The Hugh Jass series is now entering its 11th season, having celebrated its 10-year milestone in 2024. When Wisconsin winter tightens its icy grip, most riders hang up their bikes — but not the Hugh Jass crew. What began ten years ago as a tongue-in-cheek excuse to keep pedaling through the snow has grown into one of the Midwest’s most beloved winter fat-bike traditions.
Created by the team at Wheel & Sprocket and championed by Amelia Kegel, the Hugh Jass Fat Bike Series blends fast riding with costumes, bonfires, and laughs — proof that serious fun can still count as a race.
The How and Why
Back in the early 2010s, a few hardy (and slightly unhinged) winter riders wanted to prove that snow didn’t have to end the cycling season. Their solution? Create a race series that was part competition, part carnival.
The goal was simple: get more people on fat-bikes, build community, and laugh at the weather instead of cursing it.
The Where and When
The 2026 season features three official Hugh Jass races across Wisconsin.
2026 SCHEDULE
RACE #1 – January 17th @ Trek
- Welcome back Lumberjacks!!! We’re holding back our first race in hopes of SNOW & cold temps! Join us for our series opener at the Trek World Headquarters, on a CX World Cup course filled with Flyovers! Secret Bars! Challenging obstacles! and plenty of twists and turns. See all your Hugh Jasses at Trek!
RACE #2 – January 31st @ Hoyt Park NEW
- Down by the river and through the woods to the retention ponds we go! Join us for our BRAND NEW course in Wauwatosa, WI.
RACE #3 – February 14th @ Minooka Park
- Our series finale is taking us back to our original stomping grounds. We’ll race the awesome single & doubletrack of Minooka Park.
Registration starts at 9AM – Racing at 11AM
dates are subject to change
NEW! When Wisconsin dumps snow on us, Hugh Jass is throwing 1 POP-UP party & “race”. No date (yet). No details (yet). Series racers, email subscribers, & social media followers will be notified.
- Hugh Jass Website – https://hughjass.bike
- Hugh Jass Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/hughjassfatbike
The Vibe and Legacy
After a decade of creative courses, outrageous outfits, and frozen-finger high-fives, Hugh Jass has become more than a race — it’s a celebration of Wisconsin’s fat-bike culture and the community that keeps it spinning.
From first-time riders to seasoned racers, everyone’s welcome, and no one leaves without a story (or at least a frosty grin).
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