Fat Biking 101: Everything You Need To Know

So, you’re sick of hanging up the bike all winter (or being stuck inside on the trainer) and are ready to get outside more during snow season. You’re in luck!

With a fat bike, there really is no reason to give up biking when the snow starts to fly. In fact, I keep riding outside year-round and only resort to riding indoors when it’s just too cold/icy/wet/dark to motivate myself to be outdoors.

Of course, like any new cycling discipline, it can be tough to know how to get started. You might be wondering: what gear do I need? What do I wear fat biking? Where can I find trails to ride?

I’ll give you answers to all those questions and more in this guide. But rest assured: you’ve got a very fun winter with plenty of vitamin D ahead.

But First: What Is A “Fat Bike”?

A fat bike is any bicycle with tires that are are 4-inches or wider–often up 5 inches. These tires can be run at very low pressure, allowing you to ride on snow or sand. (In this post, I’m focused on riding a fat bike in the snow).

More and more mountain bikes are also being offered with plus-size tires. These can be anywhere from 2.6 to 3.2 inches.

While you might be able to get away with riding a plus-sized bike if you are very lightweight and if the snow conditions are packed and hard, in general, plus-sized tires aren’t appropriate for fat biking. In fact, many winter trail systems won’t allow tires less than 4 inches wide because they end up breaking thru the track and leaving ruts.

Choosing a Fat Bike

Assuming you don’t already have a fat bike, that’s step number one. Don’t feel like you HAVE to invest a ton of money in a fat bike. For most of us, a fat bike is a second (or third or fourth!) bike, so it’s okay to go with something simple.

Most fat bikes do NOT have a suspension fork. That’s because fat tires provide extra cushion and because many of those technical obstacles you face in the summer (rocks, roots) are covered up in the winter. Most fat bike trails are smooth, almost like road or gravel riding. That said, a suspension fork can be nice if you’re riding trails with lots of post holes OR you’re riding in variable conditions (some snow, some frozen dirt).

If you’ve never tried fat biking, you might want to try renting or demoing a fat bike first. Try calling local bike shops to see who might have one, or google “fat bike rentals near me.”

What To Wear Fat Biking

The hardest part of fat biking is knowing what to wear. Seriously! This is highly personal and is also dependent on where you are riding. Minnesotans, for instance, really have to bundle up.

The biggest issue that fat bikers run into is overdressing, sweating a bunch, and then nearly freezing to death. For this reason, I recommend wearing layers and figuring out a way to carry those layers when you are ready to strip down. I tend to use a handlebar bag for carrying layers while fat biking, but you could also use a frame bag or hydration pack.

Head and Ears

The head is where you lose most of your body heat, so when you’re riding in cold conditions, it’s critical to keep it covered.

In warmer winter weather, a buff or headband over your ears might be plenty. In colder weather, I’ll use a thin beanie or even a balaclava.

Upper Body

Remember: layering is the name of the game. It’s not unusual to be cold at the trailhead, hot on the climb, and then FREEZING on the descent. The best way to combat this fluctuation is wearing plenty of layers that you can take off or put on as needed.

I highly recommend merino wool base layers. If you are riding in warmer weather (i.e. 32 degrees), this might be plenty for most of your ride.

If you are riding in wet or snowy conditions, I like using a breathable but waterproof shell as a top layer. Just remember, if it’s NOT wet, a waterproof shell will only cause you to sweat more, so avoid it on dry days.

In extreme cold, a puffy down jacket is another good layer. These jackets can compress well so you can stuff them in a bag when you’re not using it.

Lower Body

Winter cycling tights are great for keeping your legs warm. These can come with or without a chamois and are often fleece lined for extra protection.

If it’s really snowy or wet, I like using a pair of waterproof pants (like the Wild Rye soft shell Freyah*). They are fleece-lined and most often are plenty warm on their own, but if it’s super cold or wet, I’ll wear a pair of tights underneath as well.

Feet

Keep your feet warm with merino wool socks and a pair of boots. For boots, you can use a regular pair of lace-up snow boots, or if you are ready to invest in something even better, a lot of women in our community swear by the Lake boots for fat biking.

If it’s wet out, try putting doggy poop bags over your feet and under your socks. It sounds silly, but works wonders for keeping your feet dry and warm!

Hands

Hands are often the body part that fat bikers struggle with most. But that’s doesn’t have to be the case!

The warmest option are pogies, also known as bar mitts. These will keep your fingers nice and toasty, especially when paired with some chemical hand warmers. I use these relatively affordable ones from RockBros.*

If you’re not quite ready to invest in bar mitts, then consider wearing a nice warm pair of mittens or lobster gloves. While mittens don’t let you brake quite as easily as a regular pair of gloves, you’re usually going slow enough while fat biking that it doesn’t matter.

And if it’s not TOO cold outside (right around freezing), I really like my waterproof Shower’s Pass gloves. These allow for a lot more dexterity than heavier-duty options and are great for warmer winter days.

