Pursuer
Rigs
Rigs of the 2023 Fat Pursuit 200k
10 year Anniversary Edition
January 5, 2023
by Betsy Williford
The 10 year anniversary edition of the Fat Pursuit 200k kicks off early tomorrow morning with riders, skiers and foot participants setting off on the classically challenging 120-mile route circumnavigating the snowy backcountry of Island Park.
Racers will have an opportunity to master their self sufficiency and winter survival skills, expand their comfort zones, and truly test their physical and mental limits. Only true grit and resilience will see each participant through to the finish line in one of the toughest winter ultra marathons in the Lower 48. Conditions this year are expected to be typical for this event - not what one expects and the weather forecast cannot be trusted. The great news is grooming began the earliest it has in 10 years, so there is plenty of SNOW! Being a former pursuer, I would even argue the 200k pursuit is, more often than not, life changing. Whether a pursuer finishes or not, each person who dares to show up at the starting line will walk away with a treasure trove of experiences that will have pushed them beyond what they previously thought possible and into the arena of limitless growth, both as an athlete and an individual.
With the help of event organizer Jay Petervary, social media takeover volunteer Betsy Williford and the riders, we’ve collected rig and gear details for some of the hardy and intrepid folks lining up for their own winter pursuit, whether they are first timers or seasoned veterans. Listed below is the name, age, and hometown of the rider (or skier or foot participant), accompanied by their rig photo as well as a brief kit list. Check them all out below, then head over to Trackleaders to follow the race live. We will also be posting updates to social media platforms all weekend long.
Best of luck to everyone lining up at the start this year. It’s going to be fun to watch!
Rebecca Rusch
Age 54 | Hometown Sawtooth City, ID
BIKE:
Giant Yukon - medium, carbon rigid fork, SRAM Eagle Drivetrain 10-52 cassette and 30 tooth front chainring. Quarq power meter. SRAM XX1 cranks, SRAM BB7 Mechanical Disc brakes, ENVE Composites M6 Fat 85mm rims, Liv Cycling Alcara saddle, Garmin inReach satellite tracking, Maxxis Colossus 27.5 x 5" tires, Old Man Mountain racks, Big Anges sleeping bag/pad, Smith Squad goggles, CrankBrothers Mallet pedals.
BAGS:
Revelate Designs - Ranger Frame Bag, Mag Tank top tube bag, Expedition Pogies, Nano panniers. Revelate Wampak for hydration
CLOTHING:
Velocio Apparel: Alpha Merino Air Jacket, Trail Ultralight Hooded Jacket, Trail Anorak, Trail Merino long sleeve shirt, Signature soft shell gloves, Zero Cycling hat. 45 NRTH Wolvhammer cycling boots.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS:
My Expedition Pogies! It would be impossible to do these types of winter expeditions without them! Keeps the hands and snacks warm!
Graham "Bush" Muir
Age 52 | Steamboat Springs, Colorado
BIKE: ” The Snow Pig “ Ti Muru Canning,large, Ti fork, Sram X011 speed- Garbunk 11-48 cassette, Wolf Tooth 28T Oval Chainring. Nettie xiphias 105mm rims, DT Swiss 350 Big Ride rear hub Son28 front dynamo hub running Klite front lite. Dillinger 26” x 5.0″ tires, Shimano xt flat pedals and fattie xl grips, and SMP saddle. BB7 Manual brakes.
BAGS: Full custom set from JPaks - frame bag, Footlong top tube, 2 behind seat bags. Revelate front Sweetroll Handlebar bag Revelate expedition pogies. Aeroe fat rear rack. Revelate Wampak. Sea to Summit dry bags for spare clothes.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Good weather- sleep system Big Agnes -20 sleeping bag with three wire bivy and a blow-up Doll. Bad weather sleep system Mountain Hardwear -40 sleeping bag - MSR advance pro 2 ultralight tent and a blow up Doll. MSR XKG cooker.
Beat Jegerlehner
Age 53 | Boulder, Colorado
SLED: Bison Sledworks (= DIY) Baby Sled (~3ft), Northern Lites Elite snowshoes, BD distance carbon poles, Bison Sledworks Pogies, Cheapo "Modase" backpack modified as a harness, HOKA Speedgoat 2 Mid GTX shoes. Combination of Hydroflasks and GSI Thermos bottles for coffee/mocha (and maybe some water w Nuun). Modified MSR whisperlite stove w/ titanium legs and primus pump. Etrex 32x gps. Bison Sledworks logging thermometer & wind meter..
