Winter in the midwest is tough
to train in, especially the Great Lakes region where ice and snow make riding
the road all but impossible. Many people turn to road and gravel riding, or enduring the harsh elements on the roads
they are used to riding in warmer months. Others take to cross country skiing,
cross training at the gym or just riding the trainer indoors. These options
have their limitations and benefits, but there is another option worth
considering: fatbiking.
Fatbiking can be an excellent
training tool for road and mountain bikers and a great way to put in training
hours (dress appropriately). A unique element to fatbiking is that there is
much less coasting; Resistance is increased by the larger surface area of the
tires in contact with the snow, especially when tire pressures are lowered to
accommodate the deeper snow. Greater resistance equates to a more constant
application of force needed to keep the bike moving. Arguably one of the
greatest challenges can be staying upright and moving if the bike ventures off
of the packed trail and into deeper snow. Although the chances of washing out
are much less compared to a mountain bike, it can be demanding to stay upright
in snow deeper than 6 inches. Not only are the bikes made sluggish by the tires,
but they are heavy and take more effort to maneuver. These element makes
fat-bike riding a great option for endurance rides as well as an opportunity to
work on bike handling skills and on-bike agility.
With more fatbikes being
produced and the sport gaining popularity, there are more and more races being
held. Many fatbikers in the upper midwest are looking forward to the Fat Bike
Birkie in Cable, WI on March 8th, held in conjunction with the
American Birkebeiner ski races. This year’s Fat Bike Birkie is home to the U.S.
National Fat Bike Championship and is part of the Great Lakes Fat Bike Series
and the Wisconsin State Fat-Bike Race Series. This year the event has almost
doubled in capacity, capping attendance at 500 riders; Last year’s event maxed
out at 300 riders.
Smaller fatbike
races are popping up all across the country. The Freewheel Frozen Frolic 2014, a three race series held in
the Minneapolis/St.Paul area, is a small but well-liked first year event. The
remaining two races will be held February 8th and March 1st. Also in the
northern midwest is the Sweaty Yeti held at Levis Mound Trail System
near Neilsville, WI on March 1st, as well as the Winona
Snow Bomb in Winona, MN on February 8th. Other growing events such
as the Moose Brook Fat Bike Race in Gorham, NH, as
well as the Tennessee Pass Night Jam in Leadville, CO,
give cyclists an opportunity to take on a new and challenging discipline.
I know what
you’re thinking: It’s another bike to buy. But if you’re just looking to try it
out, a basic fatbike can be purchased for less than $1,000. As far as gear is concerned, like anything
else, it’s as simple or as complicated as you make it. If you already have
outdoor winter gear, you are pretty much set.
Although there
are some major differences between fatbiking and road riding, fatbiking
presents an opportunity to put in base miles, work on force-endurance
production, and overall bike handling skills without the windchill and/or epic
boredom. While maintaining motivation heading into the spring road racing
season is critical, taking up fatbiking might be the solution.
