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  • SAM CAMPBEL
  • Wed February 05 2014
  • Posted Feb 5, 2014

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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