Fat-tire bikes open up many possibilities

WASILLA — Among the outdoor community the newest hobby has taken off and it’s taken the form of a fat tire bike. In fact, it’s hard to go around the Valley without seeing one.

Throughout Alaska, skiers and hikers look for new trails and tracks to try and explore. But the downfall of needing trails is that the conditions are undependable, and with this year’s and last year’s winter weather, the trails have all be sub-par at one point or another. With fat tire bikes, a person can go on any terrain because all that is needed is a semi-packed down trail of snow, or mud, or even ice works fine.

Backcountry Bike and Ski lent two fat tire bikes to WHS Warrior Word staff so students could experience this phenomenon for themselves.

I took off to the Government Peak Recreation Area’s new mountain bike trails, while Bayley Belgarde took off toward the Palmer Hay Flats.

I hit the GPRA bike trails soon after ski practice. It was an unusually sunny afternoon with no wind. I headed up the icy trail and my first impression of the bike was shock. I couldn’t get over how well the tires grabbed and didn’t slip

The first half of the bike trail is an uphill with switchbacks built to help out. The multiple gears made the going easy. The bike floated on the downhill. It was like riding a regular bike, but in the winter with snow to break your fall. Unfortunately, the price is as much as college tuition, so owning one is a no for now.

Reporter Bayley Belgarde came back from his ride on a fat bike and thought they’re absolutely the best.

First, he took the bike out for a ride through some hills and intense slopes, over ice and trees and through snow and bushes. He said the bike was unstoppable.

Next, he went on a leisurely 6-mile ride up a frozen river. Belgarde said when you’re on a fat bike, “those things ride on it like it’s a sidewalk.” They’re also geared like a mountain bike so no matter what you’re riding on it rides easily, and the tires are, of course, nice and fat, so they cushion all the blow and keep the bike from any unfriendly bangs or bumps.

Fat tire bikes run anywhere from $500 to $7,000. The quality and dependability of the bike is in direct correlation of how much the buyer wants to pay. If a buyer went to a generic store and purchased a fat bike it would cost between $500 and $800. It will weigh between 35 to 40 pounds and will have few gears.

On the other hand, a trip to a bike specialist can get you a bike fitted to your size, including hand mitts (or pogies) that go over your handlebars, plus any gear options to help you through hard terrain. A model such as that will weigh between 20 and 30 pounds and cost between $1,000 and $7,000 depending on how fancy the customer wants to get.

Belgarde said he’s hooked.

“Just the pure novelty of riding no hands on a frozen river sold it to me,” he said. “That’s just awesome.”

Eli Ickes is a senior at WHS. Bayley Belgarde is a junior.