All posts by Tom Kolesnik

I'm just a guy who has a passion for producing videos that capture the adventure of all forms of cycling (especially fat biking) and other outdoor endurance pursuits. “If It Was Easy Everyone Would Do It” is often heard from those who enjoy meeting difficult challenges and persevering when others might not. This is what motivates me as an endurance junkie and videographer!

Very interesting and successful Lake Winnipeg Recce! Huge thanks to Kevin Champagne and his wife Louise, who arranged for a third snowmobile for me to ride as we rode out from Grand Marais toward Gimli.

We had to find an initial crossing point just west of Grand Marais through a field of ice chunk pop ups and minor pressure ridge – no problem.

Pretty good conditions on the lake with plenty of snow on otherwise clear ice and sections of snow drift but not too deep.

Found a nice campsite with a bowl of snow surrounded by big and small ice chunks sticking up and one large one at the ‘entry’!

Good track made all the way about 85% across and then we came to a large and long (NE-SW) pressure ridge that was dicey to cross without a ‘ramp-plank’ (we can arrange that for Saturday). You could see the harbour area in general but it’s still about 4 Kms.

Anyways we cruised back over our same tracks and hopefully the mild conditions this week with overnight -10C ish temps will bond the snow to the ice and firm up the track we made.

Big Picture – looking good! We will need to monitor the weather and make a few provisions, but the basic plan still looks fine!

Cheers, Fat Tom K

Fat Bike Race, Video

Fat Video Time: 2WR’s 2018 Falcon Ridge MB Fatbike Race

February 24, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Here’s a video I made using my new Mavic Pro drone and Go Pro camera at 2 Wheel Revolution’s Falcon Ridge Manitoba Fatbike Race held on 14 Jan 2018.

I’ve been really busy with preparations for upcoming fatbike adventures on Lake Winnipeg next weekend, but I found some time in the last few days to give proper editing focus to this video.

Conditions at the race were excellent but challenging with new snow that had been groomed well on wooded singletrack and open lake sections that also wound around the Falcon Ridge ski hill, up to the ‘Top of the World’ Lookout and across High Lake before returning to the ski chalet. At the chalet there was live music, hot cooked food and beverages to go with a casual and fun party atmosphere!

Best quote of the weekend about how was it out there? … Kathy: “Awesome – Winter Wonderland!” Yes – IT WAS just that and more!

I hope this video captures the excitement, fun and community that is fatbiking and racing in Manitoba … all thanks to Wayne Bishop and his 2WR Team of members and volunteers! Enjoy:

This should get you pumped for the next race in the 2WR FB Race Series, happening tomorrow Sun 25 Feb 2018 at Fort Whyte Alive in Winnipeg! 🙂

Sadly, I will not be able attend the race tomorrow 😦 … as I will be doing on a snowmobile recce and trail grooming day on Lake Winnipeg with big support from Kevin Champagne (his snowmobiles).

Group Rides, Ride Report, Woodcock Fat Bike Group Rides

Ride Report: WCW’s Fat Bike Club Ride – 22 Feb 2018

February 22, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Nicolas Robitaille – WCW Ride Leader:

Had a fantastic Woodcock Cycle Fat Bike Club group ride tonight!

The trails were mostly well travelled and the weather was forgiving.

Stuck mostly to the monkey trails and got some technical riding in.

The crew had lots of fun tonight!

Bison Butte at Fort Whyte, Fat Bike Race

Get your vibe on: 2WR’s Fort Whyte Fatbike Race – 25 Feb 2018

February 20, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Wayne Bishop of 2 Wheel Revolution:

It’s a vibe ….. come get yours on . It’s the people, for the people and about the people. Make a friend, make a rival and make your own path!

Register for the FortWhyte Alive stop [2nd of the MB Fatbike Race Series] in the heart of Winnipeg brought to you by Lake of the Woods Brewing Company
Park at the main lot get your bike and gear and spin to the Siobhan field house. Two left turns and follow the road.

Get changed in the heated facility, leave your gear, change of clothes and race supplies at the field house.

