Anyone have anything they'd like to rant about?

[Powder Ho]

I'll never understand why some of the bilers insist on riding the fat bike trail.
They have hundreds of miles of roads and meadows to play in but, no I think I'll ride this 2 foot wide trail that snakes through the woods.
Jeez!

[Shredhead]

I'll never understand why some of the bilers insist on riding the fat bike trail.!

Do your trails get enough traffic to pack them out, without mechanical assistance? If not, what do the use?

Here in the RFV we only have really good fat biking, but only two dedicated fat bike trails. Ones on a golf course and the other is along a creek. Both are really flat.
Most of our riding is groomed MUTs or closed roads like Indy Pass or the Bells.
We have a few other trails that wouldn’t be rideable, without an occasional snowmobile packing them out.

[ironhippy]

Do your trails get enough traffic to pack them out, without mechanical assistance? If not, what do the use?

I use a snowdog, the trails are too tight for snwomobiles. We have a few other trail systems that are groomed by snowmobiles.

[Shredhead]

I use a snowdog, the trails are too tight for snwomobiles. We have a few other trail systems that are groomed by snowmobiles.

That looks nice. Where are you located?
I don’t think they have one here. Our single track is kinda lame, but I hear rumors of improvements.

I have heard of places using old Arctic Cat Kitcats.

[ironhippy]

That looks nice. Where are you located?
I don’t think they have one here. Our single track is kinda lame, but I hear rumors of improvements.

I have heard of places using old Arctic Cat Kitcats.

I'm on the east coast of Canada (New Brunswick)

The other areas are using older, smaller snowmobiles (arctic cat jaguars) on the single track and larger machines for the double track.

The snowdog is ok, but not great. If I could fit a snowmobile on the trails I groom, I would use that.
The snowdog requires a lot of trail prep, I basically have to shovel every off camber section flat, once I get a track set the grooming is a lot more enjoyable.

here's the trails I groom:
https://www.trailforks.com/region/is...&lon=-66.79744

[BFD]

what is up with White River National Forest not letting bikes on groomed snowmachine trails?

[Powder Ho]

Do your trails get enough traffic to pack them out, without mechanical assistance? If not, what do the use?

Here in the RFV we only have really good fat biking, but only two dedicated fat bike trails. Ones on a golf course and the other is along a creek. Both are really flat.
Most of our riding is groomed MUTs or closed roads like Indy Pass or the Bells.
We have a few other trails that wouldn’t be rideable, without an occasional snowmobile packing them out.

There's only 1 dedicated fat bike trail here. It's an 11 mile loop that doesn't get enough traffic to pack out.
There is a volunteer that uses a snow mobile w/ a pull behind groomer. He'll usually grooms late afternoon so it's set up the next morning.
Even the FS roads that the snow mobile club grooms aren't firm enough for consistent fat biking.
Low density snow is a blessing and a curse.😁

[Bunion 2020]

what is up with White River National Forest not letting bikes on groomed snowmachine trails?

Gallatin Natl. Forest has the same bullshit rule.

[Montana Rider]

Gallatin Natl. Forest has the same bullshit rule.

I thought you just needed to pay for that sticker...

I got one a few years back when I first bought my fat bike but it's expired.


https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/regis...d-registration


Resident Trail Pass
Residents must purchase a Resident Trail Pass to legally ride on any of the 4,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Montana. Trail Passes are valid for two seasons and are $20. Trail Passes apply to all “mechanized equipment” including snowmobiles, motorized snow bikes, and fat tire pedal bikes.

[Shredhead]

If it’s a rule, they don’t seem to enforce it here. Though I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ranger.

I think Mikeyb used to be a ranger in the WRNF?

The Maroon Bells is 8 miles with Snowmobile on one side of a two lane road and groomed ski/skate track on the other. I ride whatever’s best.
Independence Pass is just packed by Snowmobiles.

[Joey Joe Joe Junior Shabadoo]

what is up with White River National Forest not letting bikes on groomed snowmachine trails?

The most recent update of the Travel Management plan, which took almost 10 years to be finalized, started before fat bikes were a thing so lots of motorized winter routes are still designated as "no wheeled vehicles", or "tracked vehicles only". We've got roads into some of our huts that see tons of snowmobiles but you can't technically take a fat bike up them? But like Shred said, enforcement is nil. They only had 2 officers for the entire forest last I heard so I can't imagine fat bikes are high on their list of priorities.

[evasive_MT]

I thought you just needed to pay for that sticker...

I got one a few years back when I first bought my fat bike but it's expired.


https://fwp.mt.gov/buyandapply/regis...d-registration


Resident Trail Pass
Residents must purchase a Resident Trail Pass to legally ride on any of the 4,000 miles of groomed snowmobile trails in Montana. Trail Passes are valid for two seasons and are $20. Trail Passes apply to all “mechanized equipment” including snowmobiles, motorized snow bikes, and fat tire pedal bikes.

I don’t think so. It’s the USFS winter travel plan. Basically this: [emoji3596]

The most recent update of the Travel Management plan, which took almost 10 years to be finalized, started before fat bikes were a thing so lots of motorized winter routes are still designated as "no wheeled vehicles", or "tracked vehicles only". We've got roads into some of our huts that see tons of snowmobiles but you can't technically take a fat bike up them? But like Shred said, enforcement is nil. They only had 2 officers for the entire forest last I heard so I can't imagine fat bikes are high on their list of priorities.

