FAT BIKE SUMMIT AND FESTIVAL RECAP
• ISLAND PARK, ID SITE CHOSEN FOR SNOWMOBILE TRAIL
“NEGOTIATED USE” POSITION
• THANK SALSA, SURLY, 45NRTH, Q-OUTDOOR FOR
SUPPORT WITH PRODUCT AND STAFF TIME
• SUMMIT A HUGE SUCCESS – GENERATED A LOT OF PRESS
AND COMMENTARY ABOUT FAT BIKES
• TALK TODAY ABOUT FAT BIKE USE, SHARED USE OF
NORDIC TRAILS, AND SUMMIT ACTION PLAN

INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE
• MUCH LIKE MID-80S MOUNTAIN BIKES, TECHNOLOGY
DRIVING DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN
• APPAREL AND ACCESSORIES MARKETS GROWING
• NEW RACES AND EVENTS EVERY YEAR IN ALL REGIONS
• RETAILERS DISCOVERING WINTER MARKET POTENTIAL
• SUMMER USE GROWING
• FAT BIKE BECOMING LIGHTER WITH WIDER TIRES

RETAILER JOEL BUTH, ALASKA
• AT GOLDSTREAM SPORTS, JUST NORTH OF THE UNIVERSITY
OF ALASKA FAIRBANKS, OWNER JOEL BUTH SPECIALIZES IN
CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS AND ROAD BIKES. BUT FOUR YEARS
AGO, HE ADDED FAT BIKES TO HIS WINTER INVENTORY.
"THE BIKES ARE TYPICALLY A $3,000 SALE, VERSUS A SKI
PACKAGE, WHICH IS MUCH LESS. SO THERE'S MORE
CUSTOMERS IN THE SKI, BUT THE BIKE MARKET IS GROWING
RAPIDLY."

BUTH, CONT.
• THAT $3,000 ISN'T JUST FOR THE BIKE. IT INCLUDES ALL THE
OTHER GEAR AS WELL, LIKE EXTRA TIRE TUBES, SHOES AND
LOTS OF WINTER CLOTHING. IT'S THE FAT BIKE CLIENTELE
THAT SURPRISES BUTH MOST.
"MOSTLY WHAT I SEE IS THE BACKCOUNTRY ENTHUSIAST AND
OLDER COUPLES, TOO, THAT JUST WANT TO GET OUT AND
GET EXERCISE IN THE WINTER AND DON'T WANT TO MESS
AROUND WITH SKIS, AND THEY JUST LIKE TO BIKE."

RETAILER BILL FLEMING, ALASKA
“ WE CAN ’ T GET AHEAD OF ORDERS…IT ’ S NON-STOP. PEOPLE
JUST LOVE THESE BIKES. IT ’ S CHANGED THE WAY THEY LOOK AT
WINTER. THESE DIE-HARD NORDIC SKIERS GET ON THEM, AND
THEY REALIZE IT ’ S AN EASIER SPORT. THEY DON ’ T HAVE TO
WAX, YOU CAN RIDE OUT YOUR FRONT DOOR. YOU ’ RE ON A LITTLE
SINGLE-TRACK TRAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF WINTER AND IT ’ S
BEAUTIFUL.
”

FAT BIKES FOR WILDLIFE VIEWING
• FEDERAL BIOLOGIST TONY FISHBACH HAS USED A
FAT BIKE TO STUDY WALRUSES AT ICY CAPE, 50
MILES NORTH OF POINT LAY
• FAT BIKES SLOW AND QUIET – WILDLIFE NOT
SCARED
“
THEY WEIGH A LOT LESS THAN A HONDA 4-
WHEELER, THEY ’ RE CHEAPER, AND YOU CAN PUT
THEM IN A PLANE AND FLY TO REMOTE BEACHES.
I CAN ’ T MAKE PRODUCT ENDORSEMENTS, BUT
THEY ’ RE GREAT ”

LAKE CLARK NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA
• PARK RANGER WARREN HILL AN EARLY FAT BIKE
OWNER AND RIDER
• PURCHASED A SURLY PUGSLEY IN 2004
• LAKE CLARK NATIONAL PARK IS TRULY WILDERNESS
• No roads, no trails, extremely remote
• 80 miles of beach with rocky outcrops
• FAT BIKES PERFECT FOR PATROLS ON FROZEN
RIVERS AND BEACHES

LAKE CLARK, CONT.
• HILL CONVINCED PARK MANAGEMENT TO
REPLACE ATVS WITH FAT BIKES
• WITH ATVS, PARK VOLUNTEERS HARD TO FIND
• Need to complete 3-day ATV safety class
• WITH FAT BIKES, HILL HAS WAITING LIST FOR
PARK VOLUNTEERS
• NEARBY TOWN HAS HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF FAT
BIKES PER CAPITA (FUEL IS $7+ PER GALLON)

