Togwotee Winter Classic is this Saturday!

Can you believe the Togwotee Winter Classic is in its sixth year already?  We had eight brave racers toe the line in 2008 and it is looking like we will have close to 50 racers this year.  Awesome!  This race was originally started to grow the awareness of fat bikes in the greater Teton area and the race has always been FREE.  We don't have chip timing or prize money but we make up for it in fat bike stoke!

Since we have quite a few new racers this year, I emailed everyone a short "Racer Bible" and I have included it below.  If you are still on the fence about joining us on Saturday, maybe this will help with your decision.
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Racer Bible

6^th Annual Togwotee Winter Classic Fat Bike Race

March 9, 2013

About the Togwotee Winter Classic

The Togwotee Winter Classic is a non-profit bike race on snowmobile trails near Togwotee Pass at 7,000’ to 9,500’ in elevation held under extreme winter conditions.

The sponsors, organizer, and anyone having anything to do with this race are NOT responsible for your safety. We can't say this enough.....YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU!

Race Day Schedule

8:15am – Pre-race meeting in the Fireside Room inside Togwotee Mountain Lodge

9:00am – Start, directly across the highway from the lodge

2pm – 4pm – No host Food & Beverages in the Fireside Room

3pm (Or when the majority of racers have finished) – Awards & Raffle in the Fireside Room

Getting There

LINK:  Directions from Jackson, WY to Togwotee Mountain Lodge

Drive time from Jackson is about an hour in good weather.

Recommended Gear

Flashing Red Tail Light

Flashing White handlebar light

Headlamp/Handlebar light for navigation in case you are out past sunset

Wind Shell

NOTE:  We recommend flashing head/tail lights because you will be sharing the trails with snowmobiles that can travel at speeds exceeding 60 mph.  Lights increase the chances that snowmobile riders will see you.

Choosing Your Race Distance

You can choose your race distance the morning of the race.  We encourage you to base your decision on the conditions and your fitness level.  Choose wisely.

Weather Link

LINK:  Togwotee Mountain Lodge near Moran, WY

FAQs

Should I do the 25-Mile or the 35-Mile Loop?

You should base your decision on your level of fitness and the conditions on race day.  Over the past five years, we have seen every condition from “firm & fast” to “snowing, low visibility, soft, and slow”.  The 25-Mile Loop can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours to complete.  The 35-Mile Loop can take anywhere from 4 to 7 hours to complete. 

Will the trails be groomed?

Maybe.  Hopefully.  Togwotee Lodge typically grooms the 25-Mile loop on Friday nights.  However, shit happens; grooming equipment breaks, the wind can drift in the trails, and/or it can snow Friday night.  We won’t know what it will truly be like until Saturday morning.

Will the trails be marked?

We do NOT mark the trails for the race.  However, there are snowmobile trail signs at key intersections these signs will allow you to navigate using the map & cue sheets provided.  Carry a cue sheet and a map.      

How much climbing is there?

There is 2,300’ of elevation gain in the 25-Mile Loop and 3,500’ of elevation gain in the 35-Mile Loop.

Is there an aid station or any support on course?

No. Carry everything you need to complete your chosen distance.

Can I ride a regular mountain bike?

Yes, especially if you enjoy long walks with your bike.

Why is the race free?

We do not charge an entry fee so that we can be considered a “Noncommercial Group” in the eyes of the National Forest Service. 

Why is the race limited to 74 racers?

We limit the field to 74 so that we do not have to apply for a permit with the USFS.  The USFS Special-Use regulation requires a permit for noncommercial group uses of National Forest System lands. Under the regulation, a “group” use is an activity that involves a group of 75 or more people, either as participants or spectators. Noncommercial is any use or activity where an entry or participation fee is not charged, and the primary purpose is not the sale of a goods or service. Some examples of noncommercial group uses are weddings, church services, endurance rides, regattas, camping trips, hikes, music festivals, rallies, graduations, and races.

