FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival

The 28th Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival sponsored by Trek is set to roll Sept. 17-19.
The main event, the Chequamegon 40, will start on Main Street in Hayward at 10 a.m. on Saturday as 1700 riders roll out of town and out Highway 77. The Short & Fat will see 800 riders head south out of Cable on a 16-mile race starting at the same time. Both events will finish on the grounds of Telemark Resort.

With the shuttering of Telemark Resort, all Chequamegon activities will shift to the 80 x 160 foot tent outside the resort. Festival director Gary Crandall expects a circus-like atmosphere under the large walled tent. The sponsor exposition and bib pick-up will take place here, as well as Chequamegon souvenir concession sales. J & D Custom Catering will provide the food and Angry Minnow Brewing the adult beverages.

On Friday, the weekend starts with CAMBA (the Chequamegon Area Mountain Bike Association) trail tours at the Highway 00 trailhead in Seeley, showcasing the new singletrack there. The Pasta Feed hosted by the Northwood's Preschool and American legion has also moved to a new location at the Cable Community Center on County Highway M from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m..

Saturday's races are preceded by Children's Bicycle Parades in Cable and Hayward at 9 a.m.

The Chequamegon 40 and Short & Fat courses will again use the same routes as last year. Despite the wet summer, both courses remain in good condition. Prevailing race day conditions will determine if the long course record set at just under two hours and three minutes by Brian Matter in 2009 will remain.

Brian Matter will return to defend his title. The Sheboygan, Wis. rider also won the Chequamegon 40 in 2004, and he was a member of the US World Championship cyclocross team in 2008. He will be challenged by two-time champion Doug Swanson and three-time champion Steve Tilford from Topeka, Kan.

Jenna Rinehart will also return to defend her 2009 title in the Chequamegon 40. She will be chased by three-time champ Catherine Walberg, another Topeka rider. Perhaps Rinehart's biggest challenge will come from Sara Kylander-Johnson, a Trek-sponsored rider from Duluth, Minn. Kylander-Johnson, who didn't race in 2009, won the Chequamegon 40 in 2006.

Jake Richards returns in the Short & Fat to try to win the race for the third year in a row. The Callaway, Minn. rider will be chased by two other Minnesotans - Luke Baker of Granite Falls and Daniel Glisczinski of Duluth. In the women's short race, Cindy Bijold of Hayward hopes to repeat as champion. Last year's second and third place finishers, Camilla Schmitz and Lori Belz who finished just seconds behind Bijold, will be in close pursuit.

On Sunday, the Cable Crit-Cross, a multi-lap cyclocross race at Telemark Resort, and the Rough Stuff Poker Ride, an orienteering event, highlight the day. The RSPR begins at 9:00 a.m. and the Crit-cross starts at 10:00 a.m. The Sunday Funday events will entertain spectators and participants with a log pull, bicycle limbo, bicycle toss, hill climb, slow race and more from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. Sunday Funday events are free and open to the public.

RIDERS TO WATCH

Chequamegon 40 Men

Mark Lalonde: Madison, Wis., fourth in 2009 Chequamegon 40

Brian Matter: Sheboygan, Wis. 2004 and 2009 Chequamegon champion, course record holder.

Chris Peariso: Amherst, Wis. seventh in 2009 Chequamegon 40

Doug Swanson: Plymouth, Minn., 2003 and 2005 Chequamegon 40 champion

Steve Tilford: Topeka, Kan., Won the race in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Third in 2009.

Chequamegon 40 Women

Sara Kylander-Johnson: Duluth, Minn. 2006 champion, winner of the Seeley Lions Pre-Fat 2010

Jenna Rinehart: Mankato, Minn., 2007 and 2009 Chequamegon 40 champion

Abigail Strigel: Madison, Wis., fourth in 2009 Chequamegon 40

Catherine Walberg: Topeka, Kan. A veteran who won in 1997, 2000 and 2001. Third in 2009.

Short & Fat Men

Luke Baker: Granite Falls, Minn., third in 2009 Short & Fat

Dan Glisczinski: Duluth, Minn., fourth in 2009 Short & Fat

Jake Richards: Callaway, Minn., 2008 and 2009 Short & Fat champion.

Short & Fat Women

Lori Belz: Stillwater, Minn. third in 2009 Short & Fat.

Cindy Bijold: Hayward, WI. Former Chequamegon 40 winner. 2009 Short & Fat champion.

Camilla Schmitz: Minneapolis, Minn., second in 2009 Short & Fat.

 

CHILDREN'S EVENTS

On Saturday, kids can ride in bicycle parades in either Cable or Hayward. Bike decoration starts at 8 a.m. and the parade rolls out at 9 a.m. In Hayward, children should gather on the 200 block of Main Street and in Cable at the start line off Randysek at the fire hall.

The Chequamegon Fat Tire Festival will provide balloons and streamers, but kids can also decorate their bikes before the event. Expect prizes, surprises and treats for all.

On Sunday, kids can ride in the Bicycle Rodeo at the base of Telemark ski hill at Telemark Resort. The rodeo includes a bike limbo, a bike relay, a log pull and an obstacle course. The parade and rodeo are free and open to all kids under 12. Helmets are required.

RACE ROAD CLOSURES

Forest roads will have limited access on Sept. 18 during the race from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Only permitted race vehicles, local residents and hunters will have access during this time.

In the town of Spider Lake, Telemark Road/Spider Lake Fire Lane from Clear Lake Road north to the town line, Boedecker Road from the town line east to Spider Lake Fire Lane and Janet Road from the town line north to Boedecker Road will be closed.

In the town of Lenroot, Boedecker Road from Northern Lights Road east to the town line and Janet Road from Highway OO north to the town line will be closed.

The Spider Lake Fire Lane from Telemark Road south to the town line will be closed in the town of Cable.

Race support vehicles need a permit from race headquarters prior to race morning to use these closed roads. Contact the Chequamegon office before race morning at [email protected] with details of rider receiving support, the support vehicle driver's name and vehicle type.

These road closures will increase rider safety during the event. Increased traffic on the course recently has endangered riders and also resulted in long delays for traffic on race day. Spectators using these roads need to be in place before 10:30 a.m.

PARKING RESTRICTIONS IN HAYWARD ON RACE MORNING

Hayward resident and visitors should take note the entire length of Main Street from Railroad Street to Wittwer Road will be a NO PARKING area from 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 18 for the start of the Chequamegon 40.

All intersecting side streets will be barricaded by the city by 6 a.m. Passage across Main Street will be allowed on Highway 63 and at Fifth Street until just before the start of the race at 10 a.m.