Race Coverage

Fat Bike Ironman...

Tuesday, 14 November 2017 00:10

By Susan Lacke (triathlete.com)

A challenge from a training buddy turned into an epic race for Vicki Ostendorf.

Ask Vicki Ostendorf why she did an Ironman on a fat bike, and she’ll pause thoughtfully before answering. “Well,” Ostendorf deadpans, “I don’t know how to ride a unicycle.”

It’s probably a joke, but then again, it’s hard to tell with Ostendorf. After all, the 53 year-old age-group triathlete completed the 112-mile bike ride at the 2017 Ironman Florida triathlon on a 9:Zero:7 Fatbike. The bike, which weighs about six pounds more than a typical triathlon bike, also features wheels that are 4.5 inches wide— far less aerodynamic than a 23mm rubber of her competition.

Ostendorf did it for the challenge. A four-time Ironman finisher, the Minnesota resident has a reputation in her training circle for her adventurous spirit. She was knocking around ideas with her friend and training partner, Dave Cossack, when Cossack brought up the idea of doing the race on a fat bike....

“At first, I said no—that is insane!” Ostendorf laughs. “But he came back and asked a second time, knowing full well I would not be able to say no twice.”

Ostendorf didn’t even own a fat bike, yet something about the challenge intrigued her. “I wasn’t positive that completing the bike course in time was possible, but I was hoping I could train hard enough to make it happen.” READ MORE