Sports
On the Trail: Winter biking 101
Published
5 years agoon
Posted By
Outlaw PartnersBy Sara Marino BSCO Community Development Manager
Take a look around the trails of Big Sky, and you’ll see that you don’t need to put your bike away just because the snow starts flying. Winter biking, or fat biking, is a growing sport and you don’t need to be a hardcore rider or invest in all new gear to try it out. I spoke with local biking enthusiast and Big Sky Community Organization winter grooming volunteer, Matt Jennings, to get some tips on how to get started.
Layer up
Even though its cold outside, fat biking is a workout like cross-country skiing. Dress in breathable layers to keep warm and comfortable without overheating. Put on warm socks and winter boots and you’ll be set if you find yourself off the trail.
Take it slow
Riding on snow will be slower than what you’re used to when riding on dirt. Be aware of conditions on the trail changing from packed snow, to ice, to soft snow. When riding downhill, stay in control and light on the brakes to avoid skidding off the trail. Keeping your weight to the back of the saddle and your body relaxed also helps.
What to ride
A fat bike comes equipped with tires 4-5 inches wide compared to a typical mountain bike tire that would max out around 2.5 inches. And whereas the tire pressure in a mountain bike is kept around 28-30 pounds per square inch, fat bike tires are kept at about 6 psi. This allows the tire to flatten out across the snow, creating a stable surface and flotation. If your bike leaves deep ruts in the snow, let some air out of the tires.
Where to go
If you’re new to fat biking, a good place to start will be the groomed community trails in Big Sky Town Center and the Big Sky Community Park. The trails are wide and mostly flat to give you a good feel for the bike. Once you’ve mastered that, the Hummocks trail is a local favorite to try. This trail is packed down by users, so try to stay on the packed trail or you will find yourself quickly sinking in the snow.
If you’re looking to get out of town, consider Harriman State Park, located south of Island Park, Idaho, about a 1.5-hour drive from Big Sky. The park features 24 miles of groomed multi-use trails, and yurts for an overnight stay.
Fat biking is a great way to extend your biking season, stay in shape, and just have fun. Fat bikes can be rented at Gallatin Alpine Sports in Big Sky.
For more information about Big Sky’s parks, trails and recreation programs, visit bscomt.org. The Big Sky Community Organization engages and leads people to recreational and enrichment opportunities through thoughtful development of partnerships, programs and places.
The Outlaw Partners is a creative marketing, media and events company based in Big Sky, Montana.
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a
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We all are familiar with using a limited palette, but do you use one? Do you know how to use a limited palette to create different color combinations? Are you tired of carrying around 15-20 different tubes when you paint plein air? Have you ever wanted to create a certain “mood” in a painting but failed? Do you create a lot of mud? Do you struggle to achieve color harmony? All these problems are addressed in John’s workbook in clear and concise language!
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome
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Come join us at Cowboy Coffee as we celebrate a fun night of drinks, games, and meeting others within the community. This event is from 6-8 and all are welcome to come, if you don’t know who to bring come alone this is a great mixer event! This is an event hosted by Big Sky OUT as we work to provide queer safe spaces throughout the community.
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