As the snow starts to fly, a lot of skinny-tired bikes will find their way to sheds and garages and basements, but fat bike enthusiasts are just getting warmed up.

With low-pressure tires up to 5 inches wide, the bikes can tackle pretty much whatever winter throws, from deep snow-covered trails to hard-packed and icy roads and trails.

The ubiquitous fat bike has been one of the fastest-growing segments in the bicycle industry for the past few years, according to Bicycle Retailer. Riders are proving they are not just for winter anymore. Cyclists are enticed by the bike’s go-anywhere capabilities, using them to commute, tour and tackle mountain bike trails.

The fat bike concept was born out of Alaska’s Iditabike event, which is 200 miles of Alaskan backcountry in winter, along snowmobile and dog mushing trails. Riders patched together balloon tire bikes and mountain bikes with tandem hubs to get the widest tire setup possible so bikes would float over deep snow instead of sink into it.

Minneapolis-based bike maker Surly produced the first commercial offering with a bike called the Pugsley in 2005. Along with a garish purple paint job, the Pugsley came along with a 65-millimeter-wide rim, and 3.7-inch tires. Since then, makers have flooded the fat bike market.

The bikes first were popular in northern areas that see a lot of snow, but the popularity grew to include areas where sand and dirt were prevalent. What was once considered something of a fad is now apparently here to stay.

The price of a decent fat bike starts at about $850. The mid-range models run about $1,200 to $1,500, and top models run more than $5,000. The frames usually are a little beefier than a street bike, with accommodations for the wider tires.

Fat bikes are heavier than standard bikes, and with the tires running lower pressures, they can be a workout to ride. The big, wide tires are great for floating over sand or snow, but they make for slow acceleration. Once up to speed, however, several cyclists report them to be as sporty as many mountain bikes.

This year’s Quad City Criterium even featured a fat bike "race" in between events for their skinny-tired brethren.

Many of the fat bikes come stock with tubes in the tires, but one of the easiest performance upgrades is to use a tire sealant to go tubeless. It takes weight off of the wheels, and ensures you won’t pinch flat with the lower tire pressures.

Bobby Parker, a manager at the Healthy Habits Bike Shop in Bettendorf, says the Quad-Cities fat bike scene is more about social riding than racing.