Welcome back to Weekly Dose of Fat, your Thursday-night hit of snow, sand, and sometimes questionable life choices. This week, riders around the world rolled in unity for Alex Pretti, Cranbrook prepped for its Cold Ride, and race calendars from Iowa to France stacked up with fresh events. We’ve also got new gloves, new tires, e-fatbike picks, and a handful of wild-card stories that might send you to the dunes or into a shoreline legal rabbit hole.

Frostbike 2026 cancelled amid Minneapolis safety concerns
Quality Bicycle Products (QBP) has cancelled the 2026 edition of its in-house trade show Frostbike
Frostbike, which was set to return February 26–28 after a hiatus since 2022. In an email to exhibitors and attendees, QBP president Rich Tauer said the company had been monitoring federal immigration enforcement activity in the Minneapolis metro area for the past six weeks and concluded that the current situation could make travel “potentially unsafe for some attendees,” which in their view meant the event wasn’t truly safe for anyone.
https://www.bicycleretailer.com/industry-news/2026/02/04/qbp-pulls-plug-frostbike-due-minneapolis-situation
Multiple other sources

Fat Bike Birkie continues build‑up for Feb 28, 2026
Registration and buzz are heating up for the 2026 Fat Bike Birkie
North America’s premier on‑snow fat‑bike event in Cable, WI offers up the Big Fat 47K, Half Fat 21K, and Fun Fat 10K rides plus equipment expo and community festivities.
https://www.birkie.com/bike/events/fat-bike-birkie/

Cold Ride returns to Cranbrook with two frosty routes
East Kootenay fat-bikers get their mid-winter party lap.
The “Have a Good Ride – Cold Ride” event is back in Cranbrook with two routes on local trails and a whole lot of community stoke packed into one chilly weekend. If you like your group rides with legit winter vibes and small-town hospitality, this one belongs on your bucket list.
https://www.myeastkootenaynow.com/53264/news/community/cold-ride-returns-to-cranbrook-with-two-frosty-cycling-routes/

Shorewood beach access case could ripple through Great Lakes fat-biking in Wisconsin
One trespassing ticket, a whole lot of shoreline questions.
In Shorewood, a $313 trespassing citation for walking along the Lake Michigan shoreline is headed for appeal and could eventually clarify how much of the beach is truly public. For fat-bikers who like to cruise the winter shoreline below the high-water mark, this case is worth watching. What happens here could shape rideable beach access up and down the lake.
https://www.wpr.org/news/shorewood-trespassing-citation-could-decide-future-of-beach-access-in-wisconsin

Fat-tire bikes officially roll onto Highland Park trail
New singletrack, same old debate: who gets to ride it?
A recent story out of the Twin Cities covers fat-tire bikes being welcomed onto the Highland Park trail in the Mississippi River Gorge, with local advocates emphasizing shared-use etiquette and winter durability. Even without the full article text, the headline alone is a good sign: more urban trail systems are acknowledging that fat-bikes belong in the mix.
https://www.myvillager.com/news/general_news/fat-tire-bikes-roll-onto-highland-park-trail/article_3251c880-0fc9-443d-9059-2f2c9d01e135.html

Snow bike goes fully legit: 2026 UCI Snow Bike World Championships
World Champs in Châtel = the sport has absolutely arrived.
The 2026 UCI Snow Bike World Championships drop this Saturday, February 7, in Châtel, marking the third year in a row the alpine resort hosts the world’s best snow bike racers. Expect high-speed berms, chairlift laps, and a whole lot of “I could totally do that” yelled at livestream screens around the world. Check out fat-biking’s semi-legit cousin!
https://www.uci.org/article/2026-uci-snow-bike-world-championships-defending-winners-back-for-more/1UQiJo30RByEYh62faVP4j

We Ride Fat Bikes In Unity — global rides for Alex Pretti
Hundreds of riders, one message: we don’t ride alone.
Seeley Dave’s piece on the Hayward ride captures just how many riders showed up worldwide to ride in remembrance of Alex Pretti, with a big turnout on CAMBA’s Hospital Trails and sister rides popping up across at least a dozen countries. The article reads like a love letter to community, snow, and showing up for each other.
https://fat-bike.com/2026/02/we-ride-fat-bikes-in-unity/

More coverage of the broader movement:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-alex-pretti-memorial-bike-ride-9.7069802
https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2026/02/01/hayward-fat-bike-riders-take-to-the-snow-in-solidarity-remembrance-of-alex-pretti/

Kajabi was built for people with earned expertise. Coaches, educators, practitioners, and creators who developed their wisdom through real work and real outcomes.

