sprocket braden: Photos: Snow mountain biking

Monday, March 5, 2012

Photos: Snow mountain biking | Twin Cities Media Center

Posted Mar 03, 2012

They like mountain biking so much here, they do it all winter. See photos from mountain bikers on the snowy trails at Cuyuna Country State Rec Area near Crosby.

Read more from Outdoors reporter Dave Orrick and watch his handlebar-cam footage of his run down a mountain-biking trail at TwinCities.com.

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A mountain biker rides across Sagamore Mine Lake earlier this winter in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Crosby, Minn. The park recently opened 10 miles of trails designed specifically for fat tire winter cycling. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Hautala)
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Nick Statz, director of trail maintenance for the Cuyuna Lakes Mountain Bike Crew, works a technical section of trail in the Yawkey Unit of the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. This trail is generally only for summer use but has been opened occasionally while park officials weigh its safety for winter biking. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Hautala)
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Aaron Hautala of Deerwood Township, Minn., surmounts a rise of the Haul Road trail on Friday, March 2, 2012, in the Yawkey Unit. The trail opened as part of Whiteout, a winter biking event. (Pioneer Press: Dave Orrick)
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Bloomington, Minn.-based Surly Bikes helped spark a mini-explosion in fat tire mountain biking. The tires, often 4 inches wide, help riders gain stability and traction not possible on regular mountain bike tires. (Pioneer Press: Dave Orrick)
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Nick Statz sails through a section of trail named Bobsled. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Hautala)
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Casey Johnson of Robbinsdale, Minn., loosens up before heading off on a night ride. The night ride, followed by races the next morning, was part of Whiteout, an event to celebrate the opening of the 10 miles of snow mountain biking trails. (Pioneer Press: Dave Orrick)
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Bikers gather around a campfire overlooking Sagamore Mine Lake before the night ride. (Pioneer Press: Dave Orrick)
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A passing mountain biker's headlamp and the moon illuminate a fat tire trail in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area near Crosby, Minn. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Hautala)
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Maps are available at trailheads of the mountain biking trails in the Cuyuna Country State Recreation Area. The idea for the 10 miles of winter trails was conceived in October, and the trails opened Dec. 21. The trails are wide enough for two bikes and are groomed to pack the snow. (Pioneer Press: Dave Orrick)
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Riders await the start of a race Saturday morning. Fifty-seven riders registered for the three races (of six, 12 and 18 miles) that were part of Whiteout. (Photo courtesy of Aaron Hautala)