Winter biking is possible with a little extra fat, says cyclist

Snow is calmly falling on the in any other case delicate day as Collingwood resident Tim Carter unloads two massive bikes out of the again of his truck.

These bikes look somewhat bit totally different, although.

The extensive wheels and thick frames are intimidating, however based on Carter, including roughly 4 inches to your tires loosens the restrictions in your winter adventures. 

“We’ve had actually good situations this season,” stated Carter. “I like to exit and get good and misplaced.” 

The genesis of the fashionable fats bike is much like the event of the traditional mountain bike. Cyclists didn’t like being restricted, and as wants saved altering, so did the form of their bike.

Within the Nineteen Eighties, bikers started experimenting by including extra tires to their mountain bikes to provide them a wider footprint. The evolution was occurring in Alaska on the snow, and concurrently in New Mexico to overcome the sand. In 2005, the primary fatbike turned commercially accessible in bike outlets worldwide.

Based on Carter, the fats bike did not catch on in Collingwood till just lately (inside the final ten years).

Whereas mountain biking has turn into a Blue Mountain mainstay, fats biking is much from being extensively accepted. With abandoned winter trails and curious onlookers when fats tires fly by, the game nonetheless has a number of potential to develop. 

Carter, who owns and operates Journey Guides, grew up biking and mountain biking in England. When he moved to Collingwood 14 years in the past, he realized he would solely have the ability to pursue his ardour in the summertime months.

That’s when a pal launched him to fats biking.

“I attempted it and I liked it,” stated Carter. “I acquired one for myself and I haven’t stopped.”

Carter has labored as a motorbike mechanic for numerous outlets within the space for a number of years, and he was as Journey Guides’ first teacher when the corporate launched in 2013. When the enterprise turned accessible three years later, Carter took it over, hoping to proceed providing premiere biking adventures throughout Ontario. 

In the summertime months, Journey Guides offers mountain bike coaching camps and clinics in addition to excursions throughout South Georgian Bay. 

Within the winter, they concentrate on fats biking. When Carter first took over the enterprise, he supplied excursions based mostly in Collingwood. However after just a few years of unpredictable climate and fixed rescheduling, he moved the fats biking periods to Horseshoe Valley. 

The Introduction to Fats Biking course is a two-hour guided journey that takes you round Horseshoe Resort and deep into the Copeland Forest. Relying in your degree of experience, Carter could take you up some steep hills and down a single observe on the opposite facet. The course features a mini fats bike particular abilities session, so riders are ready for the restricted traction on the snow coated trails.

“It’s very straightforward to go and lease a motorbike, journey it, and hate it,” stated Carter. “Should you don’t know what you’re doing it’s not going to be enjoyable.”

Carter spent a while competing in fats bike races all through Ontario, however shortly realized the competitors facet wasn’t for him.

“I similar to to journey, and assist different riders turn into higher riders,” he stated.

For essentially the most half, fats bikes are nonetheless restricted to staying on trails. If the snow is just too mushy the bike will sink, sending the rider over the handlebars. However based on Carter, fats bikers discover trails out of something, following behind packed down snowshoe trails, and even deer tracks.

“You don’t want a lot, simply one thing to pack it down, after which you possibly can have somewhat enjoyable,” he stated.

Nordic centres within the space have began recognizing fats bikers’ wants, and a few have even began grooming trails. Horseshoe Nordic Journey Park options 10 kilometres of groomed, singletrack trails. This 12 months, Highlands Nordic added a devoted fats biking path as nicely. 

Carter’s ideally suited situations are late February and early March, when the snow begins to do the thaw-and-freeze-over dance, leaving a crusty layer over the snow so he can “fly” wherever he needs. 

“Once you’re in your fats bike and the situations are good, you aren’t tied right down to any path. You’ll be able to discover all the forest,” he grinned. “However it’s a must to get out very first thing within the morning, when the snow is tight.” 

Carter acknowledges that the game remains to be comparatively new, however he hopes to see it proceed to develop. He additionally loves that the fats bike isn’t restricted to snow, and generally opts to take it out on the sand and thru the woods for a unique journey within the summertime.

“For these of us who spend the hotter months biking, hanging up your bike for the winter is terrible. Nearly all of fats bikers are simply cyclists who don’t wish to cease,” he stated. 

There are fats bike races and expeditions that now occur all around the world. In Ontario, there’s even one thing known as a Poker Run, the place bikers accumulate playing cards from totally different stations within the woods and whoever has one of the best poker hand on the finish wins.

“There may be all the time a enjoyable facet with fats biking,” he stated. “I don’t assume it’ll ever be as critical as highway or mountain biking.” 

Within the early years, many thought fats biking would cross as yet one more fad. However even bike outlets homeowners within the space are seeing a spike within the growing demand for fats bikes.

Kris Baumgarten, the proprietor of Kamikaze Bikes in Collingwood, stated they began carrying fats bikes when the game first got here to Ontario.

“It began off quick and livid within the first few years, after which levelled out a bit,” stated Baumgarten. “However in the previous couple of years it is taken off once more. As extra locations are providing a groomed community of trails, extra persons are asking for [fat bikes].”

Kamikaze partnered with Highlands Nordic to supply a motorbike rental and day cross combo, so rookies can simply strive the game as nicely.

In the end, it’s one other solution to get outdoors and revel in winter.

“Life is busy. I wish to exit on my own for my very own peace of thoughts,” stated Carter. “Nothing beats the serenity of using via a silent forest at first mild, listening to the snow crunch beneath your tires.”