Third Place Threepeat - 2021 Fat Bike Frozen Ididaride

I suppose that there is something to be said about consistency, I'm not sure what you should say about it but it feels like something should be said concerning the matter. Saturday was the 3rd annual Fat Bike Frozen Ididaride out at Pionneers Park in Lincoln, Nebraska.



For three years now I've gotten up way too early to get out to the park to help with setup and to also try to get a chance to pre-ride all or some of the course before the race started. There normally isn't a trail of any sort out there so you just never know where the race is going to go. For three years now it looked like this year might the year where the snow misses us and it's a dry year for the race, only to have it dump on us in the weeks leading up to the event. For three years now team Just Sad Pandas has entered the race... and for three years in a row now, we have taken home the third place hardware. (spoiler alert!)


I'm not complaining mind you, a team could do a lot worse than third. It's also been a well attended, fun event for the last three years and we've always had really good luck with the weather being just cold enough to support the snow without being so cold that it's uncomfortable to be out there for too long. The warm enough temperature was a real blessing this year since we did away with the warming tents and the after race food and beverage due to the Covids. Had Mother Nature not cooperated at least a little bit it could have been miserable being out there racing or waiting for you teammate to finish their lap so you could race yours. January in Nebraska has been good to the Fat Bike Frozen Ididaride. 






Since Lincoln got 15" of snow dump on them the week before the race, the course was cut in half to make it easier to groom since neither Lincoln or Nebraska has an actual snow groomer for making fat bike trails. The shorter laps meant that there weren't a ton of race photos because instead of 30+ minute laps they would be closer to 15 minutes or less and that meant that once Doug took off I only had a few minutes before I needed to get ready and to the switch off area. As usual the hole shot was an important part of the start, the first 100 yards of snow is the deepest and least firm of the whole course year in and year out. Those that get caught in the pack have to not only navigate the softer snow but the carnage that ensues when one or more riders goes down.


I did the second lap and felt like I did pretty good, of course I forgot to start the Wahoo so I will never know for sure the actual lap time. I did however do a second lap after passing off the timing chip so that I could record something for the race and that one ended up being 12:21 so I figure the official lap was around that time, maybe not in the official books since timing is always thrown off a little due to the time it takes to swap the timing chip and what not. Oh well, it was still fun and that is all that really matters and the bonus miles probably didn't really hurt my fitness either.







Good times were had by all, even if it was snowy and cold-ish but isn't that the whole idea of a fat bike race. And Just Sad Pandas successfully defended our third place title for another year. 

 

Merely Melancholy Bamboo Munchers

Saturday was the 2nd Annual Fat Bike Frozen Ididaride out at Pioneers Park in Lincoln but before we could get to playing bikes in the snow, we had registration and packet pickup at the shop to attend to. All work and no play might make Jack a dull boy but all play and no work makes for a poorly run event and ain't nobody got time for that.


With registration and packet pickup accomplished there was nothing left to do but get bikes and gear ready for the morning. I won't bore you with those details, it's about as exciting as watching paint dry but without the contact high from the fumes.





Up and at it before the sun, Rick, Bruce, Corey, MG and I descended on Pioneers Park getting things ready before the racers started filing in. Not overly difficult work but having a fire and a nice heated tent are welcomed site when racing on the snow.



Just after the sun came up, things started to pick up considerably as racers started to file in and begin their last minute preparations or pick up their packets if they missed the previous nights event. I always enjoy wandering among the vehicles and peeking at what everyone is racing and how they decided to set up their race sled.




Not many people show up for a fat bike race in a hearse but then again, Gary is not most people. I have to admit that casket slider made a pretty convenient bike storage tray.


Of course a race wouldn't be a race without a little race fuel to help you go faster. Nothing says I want heartburn like a shot of Fireball before putting down maximum effort on a 4 mile lap. Course was marked of at right around 4 miles a lap, three laps if you were riding solo and you were done. If you opted for more fun, less race then teams of three were the way to go. Just Sad Pandas decided to get back together this year and give it another go.


Even though she wasn't racing, Sarah came out to cheer us on and I managed to talk her into taking photos; so most of the pictures you see in the blog were taken by Sarah. She did a fantastic job and I'm glad she was there for the support and to capture the great time that was had by all.








Course was in great shape and made for some fast lap times, we have really lucked out the last two years and got a few inches dumped on us in the week before the big day. I hope that trend continues as a fat bike race just isn't the same without a little of the white stuff. Different from last year was the elimination of a sub fat bike category, I know that probably ruffled some feathers but those skinnier tires turned the track into the consistency of mash potatoes last year and 3.8 minimum is pretty much the standard for a fat bike race. Without those Ginsu tires slicing and dicing the track actually improved on the second and third laps, by the time the race was done the track was pretty near perfect. 



One of the best parts of the race was this very spontaneous tunnel that several of the racers built to welcome Isabel and help cheer her onto the finish line. Awesome lady whose current job keeps her very busy on the weekends so it's always awesome when we can steal her away for a few hours. Gravel family might be a tight knit community but the snow folk aren't too far behind, heck as cold as it can get being as close to another source of heat is often a welcomed thing.




Post race we all headed to the tents for a little propane heated air, warm chili, hot coffee/cocoa and camaraderie while we waited for the results to be tabulated. The chili and hot beverage really hit the spot and helped to warm folks up from the inside out.


Just Sad Pandas defended our third place finish from last year with a follow up third place finish this year, I guess there is something to be said for consistency. It was also awesome to have the full team there this year, due to Doug's wife's cancer he was not able to race with us last year. Not having him there last year, it just felt like we were missing something so it was good to be whole this year even if the results were the same.



Post race a crew of the Lincoln folks and a crew of the Omaha folks headed over to Method for beverages or all shapes, sizes and flavors.



Thankfully it was park where you want Saturday, which was good because I actually didn't remember to bring any quarters for the meters, I mean, it does happen.



After Method we got some pie from Yia Yia's while we were watched over by CVO's awesome rabbit painting. The guy was such a talented artist who was really just starting to get his stuff out there into the world before he passed away from  Amyloidosis in 2017. You can't help but wonder what could have been for him had he not been taken so  young.

Next weekend is the Oklahoma Gravel Growler in Shawnee, I'm planning on SAG-ing for Doug who is actually racing in it but with the forecast calling for temps in the 60s, you know I'm taking a bike with me to sneak in little riding of my own. Who knows, maybe I'll event get a wild hair and sign up last minute and do the thing.