Fat Bike Etiquette: Tips for an Enjoyable (And Respectful) Groomed Trail Experience
Since grooming snow is time-consuming, it’s very important to respect the effort that goes into that grooming. Here are some tips for fat biking respectfully.
1. think before you sink
If there’s one cardinal rule of fat biking on groomed fatbike trail, it’s don’t leave ruts in the trail. How to avoid leaving ruts is the key (see below), but if you’re out for a ride and find that you’re leaving a rut in the trail–turn around, and try again a different day (or during a different time of the day).
2. Use tires that are at least 3.8″ wide
When riding on groomed trail, choose tires that are at least 3.8″ wide. Generally speaking, the wider the tire, the better.
3. Adjust your air pressure to the conditions
The softer the conditions, the lower the air pressure you need to run in your tires. Air pressure is dependent on rider weight, and a heavier rider may need to use a slightly higher air pressure than a light rider. As a rule of thumb, FAST recommends 1-4 psi for a soft groomed surface, and 6-8 psi for hard surface and base.
4. Don’t ride on a freshly-groomed trail
Freshly-groomed trails are rarely ready to be ridden immediately. Instead, trails need time to harden, or ‘set up.’ The time required for a trail to set up depends on several variables, such as temperature and humidity, but it always requires a period of falling temperatures.
If you ride a freshly-groomed trail, leave a long rut in it, and then the trail sets up, your rut will be frozen in place, ruining the experience for everyone that comes after you.
5. Don’t post hole through a groomed trail
“Post holing” is the act of hiking in deep snow without snowshoes, leaving deep footprint holes behind you, which resemble post holes. If you reach a hill that you can’t pedal up on your fat bike, make sure that you walk in the unpacked snow off to the side of the trail.
However, in some places where the snowpack is very deep, you could easily sink in to your waist (or deeper) when you go off the packed trail. In such a situation, walking off the trail may be impossible. The best choice in this situation is, again, to turn around and not leave foot prints.
6. As the weather warms, avoid thawing conditions
As the weather warms–either with a change in weather patterns or as spring approaches–trail conditions become more variable, with “freeze/thaw” conditions taking over. When the temperatures climb above freezing, make sure that you don’t ride when the trail is slushy.
To avoid leaving ruts in freeze/thaw conditions, ride early in the morning when the trails are still frozen and packed. While the temps may climb above freezing, that doesn’t mean the trail immediately starts to melt. Snow temperature tends to lag 2-3 hours behind air temperature. Even if the air is sliding over 32 degrees, the snow is still a bit colder and tends to hold its shape and structure fairly well. However, expect variable conditions, and plan your route accordingly. Areas with direct sunlight will soften and deteriorate more quickly, while forested or shadowed trail will stay firm for some time, even if it’s getting warm. This makes a mid-morning or lunchtime ride possible, especially when there was a cold overnight low.
7. Make sure that fat bikes are allowed on the trail you’re riding
Up until this point, our area and audience has primarily been accustom to fat bike-specific trails, although most of these points apply to any groomed trail. If you’re heading out to ride and you’re not sure if the trail you plan to ride is open to fat bikes, make sure you check the trailhead signs.
Nordic ski trails are often very fun to fat bike on, but not all nordic ski trails are open to fat bikes. The same goes for snowmobile trails, snowshoe trails, and more. Legislation and regulation vary significantly across the nation, so do your homework.
8. Don’t ride over classical nordic & Cross Country tracks
While all of the above guidelines apply to riding on cross country ski trails as well, a specific consideration for nordic trails is to absolutely never ride across classical nordic ski tracks. The classical track is a parallel set of lines groomed into either side of the ski trail. Make sure that you fat bike alongside the wider area that’s groomed for skate skiing.
9. When riding on snowmobile trails, consider using lights and wearing reflective gear
Be considerate when riding on snowmobile trails, as snowmobiles often reach very high rates of speed, similar to (or faster than) a car. Take precautions similar to those you would take while riding on the road, like wearing a blinky tail light and reflective clothing. Also, IMBA recommends that riders “stay to the far right of the trail and yield to snowmobiles.” This is not applicable for our area, but is good information to keep in mind while traveling out of town to fat bike.
10. Obey any time restraints
Many downhill ski areas and cross country ski areas have opened their doors to fat bikes, but with specific limitations. Cross country ski areas might offer trails with day and time constraints. For example, Great Bear allows fat biking on their cross country ski trails (only xc ski trails) on Thursdays from 3 p.m. to park close. Also, all FAST trails within city parks and the river greenway close when the parks do, 10 p.m.
If such restrictions exist, please respect them.
Conclusion
As with sharing any trail, these guidelines all boil down to mutual respect. Respect the other fat bikers on the trail. Respect other trail users. Respect the land manager. Respect the time, energy, and money invested on behalf of the groomer.
As we work to respect others around us, hopefully our respect will get respect in return, and fat biking opportunities will only continue to grow!
Please take the time to make any of the above adjustments if you notice any issues while riding groomed trail. AND if you see a rider riding having any of the above issues, please tell them (nicely) to air down or ride another time.
As always we hope you have fun and enjoy the trails.
Organizations like FAST depend heavily on both paid and volunteer grooming and maintenance efforts, and allocate significant portions of their budgets to ensuring riders have a good trail experience. Let us all contribute to the cause and bring more trails close to home.