Community Gearing Up For Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival
The 29th Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival sponsored by Trek is set to go Fri., Sept. 16 through Sun., Sept. 18.
As it has since the first Fat Tire Festival in 1983, the Chequamegon 40 will start on Main Street in Hayward at 10 a.m. on Saturday with more than 1,850 riders making their way through the dirt and mud 40 miles north to Telemark Resort. Another 900 riders will compete in The Short & Fat, a 16-mile race starting in downtown Cable at the same time. Both events will finish at the Big Top Chequamegon located at Telemark Resort.
With the reopening of Telemark Resort, Chequamegon activities will be buzzing around the historical lodge, although festival director Gary Crandall will still use the Big Top Chequamegon, an 80x160 foot tent set up outside the resort, for all of the race activity. Crandall enjoyed the circus-like atmosphere under the large walled tent last year so the canvas is back. The sponsor exposition, bag pick-up and concession sales will take place here.
On Friday, the weekend starts with CAMBA (the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association) trail tours at the Highway 00 trailhead in Seeley, showcasing recently built singletrack there. The Pasta Feast will be at 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. under the Big Top Chequamegon at Telemark.
Saturday’s races are preceded by Children’s Bicycle Parades in Cable and Hayward at 9 a.m.
The Chequamegon 40 and Short & Fat courses will again use the same routes as last year. With the wet summer, some of the traditional mud holes have filled up, but even so Crandall expects another possible record in the long race set at just under two hours and three minutes by Brian Matter in 2009.
Brian Matter will return to defend his 2010 title. The Sheboygan, Wis. rider also won the Chequamegon 40 in 2004, and he was a member of the US World Championship cyclocross team in 2008. He will be challenged by two-time champion Doug Swanson and three-time champion Steve Tilford from Topeka, Kan. Garmin-Cervelo professional rider Christian Vande Velde will also be a factor. He finished 17th in this year’s Tour de France, the seventh Tour he has finished in his long career. And expect a strong ride from Cole House, riding for SixOneSix Fabrications, who was just nipped at the line by Matter in 2009. Tristan Schouten, who trailed Matter by just a few seconds last year in the race, is having a good year, leading WORS (Wisconsin Off-Road Series).
Like Matter, Jenna Rinehart will also return to defend her 2010 title in the Chequamegon 40, her third. She will be chased by three-time champ Catherine Walberg, a Kenda sponsored rider from Topeka, Kan. Rinehart’s biggest challenge might come from Sara Kylander-Johnson, a Trek/Kuhl-sponsored rider from Duluth. Kylander-Johnson, who didn’t race in 2009, won the Chequamegon 40 in 2006 and is in top form this season having just won the Seeley Lions Pre-Fat event. Lea Davison, riding for Specialized, is also in the race to try and repeat her overall win from 2008 and could give Rinehart trouble.
With three-time Short & Fat winner Jake Richards moving on to the Chequamegon 40, the field remains wide open. A trio of young riders look promising – Myles Beach, Ian Haupt and local Cable, Wis. rider Dakota Dale. In the women’s short race, Anna Ganju returns to defend her 2010 victory. The New Berlin, Wis. Riders will face challenges from track rider Terra James and Little Canada, Minn. sisters Nicolette and Zoe Reker.
On Sunday, the Cable Crit-cross, a multi-lap cyclocross race at Telemark Resort, and the Rough Stuff Poker Ride, an orienteering race, highlight the day. The RSPR begins at 9 a.m. and the Crit-cross starts at 10 a.m.
Rounding out the weekend, the Sunday Funday events will put some fun into the fat with complimentary events for those over twelve. Folks can try the Klunker Toss, Bicycle Limbo, Lumber Jack and Jill Log Pull, Flying Bunny Hop from 10 a.m.to 12:30 p.m.
