Winter cyclists, whether on trails or commuting, actually got a bit of a break from Mother Nature this year. (submitted photo/Boreal Outdoor Recreation Association)

By Rob Mahon

Winter Cycling

Fat bike trails enjoy forgiving winter season

Mar 15, 2023 | 12:00 PM

With the end of winter finally in sight, winter cyclists are reflecting on an unusually forgiving season.

Favorable conditions allowed fat bike users to have a long and successful run this winter.

“The guys with the cycling club have done a really great job maintaining the fat bike trails out at Little Red,” Mike Horn, a member of the Rock’n Road Cycling Club, said. “It’s been a lot of work to get them packed and ready to go, but they’re in fantastic shape.”

According to Horn, the club members were able to put together almost 20 kilometers of trail, which made for a big task taking care of it all. Members often snowshoed out to check in on the trails, helped along by some milder weather in the back half of winter.

“Mother Nature has been pretty forgiving this year on us,” Horn said. “We were lucky to have early snow, so we got off to a good start. Then the temperatures stayed pretty decent. We haven’t had too much cold.”

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Even at the warmest points of winter, which included rain, the fat bike trails held up, thanks to some shade and protection from overhanging trees. That’s good news for a growing sport, as fat bikes are getting more and more prominent.

“There are ebbs and flows in every sport,” said Horn. “A couple years ago they were very, very popular. They’ve been around for a number of years now and I think a lot of people that are that into the sport already have them. But there are new people getting into the sport.”

In contrast, other forms of winter cycling don’t seem to be growing as much. Horn said a lot of people don’t use the Rotary Trail in the winter for fear of hitting a patch of ice, and those using their bikes for commuting have some obstacles to overcome.

“When it gets warmer out, it gets very, very dirty as you can imagine,” Horn said. “So for commuting, having good fenders and taking care of your bike because the road salt and the sand they throw down, that stuff gets pretty gritty on the drive train. You have to look after your bike and your clothing.”

Horn added this can add to a long string of bike maintenance requests they get in the early days of spring.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP