Black Butte Ranch to host 'fat bike' event

Trails are covered with snow or bogging down in mud. It's the end of the cycling season in Sisters Country, right? No way!

"Fat bikes" - mountain bikes with oversized tires - make getting out on two wheels a four-season activity. And Black Butte Ranch is creating an opportunity to do just that with a new event: The 2014 BBR Cow Patty Crit Fat Bike Races.

"We've been talking about doing some sort of fun winter mountain bike event to generate some interest and just more active, fun stuff on the Ranch during the off-season, said Kevin O'Hara, BBR supervisor of equipment rentals.

The Cow Patty Crit, set for 2 p.m. Monday, December 29, is a series of four-person short-track fat-bike races for any rider 15 years or older. Riders go over a very short and fun obstacle course including (but not limited to) stairs, ramps, logs, a rock garden and cyclocross-style barriers.

You'll have to wear a helmet and close-toed shoes, but you don't need a bike: Fatbikes will be provided.

Up to four people race at a time for four laps. Each race is considered a heat. Winning racers from each heat move on to the next heat until a final race is reached to determine first, second and third place.

There will be four categories: Men's 16-50 years; Men's 50-plus; Women's 16-50; Women's 50-plus. Up to 60 participants total.

Spectators don't have to freeze - beverages including beer and hot chocolate will be for sale, and propane heaters will be on site.

Early sign-ups are encouraged. Signups will be done on ultrasignup.com and can be taken on the day of the race. Entry is $10. There's a link available on Facebook and the BBR events calendar: http://ultrasignup.com/ register.aspx?did=30816.

https://www.facebook.com/events/729861680435969/?source=1

http://www.blackbutteranch.com/about-us/resort-events/cowpatty-crit-fat-bike-races_4/.

Though the races will surely get folks' competitive juices flowing and help them work off those big, rich holiday dinners, the Cow Patty Crit is all in the spirit of holiday fun.

"It's really for the sake of having a good time and getting out on a fat bike and getting out in the middle of winter just for the heck of it," said O'Hara.