[Closed] Fat Bike Race Series

and interesting to see how many fatties can beat non fatties over an xc course

so suck it up and enter with everyone else... 8)

Define "fat". Are you going to set a minimum tyre width and does it have to be fat front and rear?

As jambo says, nothing to stop anyone racing on their fatbike at the moment.

I've been asked to add this category by a couple of people

Yep, 26x4/5 27.5+/29+ minefield right there. Just enter the normal cat I'd say

Different cats are useful in that you can see everyone else in your class. I did the falkirk funduro on my fatbike and there wasn't a fat class but it was only me so I still won it 😉 But when it's not just you, you kind of want to know who else.

(UKGE promised a hardtail category one year then didn't bother to run it, which was a total bummer, the hardtailists tried to figure out informal results but it's pretty impossible if you don't know everyone)

rOcKeTdOg - Member
Yep, 26x4/5 27.5+/29+ minefield right there.

anyway I thought due to the general awesomeness of fatbikes they would be taking out the overalls anyway 😉

Re the definition, I think it has to be 26" with a min of 4" - it should be fairly easy to manage as I can't see the numbers being that great. If the category doesn't get traction (no pun intended) then the above points about just enter the standard cat are valid but if the entry numbers are sufficient it could be great racing, as a fat bike rider you'd know who you were racing and you'd also be racing knowing that you're not starting on the back foot. Some events that are more endurance orientated make this category work well.

The race would be presented with an emphasis on fun and the prizes etc would support this and hopefully this could help it appeal to a broader audience

Keep the thoughts coming

Unless it was a course designed with fat bikes in mind, I'm not seeing much point ? Quick riders are quick whatever they ride. Loads of different classes to cater for every type of bike and rider smacks of "every one has to get a prize, nobody is allowed to loose".

The race would be presented with an emphasis on fun and the prizes etc would support this and hopefully this could help it appeal to a broader audience

Going to start them separate? Something that fat gets harder to pass

Yep that would be the idea, it would be a stand alone race.

Loads of different classes to cater for every type of bike and rider smacks of "every one has to get a prize, nobody is allowed to loose".

I hadn't looked at it this way and it certainly not what I'm trying to achieve, thanks. I was really looking at it as a way of broadening the appeal of XC

Thanks for all of the feedback.

I reckon you need a Fat bike specific course.

And would that be a measured 26x4 given that many are actually 26x3.8?

I think it's only fair to say you're accepting anything labled as 3.8 or above. Otherwise you could ban anything from 45nrth or Jumbo Jims on the basis that it's unfair on those running 1.5kg+ knobly mud tyres (just as much as a 3.7 is probably quicker than a 5.0). It's just hobbling yourself unless the course somehow merits a fat bike.

it's turning into a your not fat I'm fat game 🙂

Best alternative cat I've seen is the clydesdale class, 100kg minimum (clothed) if your 0.5kg short you can neck a pint on the scales

How about suspension vs unsuspension 😉

Are there any tyres over 3.5 that aren't definitely Fat Bike Tyres? Maybe that's a good definition- 3.5 or over, official's decision is final, if you're not sure ask first.

For Battle on the Beach I picked 3.5" as the minimum "fat bike" tyre size.

There is a 3.5" tyre that is borderline fat/plus, but almost all plus tyres are 2.8 or 3".
4" is too big as lots of fat bike tyres are 3.8".

I love the Clydesdale cat but unfortunately we're not allowed alcohol at most venues

3.5" min seems to be a tipping point for the regs and would have to be based on the size printed by the factory on the side wall.

Would any of you enter any rounds of a series like this (I know I asked regarding the SouthernXC but forget the location for the purpose of this question)?

Adam_Buckland - Member
I love the Clydesdale cat but unfortunately we're not allowed alcohol at most venues

Good call Mike 😀

mikewsmith - Member
anyway I thought due to the general awesomeness of fatbikes they would be taking out the overalls anyway

Where are southern XC races anyway?

you just need a class within one of the main events, sport maybe? (Don't know what classes you run down there near the equator). An extra race in most/many events i've been running would be a massive pain. An extra class (Clydesdale/Vet/Pairs/Family) is just a checkbox on the entry form and set them off with the main event. Also means you can try and beat mates in the main event while riding your attention seeking toy.

