Leah Pascoe rides her fat bike at Isobel Lake near Kamloops.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Leah Pascoe

It is a growing trend for cyclists to ride fat tire bikes during the winter, not only for the snowy outdoor fun, but to keep in shape while their mountain bikes are stored until spring.

While the fat bikes can be used year round, what makes them different from regular bikes is tire technology that allows riders to move through the snow and carry more weight when going on longer adventures.

Leah Pascoe is a Kamloops resident and avid mountain biker who purchased her first fat bike last year. She and her friends have been out every week riding the trails at Isobel Lake this winter, enjoying plenty of benefits.

“I get outside as much as possible to keep my mental health in check,” she said. “The fat-tire bike has allowed for many adventures this winter and lots of fresh air. I’m keeping in good physical condition for mountain bike riding the rest of the year.”

Pascoe said the bikes handle well in the snow depending on how soft the snow is.

“It is better when it’s colder and the snow is packed down,” she said. “You can still get going pretty fast if the trail conditions are good. Because of the bigger tires they are really good for deep snow, soft sand, mud and loose gravel, and you can carry more weight than with a regular mountain bike.”

Leah Pascoe and her friend's fat tire bikes near Kamloops.

Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Leah Pascoe

Pascoe said there is a big community of fat-tire bikers hitting the snowy trails around Kamloops.

“There is a really great group of people who volunteer to keep the trails groomed up at Isobel Lake and that has been great,” she said.

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Jesse Muckle works in the sales department at Spoke N Motion in Kamloops.

“We are definitely bringing in and selling a lot of these bikes,” Muckle said. “They continue to grow in popularity. Customers are riding them at Isobel Lake. They want to keep in good shape in the winter and this is great way to do that.”

Muckle said while many customers ride fat bikes year round, the capability of riding in the snow is the star feature. The tires range between 3.8 and five inches wide.

“The tires are usually done in a 26-inch tire for contact with the ground,” he said. “In order to get grip for the tire you want to get as much surface area. Having the extra width and even weight distribution on the wheels is what keeps you a float on the snow.”

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Muckle said most fat biking is done on groomed trails, but the bikes can be powered through up to eight inches of snow.

He said the electric fat bikes have not been as popular so far but they are starting make more of an appearance.

“E-bikes can be helpful for some people and have been integrated into the fat bike as well,” he said. “They are pretty much the same thing, just with a battery. They are fully water proof and can be used in the snow.”

Fat bikes range in price between $1,000 and $3,000.

— This article was corrected at 10:40 a.m. Tuesday, Jan.11, 2022 to remove a reference to the Stake Lake trails as a place where fat biking is permitted as no fat biking is allowed on the trails maintained by the Overlander Ski Club.

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