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Most gear is handmade or modified with Juki sewing machines and Tormach CNC machines. PCBs made by JLCPCB and soldered using Metcal equipment. Sponsored only by no one.
Patria Vandermark
Age 45 | Waltham, Massachusetts
BIKE: Seven Cycles Highline XX, custom fit (top tube effective length is 64.2 cm), Salsa Kingpin carbon fork, SRAM AXS XX1 wireless drivetrain, 10-52t cassette, 24t Raceface chainring on Raceface Turbine crankset, T47 BB, Industry Nine built custom fat wheels, pink Hydra fat hubs and TRA spokes, 45NRTH Dilinger 5 26" x 4.6" studded tires, Shimano XT pedals. Seven Cycles titanium custom handlebar, Seven custom titanium rack, Wolf Tooth Mega Fat Paw grips. King Manything titanium cages on fork, Salsa Anything cages on fork. King titanium cage under downtube to hold tool kit.
BAGS:Revelate Designs Expedition Pogies (lots of storage room in these!), Revelate Designs Ranger framebag, Cedaero Devil's Kettle Pack XL x 2, Revelate Mountain Feedbag, large stuff sack for ThermaRest Therm-a-Rest Polar Ranger™ -20F Sleeping Bag and OR Helium bivy.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS:
45NRTH Wolvgar boots 4 sizes too big for extra socks and additional thermal sole, 45NRTH winter pants have lots of pocket space for storing food, Solomon ultralight running hydration pack has a lot of storage capacity, room for 3L water and thousands of calories that can stay close to my body for warmth. Insta360 ONE X2 Pocket Action camera.
LITTLE GREEN PASSENGER HIGHLIGHT: I'm riding to support Chompy, the dinosaur in the green parka riding on the bike's fork, to be the first successful dinosaur to complete the 200km Fat Pursuit. Chompy has an Instagram feed in case you're interested in seeing more of his adventures: @chompertonvanderrex
Thomas Miller
BIKE: Salsa Blackborow aka Donkey, Nextie Xiphias 27.5x95 rims, DT Swiss Big Ride hubs and Terrene Yippee Ki Yay 4.4" tires, 4 rows of Grips Studs, GX Eagle drivetrain, XX chain, Paul 3 finger brake levers and Klamper calipers.
BAGS: Salsa frame bag, Arkel Ultralight panniers, Apidura lunchbox, Rockgeist Blackborow mid frame bag, Ortlieb medium saddle bag
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Wiggy's Ducksback Pogies, Rab Summit tent (bivies really do suck), Arkel Ultralight panniers, Snow Claw shovel, SQLab Egowave saddle and inner bar ends.
Age 53 | Edmonton, Alberta (Canada)
Jennifer Hanson
Age 55 | Florence, Arizona
BIKE: Binary Gordita Fat bike, Sram 10-52 XX1 cassette, 100 mm Whiskey Wheels, hubs DT Swiss 350, Dillinger 5 26"x 4.6" studded tubeless with zero sealant fatty strippers and problem solvers.
BAGS: Revelate frame bag and micro Panniers. FBJ top tube bag and Broad forks Saddledown bag
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS:
Mountain Hardware-40 sleeping bag
Jason Hanson
Age 50 | Florence, Arizona
BIKE: Binary Gordita fat bike, SRAM XX1 10-52, Sram XX1 cranks, 1 rear Sram guide brake, Shimano XT flat pedals.
BAGS: Bike Bag Dude frame bag, top tube, jerrycan, feedbags and fork bags. Revelate Micro Panniers
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Dogwood Designs pogies
Will Lind
Age 41 | Summerset, South Dakota
BIKE: 2014 Rocky Mountain Blizzard, large, SCRAM XO 10 Speed, 24T Chainring. Framed front fork. Whisky Carbon Wheels, Dillinger 26” x 5.0″ tires.
