February isn’t normally a common time to see bicycle riders in Minnesota, but last Saturday 33 of them gathered at Pebble Creek Golf Club to race in the third annual Fat Bike Blitz.

 

Fat bikes, which have been growing in popularity for the last 10 years, are off-road bicycles with oversized tires designed for riding on soft, unstable terrain, such as snow, sand and mud.

 

That morning practice laps opened at 10 a.m., with the Jonny Rock Bike Loop also opening for race participants and demo riders. 

 

The race began at noon, with the bikers racing two laps for roughly a 20-mile race. Participants were racing for over $500 in cash prizes, as well as the grand prize of an Onyx hub set.

 

At 1:13:32, Dave Christensen was the first biker to complete the race and was awarded first place. Steve Marshal came in a close second at 1:14:27 and Steve Stocker followed at 1:20:16 for third place.

 

In the women’s division, first place went to Svetlana Vold, who came in at 1:37:37, followed by Dee Dee Winfield in second at 1:48:07 and Wendy Stocker in third, coming in at 2:16:50.

 

Times were determined by an electronic chip timing system.

 

Along with the race, the family-friendly day included fire pits, s’mores and hot chocolate, a sledding hill, Lupulin Tap Takeover, McCullough Brother’s live entertainment and on-site vendors with samples and bike supplies.

 

Event sponsors included Jonny Rock Bikes, Gopher State Events and Onyx Racing Products.