Fat bikers look forward to big season of riding

Do these tires make my butt look big?

The north end of the valley received more than 20 inches of snow this past weekend and the south end got a nice coat of white as well. While the fresh snow has people heading to the hills for their first turns of the season or hitting the Nordic track for some skate and classic skiing, others are lubing their chains for another season of… fat biking.

Fat bikes started showing up around the valley in the wintertime about five years ago. While small in numbers, fat bikers more than made up for that with all-out enthusiasm for riding bikes on snow.
Fat bikes with their fat tires started appearing more and more in the valley as bikers bided their time through the winter, riding on packed snow from Hartman Rocks to Snodgrass and up every valley in between.
 “It’s another thing to add to the quiver,” says fat biking enthusiast Dave Ochs. “If conditions don’t dictate slaying pow or hitting the Nordic track, it’s something else to do and keep the cycling legs turning.”
Speaking of Nordic track, the relationship between Nordic skiers and fat bikers has been somewhat strained over the past years as fat biking continues to grow.
“We’re like the snowboarders of the ‘80s,” says Ochs.
Still, bridges have been built over the past year and heading into the 2014-2015 season, fat bikes will be allowed on the Poop Loop, the rec path between Crested Butte and Mt. Crested Butte and the Riverbend connector.
“We’ve been working with the Nordic Center,” says Ochs.
And just like with Nordic skiers who use the groomed trails, fat bikers also need to purchase a pass to ride on the Crested Butte Nordic trails open to fat bikers. In addition, there are a few rules for fat bikers.
For starters, tires must be 3.5 inches wide or wider and must have 10 psi of air or less in the tires. Also, stay out of the classic two-track that has been set for classic skiers.
“Be courteous to other Nordic users,” says avid fat biker Neil Beltchenko. “As long as you can read the signs, you’ll know where you can go. Obviously, we don’t want to burn any bridges.”
There’s plenty of opportunity for fat bikers thanks to Crested Butte Mountain Resort as well. Fat bikers are allowed to ride on the ski area at the same allotted times for uphill traffic, i.e., before the lifts open and after they close. Also, they can climb up and ride down the groomed road on Snodgrass Mountain and fat bikers can “shred” the groomed track set in the North Village by the stables at the base of Snodgrass.
“That North Village area is totally awesome for fat bikes,” says Ochs.
Fat bikers can head into Hartman Rocks for some winter spin therapy as well. While the front-side trails are open to the bikes right out of the parking lot, once you make it over the initial climbs, fat bikers can then hit any and all roads through the BLM land.
This year, fat biking is picking up where it left off last winter. There will be group rides and races thanks to sponsorship from Oskar Blues and REEB bikes. Group rides will be somewhat informal and held mostly on Sundays. The race schedule right now includes three races. The first race will be on Magic Meadows on Sunday, December 21 in Crested Butte. Race two of the series, dubbed the Winter Growler, will take place at Hartman Rocks on Sunday, January 3 and then fat bikes return to downtown Crested Butte for the third year in a row to partake in the annual Alley Loop Race weekend February 6. Information about the group rides and races can be found on the fat bikers Facebook page.
In addition, fat bikers are looking to give back in some way. They’re teaming up to help raise money for Snotrackers to help defray the costs of grooming by Snotrackers in the surrounding valleys every winter. In addition, Beltchenko and others are exploring other places to lay down some track for specific use by fat bikers and snowshoers. Jake O’Connor of Reactive Adaptations is in the midst of building a groomer to create track specific to fat bike and handcycle use.
Beltchenko sees the sport continuing to grow in the valley.
“It’s grown a lot in the mountain bike circuit and I think we’ll see a ton of fat bikes in the years to come,” says Beltchenko. “We’re excited with what the future holds.”
If you want to give it a try, several bike stores in the valley are offering fat bike rentals. Big Al’s Bicycle Heaven and Crested Butte Sports have bikes to rent in the north end of the valley, while Tomichi Cycles has some in stock in Gunnison. Rock-N-Roll Spots may jump into the fray as well and there is a Facebook page under Crested Butte Fat Bike Rentals that has some as well.
“There’re options, which is awesome,” says Beltchenko.