BAGS: Salsa frame bag, Revelate top tube bag. Revelate front Sweetroll Handlebar bag. 45North CobraFist pogies, Revelate Nano Panniers mounted on a Salsa rear rack. Sea to Summit dry bag for sleeping kit and spare clothes. Salsa Fork Racks. Nite Rider Mako Headlight
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 45North wolfgar boots for us dudes with bad feet that get cold easily.
Sean Deveau
Age 44 | Fruita, Colorado
BIKE: Reeb Badonkadonk (custom) STEEL IS REAL!, Bearclaw (Frank) Ti rigid fork. Pinion C.1.12 gearbox, Gates CDX carbon betdrive. Wheels: Bontrager carbon Wampa rims/ Hope Pro4 Fatsno hubs. Bontrager Gnarwhal 27.5" x 4" tires. Shimano XT pedals. Handlebar is Defiance Frameworks Ti (custom). Paul Klampers and Love levers. Ergon grips, Brooks C14 saddle. Paul Comp stem and seatpost.
BAGS: Oveja Negra frame bag, Oveja Negra fork bags, Oveja Negra top tube bag. North St. pannier.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Revelate Designs pogies. Old Man Mountain Fat Sherpa rear rack. Sea to Summit dry bag (sleeping kit, etc), USWE Nordic 4 for water bladder. Normal expedition clothing and stove setup. Favorite piece of gear at the moment is my Fenix HP30R V2.0 headlamp. I made a bike helmet mount for that allows me to easily remove during the day and keep the weight off my head when not needed.
John Phelps
Age 38 | Montrose, Colorado
BIKE: Borealis Crestone, a REAL Frankenstein of a setup (but hey, it works!) Hed Aluminum 80mm wheels 26" with Surly 4.8" tires. NX, X0, and XX all joined into one happy family. 10-52 cassette w/ 30T chainring. 1 MPH while pedaling? No problem! Mostly stock stuff, things just don't wear out as fast in the snow especially when you're not moving very fast.
BAGS: Front and rear racks from OMM. Frame bag by Salsa. Feedbags and rear saddlebags by Revelate. Top rack bag by OMM/North St. HUGE tank bag by Dispersed. Dogwood Designs pogies (that also double as more storage for backup gloves etc)
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: All of the things and ALL of the backup things that come together to keep this 60lb. behemoth rolling through the darkness! Niterider lights, headlamp, GPS, SNACKS! We're spoiled creatures! Can't wait, Good luck everyone!
Joel Clapick
Age 51 | Scottsdale, Arizona
BIKE: 9:Zero:7 Lynx (Carbon, Large), HED Made in Minnesota Big Deal 26” Carbon Wheels, 45Nrth HuskerDu 4.8” tires, SRAM XX1 1x12, 10-52, RaceFace Carbon Cranks, 28T Oval Chainring, SRAM G2 Brakes, Crank Brothers Pedals, Ergon Grips, WTB Rocket Saddle, RaceFace Next Carbon Seatpost, Carver Titanium Ti’Raq, Flux Capacitor 1.21 GigaWatts.
BAGS: Rogue Panda Frame Bag, Rogue Panda Top Tube Bag, Revelate Feedbag x2, Revelate JerryCan x2, Revelate Polecat Bag x2, Outdoor Research Insulated Thermos Bag x2, Revelate Nano Paniers, Revelate Expedition Pogies, Sea to Summit Dry Bag (for sleeping kit)
Edyn Teitge
Age 13 | Hailey, Idaho
BIKE: Salsa Beargrease medium, rigid carbon fork, Sram XG-1295 Eagle 10-52 and TRUVATIV STYLO C Eagle Fat5 DUB 30t Chainring. WHISKY No.9 76W 76mm rims, DT Swiss 350 Big Ride hubs. Vanhelga 27.5 x 4.0 tires, Shimano SPD pedals, Salsa grips, and WTB saddle.
BAGS: Revelate Designs frame bag, Salsa handlebar cradle, and bag. Homemade pogies, Granite Gear compression sack with sleep kit, mounted on a Salsa rear rack. Salomon active skin 4 for water bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR Whisperlite International with a 12oz fuel bottle, Garmin Edge 520+ for navigation with Gaia GPS as back-up.
