Your first bicycle is usually a straightforward machine – pedal forward to move, backpedal to brake. When you’re ready for bigger adventures, you may upgrade to a mountain bike, with three, five or 10 different gears to assist you in those hill climbs. For longer treks, you get something lightweight with those curved road handles.
But for real off-road, off-season adventure, consider a fat bike. While it may not be the most flattering name, a fat bike is an off-road bicycle built to accommodate oversized tires, usually 3.8 inches wide (or wider) and rims 2.16 inches wide (or wider). They are designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft, unstable terrain, such as snow, sand, bogs and mud.
To accommodate these wider tires, fat bike frames have wider forks and stays.
Riding on top of these sticky and/or soft surfaces requires “floatation.” The super wide tires means there’s more surface area to spread out your weight, and the low tire pressure helps with that as well. A common street cruiser bike usually has a tire PSI of around 50; fat bike tires can go as low as 3 PSI.
In rural regions, trails often designated for snowmobiles in winter can be utilized by fat bike riders year-round. This is true of horse trails as well – for example, the Charles E. Baker State Forest in Brookfield, NY, a 9,400-acre forested property, makes up the core of the Brookfield Trail System. Charles E. Baker, combined with Brookfield Railroad and Beaver Creek State Forests, contain 100 miles of connected trails. These recreational trails are open for hiking, horseback riding, snowmobiling, cross country skiing, snowshoeing and biking. (Visit dec.ny.gov/places/charles-e-baker-state-forest to learn more.)
With the number of state parks and conservation areas across the Northeast, fat biking may provide a new way to visit your favorite nature preserves. Just be sure to check rules and regulations first, and as always, if you wish to cross anyone’s personal property, get permission first!
If you’re interested in trying your hand (or your feet) at this alternative to road biking, reach out to your local sporting goods shop to help you purchase or assemble your fat bike. Dick’s Wheel Shop in Herkimer, NY, is renowned for their ability to build the perfect bike for you. Find them online at dickswheelshop.com.
