Fat Biking Snow, Beach, or Trail
As recently as seven years ago, fat tire biking was widely considered a passing fad, if it was considered at all. Now most mountain bike companies have a fat tire version, and a few companies even focus on fat bike models.
The best and maybe most surprising thing about fat biking is the wide variety of terrain you can have fun on. Because of the extra low ground pressure and the extra big contact patch of fat tires, you can ride places you wouldn’t dream to try on a “normal” mountain bike.
Snow is one of the most exclusive and scenic surfaces. Before you go, make sure the snow trail is packed/groomed. Not even a fat bike can float on loose snow. Also, know the temperature limitations of your chain lube and other fluids, as well as your own body’s limitations. The last thing you want is to be in a cold, remote place you can’t get back from, with temps below freezing and help unlikely.
The beach is another scenic place you can ride. As with snow, make sure you can always get back to safety…know the local tides and conditions especially if you’re targeting a hard-to-get-to scenic spot around rising tides. Salt in sand and water can ruin a bike quicker than anything else, so take extra care in rinsing off your bike thoroughly right after your beach ride.
And, of course, you can enjoy a fat bike on good old-fashioned trail mud. Be aware that while fat tires provide better traction and “float” thanks to having more tire in contact with the ground at any given time, this big contact patch also means you typically can’t turn on a dime as you could on most mountain bikes. Know your bike and what it can/can’t do, before you take a downhill switchback too fast and find yourself in involuntary flight mode.
With just a little prep you can enjoy snow, sand, silt and pretty much anything else. Here endeth the lesson on fat biking.
Bike Newbie 