[toast2266]

I'm mostly just surprised that this many people still ride fat bikes.

[BFD]

The most recent update of the Travel Management plan, which took almost 10 years to be finalized, started before fat bikes were a thing so lots of motorized winter routes are still designated as "no wheeled vehicles", or "tracked vehicles only". We've got roads into some of our huts that see tons of snowmobiles but you can't technically take a fat bike up them? But like Shred said, enforcement is nil. They only had 2 officers for the entire forest last I heard so I can't imagine fat bikes are high on their list of priorities.

Thanks for the response. It was something that showed up on my phone, I moved down here from AK and had never heard of that before. I figured some biker must of pissed off the snowmobile club. I ride in the Rio Grande NF and use the groomed trails. Have not this year as we still have good dry riding. When I do start riding the snow plan on making a donation to the local groomers.

[Shredhead]

I'm mostly just surprised that this many people still ride fat bikes.

I have a puppy that drives my wife crazy, if I don’t run the shit out of him, before I go skiing.





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[Powder Ho]

I'm mostly just surprised that this many people still ride fat bikes.

Why?

[J. Barron DeJong]

Why?

Maybe it’s a ‘don’t knock it till you try it’ thing, but to me it seems like there’s no shortage of winter activities I’d rather do than fat biking.

[toast2266]

Why?

Just anecdotal experience. In 2005 fat bikes basically didn't exist outside of some very niche circles. Around 2010-ish it seemed like they had caught on. Around 2013-14, I knew tons of people that owned fat bikes who all swore it was basically the 2nd coming of Jesus. By 2018, all those fat bike die hards had either sold their fat bikes or had regressed to only using their fat bikes for very occasional commuting purposes. At present, I don't think I know anyone that rides one regularly. Or maybe more accurately, I don't know anyone that admits they ride one regularly. And I don't really see them around anymore.

But by all means, if you're into it, keep doing it. Just means less people on the ski hill, so I think it's great.

[evdog]

Around 2013-14, I knew tons of people that owned fat bikes who all swore it was basically the 2nd coming of Jesus.

I saw the exact same progression here. "Fat bikes make your regular trails so much more fun!!". These must be the same people who jumped on the plus bike trend a year or two later. "They have so much traction, I can go so fast I'm setting new PRs on everything!".

Interestingly I have one friend who bought a fat bike in 2022 and has been riding it consistently. We'll see how long that lasts...

[ironhippy]

I saw the exact same progression here. "Fat bikes make your regular trails so much more fun!!". These must be the same people who jumped on the plus bike trend a year or two later. "They have so much traction, I can go so fast I'm setting new PRs on everything!".

Interestingly I have one friend who bought a fat bike in 2022 and has been riding it consistently. We'll see how long that lasts...

It's definitely slowing down up here, in 2019/2020 we had twice as many areas that were being groomed for fat biking than 2023.

I tend to ride regardless of the conditions, I basically have a bike for every condition (Fat bike, plus bike, 26'er with studs, etc.)

When the conditions are good, fat biking can be a lot of fun. When the conditions are great (super crust, ride anywhere, very rare around here) it's the only sport I've done that compares to a powder day levels of fun.

I don't ride my fat bike unless I need to.

[BFD]

In Alaska they open up a lot of country. Getting out and riding snowmachine trails over swamps and frozen rivers or spring crust cruising.

[Name Redacted]

I have a fat bike that I put a Bafang bbshd electric motor on. Our local hiking trail is packed enough to ride it on to the base of a moderately interesting backcountry run from my house. I can get there in about 10 mins, throw the bike in the woods, and start skinning. Cuts out a drive and 1.5-2 miles of skinning on a road. Wears the dog out that much more too. I guess it is a win, but other than that, it is just a neat bike to ride to the bar, oh, and it'll do 30-35 mph across the lake when conditions are right, so that's kinda fun.

Fat biking just to go out fat biking is pretty low on my list though. I feel like XC skiing is more fun and that's saying something. We xc back on some trails behind the house and I'll see folks post holing with fat bikes ruining the ski trails. That's kinda lame. Fat bikes have a pretty narrow range of conditions that they are actually fun in.

[Bunion 2020]

When the conditions are good, fat biking can be a lot of fun. When the conditions are great (super crust, ride anywhere, very rare around here) it's the only sport I've done that compares to a powder day levels of fun.

And when conditions are less than good (often) Fat Biking blows goats. That is why I sold mine.

Fat bikes have a pretty narrow range of conditions that they are actually fun in.

word.

[ironhippy]

And when conditions are less than good (often) Fat Biking blows goats. That is why I sold mine.

agreed, I'm in tune enough that I can pretty much predict exactly what conditions I'll find on the trail. I also groom trails from my yard, so that helps with everything.

My general rule is: when the skiing is good, the fat biking is bad, when the skiing is bad, the fat biking is good.

I also downhill ski, XC ski, snowshoe, hike, run and play hockey so I'm usually doing something.

[HankScorpio]

My general rule is: when the skiing is good, the fat biking is bad, when the skiing is bad, the fat biking is good.

This is 100% what it boils down too. I use my fat bike a ton during the winter due to the fickleness of Vermont snow/ski conditions. Plus (for me), going for a 1-2 hour fat bike ride is much easier than schlepping to the resort and skiing.