Herman "Hermdog" Watson
Age 38 | Bozeman, Montana
SLED: Northern Sled Works racing sled
BAGS: Moab 240 Finisher’s Bag (standard small duffel w/ Mountain Hardwear Phantom 0, Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Air Sleeping Mat, MSR E-bivy, MSR jet boil, fork, extra batteries)
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: The capilene “Air Hoodie” is legit, breathing well in summer alpine conditions and combining with my Bonatti shell to make a bombproof double layer down to nearly 0 degrees; toss the Arc’teryx over that and you’re good down to -36, which I had the occasion to test last week
Feet: LaSportiva Jackals w/ Outdoor Research Overdrive Wrap Gaiters and Patagonia Endless Run Tights.
Top: Nathan hydration pack, Patagonia Capilene Air Hoodie, Salomon Bonatti Waterproof Shell, Arc’teryx Cerium (850 fill), Arc’teryx Venta gloves, Hestra 3-finger mittens, Buff, Oakley sunglasses.
Jeff Mosher
Age 43 | West Bloomfield, Michigan
BIKE: Motobecane Sturgis Bullet, medium, Bluto suspension fork, SRAM DUB Cranks, Wolf Tooth 28T Chainring and Microshift 48T cassette, Pedaling Innovations Catalyst pedals. Mulefüt 80mm rims, Terrene Johnny 5 tires, SQlab Innerbarends, Ergon grips and saddle. PNW Cascade dropper post.
BAGS: Moosetreks frame and feed bags, Viking Dirtman (moto) saddle bags, Topeak top tube bag. 45Nrth Cobrafist pogies.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This is my year-round bike, except with different tires, and does everything from mountain biking to gravel racing to jump lines.
Art O'Connor
Age 56 | Mill Creek, Utah
BIKE: Seven Treeline SL custom made for a 6'7" bike dork, Salsa carbon fork, SRAM XO1 10-52 w/ Gripshift, Next SL cranks, 28T Absolute Black Chainring, DT Swiss Hubs laced to Nextie 26" 105mm carbon rims and 45NRTH Dillinger 5 tires, Garmin Rally Power Pedals (data dork), Woodman seatpost w/ WTB Volt saddle, Cane Creek Viscoset headset to keep me tracking straight in the Idaho powder.
BAGS: Custom BroadFork frame bag (tools, extra gloves, wind shell, hat, buffs and lots of calories), Revelate MagTank(snacks), Revelate Egress Bar Bag (batteries, googles, cables, headlamp), Rockgeist Honeypot Feedbag(Nalgene w/ Maurten 320 drink mix), Revelate Polecat mounted on the fork(stove and fuel), Sea to Summit Dry bag on an Old Man Mountain rack (sleep system, puffy coat, extra base layers) , Wolftooth Pogies
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: My favorite piece of kit is my PedalEd Merino Long Sleeve Jersey. It is so versatile. I wear it almost everywhere and it has a hood which is rad. Navigation and Lights - Garmin eTrex 22x on the bars, Ride With GPS on my phone as a backup. I will also be testing a Garmin 1040 Solar. Not sure how it will do in the cold (it has been a warm winter here) so it will just be for data collection. I have it on a lanyard I can wear under my clothes if it freezes. Fenix BC30 Light and a Black Diamond headlamp.
Tyson Flaharty
Age 37 | Fairbanks, Alaska
BIKE: 9:ZERO:7 Lynx. Shimano XTR shifter and derailleur. SRAM GX Cassette. SRAM XX1 power crank. 32tooth round ring. HED Carbon Rims. DT Swiss 350 Big Ride hubs. Husker DU 26” x 4.8" tires, Time ATAC 12 pedals. Bontrager xxxlite post and Bontrager Saddle. Magura MT8 breaks.
BAGS: Custom self made Dyneema frame bag. Revelate feed bags. Custom handlebar bag. Revelate mini paniers. Modified Bontrager rear rack. Random stuff sacks to hold sleeping bag. Revelate Mag tank top tube bag. Revelate Wampak for water bladder.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Custom self made poagies. Lupine blika light on bike.
Danni Coffman
Age 47 | Kalispell, Montana
BIKE: Trek Farley 9.6, carbon Jones bars, 27.5 x 4.5 Barbegazi tires, Bontrager flat pedals.
