Join the Woolly Bike Club for Global Fat-Bike Day

What is better than riding a fat bike by yourself?  Riding with a bunch of other, of course.  We had a plan to gather at  the Woolly Trailhead and enjoy a lap or two followed by a campfire and some hanging out.  Not that we hate the unseasonable warm weather, but it doesn't make for good riding.  We love fat biking on Woolly trails when they are dirt or perfectly groomed snow, but this Saturday is predicted to give us neither.

We won't let that stop our fun because we know plenty of great places to ride fat bikes in the St Croix River Valley.  If you have ever joined us for the Mammoth Gravel Classic, you have had a taste of the great sand and gravel roads located just north of St. Croix Falls.  We have decided to explore some of the great sand and gravel roads, ATV and horse trails in the Sand Barrens just to our north.  We will be meeting at the Wolf Creek Bar and plan to start riding at 9AM.  It will be a 22ish mile course that will probably take 2-3 hours.  Just because it will be dry doesn't mean you should bring skinny tires because IT IS GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY, but some of the trails, especially the many sandier sections, will be pretty tough to ride on a non-fat.

Find the full details here: https://www.facebook.com/events/157283831413373/?ti=icl

If you have any questions, please ask us on Facebook or Twitter.  These are some of our favorite places to ride, so we are excited to show them to a few old friends...and hopeful some new ones.  One of the highpoints of starting at the Wolf Creek Bar is we will also end at the Wolf Creek Bar.  This will give us a great place to hang out post-ride and enjoy some great food to warm us up and possibly a recovery beverage or two. 

GET YOUR FAT BIKES READY, THEN GRAB A FRIEND AND JOIN US FOR A GREAT TIME ON SATURDAY AT 9AM.

Woolly Beats the Dark

Traditionally, the first day after daylight savings time expires, local legend Mike Colaizy hosts a century ride on the Gandy Dancer from St. Croix Falls to Danbury and back.  The goal is to arrive back in SCF before it gets dark!

The ride has its origins back in the mid 90's when Woolly's Frank Lundeen had the bright idea to ride from Osceola to Danbury and back.  As I hear it, the Gandy was freshly laid and just completely energy sapping.  Stop by Cyclova XC and ask Frank about it, you'll enjoy the story.  That was also the origin of the alternate name for this ride, The Death Ride.

From the sounds of it, upwards of 20 riders gathered at the Polk County Info Center for the grand depart at 8am.  Among the crowd was a solid representation of Woolly jerseys.

I was NOT among the crowd.  I was off, uh, roller skiing... but this is the Woolly blog, we won't talk about such things...  I did head out for my own, slightly less grand, depart shortly before noon taking the fatty for a spin.

My primary goal was to go enjoy the day for a while and meet up with riders on the return trip.  Originally I hoped to make it to Cafe Wren at least.  Then when that came and went, I hoped to make it 25 miles out to get a half century.

Shortly after Fredric and 25 miles I finally found Patty and Jason cruising on the way back on their Party Keg.  After a quick chat I was off again hoping to make it to 31 miles so I could have a fat metric century.

Just south of Siren and at about 30 miles I found Mike, Mike, Dallas, and one other person headed south.

I pressed on to Siren to get my half metric century in... and meet my favorite rider before turning around.

The return trip showed brought on a little headwind that had been a pleasant tailwind on the ride out.  It wasn't the worst headwind I've ever ridden in, but it gave the race to beat the dark a little more excitement.

Just before Luck, Starr and I caught back up with Mike, Mike, and Dallas.  From there out we were really in Beat the Dark mode.  We had 16 miles to go and just about an hour to sunset.

As we cruised along the sun kept creeping closer and closer to the horizon.

Sunset was 4:51 pm Sunday.  We rolled back into the Info Center at... 4:51.  Boom!  Beat the Dark.

I think all told Woolly had 5 imperial century finishers and I pulled off my fat metric century.

The weather continues to hold and the Woolly single track is still in primo shape.  Keep getting after it because soon we will be seeing the freeze thaw cycle start to put a damper on the riding and then hopefully soon after that we will be riding groomed single track!

Last Friday's Night Group Ride Recap

What a blast!  Friday night Woolly hosted the second of two group rides for the week.  All told we had approximately a dozen people out riding around the Woolly Trails in the dark.

Arron spent Friday afternoon leaf blowing the trails and they were in perfect shape.  He may have even eaten dinner right off the trail.  Thanks Arron!

After a lap or a little more a good group hung out at the trail head until quite late enjoying a great fire.

The weather continues to look unseasonably fantastic for riding.  I highly encourage you to get some while the getting continues to be good.  Eventually it has to change over to fat bike season right?

Woolly Night Group Rides - This Week!

Looking for an excuse to get out and burn off some of that Halloween candy?  Want to ride Woolly with cool people?  We've got two opportunities for you this week!

Despite a damp weekend and a drizzly Monday night, the weather for the rest of the week is looking fabulous (if you aren't too excited to get on snow on your fat bike yet).

Wednesday - 6pm - Woolly Trailhead
Check out our Facebook Event
Aaron will be out to lead a nice night ride of the Woolly.  Notice I said night?  Sunsets before 6 these days.  So you will definitely want to bring lights.

Friday - 7pm - Woolly Trailhead
Check out our Facebook Event
Several of us are going to be out for another group ride and a fire afterwards.  Again, you'll want some lights.  Probably some warm dry clothes, a chair, and perhaps a refreshment for sitting around the fire afterwards.

For right now, these are one off events.  Once fat bike season really gets going we will get our weekly group rides going again.