Let's Get Fat!!

• Posted on 19 January 2022
• By KW
• 0

Here we are in mid-January, and many of us are still riding outside!  If you've caught the outdoor riding bug year-round, we are here to help - there are some things to be aware of as well as some specific techniques that might help you with your winter adventures.

It's really cool that there are several groomed trails in the West Michigan area, but there are certain points of etiquette and expectations regarding how you ride them.  This etiquette comes from the point of view of keeping the trails in great shape for everyone, so everyone has to ride in a manner to make that happen.

There's kind of a toss-up between the two most important points of winter trail riding; we'll start with when it's appropriate to actually ride.  The freeze/thaw cycle dictates trail conditions.  If it's above freezing, don't ride the trails!  Slushy, muddy trails, or trails that are losing their groom can be wrecked if you ride them.  Once the trail refreezes, those ruts you made in it are permanent.  They're frozen in time.  And the ground.  So if the ground is soft, you should ride on the road or gravel (or the indoor trainer), not the trails.

The other half of the two most important points is tire pressure.  If your tires are too hard, you'll break through the crust/grooming on the path, and once again wreck it.  Many riders ride with tire pressure as low as 2 psi!  If you are leaving a groove in the trail, your tires are too hard and you should let some air out.  Ideal pressure for a firm groomed trail is about 8 psi.  Softer trails will require softer tires; as low as 2-3 psi depending on rider weight.  Remember: if you're leaving a rut, turn around and don't ride.

The condition of the grooming on the trails can also be negatively affected if you walk on them.  If you are struggling to climb a hill and need to get off and push your bike, make sure you get to the side of the trail so you don't leave divots and footprints in the groomed area.  Same goes for re-mounting after a break or a spill.  Don't leave deep footprints in the track!

Tires should be a minimum of 4" wide for riding groomed trails.  Anything smaller risks breaking through the surface and ending up in one of the paragraphs above.  

Finally, as far as trail conditions are concerned, make sure that the trail conditions are on a trail that allows fat bikes!  In the immediate area around MSBC, for instance, Pigeon Creek Trails are groomed in the winter for cross country skiing, and fat biking is NOT allowed on those paths.  Merrell, Luton, Bass River, and several others DO allow it.  Upper Mac is not groomed, but as long as the ground is frozen it's OK to ride there.

So now that you are a rule follower and want to go out and ride the wonderfully-groomed trails, what should you wear?  Frankly, as important as the little black dress is to every wardrobe, it won't get you very far on a fat bike in the winter.  You're going to want something a little more substantial, like some thermal tights and some gloves.  Maybe some Bar Mitts, which stay mounted right on your bars. Check out our products HERE.  Not a bad idea to invest in some of those disposable toe and hand warmers, too!

Now that we are warm and toasty on our ride, let's stay hydrated.  Even though you may not notice it, you're still using up some of your body's store of energy.  It's cold outside, so you're working even harder than normal, probably.  Staying hydrated, especially on a longer venture, is important.  If the weather is cold enough, your regular bottles might even freeze as you ride, so be conscious of the temperature and conditions.  A hydration pack, such as the Osprey Salida, can keep your water more insulated from the cold, and provide you with hands-free operation.

Do you ride "clipped in" during the regular season?  If so, you may want to consider the idea of flat pedals on your fat bike, especially if you'll be breaking new paths in the powder.  It's a little harder to clip back in after your foot comes off the pedal into the snow, so flats may be what you need.  Consider the Stamp 1 pedal from Crank Brothers - a great option for a sturdy, grippy flat pedal.

Something to keep in mind while you're riding is that your bike will seek out the low spots in the trail.  Many groomed trails are groomed with higher sides and a lower center, so your bike will want to ride right down the center.  That's cool.  Where you run into trouble is when you are riding an un-groomed trail and maybe come off the side of the track and end up in the snow.  But, hey, it happens!  Keep your eyes on the path you want your bike to take and you'll be fine.  Or you end up in the snow.  But you're still fine.

Here's a thing: if you have snowshoes, it's great to use them on the trails.  They help flatten out the snow and pack it down without breaking through.  It's even better if you get out and break the trail before the riders get through; even prior to grooming.

There are a few things to remember, but in general there's nothing like a winter afternoon in the trails.  The look is different, the sound is different, the feel is different.  You'll enjoy it more than you think!