Costumed fatbikers descend on Albion Fat Bike Festival
Fast racing meets a flair for the the dramatic in Ontario fat bike race series
As Canadians, we rarely let winter weather hinder our outdoor events, be it snow, sleet, or … no snow? In the week before the Albion Fat Bike Festival, second race of the 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series p/b Cannondale, temperatures soared above freezing and then plunged again, leaving the terrain covered with a thick layer of ice. Despite the meteorological challenge, a last-minute re-design of the course by the organizers meant riders still enjoyed a 10-kilometer loop of fat bike pleasure.
Albion Fat Bike Festival gives races the choice of a 10km or 20km race. Once everyone’s legs and lungs are good and tired, there’s the Poker Run. A fun follow up to the main show that adds costumes to a more casual “race” feel.
The Poker Run, which started at 10am, is one of the big draws of the Albion Fat Bike Festival. The objective of the format is not to finish first, but to finish with the best hand of cards collected during the ride. The winner, Kyle Kerry, got himself a brand-new complete fat bike, courtesy of Apple Self Storage and Evolution Cycles.
Many participants in the Poker Run rode in costume, with some of the standouts being a Lego minifigure, Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf, and a sheriff on his trusty steed (yes, the bike had a costume).
Before the poker ride could start, though, there was proper racing to be done. A dusting of snow covered the trails the day before the event. When 120 riders in the 20 km and 10 km categories lined up for a nippy 9am start, it felt like a proper winter race. The course was fast and flowing with lots of gentle rolling climbs and a few patches of ice. Studded tires still turned out to be a big asset for crossing the small patches of remaining ice.
Leading on lap one, Jack Padega (Salsa/45NRTH/Outspokin) came around in under 25 minutes, with a strong gap over second place. Following him, the racers were closely packed through the 120-rider field. At the end, there was only a one-minute difference from second to fifth place. Padega held on to the lead for the win in Albion. Luke Hlavenka, and Seth Stewart rounded out the overall top three.
In the women’s category, Kaitlyn Shikaze, riding for the Oakville Cyclepath race team, led the way home. She was followed 40 seconds later by Sarah Caylor, who was riding with broken ribs suffered in a crash earlier in the week. Jenn Rodgers made a strong return to the OFBS to take third place.
Race number three of the 45NRTH Ontario Fat Bike Series is coming up on January 26 at the Georgian Nordic Outdoor Activity Centre in Parry Sound. Don’t let Old Man Winter’s flip-flopping temperatures get you down – just get out on your fat bike and join in!
Full results from the Albion Fat Bike Festival can be found below:
