Fat biking is gaining in popularity, and it’s time to give it a try if you haven’t already. It’s a super fun way to get outside and into the woods during the cold winter months. Just one ride and you’ll be looking around your home for empty space to store yet another bike. Let’s start at the beginning:
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What is a Fat Bike?
The bike isn’t fat but the tires are. It’s quite simply a mountain bike with fat, knobby tires inflated to a very low psi. The low pressure allows you to roll easily over softer ground, like snow, packed sand and mud.
Fat Biking is Better Than Road Biking (in the winter)
As a road cyclist, it’s a bummer to live in New England because of the cold weather, icy streets and potholes. Plus, the already small road shoulders get even smaller when snow, salt and sand pile up on the side of the road. For safety’s sake I put away my bike for the winter. Spinning is fun but it’s so much nicer to get fresh air. That’s where fat biking comes in.
Fat biking allows for taking full advantage of snowy winters since the bikes are designed to ride in snow. I’m always up for trying fun outdoor activities, so I figured I would give it a shot. To make it even more fun, I turned it into a weekend getaway. I’ll use any excuse for a weekend getaway. Making a new activity or your favorite activity the centerpiece of a long weekend trip is a great reset and break from everyday life.
Where To Go Fat Biking
Go where the snow is! I headed to NH’s White Mountains for my fat biking adventure. I just needed to find a safe place to learn that also has rentals. Great Glen Trails checked all the boxes. This picturesque network of trails is nestled at the base of Mt. Washington and framed by the Presidential Range. The groomed trails are great for fat biking. Conveniently, fat bike rentals can be picked up at the base lodge. The rental period is typically two hours, which is plenty of time to explore for the first time. And when it’s 15 degrees and super windy, like the day I tried fat biking, it’s definitely enough time!
From the base lodge, hop on your bike and ride through the nearby tunnel to cross the street, and then ride around the back of the Glen House Hotel to access the trail network. This is a good time to get a feel for the bike and familiarize yourself with the gears. As you ride away from the Glen House, you’ll start in a flat section that is pretty wide open, so there will likely be some exposure to the wind. This is where I learned that fat bikes do not travel well on powder. Take my advice and hop off the bike and walk through any sections with drifting snow. It’s either that or pick yourself up off the ground when you wipe out trying to be a hero.
Great Glen Trails is well-marked and signs indicate whether trails are easy, moderate or difficult. The difficult trails are the steeper ones, and it’s tough riding a fat bike up a steep incline, so I suggest sticking to the easier trails. If you’re criss-crossing the trails, you can get a solid hour of riding in.
What to Wear While Fat Biking
It might just be me, but I still have the hardest time figuring out what to wear for winter activities. I usually dress too warmly, and end up dripping with sweat. So take my advice of what to wear with a grain of salt! You’ll be constantly moving, so best to wear a moisture-wicking base layer with a light to medium weight shirt and pants. Your outer layer should provide wind and cold resistance. Soft shell jackets and pants are helpful for this. Essentially, wear clothing similar to what you would wear for snow shoeing or cross country skiing.
Celebrating Your New Adventure
It’s always fun to celebrate after trying something new and fun. The Glen House has a lobby bar where you can cozy up to the fireplace with a warm cup of coffee or an ice cold Tuckerman’s Pale Ale. If you’re lucky, the large fire pit on the back deck will be waiting for you.
The Glen House Hotel is a great place to spend the night if you don’t want to make the long drive home, but it’s also a bit remote, given it’s smack in the middle of Pinkham Notch. The weather is also famously unpredictable. When I tried fat biking I stayed at Stonehurst Manor in North Conway. It’s just outside of downtown and tucked into the hills, so you can escape the hustle and bustle of North Conway, but it’s still very convenient to area restaurants, mountains, trails and shopping. Breakfast and dinner are included in your nightly rate, making it one of the best values in the area. I also love that it’s just across the street from the best shopping plaza in town. There you’ll find local and organic favorites at The Local Grocer and Table and Tonic Farm Cafe, and yoga classes at Be Well Studios. Table and Tonic is fresh, healthy and delicious! A perfect stop for breakfast or lunch.
Fat biking was super fun and I would definitely do it again. I’m not quite sure I’m ready to make the leap to buying one, but I’m happy I have another option for getting some fresh air. It makes the winter much more enjoyable and seems to shorten the time until I can break out my road bike.
