Fitness
Best Fat Bike Winter Trails to Pedal This Winter | Men’s Journal
Don’t be put off by the name. Fat biking is the new winter exercise craze and an ideal way to stay fit and enjoy spectacular winter landscapes. When your three-season mountain bike is hibernating, rolling in the snow on wide, under-inflated tires lets you pedal gorgeous winter trails and even commute to the nearest mountain hut with low environmental impact.
Winter fat bike trails are everywhere, but first you’ll need the right equipment to get started. These two-wheel proponents of “bigger is better” have frames made to fit 3.5-inch or larger tires and extra wide rims. The wide footprint (coupled with extremely low air pressure) allows you to float over the snow, while studded tires provide additional grip. Experts recommend studded tubeless 4.8’s for better float and grip, and tires should be inflated to 3 or 4 psi (unless otherwise recommended) as anything more will cause deep ruts and tear up the trail.
As far as ideal conditions for fat biking, the general rule of thumb is that when skiing sucks, fat biking is awesome. Crusty snow is the best—and many Nordic centers and local bike clubs now have dedicated fat bike trail grooming machines to provide a harder pack and smoother, faster ride. Remember that you’ll most likely be sharing many of these trails with backcountry skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers for trail space, so don’t forget your best trail etiquette when taking your fat bike out for an epic spin this winter. Here are some of our favorite spots.
Northern Washington’s Methow Valley. Stephen Mitchell
1. Methow Valley, WA
Washington’s premier cross-country ski destination in the foothills of the North Cascades features an extensive, fat bike-friendly trail system originally dedicated to just Nordic skiing. Riding on Methow Trails Fat Bike trails requires a $10 pass ($50 for the season)—or a ski pass will work too. Fat bikes are available for rent at Methow Cycle & Sport and Cascades Outdoor Store located in Winthrop, as well as Goat’s Beard Mountain Supplies and North Cascades Cycle Werks in Mazama. Information on which trails are open to fat bikes is available on the Methow Trails grooming report. You’ll need a dedicated fat bike with tires wider than 3.6 inches and pressure under 10 psi. For a fun fat bike overnight or hut-to-hut, check out the Rendezvous Huts.
Maine’s Carrabassett Valley Courtesy of CRNEMBA
2. Carrabassett Valley, ME
Home to the iconic ski destination of Sugarloaf, Maine’s greater Carrabassett area has a wealth of fat bike trails. The Carrabassett Region NEMBA (New England Mountain Bike Association) grooms the trails off the Narrow Gauge Trail while the town grooms the Narrow Gauge Trail itself. Sugarloaf has one loop available at the Outdoor Center. There are some winter-only trails that are exclusive for winter fat biking. Look for updates on the CRNEMBA Facebook Page. Maine Huts & Trails has an extensive system of Nordic and Fat Bike trails, but budget limitations impact the grooming schedule. Check their Facebook Page for updates. Before heading out, also visit NEMBA’s list of the Valley’s open trails and frequently updated conditions.
Mammoth Lakes, California Courtesy of Town of Mammoth Lakes (TOML)
3. Mammoth Mountain and Mammoth Lakes, CA
Mammoth Mountain has world class skiing, but there’s plenty to do on “rest” days. Winter fat bikes (including fat-e bikes) are allowed on the groomed Over-Snow-Vehicle (OSV) trail network managed by Inyo National Forest. There are also several winter trail-systems maintained by the Town of Mammoth Lakes and local volunteers which provide opportunities for traditional fat bikes and other non-motorized users. Only purpose-built fat bikes with 3.8-inch wide tires (or wider) with a recommended tire pressure of 6-10 PSI are allowed on trails. For Mammoth Lakes area’s motorized and non-motorized info and grooming updates, see the map hosted on mammothtrails.org. The best-kept secret here: Mono County is partnering with the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest and local volunteers on a pilot winter-trail system with access to Buckeye Hot Springs day-use area. The eight-mile, out-and-back trail to the undeveloped hot springs takes you through the beautiful Bridgeport Valley.
Southwestern Colorado’s San Juan Mountains region is a mecca for hut-to-hut winter cycling. Courtesy of San Juan Huts
4. San Juan Huts: Ridgeway, CO
Tucked in the Rockies of southwestern Colorado, San Juan Huts are renowned for deep powder and phenomenal backcountry hut-to-hut skiing—but you can also travel to several of these huts on a fat bike. The ride into Blue Lakes Hut is about five miles from the trailhead depending on conditions. For a shorter ride, the Spring Creek Hut (with an approach that’s just over a mile) is a fat biker’s paradise near Divide Rd. which is groomed during the winter. The nightly cost per person is $30 and the huts sleep up to eight. Based in Ridgeway—with huts extending from the high mountains around Ouray, Telluride and Durango—San Juan Huts offers interstate access all the way to Utah’s mountain bike capital of Moab.