BAGS: Rogue Panda frame bag, Porcelain Rocket microwave panniers, Rockgeist Jones Bar Bag, Oveja Negra feed bags, Revelate Designs Expedition pogies, generic stuff sack for Bivy and sleeping bag
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: MSR Whisperlite International stove, Snowpeak titanium mug/pot, -20 degree Western Mountaineering bag, OR Bivy (forget which one), sauna coat just in case (Arc’Teryx), Cold Avenger to avoid asthma attack, Oreo cookies in varied flavors. Garmin In Reach. Garmin bike computer. Phone for backup.Will carry 1.5 liter thermos with coffee/hot chocolate mixture and old Powderbak hydration vest under midlayer for plain water.
Matthew Hoogenboom
Age 28 | Carbondale, Colorado
BIKE: Why Cycles Big Iron. XX1 AXS drivetrain, HED Big half deal alloy wheels with Terrene Cake Eater tires. ESI grips on MONE Light bars, covered by 45north cobra fist pogies.
BAGS: Old Man Mountain rack sporting N. Street panniers. Oveja Negra lunch box handlebar bag.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: I'm carrying a simple closed cell foam thermarest, 0 degree North Face Inferno Bag, all wrapped in a FutureLight Bivvy. I'll be cooking with an MSR XGK stove, and eating gummy worms. Starting with 4 Bells Two Hearted for emergency use.
Graham Goff
Age 53 | Bozeman, Montana
BIKE: In honor of the 10th anniversary, I'll be riding a 10 year old Salsa Mukluk.
Mostly original except for some new rear brakes after completing last year's 200k with front brakes only. Rolling with Surly Etna 4.3 tires, the widest I can stuff on this bike. Set up tubeless with Fatty Strippers.
BAGS: A well loved Salsa full frame bag, Sea to Summit dry bags mounted to a Tumbleweed bikes rear rack for sleeping kit and cloths. Revelate Designs top tube and feed bags plus a sleeping pad strapped to the bars with Titan straps.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: OR helium bivy, 0 degree Sierra Designs bag, Keen winter hiking boots with flat pedals make the constant on and off, pedal and hike a bike transitions a breeze.
Tom Kavanaugh
Age 38 | Ridgeway, Colorado
BIKE: Why Cycles Big Iron, HED Big Half Aluminum Deal (27.5x80mm) Wheelset, Terrene Cake Eater 27.5 x4.5" Tires, SRAM X01 Eagle Drivetrain (10-52), Stylo Carbon Cranks with 30t Chainring, Enve Handlebars and Fork, Shimano XT Trail Pedals
BAGS: Custom panniers from Jagged Edge Mountain Gear (Made in Montrose,CO; thanks Kurt!), Old Man Mountain Divide Fat rack, Defiant frame bag (Made in Carbondale, CO), Revelate Designs Mag Tank 2000 and (2) Mountain Feedbags
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: 45NRTH Cobrafist pogies, Big Agnes Star Fire -20 degree sleeping bag (weighs less than my 0 degree!). Lighting- BD Storm 400 headlamp, Fenix BC30 handlebar light. Navigation: Garmin Etrex 30 and Edge 530. Clothing- Alpaca arm warmers and hat. Essentials- Chili Cheese Fritos and Sour Patch Kids.
Jacob Hora
Age 17 | Victor, Idaho
BIKE: Carbon Salsa Mukluk (large) with rigid fork. Salsa carbon seat post, Enve carbon bars and Fizik tundra saddle. Drivetrain is full xo1 it has a 10-52 cassette with a 28 tooth front ring. Crank brothers pedals. Wheels are Industry 9 wheels on HED rims, and Surly Bud and Lou tires.
BAGS: All bags and pogies are hand made by FBJ Creations.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: Favorite feature is the twist shifter.
Jonathon Black
Age 52 | Idaho Falls, Idaho
BIKE: 2015 Surly Wednesday, Surly Sunrise bars, old school 2x10 SRAM X5, 45North Flowbeist and Dunderbeist 26.4.6 tires
BAGS: Revelate frame, seat and top tube bags.
GEAR HIGHLIGHTS: This bike is steel, heavy, old, and is proof that you don't need a $5,000 bike to ride the Fat Pursuit!