This blow-out bike fest offers something for every kind of rider — and every age

Joseph Dits, South Bend Tribune
·2 min read
Young bicyclists start the kids race around the island in Winona Lake during the 2023 Fat & Skinny Tire Fest.
Young bicyclists start the kids race around the island in Winona Lake during the 2023 Fat & Skinny Tire Fest.

However you use or ride bicycles — and at whatever age — you’ll find a way to do that with others in the 19th annual Fat & Skinny Tire Festival from May 17 to 19 in Winona Lake. Last year, the celebration counted about 2,300 participants, 7,000 spectators and 300 volunteers. It’s a packed schedule, plus food, drink and entertainment, thanks to the nonprofit Kosciusko County Velo. Full schedule details and costs are at fatandskinnytirefest.com.

A critical mass ride for anyone launches at 6:30 p.m. May 17 from the Village at Winona to downtown Warsaw, where a BMX stunt show starts at 7 p.m. and activities for kids and criterium races for serious adults at 7:30 p.m., then shuttles at 8 p.m. back to the start.

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On May 18, there’s a countryside bike tour departing between 8 and 9:30 a.m. from the Village at Winona with five route options ranging from 12 to 101 miles, plus food stops along the way. Road and mountain bike races will run through the day, a BMX stunt show at 4 p.m. and live music at 7 p.m. from the band The Super Kools. Easy-going historical Winona Lake tours on bikes will start at 1 and 3 p.m.

On May 19, there are criterium road races for all ages, along with free mountain bike clinics for youths at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., among other youth activities.

Bike to Work breakfast delayed

The rainy forecast has led Michiana Bike to Work Week organizers to delay the free blueberry pancake breakfast by one day and move it to a new downtown South Bend location. Originally set for Tuesday morning, May 14 at the Jon R. Hunt Memorial Plaza, it will instead be from 7 to 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 15 at the Gridiron by the former College Football Hall of Fame.

Read more about the full Bike to Work Week schedule in our story online.

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Find columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures or 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Fat & Skinny Tire Festival in Winona Lake has bicycle riding racing