On the other hand, might be issues in some events with BC/UCI points/regulations and suchlike

RD - surprisingly, googling "southern xc 2016" gets you some answers pretty quickly. 🙂 http://www.southernxc.net/

The South. Generally.

But unless you know where "Minley Manor" or "Black Park" are just from the names, you'll need some more googling to find out eg that Black Park is near Slaaaah (Sluff)

Edit: or click on [url= ]the handy map.[/url]

Edit again: except the handy map is from 2015 with some different places, is just a picture of a map with no clicky links or labels to say what's where and when so you still have to google "Crow Hill", then "Crow Hill southern xc" to find the one that's not near Huddersfield.

The gorrick winter series has a fat bike category, seems to get about eight or so per race but it is winter. Think high teens would be what I would expect.

Good idea but what about the ages thirty year old against say someone 50 not much hope!!!What happens if you have a 27.5x3.8 fat bike??
The venues are they still Checkledon/Puddletown/etc just wondering.

The gorrick winter series has a fat bike category, seems to get about eight or so per race but it is winter. Think high teens would be what I would expect.

I'd be more than happy with that number...

nedrapier, thanks for putting the link up. We have a bit of website work to do, it's in hand and will be released with online entry before the end of Jan (with a bit of luck). This update with include info re exact location.

Re having to schedule it in, my thoughts were to have it start about 5mins after the open race - I think part of the appeal is to have a race just for Fatbikes, not just chucked in with another category - it might make the timing too tight but I'll have further look into it.

Any female fat bike riders out there, what do you think?

Keep it all coming guys, and girls

Have you seen the vets who race? Some of those old boys are scary fast, age isn't as important as people think.

RD - surprisingly, googling "southern xc 2016" gets you some answers pretty quickly.

Yea but who has time to do that, especially when you can get someone else to do the donkey work for you

And as far as category goes, lump 'em in with everyone else, I say. Maybe just with (fat) in brackets after their name ion the results 🙂 People racing a fattie in an xc race is doing it

1) as an excuse to be slow
2) for the lolz
3) to take the wee a bit, beating people who don't expect it.

1) and 2) can do it for as many laps as they fancy doing it, 3,4,5 as per fun/sport/open

3) should be doing it in whatever they'd usually race in otherwise it's a non-point (e.g. elite - looking at you gee!)

I have that's my point I was one of them but racing against elite riders in a local X race was a waste of time and money you never had a chance.

I bought a fattie recently. I'm an extremely occasional racer, but after a few cross races this year, I'm keen to do more.

I'd much rather race in with everyone else than in a special race for people who've got a certain type of bike.

Race for fitness and skills in the appropriate class for your level.

After that, choose your weapon and deal with its pros and cons.

dobiejessmo - saw yours after I posted - do you usually race in elite?

I may be up for a few of these. Always nice to race the Fatbike......

I was one of them but racing against elite riders in a local X race was a waste of time and money you never had a chance.

Well not with that sort of negative attitude

I've used my Fatty in some XC races, always fun but not going to threaten the lycra clad xc whippets. Even at the Saunton Beach Breaker dune race the 29ers won. However i think it would be good to have a fatbike class in an xc race, is always nice to have a pot to aim for.

Fat is 4" and upwards (as written on the sidewall) anything starting with a 3 is a semi and not conmmiting to true fatness. Riders can always change their tyres to true fat to meet the rules. You can always have a Plus Size class for the under 4" skinny tyres.

Thank you for all your input, I knew I could rely on you lot

I'm currently thinking that when people enter their usual category they can tick a box for fat bike so they can be identified in the results, I'll then take their average lap time from their race and times it by a fixed number (probably 3) of laps so we can place them in the effective 'Fat Bike Race' and therefore make a series of it. I appreciate this isn't perfect because riders go faster or slower depending on the length of their race but I'm struggling to come up with a better option??

Re tyre size, the diameter doesn't matter as per other categories but the width printed by the manufacturer on the side wall must be greater that 3.5" - easily checked and easily understood.

Anymore feedback would be great, don't be shy?

Sounds like a good compromise..........

Just to let you know online entry went live yesterday @ www.southernxc.net and a fat bike option has been included as described above.

Obviously all other categories are open too...