How to Host a Global Fat Bike Day Everyone Remembers

Global Fat Bike Day happens every year on the first Saturday of December and this year that's December 6. It’s a worldwide celebration of winter riding and community, and the perfect excuse to get your local crew together for a cold-weather adventure. Here’s how to make your ride one people will look forward to every year.

Photo by Nick Meyer

Across the Northwoods and anywhere around the globe where people ride fat bikes, riders gather to celebrate the start of another winter on two wheels. Global Fat Bike Day is a laid-back, community-fueled way to usher in the winter season and collectively embrace the active outdoor winter.

Are you planning your own Global Fat Bike Day ride? Keep it simple, but make it memorable. Pick a route that feels like an adventure, start somewhere that already brings people together, and focus on the hangout as much as the ride itself.

Here a few quick hits to make Global Fat Bike Day an awesome event that everyone wants in on.

Pick a Route That Feels Like an Adventure

Don’t overthink it, but don’t pick something forgettable, either. A short loop with a mix of terrain (woods, shoreline, river ramble, maybe a coffee stop) beats a long, monotonous grind. Aim for 1–2 hours of riding so everyone can hang out afterward.

Pro tip: If your area has unpredictable snow, consider a fat bike route aand mtb or gravel fallback route.

Find a Starting Spot Everyone Already Loves

If it makes sense for your location, skip the random trailhead in the woods and start your Global Fat Bike Day ride somewhere people already love gathering. That might be your local coffee shop, brewery, or bike shop. When riders can grab a drink, chat, and warm up before rolling out, the energy feels instantly social.

BONUS: Make that business a partner in the event. Ask if they want to open early, offer coffee specials, or have them help spread the word. The more connected your ride is to your local scene, the more it becomes the community event people mark on their calendars each year.

Give Everyone Something Just for Showing Up

A simple, fun, and inexpensive gift makes your ride feel instantly special. Partner with a local shop or sponsor to create a small freebie for everyone who shows up, maybe stickers, hot coffee, branded beanies, or a plate of waffles and bacon waiting at the start.

Make It Easy for Anyone to Join

Keep it open and chill. No race timing, no entry fee. Announce the pace (“no-drop,” “medium-spicy,” “party pace”) so riders know what to expect. Encourage people with any fat bike setup like geared, single-speed, or borrowed, to show up.

Bonus: Offer a short-loop option so newer riders can peel off early.

Create a Theme or Tradition

A theme makes a special ride feel like more than every other ride. It doesn't need to be crazy creative, but it can help make the event stand out and build community. If the weather's not too cold, maybe it's a flannel or long underwear ride or a post-hunting season blaze orange ordeal. Food related theme ideas are quick and easy, think waffles and coffee, bacon and bonfires, donuts on the lake, or chili feed. Keep it simple and shareable.

Partner with a Local Bike Shop

Invite your local coffee shop, brewery, or bike shop to get involved. They could:

• Host pre- or post-ride hangouts

• Offer a “Fat Bike Day” special

• Donate raffle prizes (a beanie, a free tune-up, or a drink ticket)

Small collaborations build community and make the day feel bigger than just a ride.

Have a Fire or Warm-Up Spot

December gets cold, duh, and fat bikers love a good bonfire. Find a (legal) spot for a campfire for the post-ride hangout. People will hang out longer, tell stories, roast things, and actually connect.

Keep the Vibes Going with Food, Beer, or Coffee Right at the Ending Point

Every great ride needs a landing spot. A local brewery, diner, cafe, or cabin porch with chili and thermoses works perfectly. The ride brings people together, but the hangout keeps them coming back next year.

Bonus: Don't make it somewhere people have to drive to after the ride or the majority of people will disappear. Plan the ride to end right at the food/drink/hangout point.

Spread the Word Early

Post your event at least two weeks and make sure to:

• Create a Facebook event

• Ask local bike shops and bike clubs to give it a share.

• Create a Strava event

• Share it with The Nxrth and we'll post it on our Global Fat Bike Day event calendar

Include the essentials: time, meeting point, route distance, and a “what to bring” list (helmet, lights, snacks, etc.).

Plan The Group Photo Ahead of Time

Avoid the pre-ride photo chaos; half the crew is still unloading bikes, someone’s grabbing gloves from the car, and you’ll end up missing the real moment. Instead, take it mid-ride when everyone’s there, smiling, and their bikes look properly snow-dusted. Plan the spot in advance so it looks great and fits the whole crew. Everyone gets to be a part of the memory and can share it afterwards.

Make It an Annual Thing!

After the ride, share photos, recap stories, and start planning next year’s edition. Once people know it’s happening again, your small local ride becomes an annual winter ritual.

The Heart of Global Fat Bike Day

Every Global Fat Bike Day has its own flavor. In some towns it’s a huge group ride, in others it’s a few friends meeting up before sunrise. The size doesn’t matter or even if there's any snow. What matters is showing up, riding something that makes you feel alive, and sharing the trails with people who love winter just as much as you do.

This tradition reminds us that even when the days are short and cold, there’s still plenty of joy to be found outside, especially when we find it together.