Sun Valley, Idaho Cavan Images / Shutterstock
5. Sun Valley, ID
It’s hard to picture a more fat bike friendly enclave than Sun Valley. The area’s trail system is, in a word, expansive. Our favorite fat biking find here is The Wood River Trail (WRT)—a 20-plus mile, groomed, multi-use path which provides non-motorized access to the Wood River Valley communities of Bellevue, Hailey, Ketchum and Sun Valley. Sun Valley Nordic Center offers over ten miles of fantastic fat bike friendly terrain, including the Dog Loop, Boundary Loop, Hyndman View, Diamondback, and the White Clouds Loop. Nordic grooming machines lay down fresh corduroy about 10-12 feet wide, which provides a great surface for skate skiing as well as fat biking. A day pass is $15 for an adult/senior and $10 for kids. Three outdoor gear stores in Ketchum offer an excellent selection of fat bikes rentals.
About 40 miles from Anchorage, Alyeska Resort offers some of the area’s top fat biking trails. Ralph Kristropher
6. Alyeska Resort: Girdwood, AK
Fat biking was invented in Alaska. During the Iditarod in 1987, mountain bikers “adapted” their rides for the first Iditabike—a 200-mile pedal through the Alaskan backcountry on snowmobile and dog mushing trails. Fat bikes are integral to year-round recreation and commuting all over the state, but some of our favorite trails are hiding out at the lovely Alyeska Resort near the town of Girdwood (about 40 miles from Anchorage). Here you can rent a bike with studded tires, hire a guide, and pedal through snow-covered meadows and pristine forests. When you finish, head to Alaska’s first Nordic Spa, a 50,000 square-foot hydro paradise. Amp your adventure on a multi-day hut-to-hut ride in Alaska’s White Mountains National Recreation Area, offering 250 miles of maintained winter trails and 14 public recreation cabins and shelters maintained by the Bureau of Land Management.
49° North Mountain Resort Courtesy of 49° Mountain Resort
7. 49° North Mountain Resort: Chewelah, WA
The Nordic Center at 49° North Mountain Resort in northeastern Washington is quickly becoming one of the prime fat bike areas in the country. This pristine area (about an hour’s drive north of Spokane) has miles of groomed trails for fat bikes that are often challenging—but that’s part of the fun. The Nordic Center is located in a cozy yurt near to the alpine ski area. Bikers and others can enjoy about 15 miles of groomed trails, with additional ungroomed snowshoe paths weaving through the dense Coleville National Forest. The yurt is open Friday through Sunday, and trail fees are $14 (Friday-Sunday) and $10 (Monday-Thursday). For a rental bike, visit North Division Bicycle in North Spokane. And for some timely competition, the annual 7k Chewelah Peak Challenge Fat Tire Bike Race is happening on January 30.
8. Never Summer Nordic: Walden, CO
State Forest Parks, near Walden, CO (a few hours northwest of Boulder), make up over 70,000 acres of prime Rocky Mountain backcountry in the Medicine Bow Range. Never Summer Nordic operates eight yurts and two cabins in the park—and you can ride fat bikes to almost every yurt during the winter on groomed snowmobile trail. From North Park Yurts, winter cyclists enjoy about 10 miles of spectacular scenery along the main access road. For some added elevation, the upper and lower Montgomery Yurts offer a gain of 620 feet during a three-mile trip from the parking lot. Yurts and huts are stocked with beds, wood stoves and cooking supplies.
9. Crested Butte, CO
Crested Butte is arguably one of the best spots for fat biking in the county. You’ll find a variety of both groomed and user-compacted trails here—and although cycling isn’t allowed on some of them, all valley drainages are open to fat bikes as it’s public land. Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association posts conditions on over 50 miles of free-use trails here—grooming courtesy of the Crested Butte Mountain Bike association. Popular trails like gorgeous Keebler Pass are multi-use, so you can expect to be sharing space with snowmobilers and hikers. The Gothic Trail, about 15 minutes from town, is restricted to non-motorized vehicles and nicely groomed for fat bikes. For a fat bike rental ($50 per day, $25 for a half-day), visit The Alpineer.
10. Rikert Nordic Center: Ripton, VT
In the heart of the Green Mountain National Forest is the Rikert Nordic Center—a true find just 20 minutes from Middlebury College, and tucked in those same rolling hills where poet Robert Frost found inspiration. The area offers some of the best winter walking, skiing, and hiking in New England, with over 30 miles of trails for skate and classic skiing, snowshoeing—and fat biking. Call in advance for rentals (and fat biking conditions) at the Nordic center, equipped with a full-service rental shop, including adaptive fat bikes.
Other options
Check with your local ski hill about fat bike opportunities. Many ski areas not only groom trails for fat bikers, but are also hosting competitions, events and demos. You’ll find plenty of Fat Bike events in places like Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. Fat-Bike.com also compiles listings for events around the country.
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The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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