Please Pre reg soon, so we can make sure we have lots of food for you! Don’t and I WONT guarantee you a lunch. Help me help you!

Stoked to raise an elbow with you all!

Jade SignWorks is my hero …… great guys led by the one and only Mark Seel.
You know he is champion by the way he came through in the clutch. Another great friend of the 2WR, making sure you all are taken care of. Thanks for the support, making 2WR stand out and most of all, pride in what you do. Check these bad boys out. And he doesn’t even do trophies! INCREDIBLE.

I’ve been busy grooming the Bison Butte sections and it’s setting up super sweet!

Thanks to Olympia Cycle & Ski and Bikes & Beyond for their continued support!

See you all soon!

Alfred Barr - We Remember, Event, Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Adventures

FaceBook Event: 2-4 Mar 2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover

February 19, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Giddy up fellow fatbikers, our Leaders Team has finished our planning and details have come together for an excellent adventure and Memorial Event in Honour of Alfred Barr.

Check it out here:
FaceBook Event: 2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover

Cheers, Fat Tom K

Actif Epica

Actif Epica Race: Views from the Roving Responders

February 18, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

So with all my planning and preparations for upcoming fatbike adventures on Lake Winnipeg, I decided to not race Actif Epica this year and return to my Roving Responder role again.

Lucky for me Steven Sloat (former AE fatbike racer) decided to come out from West Man to also support AE; so he stayed over at my place and we teamed up.

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 0c — First up – the Actif Epica Pre-Race Meeting at the Forks the night before – no nervous folks there at all! 😉

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 0d — There’s Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill (fellow MB fatbiker & photographer extraordinaire, who decided to race on foot this year – 162 Kms!) and Steven Sloat (fellow Roving Responder).

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 0 copy — Roving Responder preparations are very detailed and ‘exhausting’ – so of course we needed to be well hydrated! 😉

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 0b — Good thing racers were also using GPS – mostly …

2018 AE - Cyclist 200 Start — Start of the 200 Km (new option for 2018) for the cyclists.

AE 2018 Race - XSM Ambulance, Truck & Snowmobile — The real ‘Safety Team’ Roving Responders was the Xtreme Sports Medics headed by Robert Paige (XSM President) and medics Kas & Natasha (who are also going to be out on Lake Winnipeg on 2-4 March for our “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Crossing & Campover”.

AE 2018 Robert Paige - Xtreme Sports Medics Roving Responder — Here’s Robert Paige in action at one of AE’s Check Points (making sure all racers are doing well enough to continue safely)!

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 3 — This when the roving responders and safety team are at their most important!

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 1 — Here’s MB Fatbikers Dan Lockery & David Ristau (Finished 1st & 2nd the 200 Km Race!) riding off the Floodway to be met by Steven & me.

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 1b — Dan & David seemed very happy to see us after the long, completely dark and exposed section along Schapansky Road and the Floodway!

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 2 — Here’s Ryan Haug (3rd 200 Km) stopping in for some Floodway hospitality.

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 4 — Here’s Mb Fatbiker KC Turczak, who finished tied for 5th (200 Km) with fellow MB Fatbiker Pete McAdams (oops – no flash – no picture).

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 5 — I snagged this picture collage from KC’s social media posts. Very impressive KC! 🙂

AE 2018 Gregory Finish with Robert Xtreme Sports Medic — Think yer winter rugged tough? Check out Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill finishing AE 162 Kms (yup, 100 miles!) on FOOT after pressing on for 34 Hrs & 51 Minutes!!! Btw, that’s Roving Medic Robert Paige giving G-Mac congrats after keeping on eye on him for many hours!