In a world drowning in AI-generated noise, trust is the new currency. Trust requires proof, credibility, and a system that amplifies your impact.

Kajabi Heroes have generated more than $10 billion in revenue. Not through gimmicks or hype, but through a unified platform designed to scale human expertise.

One place for your products, brand, audience, payments, and marketing. One system that helps you know what to do next.

Turn your experience into real income. Build a business with clarity and confidence.

Kajabi is where real experts grow.

Start Your Free Trial

First Look: Handup ColdEST Gloves for Fat Biking
When your bar tape is frozen but your fingers aren’t.
Greg at Fat-bike.com just dropped a first-look at the Handup ColdEST Gloves—mid-to-heavy winter gloves aimed squarely at fat-bike temps where “a little chilly” means “my beard is crunchy.” They’re built for truly cold days but still look rideable enough for shifting and braking without feeling like you’re wearing oven mitts.
URL: https://fat-bike.com/2026/01/first-look-handup-coldest-gloves-for-fat-biking/

Best Gear for Fat-Biking — updated January 23, 2026
One-stop gear brain instead of fifteen open tabs.
The refreshed “Best Gear for Fat-Biking” roundup pulls together vetted picks for studs, racks, wheels, pogies, lights, tools, and winter layers, tuned for common 26×4.0, 26×5.0, and 27.5 fat setups. If you’re in decision paralysis about tires or pogies, this is a solid starting point that’s actually kept current.
https://fat-bike.com/2026/01/fat-bike-gear-recommendations/

WTB Bailiff
Court is in session for your contact patch.
WTB’s fat-bike catalog has essentially narrowed down to the Bailiff, a modern 26-inch fat tire positioned as their go-to option for big rubber. It’s tubeless-ready, sold direct, and a nice sign that bigger brands still see enough demand to keep at least one dedicated fat casing in the line. Studded were out of stock as of this writing but standard 4.5 × 27.5s are available.
https://www.wtb.com/collections/fat-bike-tires

Wallpaper Wednesday – Dune Riding Anyone?
Atacama dunes, fat-bikes, and spring-break daydream fuel.
This week’s wallpaper features a fat-bike carving the Atacama Desert in Chile, with a shout-out to guided dune tours and a reminder that sand can be just as addictive as snow—just warmer and significantly less frozen-nose-hair-y.
https://fat-bike.com/2026/02/wallpaper-wednesday-dune-riding-anyone/

Terrene Johnny 5 — 26×5.0 studdable fat tire
When you absolutely, positively must float through the worst snow on the trail.
The Johnny 5 is a 26×5.0 paddle with up to 320 stud pockets, designed for extreme soft conditions and full-on winter missions. It’s tubeless-ready and widely available both from Terrene and shops in snowy zip codes.
Terrene: https://www.terrenetires.com/collections/johnny-5/26
Shop option: https://bikestud.com/products/johnny-5-26-tire-120-tpi

Lake Macbride Fat Tire Classic — February 7, 2026
Iowa gravel, beaches, singletrack, and snowmobile trails in one loop.
The Lake Macbride Fat Tire Classic offers 15- and 30-mile options on a mix of pea gravel, singletrack, beaches, snowmobile trails, and gravel roads around Lake Macbride. It’s less “endurance sufferfest” and more “roller-coaster tour of every surface you can ride in a day.”
https://fat-bike.com/mc-events/9th-annual-lake-macbride-fat-tire-classic/?mc_id=1171

