A Winter Fat Biking Experience

Some of my favorite biking happens in winter. The snowy, frozen landscape is vast, with the lack of foliage making it easier to spot the denizens of the forest. The snow muffles the earth, causing a welcome solitude. Deer prints sunken into a freshly groomed singletrack trail means you're likely to spot one around the next corner.
Yet the trail can be challenging, and the snow of one day will never be the snow of the next, as it takes on seemingly endless textures (fresh powder, crunchy, slick ice, slushy and hard pack to name a few), which make each ride different from the last.
Today's video is an ode to winter riding, and, if I did my job well, it will capture at least some of the beauty and grandeur of Winter, by Bike.

[@stephenschloemer]

I love the music you used in your video. The first thing I thought of was the movie, Fargo. Great use of the drone.

[@robonbikes]

Thanks Steve, Fargo is a great movie (I should rent a wood chipper for my old broken bike 😂)!

[@ellerybice3787]

I like it well enough that I recently purchased another version in the 12 speed. my 11 speed 2019 version has over 10,000 miles of travel on it. I could have upgraded the 11 speed drive train to the 12 speed components, but that would have entailed about $1,000. With two bikes, I have one with me on the road, and one at the house for easier access. The 12 vs. the 11 speed. The 12 speed has a higher top speed and a noticeably more capable low climbing gear. 11 speed cassette is a 11-46 range. 12 speed is a 10-51 range. Another change that benefits me, is I use the ISM PR30 saddle, it is structured in a way that keeps a man from hurting hisself. 🤠

[@greggmohs6740]

Great work! Awesome video. More like that please.

[@robonbikes]

Thanks man!

[@JayRock907]

Wow, what a great video! What kind of handlebars are those? can you run pogies on em or nah? Cheers from Alaska! 🍻

[@robonbikes]

Cheers! 🍻 Handlebars are Jones H-Bars. I really like them, quite comfortable, and they offer multiple hand positions. While I haven’t found any pogies that are designed to work with the Jones bars, I’ve talked to some folks who have made it work.

[@stevemarzocco4983]

Easily one of the most artfully-crafted openers of all the now scores of fat (tire) bike, MTB and e-bike videos and nearing two dozen of those “in snow”, that I’ve watched of late.

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!!

[@dakilen]

Great video, keep up the good work!!! I just picked up my first Fat Bike (Surly Ice Cream Truck) and I’m super excited to be able to ride year round in the Duluth, MN area!

[@robonbikes]

That is a great bike, and a great area to ride it. Thanks for watching!

[@minusmedic2932]

beautiful shots. Any details on the trails you were on?

[@robonbikes]

Thanks! Quite a hodgepodge of trails. Whole 1st part are dirt roads in Carlos Avery Wildlife Area. Middle part is the Bethel Haunted Forest single track trail. There are some shots on Elm Creek single track and Ham Lake Park.

[@conniegerster1708]

Really shows off the beautiful snowy countryside. Well done, Rob.

[@robonbikes]

Thanks!

[@Pontiuspilotus-jj4wq]

Great cinematography! With about 7 months of snow cover here in Alaska, a fat bike's a necessity!

[@robonbikes]

Thanks! Do they groom trails for fat biking? Any suggestions for good trails in summer?

[@Pontiuspilotus-jj4wq]

@@robonbikes Yes some of the popular singletracks are groomed! In Anchorage popular areas include Kincaid Park, Hillside Park, North Bivouac, and Campbell Tract for both winter and summer. Or alternatively go off the beaten path on the hundreds of miles of trails around the Chugach Mountains, Hatcher Pass, Knik and Portage glaciers, and Eklutna Lake just to name a few areas. Trailforks should be up to date with all of these areas. 👍

[@OldManFatBike]

Thanks for the video Rob! I enjoyed watching your FAT adventure!! It's a thumbs up from me 😉

[@robonbikes]

Thanks Old Man Fat Bike!

[@PinheirosBike]

What an Oscar-worthy video. Cycling like this on a snow-covered trail is so good. Then the Fatbike is at home. Keep going friend Happy riding

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!

[@BS-my2ky]

I'm used to bike cheap mountain bikes from the late 90's for like $100 and wonder how much is a typical fat bike?

[@robonbikes]

Really depends on frame material and components. I would say between $800 to $5000. I would avoid Walmart bikes, as the cheap components aren’t going to be safe for terrain you’d encounter while fat biking.

[@MTB_Rider_96]

What's the location? I've been riding the Minnesota River Bottoms and Murphy a lot this winter.

[@robonbikes]

Several different locations. Only one made for biking is Bethel Haunted Forest

[@BIKESnSKILLETS]

Why the sad music 😢

[@mbiraside]

Rob, great video. What is the opening piece of music, thanks

[@robonbikes]

Appreciate it! It is called “A Way of Life” by Christoffer Moe Ditlevsen. All the music I use is from Epidemic Sounds, all royalty free

[@johnpouchot329]

Sweet vid! I’m looking to get into winter biking in the metro area as well. Any chance you could name some of the spots you were riding? Specifically, the drops and the ones with the pup, as I’d like to get my Weimaraner lab mix out with me this winter.

[@robonbikes]

The drops were at Elm Creek in Champlin. The trail with the dog was actually Ham Lake Park, not a mountain bike trail but just a community park with some trails through the woods - kind of perfect for a stroll with the dog!

[@johnpouchot329]

@@robonbikes awesome! Thanks! I thought the drops might be Elm but wasn’t sure. Enjoy the vids, keep up the good work.

[@CarolGerster]

Wow great video. Beautiful scenery.

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!!

[@mahmudhasan6024]

I really fell in love with your content😍😍

[@robonbikes]

Sweet!

[@ellerybice3787]

And no pogies, tough you are. Or with frozen hands.🚴🏼🚴🏼🚴🏼✍🏻

[@robonbikes]

I wanted pogies but they don’t work well on the Jones handlebars I use. So I just have good gloves! 😁

[@ellerybice3787]

On my trek 1120, I use Jones bars, with the 2 1/2" rise. I use a set of 45nrth pogies. They are not "ideal" in fit, but if you get creative in sealing up the ill fitting areas between the cuff and bars, they will work. You may want to stay away from them neoprene built products, they leave warmth out of their DNA.

[@robonbikes]

@ellerybice3787 that’s good to know. How do you like the 1120?

[@poorman1ktm990]

- 20 FATBIKE GOOD TIMES GOOD TIMES SON

[@robonbikes]

Oh yeah! 🥶

[@obbcmtb9977]

F’n WOW! You sold it on the opening shot, the music plus the drone shot angle was capturing a perfectly cast shadow of you and your bike. Just awesome. Is the forest really haunted?? Lol

[@robonbikes]

Thank you so much!!! Yeah I love that opening shot! The Bethel fire department used to have a haunted forest event there, so there are a lot of remnants left over from that. Makes for some unique mountain biking features!

[@janemohs1467]

So peaceful and beautiful, the scenery is awesome, your music is great, and I love the drone footage. And it’s a good way to exercise Quinn. Interesting area you biked through (I thought it was someone’s little campsite).

[@robonbikes]

Thanks! A few different places but you’re probably talking about Bethel Haunted Forest

[@itrecinque9022]

Wow...beautiful.

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!

[@TGormania]

Awesome! Loved it.

[@robonbikes]

Thank you!

[@TGormania]

@@robonbikes You're welcome.