LINK:  USFS Special-Use page

Togwotee Winter Classic Course Records

Men’s 35-Mile: 

3:43:00 – Cary Smith, March 12, 2011

Women’s 35-Mile: 

5:00:00 – Katie Engelman, March 12, 2011

Men’s 25-Mile: 

2:22:00 – Mike Piker, March 8, 2010

Women’s 25-Mile: 

2:31:00 – Jill Damman, March 8, 2010

For more information, please visit the race blog at:  http://togwoteewinterclassic.blogspot.com

2013 Togwotee Winter Classic Cue Sheets & Map

Exploring The Granite Creek Snowmobile Trails

There are times when you can pour over the maps, zoom in with Google Earth, and/or read the snowmobile club websites for trail info, AND the adventure just doesn't pan out.  Today was not one of those days.  We scored.

M, near the turnaround for today's ride

Less than an hour north of downtown Boise is a large network of groomed snowmobile trails waiting to be explored on fat bikes and today we barely scratched the surface.  Ok, I cheated a little bit and found a grooming report on the Boise Snowmobile Club website which indicated that the area I wanted to ride just so happened to be groomed yesterday.   Is it wrong that when I arrive at a trail head with my fat bike and find fresh corduroy I have similar reaction to that of a skier on a powder day?

We parked at the Granite Creek Trail Head

M and I had only planned to be out for 2-3 hours so we weren't able to complete the entire 27-mile loop but the out-n-back we did was awesome.  In fact, I would say that this was quite possibly the most perfectly graded Forest Service road I have ever been on.  From the trail head, this road climbed at a steady 3-4% grade for nine miles.  I am pretty sure it kept going for another 3+ miles before descending but we had to turn around.

Note to Self:  Bring more clothes, a balaclava, & goggles for the long descent next time.

Why am I just now, on Feb 10^th, exploring snowmobile trails to ride the fat bike on?  Well, up until about a week ago we were shredding the local singletrack (in its glorious frozen and snow-packed state) on the fat bikes so there really wasn't any need or motivation to go exploring.  Now that the lower trails are in a slush/mud/freeze cycle, the choices are either road riding or heading to higher elevation and exploring on the fat bike.  Today we chose the latter and it was awesome.

Switchbacks!

Kenai kept it in L2 today and banged out an impressive 18 miles

                        

Kenai looks dejected because we made him stop for a pic

Fat Biking is not fun. Nothing to see here...

The fat bike stoke is HIGH right now and more exploration is imminent!

Boise Fat Biking: Awesome to Treacherous to Awesome

Thursday, January 24^th was supposed to be a drive day for me as I traveled to St George, UT for Camp Lynda 6.0 but Mother Nature had other ideas.  Freezing rain fell in the early morning hours and left most of Boise covered in a layer of ice which prompted me to pour myself another cup of coffee and check the Idaho road reports…I am glad I checked.  My route, I-84 Eastbound, was closed at 7:00am and would remain closed for most of the day due to ice and crashes.  The Facebook chatter on the Camp Lynda 6.0 page indicated that many of the Salt Lake City roads were in similar shape so I pulled the plug on my trip. 

My change of weekend plans would have been a little easier to swallow if the fat biking conditions had remained good.  As a result of the freezing rain storm, the Boise Foothills trails went from “snow-covered ribbons of fat biking greatness” to “treacherous” in one night. Fuck!

Kenai and I shuffled down to Camel’s Back Park Saturday morning to see if there was any chance of riding.  Let’s just say that walking to and from the park was an adventure so riding outside was not an option on Saturday.

Ice! We had to walk on the soft edge of the trail to take this pic. 

By Sunday I was REALLY ready to ride outside again.  Warmer temps Saturday afternoon softened the icy trails and we got a little dusting of snow and colder temps overnight.  This left the trails in a chunky, re-frozen state with just enough traction to try and ride.  Yeah for no trainer on Sunday!