Stanley Fat Bike Fondo — February 14, 2026
Sawtooth views, Valentine’s Day vibes, and winterfest energy.
Held during Stanley Winterfest, the Fondo sends riders through the Stanley Basin with big views of the Sawtooth Mountains and a course that feels like an all-day postcard. You get groomed goodness plus a festival atmosphere when you roll back into town.
https://fat-bike.com/mc-events/stanley-fat-bike-fondo/?mc_id=1173

Bike Across the Bay — February 15, 2026
Racing fat-bikes over the frozen surface of Lake Superior.
Chequamegon Bay’s classic returns, sending riders across the ice with brownstone shorelines on one side and the world’s largest freshwater lake underneath. It’s one of those “only-on-a-fat-bike” events that should probably come with a mandatory selfie at the start line.
https://fat-bike.com/mc-events/bike-across-the-bay-2/?mc_id=1182

Snow Crown Series — U.S. Fat Bike Open, February 7, 2026
Laps, categories, and proper racing vibes in Brillion, WI.
The Snow Crown Series’ U.S. Fat Bike Open at the Ariens Nordic Center stacks a full day of category racing on a 2.2-mile course, from juniors to elites. If you want a race-day schedule that looks like a ski event but smells like chain lube, this is your ticket.
https://snowcrownseries.com/

Seeley Big Fat Race recap & Otso Arctodus raffle
CAMBA’s fundraiser + dream-bike raffle = groomer fuel.
The Seeley Big Fat Race ran January 17 with a raffle for an Otso Arctodus to support grooming over 70 miles of CAMBA fat-bike trails around Hayward and Seeley. Even if you didn’t win the bike, the event pumped much-needed funds into some of the best winter singletrack around.
Check out the results - https://www.webscorer.com/race?raceid=418464

City of Lakes Loppet — fat-bike marathons in Minneapolis
XC ski festival with bonus fat-bike chaos.
The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival is back, and alongside skis and skijor, they’re hosting fat-bike marathons on groomed trails in Theodore Wirth Park. If you’ve ever wanted to mix fat tires, Nordic vibes, and urban skyline views, this is your chance.
URL: https://www.axios.com/local/twin-cities/2026/01/29/twin-cities-weekend-guide-loppet-heated-rivalry-bike-swap

HEB Viperess 26×4.0 e-bike fat tires
Motorcycle vibes for overbuilt e-fat rigs.
Happy Ebikes’ Viperess tire set comes in 26×4.0 with heavy-duty construction, anti-puncture tech, and load ratings aimed at torquey e-fat bikes—basically a motorcycle-lite casing for riders who are hard on gear. Free shipping and quick turnaround make this an appealing upgrade if your stock tires are crying uncle under winter commuting loads.
https://happyebikes.com/products/heb-viperess-26x4-fat-tire-set-of-2-tires-and-2-tubes

Hycline 26×4.0 E-Bike Fat Tire Replacement Set (Amazon)
Budget rubber for beating on your commuter fat-bike.
This Amazon kit bundles a 26×4.0 tire, tube, and lever in one package, aimed at e-fat riders who need durable, all-terrain tread for mixed street and trail. Not the sexiest tire on earth, but the price-to-durability ratio makes it a solid “keep my rig rolling” option.
Ships fast via Prime. - https://amzn.to/3LTAWMl (Affiliate Link)

Reddit Roundup: NBDs, dune dreams, and winter stoke
The hive mind is alive and pedaling.
Recent posts on r/fatbike show everything from first-fat-bike grins on Surly Wednesdays to Ti-frame NBDs and “perfect trail conditions” reports from Quebec and beyond. When in doubt, pop over there for a reminder that somewhere, right now, someone is riding perfect corduroy while you’re doomscrolling.
https://www.reddit.com/r/fatbike

That’s this week’s Weekly Dose of Fat: unity rides, frozen lakes, alpine World Champs, fresh gear, and a couple of ideas that might get you in trouble with your PTO balance.

If this landed in your inbox and made you want to go ride (or shop for yet another tire you “definitely need”), here’s your homework:

Ride safe, stay upright, and may your next trail be freshly groomed and mysteriously empty.

Greg

You are reading Weekly Dose of Fat, delivered every Thursday night. Forward this to a friend who needs more snow and sand in their life.

🛑 DISCLOSURE: As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.