Make Me Skinny

Or rather; MAKEMESKINNY, in all caps no spaces is the code for a discount online registration to the entire Hugh Jass Fat Bike Series. For a mere $100 you can be registered online for every race. All the better if you plan to attend, or even participate. Their first race is this coming weekend October 15th; Sweetest Day. It is more fun in the snow.

I saw fat bikes for less than $300 at Farm and Fleet. Otherwise they can run into the thousands of dollars. I saw them on display at Johnson’s Bikes on good old North Avenue. I believe that is where our dad took us for our first bikes some forty years ago. My older brother got a brand new bike and I got a dinged up used bike. The good old days when the eldest son was king and the only thing worse was an only child.

Levi Trow Mound and Silver Lake are some of the trails I heard may be groomed for fat bikes this Winter. Which is good since Ray’s Indoor Mountain Bike Park has closed in Milwaukee. Not sure why, but I would say, “It’s the economy stupid.” That would be a political line from days gone past which would be completely valid for this election if a republican were in office.

So you can go to Cleveland for indoor mountain biking or go underground in Kentucky.

WORS is continuing to downsize, not necessarily by choice. After 23 years the Sheboygan event will be no more. A great race that all enjoyed but difficulties working with Parks and a lack of volunteers has made it too difficult to perpetrate. You can find some videos from those races on my YouTube site. As it looks now WORS and WEMS will each have nine races next year.

Truly the bit more worry, the bit more stress, being at times strapped for cash has turned peoples minds away from recreation submersion. They are looking for a few events rather than a Summertime commitment. Fewer races may well translate into higher participation numbers however. It will also ease the decision making process as fewer events will overlap. Mountain Biking is as strong as ever, it is just not the same as it used to be.

There will be more trail work days yet this year if you are interested in volunteering with Metro Mountain Bikers; a local IMBA Chapter. The Fall Social Ride is October 22 and there is talk of a Winter Social Ride.

The $142 question: What were my three most favorite WORS races? Keeping the same question. Check out the Charity Jackpot Page link in the sidebar to possibly triple the amount.