Winter rally hopes to put Bemidji on fat bike map
Keep the dogsleds in the barn for a day. Organizers of Minnesota's newest winter sport phenomenon want you to get on your fat bike and ride.
Bemidji State Park becomes the newest fat bike destination this winter. Organizers will launch the first Northland Fat Bike Rally on March 1, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources said Tuesday.
The rally is not just for experienced fat bikers. "Anyone interested in this new winter sport will have the opportunity to ride the course, check out various fat bikes, learn about the sport by talking with fat bike experts and take a short spin in the snow" on a fat tire bike, the DNR said. Live music and refreshments will be provided throughout the day in the visitor center.
The day runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The main ride begins at 11 a.m. with a mass start on Lake Bemidji and then into Lake Bemidji State Park.
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The trails north of County Road 20 will be open for those who want to warm up or just check out some new terrain. After the event, the course will be open to biking until 4 p.m., the DNR said.
The event and activities are free, but a Minnesota State Parks vehicle permit ($5 a day or $25 for 12 months) is required to enter the park.
Fat bikes have exploded in popularity recently in Minnesota, especially in the winter. The bikes' extra wide tires with very low pressure are designed to float over a couple inches of snow.
The DNR is grooming trails for fat biking at Jay Cooke, Split Rock and Fort Snelling State Parks, as well as the Luce Line State Trail in Wayzata, and the Gateway State Trail in St. Paul. That's in addition to 20 miles of trails at the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Brainerd.