2018 AE Roving Responder Pics 6 — So what do two exhausted Roving Responders eat after AE? A proper meal of course! 😉

Check out the full 2018 Actif Epica Race Results HERE

Cheers, Fat Tom K

Actif Epica, Fat Bike Race

Actif Epica Race is underway: Check it out Live on-line or in Person

February 17, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for the Actif Epica Crew:

Returning again this year, we will be hosting a live blog for the Actif Epica race weekend with links to our social media, live timing and race updates. http://live.actifepi.ca/welcome-to-the-actif-epica-2018-li…/

This year’s Actif Epica Spectator’s guide brought to you by Tetro Design (http://www.tetrodesign.com/) is now available to download for spectators, support crews, or anyone that is interested in finding out more about our event and the route. The guide is available here: http://actifepi.ca/spectators-guide/

Some of local fatbikers and previous AE racers will be active today and into the night as Roving Responders (I’m partnering with fellow Westman Fatbiker and AE Finisher Steven Sloat who’s coming out all the way from Shilo!).

Plus Robert Paige and his Xtreme Sport Medics Team will be there to ensure that everyone is safe!

Cheers, Fat Tom K

Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Adventures, Video, Winter Camping

Fat Video Time: Campsite Trial Setup for the 2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Wpg Fatbike Crossing & Campover

February 16, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

It was time to trial our planned Camp Site setup for the “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover” adventure weekend planned for 2-4 March 2018.

At the centre is a Double Combo large tent that will be heated for our main communal retreat, plus five 6-Person tents, two large ice fishing pop up shelters for cooking & eating, plus a small shelter for our Toilet Tent. Additional 2-6 Person tents will be added as required.

This trial was a good way for our Leaders Team to check out the set up procedures and make any corrections (such as more guy ropes). We all agreed that the tents and shelters work great and are quite easy to set up and secure with the right stakes and ice screws.

Check out my video below:

Cheers, Fat Tom K

Group Rides, Woodcock Fat Bike Group Rides

Ride Report: WCW Fat Bike Group Ride – 15 Feb 2018

February 15, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Nicolas Robitaille of WCW:

Another fun Woodcock Cycle Fatbike Group Ride done & dusted! A hardy group of six made it out tonight, along with newcomer Stephane. The monkey trails were passable but the new snow made some sections challenging and different. Made for an adventurous night on the monkey trails.

Alfred Barr - We Remember, Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Adventures, Red River Fatbike Crossing, Winter Camping

Setting up at ‘Tent City’ Campsite on the Red River: Lake Winnipeg Team Leaders Prepare

February 14, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Great fun today setting up our little ‘Tent City’ Campsite on the Red River as a shake out for our “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover”, which will be set up in the middle of the lake on 2-4 March 2018.

Thanks Robert La Roque and Ken Buhler for early help with the big combo tent …

Later some of our Leaders Team (Gregory ‘GMac” McNeill, Chris Black, and Jonathan Letkemann), plus several Xtreme Sports Medics (Kas Savage and Natasha Arnfinson) joined me in setting the rest of the campsite up …

Waking up the next morning to this sight out the back window was a real treat!

Good times ahead!

Cheers, Fat Tom K

Actif Epica, Group Rides

Invite to Fatbike at the Forks and Kick-off Actif Epica: Fri & Sat Evenings 16/17 Feb

February 14, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Wayne Bishop:

Come and hang out with a lot of awesome people as we kick off the Actif Epica with our Fat bike friends at the Forks . We have a Strava challenge for you, 850 M starting under the walking bridge.

Come celebrate the efforts of these amazing endurance athletes and the pilot grooming project put in motion By the legendary Alex Man.

You might even see me on my SnowDog I used to groom the trail …

Come have a rip and show your support of fat bike if at the Forks . 6:30-8:30pm Friday and Saturday Night 16/17 Feb 2018!
You can even buy someone a beer at the Common!

Actif Epica, Group Rides, Ride Report

Ride Report: Actif Epica Recon Ride – 11 Feb 2018

February 12, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Dan Lockery and the Actif Epica Trail Crew:

Sunday, February 11, 2018 – Final Recon Ride for Actif Epica 2018

Six of us convened in St. Malo and were met with moderate winds (20km/h from the NW) and a reasonable starting temperature of about -15C (5F) at the start. The forecast was calling for the winds to pick up from the North West later in the day and cool off.

Gravel road conditions have changed somewhat since our last visit to this section of the route. The surface still has ice on it but some of the snow that has fallen since has collected, providing a bit more traction.