Children's Events
On Saturday, kids can ride in bicycle parades in either Cable or Hayward. Bike decoration starts at 8 a.m. and the parade rolls out at 9 a.m. In Hayward, children should gather on the 200 block of Main Street, and in Cable at the fire hall behind the Old School Mall.
The Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival will provide balloons and streamers, but kids can also decorate their bikes before the event. Expect prizes, surprises and treats.
On Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., kids can ride in the Bicycle Rodeo at the base of Telemark ski hill at Telemark Resort. The rodeo includes a bike limbo, a bike relay, a log pull and an obstacle course. The parade and rodeo are free and open to all kids under 12. Helmets are required.
2011 Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival Riders to Watch
Chequamegon 40 men
Nathan Guerra, Wheel & Sprocket, Oconomowoc, Wis.
Cole House: SixOneSix Fabrications; Oneida, Wis; 2nd in 2009.
Pat Lemieux: Kenda/Geargrinder; St. Paul, Minn.
Brian Matter: Geargrinder; Sheboygan, Wis; 2004, 2009 and 2010 Chequamegon champion, course record holder.
Doug Swanson: Grandstay; Minnetonka, Minn.
Steve Tilford: Tradewind Energy, Topeka, Kan; Won the race in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Third in 2009.
Tristan Schouten: Plymouth, Wis; Mafia/Felt; leading WORS.
Christian Vande Velde; Garmin-Cervelo; Lemont, Ill; 17th in 2011 Tour de France. Completed seven Tours de France.
Chequamegon 40 women
Lea Davison: Specialized; Jericho, Vt; 2008 champion.
Sara Kylander-Johnson: Trek/Kuhl; Duluth, Minn; 2006 champion.
Jenna Rinehart: Specialized; Mankato, Minn; 2007, 2009 and 2010 champion.
Catherine Walberg: Kenda Tire, Topeka, Kan; A veteran who won in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Third in 2009.
Short & Fat men
Myles Beach: Adventure 212/Specialized; Larsen, Wis.
Dakota Dale: Kent Eriksen Cycles, Cable, Wis.
Ian Haupt: Expo Racing; Whitefish Bay, Wis.
Short & Fat women
Anna Ganju: Polska; New Berlin, Wis.
Terra James, Sweet N Salty Cycling, Minneapolis, Minn.
Kristy Henderson: Hollywood Cycles, Minneapolis, Minn.
Nicolette Reker: SPBRC; Little Canada, Minn.
Zoe Reker: SPBRC; Little Canada, Minn.
Race Road Closures
Forest roads will have limited access on Sept. 17 during the race from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Only permitted race vehicles, local residents and bear hunters will have access during this time.
In the town of Spider Lake, Telemark Road/Spider Lake Fire Lane from Clear Lake Road north to the town line, Boedecker Road from the town line east to Spider Lake Fire Lane and Janet Road from the town line north to Boedecker Road will be closed.
In the town of Lenroot, Boedecker Road from Northern Lights Road east to the town line and Janet Road from Highway OO north to the town line will be closed.
The Spider Lake Fire Lane from Telemark Road south to the town line will be closed in the town of Cable.
Race support vehicles need a permit from race headquarters prior to race morning to use these closed roads. Contact the Chequamegon office before race morning at cheqfat@cheqnet.net with details of rider receiving support, the support vehicle driver’s name and vehicle type.
These road closures will increase rider safety during the event. Increased traffic on the course recently has endangered riders and also resulted in long delays for traffic on race day. Spectators using these roads need to be in place before 10:30 a.m.
No Parking Restrictions in Hayward on Race Day
Hayward resident and visitors should take note the entire length of Main Street from Railroad Street to Wittwer Road will be a No Parking area from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 17 for the start of the Chequamegon 40.
All intersecting side streets will be barricaded by the city by 6 a.m. Passage across Main Street will be allowed on Highway 63 and at Fifth Street by the Sawyer County Sheriff’s office until just before the start of the race at 10 a.m.