These days, I don’t go out of my way to do bike races. I mean, if one’s in the vicinity, I’ll check it out. I still love the race atmosphere and maxing out the old VO2 with like-minded folks.  

But I don’t train. For one thing, doing intervals sucks.  I’ve done enough of them in my life. Not doing them anymore.  Whatever shape I show up in is the shape I’m racing in.  Now days it’s more about just being out there enjoying the camaraderie than power output or top-end speed.

But there’s one race that’s been on my list for some time:  Fat Bike Worlds. I posted a video about it early in the life of this blog. Brought to you by the good folks at the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association.

Mountain biking is uniquely in the DNA of Crested Butte residents. With their long history of knobby tire riding combined with their deep-freeze winters, it’s only natural that they’d come up with something like racing bikes on snow.  

Unfortunately, the year we moved to Colorado I discovered the Fat Bike Worlds had gone on a road trip for several years, taking the party to places like Wyoming and Wisconsin. Disappointed, I kind of forgot about it.

Then this past summer, I discovered that in 2024, the race had returned to Colorado, to a venue just up the road in Leadville. But of course, since I wasn’t paying attention, I missed it. This year I watched the registration website obsessively to make sure I signed up for the 2025 race which, happily, was back in its original venue of Crested Butte.

But before we get into things, a few words about that title. A fine bit of hyperbole. The race isn’t sanctioned by the folks who give out the rainbow jersey.  There are no rainbow jerseys in sight. There are no Tour de France pros lining up.

I guess if the UCI hasn’t claimed a world championship the title is open to anyone. Either that or the UCI doesn’t feel particularly threatened by a small bunch of fringe organizers in the mountains of Colorado. It’s “Worlds” in much the same way the Ms. Universe contest represents the universe. I’m sure Ms. Rhode Island is very congenial and looks great in a bathing suit but are we sure there isn’t someone more deserving of the title on a planet somewhere in the Andromeda galaxy? Same sort of deal with “Fat Bike Worlds.”

Race start was at the winter-appropriate time of 11:00 a.m. In the mountains you have to let things warm up a bit. When we rolled up to the line it had warmed all the way up to the balmy mid-teens.  It wasn’t the prettiest day, cloudy with a chance of snow.  The locals were just happy to see temperatures in the positive numbers and everyone seemed pumped for the race. Crested Butte is definitely a different climate than Salida.  

Somewhat puzzlingly, the race was started with a Robert Burns poetry reading by a guy in a kilt. Apparently, January 25 is Mr. Burns’ birthday. I have no idea how that ties into fat biking, but hey, why not?

Here, for your enjoyment, is a short video of the race from my exclusive, untrained-for, mid-pack position.

And here are the fast folks.

Women’s podium right to left:

• 1^st         Brittni Birdsong           Alamosa, CO
• 2^nd        Jennah Jones                Buena Vista, CO
• 3^rd        Christian Stover           Golden, CO
• 4^th        Ayden Eickhoff              Leadville, CO
• 5^th        Amber VanStrien         Crested Butte, CO

Men’s podium right to left:

• 1^st         Ethan Moyer                  Leadville, CO
• 2^nd        Ryan Graber                  Cañon City, CO
• 3^rd        Jordan Williford           Crested Butte, CO
• 4^th        Brent Hanlin                   Denver, CO
• 5^th        Chad Oleson                  Crested Butte, CO

It was a great weekend in Crested Butte. Fun to finally get out and race the fat bike on the course where it all started.