Fat Bikes Plow Into Traverse City

by Kandace Chapple

They’re big, they’re gnarly, and they have an air about them something like a circus act. Everyone wants to get a closer look, to give them a squeeze and to take them for a ride.

They’re Fat Bikes, and you'll see them on snowy, slushy streets downtown all winter long.

“They’re the buzz around town,” said Karl Friesen, salesman at Brick Wheels in Traverse City. “They’re gaining in popularity because of their versatility, and they’re spritely for a bike with such large tires.”

Brick Wheels has sold about 15 fat bikes this season, and the questions are always the same: “Do these things really work on snow? What are these big tires for?”

The answer is yes and the big tires – measuring either 3.7 inches or 4.5 inches wide – do the trick to get riders through tough terrain year-round – from soft snow to shifting beach sand.

The bikes weigh around 33 pounds for the lowest-priced model, Friesen said. They’ve even made their debut in the Iceman, a 29-mile mountain bike race. The rider clocked in at just over two hours, an impressive finish by any standards.

They’re not just for the hardcore, either. They’re making their way into everyday transport for bike enthusiasts this winter.

Take John Robert Williams, 56, of Traverse City. He’s got all kinds of bikes, clocking 2,000-4,000 miles a year all over town. But his newest bike is causing a stir: a 2012 Surly Moonlander with Big Fat Larry tires on Clown Shoe rims.

“It's a game-changer!” Williams said. “The design and execution are amazing. It just goes places without drama. The wide footprint and the geometry show that the designers really thought this thing out....it IS a snow bike!”

Fat bikes range from $1,600 to $3,300 for a titanium-framed bike, Friesen said. They can be ridden on trails like the TART or VASA Single Track, but not on groomed ski trails.

Williams has clocked about 100 miles on his bike so far.

“It’s a head-turner, for sure,” Williams said. “Even drivers rubberneck, slow down and give me toots and high-fives. Everyone wants to ride it. It's like showing up with an exotic hot rod.”

Einstein Cycles, Traverse City's newest bike shop at the corner of Four Mile Rd. and US 31, offers group snow bike rides three mornings a week (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays). They start from their shop and hop on the TART to Bunker Hill Road to the VASA trailhead. From there, the group rides a designated snow bike trail.

“It's the sport that no one thinks is real, but it is!” said Jason Lowetz, owner of EC, who's been a pro cyclist for five years. “Riding in the woods in the winter is surreal - with no leaves on the trees, it's so quiet.”

The shop offers Surly fat bikes ranging from $1,650-$2,350. EC is also working with Gore Bike Wear to bring a Snow Bike Race to Gaylord on March 31. Click here for info on the group rides or to try a fat bike.

For the Brick Wheels demo, visit www.brickwheels.com. Or, take one for a spin tomorrow night at Timber Ridge Resort in Traverse City.  From 4-8 p.m., manufacturer Salsa Cycles is offering a free demo of their Fat Bike the “Mukluk” on the VASA Single Track. There will be 15 bikes on hand to ride, along with complimentary snacks and drinks.