The Skinny on Short’s fat Bike Series
Rollin’ on the Snow What is fat bike racing? Well, it’s actually just like mountain bike racing except that it’s done in the winter – on snow. It also requires specialized bikes with wider tires and offers tests of terrain and temperature the other three seasons can’t even begin to meet.
"Tires are usually 4-5 inches thick and it’s common to run them on a very low pressure to aid in traction on the snow," explained Short’s Brewery CFO Brian Beckwith.
Beckwith, along with Short’s COO Matt Drake, has teamed up with Einstein Cycles for the Short’s Brewing Fat Bike Series, a race event that brings the hardiest of cyclists together with the coldest of challenges.
Einstein Cycles is even renting fat bikes for those who want to join in the fun.
Next Level Cycling
This is the third year Einstein has hosted the series and, when Short’s heard that Einstein was looking for a title sponsor, they jumped at the chance to help take the event to the next level.
Run on groomed trails, the series’ races are biked around snowy, icy courses that range from 2 to 8 miles long; some run on a loop in consideration of the wintry conditions. "Grooming a lot of trails is time-consuming," Beckwith explained.
As might be expected, the biggest challenge is typically the weather. If you think it’s tough cycling in heat, wind or rain, try cycling in the middle of winter.
"Two of three races so far this season were held during sub-zero windchills," Beckwith said.
Proper attire is crucial; don’t be tough – layer up and wear gloves.
By the Beard of Zeus!
The next and final race in the series is the Beard of Zeus race held at Timber Ridge in Traverse City. It offers several races in both men’s and women’s categories.
Beckwith said the event is highly anticipated both for the race itself and for the atmosphere. "The course is short, about two miles, and racers ride as many laps as they can during either a one-hour race or a two-hour race," he explained. "The course loops around and through Timber Ridge during their Suds and Snow Festival, so there are a lot more spectators than usual and it’s fun to have so much support while out on the course."
Camaraderie, he added, is one of the biggest benefits of this type of bicycle racing. "There are less participants at fat bike races than mountain bike races, so you get to know the people."
Microbrews Everywhere
As part of their sponsorship, Short’s has had their brews at all the Fat Bike Series races, but their presence is particularly large at the Beard of Zeus event, as the race is held concurrently with Timber Ridge’s own festival, Suds and Snow. This fest will offer additional microbrews, sodas, wine, ciders and two live music stages featuring local musicians.
"We’ll be taking a very exciting selection of beers along, as well as one of our recently released Starcut Ciders," Beckwith said.
This all adds to the race ambiance, which is even more amped up than usual.
"It’s really a lot of fun to bike by the festival with crowds of people yelling encouragement," he said. "It’s totally different than most fat tire – and even mountain bike – races where you spend a lot of time alone on your bike in the woods. I’m looking forward to the party-like atmosphere."
The Short’s Fat Bike Series Beard of Zeus race takes place at Timber Ridge in Traverse City on March 7. Registration is open. For more information, visit www.shortsbrewingfatbikeseries.com.
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