Guy On A Bike: Winter Fat Biking
PHOTO GALLERY: Winter Fat Bike Race
The explosion in the popularity of fat bikes over the past few years is undeniable. What once seemed like a niche, at best, is proving to be a booming market in the cycling world. And while I manage all winter long with my single speed and relatively skinny, but adequate, 700x37c winter tires, I can't help but notice my fellow commuters on fat bikes. I can grind through the hard pack and freshly fallen snow fairly well, but that thick layer of loose dirty grey stuff, with the consistency of mashed potatoes, gets me every time. Meanwhile, my fat biking counterparts seem to effortlessly float by, rolling over anything in their path. So, when the folks at Penn Cycle invited out me out to their Get Phat with Pat Fat Tire bike race, I jumped at the opportunity.
Since I don't have a fattie of my own, Penn Cycle outfitted me with a brand-spanking new 9:Zero:7 aluminum rig to ride the course. Having done a small amount of riding on local trails, I'm neither a stranger to singletrack, nor an expert. But if I had something like this in my arsenal, I'd frequent the local off-road offerings quite a bit more.
What struck me as I took off from the start was the speed of the bike. With 4" wide tires I expected it to be a bit sluggish, but the bike accelerated nicely and the 20-speed gearing gave me all of the options I needed on the course. As I turned onto the singletrack portion, I was grinning from ear-to-ear, easily rolling over small piles of logs that would have challenged me on my 29er. The bike was responsive through the turns and handled the aforementioned mashed-potato snow with ease. Shifting was smooth, allowing me to quickly transition from a low gear, climbing uphill, to high gears as I barreled down the other side. At no time did I feel out of control, although I did fishtail slightly a couple of times when I took some turns a little too fast and tight. I rolled into the finish feeling great, and trying to figure out what I needed to do to make a fat bike part of my small two-wheeled fleet.
Next came the competitors. It's quite a sight to see dozens of fat bikes rolling together in a pack. Both first-time racers and seasoned singletrack aficionados negotiated the twists and turns of the course. And while it was a race, I saw competitors checking on others who were pulled over, wishing one another well, rather than jockeying for position with below-the-belt tactics. After all, it was a beautiful day to ride, and any opportunity to get out is a chance to celebrate and enjoy the beauty of Minnesota winters. When racers pulled into the finish, they were greeted with a warm fire and door prizes from Penn Cycle.
If you missed out, don't despair. Everyone has one more opportunity to Get Phat with Pat along the Minnesota River Bottoms, on Saturday, January 24. There are three classes of races (Beginner, Recreational and Advanced), and the eight-mile course follows singles track trails over the hills and through the woods of Bloomington's unpaved wilderness. Entry is $10 and all types of bicycles are welcome. One lucky rider, who participates both weekends, will even go home with a 9:Zero:7 fat bike frame.
If you've never ridden a fat bike, I suggest you give it a try. It is like nothing else and an absolute joy, in any season. That being said, acquiring one of your own requires quite an initial investment. The beauty I rode today retails for $2,400 complete, although you can find entry-level models around $1,000 complete.
