nce Mother Nature has spit ice and snow
onto their favorite routes, many Flathead Valley cyclists succumb to the
elements and toss a blanket over their bike in the corner of the
garage.
Luckily, the fatbike sensation is turning winter into another active season for cyclists.
With tires ranging from 3.5 to 4.8 inches,
“fatbikes” get their name from their oversized tires that sit on a
mountain-bike style of frame. While a typical road bike may have a tire
pressure ranging from 80 to 120 pounds per square inch, (psi) and
mountain bikes around 35 to 60 psi, fatbikes, designed for rough trail
elements like snow or sand, “float” most efficiently from 5-15 psi.
The low pressure of these giant wheels allows for
a greater surface area to grip the ice or increase traction through
unpacked snow or mud.
Manufacturers such as Surely, Fatback and Salsa
had plenty of fatbikes to try out during the national Winter Trails Day
on Jan. 11 at the Whitefish Bike Retreat. For many curious participants,
a demo was all they needed to find a new hobby as they tried out the
bikes on the Whitefish Trail system.
“That was a rush!” Whitefish native Damien
Donahue said after riding down a snow-covered hill, ending his demo for
the day. “I’ve been on this trail before, but never on a bike in the
winter. It was so quiet. It was great.”
Cricket Butler, owner and founder of the
Whitefish Bike Retreat, is an avid cyclist and world traveler. After
racing, hiking and canoeing journeys across the world, Butler wanted to
create a place for weary travelers to relax and replenish their energy.
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