ASK MBA: DO I NEED A FAT BIKE TO RIDE SNOW?

SNOWMAN RIDES

Q: Newbie here that just wants to see about riding in the snow. I see others enjoying it locally. Where do I begin? I’ve got a trail bike already. Do I really need to get a fat bike now?

Patrick Wilson

Cayuna Lakes, Minnesota

A: The good news (and from our experience) is you actually don’t really need a fat bike to enjoy riding in the snow. With snowfall providing just a light dusting of a few inches, a trail bike should be plenty to keep you having fun. Any more than a few inches of fresh powder on the ground and things can stay fun, but you may run into more hiking than riding. Fat bikes do offer a larger tire than what a plus-size or trail bike can handle, which will provide more traction. Even so, fat bikes in the snow are best used on packed/groomed cross-country ski areas. We recommend renting a fat bike to see if it’s your thing. While conditions are everything, to have the best experience, there is nothing like a bit of snow to smooth out bumps and make a trail flow differently than ever before.