And then it snowed Monday night.  I didn’t wake up Tuesday thinking about "powder" skiing the sick-gnar 3.5" of snow that Bogus Basin received.  I woke up thinking about how sweet the trails would be with a layer of fresh snow on top of a frozen base and that I better “git sum” before it warmed up.  So I did.  And it was awesome.

Winter made a comeback Monday night

The trails were quiet and the snow was fluffy early Tuesday morning

Hulls Gulch

Fresh tracks on Red Cliffs. Greatness.

I am getting Fat in Boise

Fat Biking in Boise?  Yes, really.  

Heading into this winter, I really didn't know what to expect in terms of Fat Biking opportunities here in Boise.  I expected to spend most of my outside-riding time on the road bike with occasional trips to higher elevations in search of snow-packed roads to ride the Fat Bike for some variety.  Things changed right after Christmas when it snowed in town and got cold.

This just in…riding snow-covered singletrack on the Fat Bike is FUN!

The conditions for the Fat Bike have gotten better and better over the last two weeks as our temps dropped and we received a little snow.  Monday’s 3-4” of heavy snow transformed the lower Foothill Trails from “Fat Bike Optional” to “Fat Bike Required”…at least for the short term.  Even before Monday’s snow, the upper trails like 5-Mile, Watchman’s, and upper 3 Bears were definitely better on the Fat Bike.  It has been fun to start some rides on frozen dirt and then transition to 100% snow once I gained elevation.

Here is what the Fat Bike transition in Boise has looked like this year:

Dec 25, 2012: I rode the Scott Scale29 hardtail on the lower Foothills Trails with a dusting of snow.  Chilly temps but great trail conditions and plenty of traction.

Dec 28, 2012: A couple inches of fresh snow had us riding Corrals on the Fat Bikes in low 20F temps.

Michelle & Kenai heading up Corrals

Fat Bike Stoke!

Dec 30, 2012: The lower trails were a mix of frozen dirt, sand, and snow and were perfectly rideable on a regular mountain bike.  However, once I climbed up to Watchman’s, I was greeted by 4-8” of untracked snow.  I was able to ride about 60% of Watchman’s on the Fat Bike and pushed the rest to complete the loop. Once I got to Three Bears, it was pure greatness! 

Summer or Winter, Fat Tire Traverse is a great trail!

Jan 6, 2013:  A week of cold temps due to an inversion kept the lower trails frozen and the upper trails improved with hiker traffic.  I was able to ride 90% of Watchman’s and 100% of Three Bears on the Fat Bike…and it rocked!

Rocky Canyon Road, the gateway to great trails

Jan 8, 2013:  3-4” of heavy snow fell on top of frozen, packed trails.  Jeremy and I climbed Hulls to Crestline, and then climbed Sidewinder, bombed back down Sidewinder, and descended Red Cliffs and Chickadee Ridge back to Camelsback Park.  Low pressure and a Surly Nate tire in the rear helped with traction today. Super fun ride!

The Fat Bike stoke was high Tuesday morning!  I think Jeremy is hooked.

Jan 10, 2013:  We received another 3-5” of snow in town!

The forecast looks good for more Fat Bike adventure this weekend!

Single-Digit low temps mean firm trails!

Getting Fat in July

When I saw the spy photos from K-Edge World headquarters here in Boise I had to share them.  Their latest project involves three of my favorite bike topics:

1) I love Fat Bikes

2) I love bright orange bikes

3) I have a weakness for the latest tech...and Ki2 certainly falls into that category

The 907 orange frame just pops!  I haven't seen the bike in person but based on the pics I would say that they are using 100mm E13 cranks with two rings + K-Edge Ring Guard  in the front and a Shimano XTR 10 speed 11-36 cassette in the rear which would provide acceptable gearing for most snow or dirt riding.  It is awesome to see so many companies embracing Fat Bikes.

I wonder if they will track down some Boise State blue pogies for winter riding up a Bogus Basin?   

Ki2 Controlled Fat Back...Yeah Baby!

Rocking the Boise State theme

Very clean cockpit

Ultegra Di2 Rear Derailleur with Ki2 cage

No shift cables!

