I've been asked for a long time; Do you have a fatbike for your winter training? The answer is now, YES I do! And I completely understand the excitement of this activity. Due to the fact that I chose to stay in Quebec to get ready for the 2021 racing season, Serge and I decided to purchase fatbikes. After a few days of research (yes, there is a shortage of bikes at the moment and accessibility is very limited) we finally found 2 fatbikes. To be honest, I had in mind that I was going to spend a lot of time on the roller and cross-country skiing this winter, but with my new bike, I'm doing as many hours outdoors as I did in training camp in the south!
After a few weeks of use, here's what I've learned so far.
No need to spend thousands $$$ to have fun
We were still lucky to find 2 fatbikes for 1000$ each. If you are beginners or even experts in mountain or road biking, I advise you to take a bike that suits your budget. We agree that the fatbike is 100% for fun and 0% for performance. And if you're running the QOM or KOM on Strava, you will find yourself pushing harder! Having a heavier bike with a lower range will allow you to arrive much stronger in the summer season. It's like an investment in your cardio! A slow winter for a fast summer!
Investing in good tires is a MUST
Cheap bikes sometimes means that tires are not worth the price as well. In fatbike, buying good tires is the only investment I would suggest to people. I goofed around the first few days and broke a few ribs before starting shopping for tires. Personally, I don't have studded tires because I also ride on the road to make my volume. But I can understand when it rains that studs are very useful. Here is a list of the best tires on the market:
https://www.bikeperfect.com/features/best-fat-bike-tires
Heated socks, oh yes!
For as long as I can remember, my feet have always been cold during my winter activities. But now, since my most recent purchase, my feet stay warm all along the bike ride. I have 3 modes on my socks. The less strong one allows me to have warmth feet for more than 5 hours. The batteries are easily rechargeable. I advise you, it makes the activities much more pleasant.
Clip-on fat boots or not?
One of the reasons I didn't have a fatbike, was that I had to equip myself before I could actually ride one. Several people told me that I didn't need clips, that I could ride with normal boots. But given the amount of time I spend on the bike, the risk of injury is very high. So I found fatbike boots with clips. They're warm (in addition to my heated stockings) and they're suitable for pedalling, so I've just lowered the risk of injury by a lot.
Covered mittens
On my first outing, my hands froze after 30 minutes. Covered mittens are very practical to keep warm. Moreover, on the road, they protect against wind and bad weather. The only catch is that if I fall, I must have the reflex to take my hands out to protect myself. That was one of the causes of my fall which fractured my ribs.
Water bottle freezes
The cork of the bottle will freeze. Totally normal, it’s winter! A thermos the size of a bottle is the solution. I put a green tea and some Brix maple syrup inside. A real delight :D
The conditions
Having another winter activity in your pocket when there are snowstorms could be pretty useful. Trails become soft and must be hard enough before you can ride again. So enjoy the powder snow on snowshoes or snowboards and wait for the trails to be ready!
Have a good ride!
Cindy