For even more ideas on what to wear, check out this article: Tips For Biking in Cold Weather And Cold Weather Cycling Gear.

Eyes

Eye protection while fat biking is important for two reasons: (1) the reflection from the snow can strain your eyes, and (2) if it’s really cold, the skin around your eyes can get painfully cold.

I recommend biking with a pair of sunglasses, or if it is really cold and snowing–goggles. Either ski goggles or mountain bike goggles will get the job done.

Ride With Flat Pedals

Even if you’re a devotee to clipless pedals, I highly recommend switching to flat pedals for riding in the snow. Clipless pedals quickly become mucked up with snow, mud, and ice, rendering them useless.

Flat pedals, on the other hand–especially those with metal pins–shed the muck and provide good traction when paired with a pair of boots.

My personal favorite pedals for fat biking are the Race Face Chester pedals. They are affordable, durable, and do a good job of providing traction even with snowy boot bottoms.

Keep Your Water From Freezing

It’s important to keep hydrated while fat biking but if it is below freezing, your water is going to freeze using a traditional hydration pack or water bottles.

Options include the following:

• A hydration pack with an insulated reservoir and hose. These are intended for winter use. If you have space, you can also help keep it warmer by wearing your pack underneath your outermost layer.
• Insulated water bottles. Start by filling it with really hot water. This works best on shorter rides; on really long rides or in really cold temps, the bottle will still freeze.
• Put bottles or a reservoir in a frame bag, along with some chemical hand warmers.

Experiment With Tire Pressure

You should be riding your fat bike with much lower tire pressure than you are used to riding on your other bikes. Because the tires are so fat, you can run your tires as low as 5 psi.

That said, you should spend some time playing around with tire pressure to figure out what works best for you. This is also highly dependent on the snow conditions you are riding on. Softer snow requires lower tire pressure, while harder pack snow allows you to ride with a higher tire pressure.

The biggest mistake I see new fat bike riders making is riding with their tire pressure too high. If you are leaving a rut, you need to let some tire pressure out. When you look behind you, you should see a track but no rut.

You can learn more about optimizing your tire pressure in this article: How To Dial-In The Perfect Tire Pressure.

Bring An Emergency Kit

If you are going to be out in the elements for very long or riding away from highly-trafficked areas, you should be prepared to survive in cold conditions.

If you’re going on a longer or more remote fat bike ride, bring everything I include on my bike ride packing checklist PLUS these extras:

• A lighter or fire starter
• Space blanket or emergency bivvy
• Chemical toe and hand warmers

Know Winter Trails Etiquette

In addition to normal trail etiquette–i.e. yield to uphill riders, use a bell to pass, etc–there are a couple of additional “rules” for winter trail etiquette.

First, only ride on trails that have actually been designated for fat biking. While that cross-country ski trail may be tempting, if it’s not explicitly open to bikes, you shouldn’t be riding it.

Also, regardless of whether a trail is “open” to bikes or not, there are certain snow conditions that should keep you from riding. If you are leaving a deep rut, or are having trouble riding a straight line, turn around. Ruts can cause issues for other users.

On groomed cross-country ski trails, stay to the side of the track rather than riding in the middle of it. Also, avoid riding on the classic track as you’ll destroy it for skiers.

Where To Go Fat Biking

If you aren’t already integrated into the local fat bike community, it can be hard to know where to go fat biking.

My favorite ways to find winter trails that are open to fat bikes is via the Trailforks app. They have a winter trails mode that you can turn on. To get instructions, check out this tutorial.

Other ways I’ve found trails is by googling local xc ski areas (not all of these will be open to fat bikes so check first) and joining fat bike groups on Facebook.

If you can’t find any trails locally that are groomed for fat biking, grab some snowshoes and a friend. By packing down local singletrack with snowshoes, it will be easier to fat bike later on.

Finally, consider any snowy road! My favorite fat bike rides are usually on gravel roads. If there’s too much snow, they’ll be impassible, but with a couple of inches, they’re a blast. If the road is regularly traveled by car or snowmobile, you can also often ride in their tracks even if the snow is deeper.

Set Realistic Expectations

Fat biking is a hoot, but it is not like any other type of riding. Expect to go MUCH slower riding on snow than you would on dirt or pavement, and to ride shorter distances.

Especially in the beginning, fat biking can feel like a LOT of work. Take it easy, go for some shorter rides first, and give yourself time to learn what will essentially feel like a new sport.

Also, don’t feel bad if you have to walk from time to time. Hills can be a lot harder in the snow, and sometimes there are drifts are soft patches that you just can’t ride. Expect to walk more when fat biking than you would normally.

Add Structure To Your Winter Training With Base Camp!

More Help To Get You Thru The Winter With Your Sanity Intact

• Tips For Biking In The Dark
• Tips For Riding Indoors
• How To Get The Most Out Of Your Winter Training With Jen Kates

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