Well with all the different ride and camping options this weekend for the “2018 ‘Alfred Barr’ Lake Winnipeg Fatbike Crossing & Campover” adventure on Lake Winnipeg, you know there are going to be a lot of crafty Fatbike ‘Loaded Rigs’!
Well then, let’s check’m out:
So there you go, just a quick peek at a few of the 35+ fatbike rigs that will be on Lake Winnipeg this year.
Good times ahead and an important Memorial Adventure for Alfred are ahead!
Posted for Gregory ‘G-Mac’ McNeill and 2 Wheel Revolution:
2WR’s 2018 Fort Whyte Fatbike Race was an awesome success and you can see it all for yourself, right here at the Race Flickr Account:
Here’s a few to wet your appetite – enjoy!
Awesome times were had and once again an impressive event put on by Wayne Bishop and his 2WR Team members and volunteers!
Cheers, Fat Tom K
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
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).
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!
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!
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
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.
Check out the full 2018 Actif Epica Race Results HERE
Cheers, Fat Tom K
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
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
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.
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
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!
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
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.
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