Surly MWOD Chainrings: The “Easy Button” for getting Really FAT

A few years ago the 65mm Large Marge rim with a 3.7” Surly Endomorph tire was the pinnacle of fat. With this tire and rim combo, any bike with a 100mm wide bottom bracket could easily run three chainrings in the front and all nine cogs in the back. Once 80mm, 90mm, and 100mm wide rims hit the market, drivetrain options for fat bikes became less straightforward because of chain-on-tire rub issues.

MWOD Chainrings, Silver Mr. Whirly Crank Arms, and Chris King BB


If someone wants to upgrade to a fatter setup, there are a few drivetrain options:

One solution is to remove two or three of the small cogs on your cassette and turn your nine speed cassette into a six or seven speed cassette. The downside to this is that some rear derailleurs don’t have enough adjustment in their limit screws to accommodate such a drastic outboard setting. Older Shimano rear derailleurs like the Shimano M771 are the exception.

Another solution is to run a single chainring in the front and a nine or ten speed cassette in the rear. This is certainly a clean solution but for climbing hills and/or riding in very soft conditions this setup is not ideal unless you like long walks with your fat bike.

In my opinion, Surly’s MWOD (Mr. Whirly Offset Double) chainrings are the “Easy Button” for running the fattest rear tire & rim combo that will fit in your frame.

MWOD Chainrings

Who needs it?
Anyone who wants to run an extra FAT tire & rim combo

How does it work?
MWOD rings move the granny and middle rings to the middle and outer positions of the crank, effectively increasing tire clearance at the chain by 7mm without increasing your Q-factor and without losing your crawling gear. They are available in 20/33t and 22/36t.

What parts do you need to run MWOD chainrings?

• Shimano compatible outboard bottom bracket
• 100mm Surly Mr. Whirly Spindle
• Surly Mr. Whirly Crank arms - No spider required because the MWOD chainrings bolt directly to the crank arms
• MWOD chainrings
• 3x9 or 3x10 Front Derailleur – Although you are only running two chainrings, you need the extra outward “throw” provided by a 3x front derailleur

NOTE: Surly also sells a complete MWOD Crankset that comes with a bash guard and bottom bracket. I chose to buy the parts separately because I wanted to use a Chris King BB and don’t want a bash guard on my fat bike.

MWOD Crankset


What is the downside?
It is a very clever solution to gaining more chain clearance. The only downside is that you are limited to two chainrings in the front vs. three. Also, you need to be aware of cross-chaining in the big/big combo. I am running a 22/36t MWOD with an 11-34t cassette in the rear and I haven’t missed my standard triple front chainring. I have also been pleasantly surprised with how well the front shifts despite a 14t jump from the small ring to the big ring. I am a fan of running the biggest tire & rim combo possible for the added float and stability it provides. The MWOD has allowed me to run a 4.7” Big Fat Larry tire on a 90mm wide rim in the rear and retain all nine cogs. Greatness!

2012 Fatback Build & Short-Term Review

When the FedEx truck pulled into my driveway I knew exactly what he was about to unload. Is it wrong that I watched the FedEx Tracking page like a hawk for two days while my frame made its way to Idaho from Anchorage, AK? I have been thinking about a new Fat Bike frame for a while and when I saw the specs of the 2012 Fatback I knew it was the frame for me.

The Blank Canvas

My ultimate goal for a new Fatback was FLOAT. I want to have the best chance of riding, not pushing, when the conditions get soft. I wanted to be able to run the largest tires available, the 4.7” Big Fat Larry, and not have to make drivetrain sacrifices. The 2012 Fatback was actually ready for production before Surly announced the Big Fat Larry tire but the guys at Speedway Cycles wanted their new bike to accommodate this new huge-mongous tire. New drawings were sent to their fabricator and of course this added a delay to the delivery time. I would say the extra wait was worth it.

