QUEENSBURY — The snow had an icy crust that cracked into a soft, wet mix across the terrain of Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park. The sky was a gloomy gray and it was that damp-type of cold that sunk through your skin.
It was hard enough to navigate on snowshoes, and yet the racers of the 4th annual Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Day zoomed by on their bikes with child-like grins plastered to their faces.
![Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Race](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=150%2C108 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=200%2C144 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=225%2C162 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=300%2C216 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=400%2C288 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=540%2C389 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=640%2C461 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=750%2C540 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=990%2C713 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C746 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C865 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C960 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1063 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/51/b51a66e4-a028-11ed-bc00-27f5efc7db90/63d6fa8590ae5.image.jpg?resize=1696%2C1222 2008w)
Riders, led by Brian Galletta of Long Island, cruise through the course during the 4th annual Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Day on Sunday at Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park in Queensbury.
Jenn March, Special to The Post-Star
Bob Underwood, who has organized both this race and the summer race for mountain bikers over the last four years, estimated that some racers for this year’s fat tire bike event were deterred by rain in the forecast. By the start of the race, there were 52 registrants, many of whom registered the day of the event.
However, Underwood said that of those registered, only 40-45 showed up to ride. It has been more of the same in previous years with registered riders being in the 50-60 range, approximately half of whom are local to the Queensbury or greater Capital Region areas.
People are also reading…
Fat Tire Bike Day provides two races for bikers: a 5-mile and 10-mile, both at midday. Rick’s Bike Shop of Queensbury and Grey Ghost Bicycles of Glens Falls provided bike support and rentals throughout the event. Snowshoers were also invited to participate in a 5K event prior to the bike race.
![Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Race](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=150%2C155 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=200%2C207 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=225%2C233 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=300%2C310 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=400%2C414 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=540%2C558 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=640%2C662 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=750%2C775 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=990%2C1024 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C1070 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1241 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C1378 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/8e/a8e035e8-a028-11ed-beff-bba8b2da44e2/63d6fa7113582.image.jpg?resize=1416%2C1464 1476w)
Andreas Wilke rides in a race during the 4th annual Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Day on Sunday at Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park in Queensbury.
Jenn March, Special to the Post-Star
Peter Gobel of Clifton Park, who attended the winter race for the first time this year, finished second place in the 10-mile race for his group of men ages 30-39 and third overall. His father, Mark, of Oneonta, also raced.
“It’s a family affair,” said Peter, whose wife and daughter also came to cheer them on. “I come here to do some riding on the weekends, so it helps knowing the trails.”
Gobel said he had concerns about the trail conditions after seeing the predicted rain and higher temperatures.
![Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Race](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=150%2C207 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=200%2C276 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=225%2C311 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=300%2C414 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=400%2C552 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=540%2C746 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=640%2C884 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=750%2C1036 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=990%2C1367 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C1430 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1657 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/a/f8/af8ac566-a028-11ed-9e44-bf769107c9b4/63d6fa7c402ba.image.jpg?resize=1225%2C1692 1333w)
Antoine Gendron of Albany rides in the 4th annual Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike 10-mile Race on Sunday at Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park in Queensbury.
Jenn March, Special to The Post-Star
“I thought it would be slushy and sloppy, but the trails held up pretty well,” he said.
Gurney Lane’s fat-tire bike race attracts riders from all over New York and beyond.
Brian Galletta and his “teammate” Thomas Pellegrino traveled from Long Island for his third and Pellegrino’s fourth time riding in the race. German-born Andreas Wilke came with his wife and two children from their North Country home in Potsdam, about three hours from Lake George.
“We came up yesterday and stayed the night,” Wilke said as his young daughter bounced playfully around him. “I just need to go outside in winter. Summer is road cycling season and gravel and cross-country, and the fat-tire bikes bring me outside a little bit. It’s my little life insurance, physically and mentally.”
![Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Race](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=150%2C126 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=200%2C169 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=225%2C190 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=300%2C253 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=400%2C337 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=540%2C455 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=640%2C540 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=750%2C632 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=990%2C835 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C873 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C1012 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C1124 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1244 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/b4/bb422c00-a028-11ed-878e-2727e909c12c/63d6fa8fe0a1e.image.jpg?resize=1568%2C1322 2008w)
David Brabeck of Massachusetts sticks his tongue out as he rides in the 4th annual Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike 10-mile Race on Sunday at Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park in Queensbury.
Jenn March, Special to The Post-Star
Luckily for the riders, the rain held off until the final riders were crossing the finish line. Many who finished the race packed up their gear and left. But those who stuck around reaped the benefits of complimentary Pabst Blue Ribbon and IPA beers. Prizes were provided by Northeast Promo of South Glens Falls for first-, second-, and third-place finishers.
![Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Race](https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=150%2C111 150w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=200%2C147 200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=225%2C166 225w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=300%2C221 300w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=400%2C295 400w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=540%2C398 540w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=640%2C472 640w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=750%2C553 750w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=990%2C730 990w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=1035%2C763 1035w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=1200%2C885 1200w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=1333%2C983 1333w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=1476%2C1089 1476w, https://bloximages.chicago2.vip.townnews.com/poststar.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/b/f3/bf3c59f2-a028-11ed-8750-8f4534f6721f/63d6fa9690be7.image.jpg?resize=1676%2C1236 2008w)
Riders make rounds during the 4th annual Gurney Lane Fat Tire Bike Day on Sunday at Gurney Lane Mountain Bike Park in Queensbury.
Jenn March, Special to The Post-Star
Underwood announced prizes in the pavilion as their supporters either huddled around a fire pit or cascaded down the sledding hill on their sleds.