A snowy winter weekend in
the Great Wisconsin North.
Comfortable, yet Adventurous
Groomed fat bike trails by day, then supper clubs and crackling fires by night. All on the weekend of Jan 31-Feb 2. Hosted at the Meyer Cabin on Sugar Camp Lake (above), between Rhinelander & Eagle River, 2.5 hours from Eau Claire.
The Lake Cabin
With four bedrooms plus a large bunk room, up to five people can have their own queen bed, and up to four more can occupy single lower or upper bunks.
Full kitchen, three bathrooms, large heated bike garage, and plenty of space for a bunch of fat tire riders and their gear. Plus a clothes dryer for wet stuff.
Breakfasts and lunches at the cabin, dinners out in the woods at local supper clubs.
Epic Fat Tire Fun
Enjoy multiple regional options for fat biking, including the highly-regarded WinMan Trail System in Winchester, which offers half of their 20 miles of flowy trails groomed up for the winter, alongside a warming lodge and bar.
Supper Clubs
Less than a mile from the cabin is the classic White Stag Inn (pictured), previously featured in the New York Times. Not too far down the road is the equally delightful McGregor’s Blink Bonnie Supper Club in St. Germain. At either (or both!), Old Fashioneds will be in hand and generous portions of northern hospitality will abound.
Fatathlon Bike Race
Some years if the date is right (its not in 2024), some or all could participate Saturday morning in the LAMBO Fatathlon event – a 9-mile (or 26!) mass start fat bike race and cornhole biathlon on St. Germain’s Shannon Lake Trail. Good times, warming tents, fire pits, and bragging rights. Registration is $45. Nick did it in 2022 (so you know it’s doable!)
Poker Payoff
Care to make it interesting? Use the cabin game table and a few bucks to play a little low-stakes evening poker near the fire. Or just hang out for the fun.
Eclectic Diversions
For a short break from the snow, visit an odd regional attraction. For those who haven’t been, perhaps Ed’s Northwoods Petroleum Museum in nearby Three Lakes – a surprisingly awesome look at the heyday of mid-century gas stations and related memorabilia. Even chat with Ed himself. (That photo is of just ONE of the rooms.)
Suggested Itinerary:
FRIDAY
• Depart Eau Claire - 7:30am
• Go directly to WinMan Trails - Arrive 10:30am
• Ride trails, eat sack lunch in lodge, ride some more
• Depart for cabin mid-afternoon (45 min drive)
• Settle at cabin, prepare for dinner
• Supper Club #1 - 6-8pm
• Fire, Cards, Camaraderie
SATURDAY
• Collaborative breakfast at cabin
• Fatty Road or Trail Ride - 9am
• Lunch at back at cabin
• More riding or another outing of some sort
• Supper Club #2 - 5-7pm
• Fire, Cards, Camaraderie
SUNDAY
• Breakfast, clean up, depart for home
• Arrive back in Eau Claire around noon
*Itinerary can shift as needed
Additional Logistics
FOOD PLAN: To be determined, but all will contribute items for two breakfasts (Saturday and Sunday) and one lunch (Saturday). Bring your own sack lunch for Friday.
TRANSPORTATION: Nick can take 4 bikes & 4 guys, so additional vehicle(s) and bike rack(s) likely needed. All chip in for gas.
NEED A BIKE? Fat Bikes can be rented at Spring Street Sports in Chippewa ahead of departure. Some rental options may also exist up north.
APPAREL: For crying out loud, bring warm gear!
It’s a Stroll in the Woods
Double track (at Tara Lila), Single Track (at Winman and Shannon Lake), and wide-open lake rides (Sugar Camp). There’s a bit of everything at the Northern Fat Bike Weekend!
Let’s Go.
Winter 2024
Questions? Email nick@volumeone.org
© 2022 Nick Meyer
