Fat And Skinny Tire Fest Continues To Grow

Friday night’s critical mass ride started at the Trailhouse in Wiona Lake and ended at Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse in Warsaw.
WINONA LAKE — The 16th annual Fat & Skinny Tire Fest started off with the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. Friday, May 17, at the Trailhouse in Winona Lake. This was followed by the critical mass ride which started at the Trailhouse and ended at Mad Anthony’s Lake City Taphouse in Warsaw.
Kosciusko County Velo Cycling Club has hosted the all-size tires, family-friendly community event since 2004, in cooperation with the town of Winona Lake and the city of Warsaw, as part of the Ride+Walk Warsaw+Winona Lake initiative.
The goal for the event is to celebrate National Bicycle Month by offering healthy, fun, family-friendly opportunities in the community through bicycling education, awareness and activities.
Speakers at the event included President of KCV Cycling Club Greg Demopoulos, Winona Lake Town Coordinator Craig Allebach, Warsaw City Council Member Diane Quance and K21 Health Foundation Chair Andrew Grossnickle.
“We may actually beat the record of 530 people in the mass ride,” said Demopoulos. “We started this thing 16 years ago with 30 volunteers. This year we have 254 volunteers to pull this weekend off.”
The event raises awareness and funds for Bicycle Indiana, Ride+Walk Warsaw+Winona Lake, Winona Lake Trails, KCV Cycling Club and other area health and wellness organizations. Events and times for Saturday and Sunday (weather permitting) are listed below.
SATURDAY, MAY 18
- 7 a.m. Wildman Business Group Countryside Tour & Century Registration – Village at Winona | Green Earth Multisport
8 a.m. Wildman Business Group Countryside Tour & Century Grand Start
- 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. DINO Series Mountain Bike Races – Winona Lake Trails
10 a.m. Pro/Elite/Sport
Noon Base/Fat Bike/Clydesdales/Intro/Juniors
1:30 p.m. Kids races
- 11 a.m. Food Court and Expo Area Opens – Village at Winona
- 11a.m. to 6 p.m. Circuit Road Races – Claypool Elementary School
11 a.m. Men Cat 5
11:05 a.m. Women Cat 4/5
11:10 a.m. Juniors
1:05 p.m. Men Masters 40+
1:10 p.m. Men Cat 4
3:05 p.m. Men Cat 1/2
3:10 p.m. Men Cat 3
3:15 p.m. Women Cat 1/2/3
- Noon and 4 p.m. BMX Stunt Show (Contests after 4pm show) – Village at Winona
- 12:30 – 4 p.m. KCH Kids Events – Village at Winona
Tracy’s Trailer Bicycle Safety School
Face Painting
Decorate Your Bike
Family Scavenger Hunt
Skills Course
Coloring Contest
Inflatables
- 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Historical Winona Bike Tour (3-4 miles) – Village at Winona
- 2 p.m. MTB, BMX, 4X/Four Cross and Short Track XC Practice – Hire Park
- 3 p.m. DINO Mountain Bike Race Awards – Expo Stage | Village at Winona
- 4-9 p.m. Live Music by Lalo Cura & Unlikely Alibi – Village at Winona
- 5:30 p.m. 4X (Four Cross), Short Track XC, & BMX Races – Hire Park
- 8 p.m. Robbie Gast “Ride On” Award – Village at Winona
SUNDAY, MAY 19
- 7 a.m. Zimmer Biomet Road Criterium Registration – Village at Winona
- 9 a.m. Info Booth and Kids Registration Opens – Village at Winona
- 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Zimmer Biomet Road Criterium Races – Village at Winona
8:30 a.m. Juniors
9:05 a.m. Masters 40+
10 a.m. Juniors 14-18
10:45 a.m. Men Cat 5
11:25 a.m. Men Cat 4
12:15 p.m. Women Cat 4/5
National Anthem
12:55 p.m. Men Cat 3/4
1:50 p.m. Women Cat 1/2/3
2:45 p.m. Men Pro Cat 1/2/3
- 10 a.m. Inflatables and Mad Anthony’s Beer Garden Opens – Village at Winona
- 10 a.m. Group Trail Ride With Professional Mountain Biker, Jeff Lenosky – Trailhouse Village Bicycles
- 1 p.m. Group Trail Ride With Professional Mountain Biker, Jeff Lenosky – Trailhouse Village Bicycles
- 4 p.m. Ortho Cup Corporate Challenge Cruiser Race Qualifying (4 laps per team rider) – Village at Winona
- 4:30 p.m. Kids Races (Ages: Striders & TW/4-5/6-7/8-9/10-12) – Village at Winona
- 4:45 p.m. Ortho Cup Corporate Challenge Cruiser Race Finals (4 laps per team rider) – Village at Winona
MUSIC SCHEDULE
Friday:
- The Sleepovers – Downtown Warsaw
Saturday:
- Lalo Cura & Unlikely Alibi – Village at Winona