Fatbikes: Next-Level Winter Mountain Biking

by: Justin Gural

Where other than Anchorage, Alaska, along the lower alpine slopes of the Chugach Mountains, might one find a booming winter mountain biking scene? Well, you may be inclined to answer this rhetorical question with "Whistler," but the mountain biking mecca can't claim this unique characteristic... not this time.

Separated by less than eight miles in the northernmost major city in the United States, two local bike shops are singlehandedly working to progress this winter mountain biking movement. After all, they have this core market in the palm of their hands... and plenty of snowpack to develop and test bikes.

Both Speedway Cycles and Chain Reaction Cycles are on the leading fringe of the super-fat tire buzz. In fact, Chain Reaction --who claims to be the first to create a wide-tire frame-- went as far to create Fatbikes.com: a website devoted to fat bike aficionados.

Built specifically for frozen, snow-packed trails, although some die-hard say they're fun year-round bikes, Speedway's pride and joy is the Fatback and Chain Reaction holds their own with the 9:ZERO:7. Other more-recognizable manufacturers who make wide-tire frames include Salsa Cycles (the Mukluk) and Surly Bikes (the Pugsley).

Of course, without trails to ride there wouldn't be much of a scene. To this end, they have an extensive trail system that carries over from the summer months, as well as an agreement to ride on the vast snow machine trail network. Cross country skiing and dog sledding trails are off limits, though, so keep some doggie treats in your pack just in case you take a wrong turn.

If your trails are buried under feet and feet of snowfall, like they are for most of northern North America, rather than throwing in the towel and sticking to sloppy roads and uninspiring bike machines... get yourself a fatbike and blaze the trail.

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