The trail sections have blown in and not seen any traffic, so we walked the majority of those. Closer to the Senkiw bridge, the field still has some strong ice-crusted surfaces where riding was possible but nearer the trail that leads to the suspension bridge was soft and deep, similar to last year.

We went as far as the suspension bridge and marked the route on our way back with pink flagging tape. Upon leaving the protection of the treed areas the wind had indeed picked up and was somewhere between 40-50km/h sustained and gusting. Gearing up for the return trip we took a slight detour to avoid more walking and made it back to the vehicles after about 3.5 hours of riding time.

Thanks again to those that came out and joined us for a bit of excitement this past Sunday! Trail conditions are shaping up nicely with more snow in the southern sections and closer to Winnipeg having a bit less. There are minimal flurries in the forecast between now and next weekend so we don’t anticipate much change before race day.

We look forward to seeing you all next weekend!

The Trail Crew

Group Rides, Informative, Riding Mtn Nat'l Park

Invite to RM Natl Park for a Fatbike Workshop and Group Rides: 10 Feb 2018

February 9, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Adrain Alphonso with info from RMNP:

Try winter cycling in RMNP!

Join cycling enthusiast and former area resident Adrian Alphonso at a free outdoor workshop as he explains some of the finer points of winter cycling, the morning of February 10, 2018. In the afternoon, Adrian will lead guided rides for visitors on two hour-long outings.

Bring your own bike, or register in advance with Friends of RMNP at 204-848-4037 to rent your bike. Events take place at the RMNP Learning Centre, 154 Columbine Drive in Wasagaming. Number of places limited for outings.

Group Rides, Ride Report, Woodcock Fat Bike Group Rides

Ride Report: WCW’s Fat Bike Group Ride – 8 Feb 2018

February 9, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Nicholas Robitaille at WCW:

Had a pretty great Fatbike club ride tonight … until I snapped my chain… twice in a row! 😦 Besides that, all the trails were in great condition and we gave the singletrack in the Royalwood Forest a good shred! Another cold one, but this group doesn’t let it stop them!

Actif Epica, Group Rides

Invite to Actif Epica Recon Ride: 11 Feb 2018

February 8, 2018 Tom Kolesnik

Posted for Dan Lockery and the Actif Epica Trail Crew:

With registration closing tomorrow night (friendly reminder if you are still thinking it over) and a little over one week to go. That means we are planning our last recon ride for this year’s event:

Date: Sunday, February 11, 2018

Time: 9:00am

Location: St. Malo, we will meet at the checkpoint location (in the parking lot at the arena)

Purpose: To scout the trail conditions and put up some course marking from St. Malo to the Senkiw suspension bridge along the Crow Wing Trail (note: this is part of the longer courses, 162km and 200km).

Who: The trail crew will be (mostly) riding at a slow rolling pace (on fat bikes) and would love it if you brought ANY type of bike and joined them (bring friends on bikes too!).

The Plan: To put up course marking materials, take a few pictures of trail conditions and enjoy a fun, sociable ride from St. Malo to the suspension bridge (and just beyond). We will return along the same route and the distance estimate is about 37km to the bridge and back, adding in a short bit of planned extra south of the bridge might push that up to 40km round-trip at most. We will roll out at 9am from St. Malo and as always, if you happen to be late, you can follow our tracks and the Crow Wing Trail signs (white arrow on blue background) to catch up with us as we will be stopping periodically to take pictures and put up course marking. We estimate the total riding time to be approximately 3-4h. Also, there will likely be a post ride discussion over coffee/food at a local establishment should you feel so inclined and have the time to join us. In addition, if you would like to come out but have a shorter time budget to spare, with the out-and-back route planned, you can join us for however much time you can spare and then double back the same way.

Important Note: All participants join us at their own risk (e.g. please be safe, wear appropriate winter riding clothing, a helmet, bring blinky lights for improved visibility, enough food and water for the ride and a basic repair kit). Citing a famous quote, “YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOU”, so please respect the nature of a winter riding adventure, it can be unforgiving.

Hope to see you on Sunday!

Actif Epica Trail Crew