Sasquatch Fat Bike Ride Debuts in Seeley Lake

SEELEY LAKE – Seeley Lake's Mike Lindemer partnered with SLE Outside to bring the first fat tire bike ride to Seeley Lake, March 5. His goals for the first Seeley Lake Sasquatch Fat Bike Ride are to bring people to Seeley Lake so they can see the recreational opportunities offered here and bring business to town during an otherwise quiet weekend. He hopes to make this an annual event.

Lindemer has organized the Seeley Lake Pond Hockey tournament for the past six years. He was looking for another event to attract a different group of people to Seeley Lake.

"Fat tire bike riding and racing is a new sport that is really starting to take off," said Lindemer.

Lindemer and his son Shane are two of the few riders that own fat tire bikes in Seeley Lake. While SLE Outside does have one available to rent, it hasn't gained popularity locally like it has in Butte, Missoula, Helena and other parts of the nation.

"It's not hard to pedal one of those bikes. It goes the speed of classic skiing and show shoeing," said Lindemer who enjoys talking while he rides and not being really competitive. "I like the moving sensation on a mechanical piece of equipment across the snow."

Fat tire bikes are not allowed on the Nordic ski trails in the area but they can ride on the groomed snowmobile trails with an $18 trail pass. Since the Sasquatch ride will be held on the local roads and snowmobile trails, the race will provide the three-year trail pass for participating riders that do not have one.

The event kick-off starts Friday night, March 4 at Lindey's Prime Steak House. Riders, who must be members of USA cycling to participate, can register from 5-7 p.m. and everyone is invited for a free climbing film starring Montana climber Conrad Anker starting at 7:30 p.m. New Belgium Brewery will be releasing a new IPA beer that will be available that night.

Riders can also register Saturday morning at SLE Outside starting at 9 a.m. There will be two distances for riders: A 10-mile and 20-mile loop, located in the Morrell Creek drainage northeast of Seeley Lake.

The 10-mile ride sports 500 feet of elevation gain while the 20-mile ride gains 800 feet. Everyone leaves and returns to SLE Outside with the clock starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday. No survival gear is required.

Lindemer hopes that riders will choose to stay the night and attend The Filling Station's annual beach party Saturday night after riding in the snow all day.

For more information, a map and to pre-register visit http://www.sleoutside.com/#!fat-bike-ride/aiapw.

 

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