My new aluminum 2012 Fatback in the raw finish has a no-nonsense industrial look to it. The frame has several well thought out features such as a tapered head tube, clean cable routing for full-length housing runs, a bent top tube for more standover clearance, and massive rear triangle clearance to accommodate the biggest Fat Bike tire available today.

Room for 90mm rims, Big Fat Larry, and a 2 x 9 drivetrain

Having the clearance to run a 4.7” Big Fat Larry tire on a 90mm-100mm rim in the rear is important to me because of where and how I ride. Our snowmobile trails here in the Tetons have a lot of hills and I need at least two chainrings in the front. I chose to build up the new fatback with a 2 x 9 drivetrain using the Origin 8 Isis crankset and SRAM XO 9-speed in the rear.

The Rear Triangle is built around at 170mm Hub

Fat Carbon with Stealth Graphics

I opted for the new tapered carbon Fatback fork for one simple reason. It is sexy baby. A steel fork would have ridden just fine and cost a few bucks less but I could not resist the sexy FAT carbon. Does that mean I am shallow?

Enve Downhill Bars cut down to 760mm

I find myself moving to wider handlebars on my XC bikes so I thought I would try something really wide on the Fatback. The Enve DH bar is 800mm uncut and I have now cut them down to 760mm. I think I am in love. A Fat Bike seems to be the perfect application for a wide bar because of the stable handling it creates.

2012 Aluminum Fatback, Ready to Rock

So how does it ride? Laterally stiff while remaining vertically compliant...I think I read that crap somewhere. Ha!

In my opinion, the two key ingredients to the ride of a Fat Bike are:
A) How does it fit the rider?
B) The tire profile and PSI

The guys at Speedway Cycles nailed the geometry with this frame. My large frame has a 24.2 effective top tube and a tall-ish head tube that made it very easy for me to create a comfortable position. In terms of tire profile and PSI, I am running Big Fat Larry tires front and rear and my typical riding pressure is 6 PSI. At this low pressure, the ride is super comfy and grippy. With about 20 hours in the saddle so far I have to say that I am very happy and impressed with the bike.

A short video of the build process

Grand Targhee is first ski resort to promote snow biking

Cross-post from the XXCMag.com Blog

Grand Targhee Resort has become the first ski resort in the country to promote snow biking. Beginning this ski season, Grand Targhee will allow snow bikes on their groomed Nordic Trails as long as riders purchase a Nordic ticket for $10 per day or a Nordic season pass for $115. Grand Targhee is also hosting their first snow bike race on Sunday, January 15th to coincide with Teton Valley’s Winter Festival.

I have to admit that for the past two years I have considered donning a black ninja suit and poaching Targhee’s Nordic track at night just to experience the undulating terrain that we enjoy all summer on our mountain bikes…but I resisted the temptation. Now it is perfectly legal thanks to Grand Targhee’s Andy Williams.

Grand Targhee’s 2011/2012 winter season opened on Friday, Nov 25th so we rallied a posse of snow bike enthusiasts and headed up to Targhee to experience the Nordic trails on fat tires. The first thing that popped into my head as we left the parking lot and jumped onto the freshly groomed Nordic Connector Trail was that I felt guilty for riding on such pristine corduroy. That guilt quickly faded and turned into perma-grin as we climbed up to Rick’s Basin under bluebird skies and mild temps.

Melissa Davidson on the Snowdrift Loop

What is the riding like? My face is still sore from smiling so much. There are 6.15 miles of Nordic trails with 700’ of elevation gain available to snow bikers at Grand Targhee and the loop took us just under an hour to ride at a moderate pace. The trails are almost never flat and wind through numerous Aspen groves. The views do not suck either.

Check out the little snow bikes on the trail map

I applaud Grand Targhee Resort for their forward thinking and willingness to try something new. As long as snow bikers follow the rules and respect the trails when conditions are soft, I feel as if snow bikers and the Nordic skiers can coexist peacefully on the trails. When I head to the “Ghee” to ride the snow bike, I plan to also take a pair of skate skis with me just in case the trails are too soft to ride. It never hurts to have a “Plan B”.