MORE FROM WARREN HILL
“ I CAN LOAD MY FAT BIKE ON A PLANE, OR USE IT TO
HAUL WOOD, ” SAID HILL. “ FAT BIKES HAVE
EXTENDED OUR REACH IN SO MANY WAYS.
”
“ WITH OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM USING FAT BIKES,
WE ’ RE PRAISED FOR BEING ‘ GREEN ’ FOR
SWITCHING TO HUMAN POWER.
”

FAT BIKES AND WILDLIFE
• PHOTO FROM WARREN
HILL AT LAKE CLARK
NATIONAL PARK IN AK
• NOTE RAFT ON
HANDLEBARS, WITH
PADDLE ATTACHED TO
FRAME
• HILL ORDERED MORE FAT
BIKES FOR MAINTENCE
USE IN 2012

MICHIGAN TECH UPDATE
• STARTED FAT BIKE TRAIL USE PROGRAM IN 2012
• 2.4 KM OF TILLED TRAIL
• 9 KM OF SNOWMOBILE GROOMED TRAIL
• 2.5 KM OF UNGROOMED SINGLE TRACK
• 5 KM OF TILLED BEGINNER NORDIC TRAIL OPEN
AFTER TRAIL LIGHTS ARE OUT AT 9 PM
• JEFF PARKER, TRAIL GURU, REPORTS “ ZERO ”
DAMAGE TO NORDIC TRAILS

MTU UPDATE, CONT.
• BASED ON SUCCESS OF MTU, SWEDETOWN SKI
TRAILS IN CALUMENT STARTED A FAT BIKE
PROGRAM
• FAT TUESDAYS – FAT BIKES ALLOWED ON TRAIL
SYSTEM AFTER 6 PM
• HAVE ALSO ADDED TWO MORE LOCAL RACES DUE
TO NUMBER OF FAT BIKES

MTU UPDATE, CONT.
• VERY FEW ISSUES – DAMAGE FROM FAT BIKE
USE OF NORDIC SKI TRAILS IS “ ZERO ”
• DROPPED NORDIC SKI RACES BECAUSE FAT BIKE
RACES DRAW BETTER
• SKIERS AND FAT BIKE RIDERS COEXISTING
PEACEFULLY
MTU ATHLETIC DIRECTOR “ VERY PLEASED WHEN
SHE STOPPED BY SEE FAT BIKERS USING OUR
SKI TRAILS. SHE ’ S INDICATED SHE ’ D LIKE TO
EXPAND THE FAT BIKE TRAIL NETWORK OF
TRAILS.
”

METHOW VALLEY UDPATE
• OVERALL, PROGRAM IS RUNNING SMOOTHLY
• INTEREST AND EXPOSURE FOR FAT BIKE TRAIL USE
HAS BEEN STRONG
• INCREASE IN SKI TICKET/PASS SALES DUE TO FAT
BIKE RIDERS
• ORGANIZERS FEEL TIME AND EFFORT TO IMPLEMENT
FAT BIKE TRAILS HAVE BEEN WORTH IT
• SKEPTICS HAVE REVERSED THEMSELVES – LIMITED
IMPACT ON TRAILS BY FAT BIKES DEMONSTRATED
“ MVSTA WILL MANAGE FAT BIKERS IN A WAY THAT
THERE WILL BE EQUAL OR LESS IMPACT TO THE
TRAILS SURFACE AND SAFETY THAT THAT OF
SKIERS ”

CUYUNA MN UPDATE 2013
• 300% INCREASE IN RIDERS FROM 2012 TO DATE
• Includes a vistor from Moab
• SAGAMORE UNIT IS FOR FAT BIKES ONLY – NO
MOUNTAIN BIKES
• YAWKEY UNIT (EXPERT MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAILS)
HAS ALSO BEEN OPENED TO FAT BIKE USE (NO
MTB)
• GROOMING DONE WITH SNOW SHOES

CUYUNA, CONT.
• HALLET COMMUNITY CENTER CREATED FAT BIKE
PACKAGE FOR RIDERS TO USE LOCKER, SHOWER,
AND SAUNA FOR MODEST FEE
• LARGEST % OF RIDERS FROM METRO (2.5 HOURS)
• WHITEOUT RACE IN MARCH WILL HAVE 150+
RACERS
• FARTHEST DISTANCE REGISTERED RIDER SO FAR –
700 MILES
RODE YOUR TRAILS FOR THE FIRST TIME. GREAT
GROOMING JOB – BEST RIDING IN MN! WE’LL BE
BACK!

MN FAT BIKE ACCESS, CONT.
• LACK OF SNOW HAS LIMITED DISCUSSION OF
ACCESS ISSUES
• MN’S LEGACY OF SINGLE USE TRAILS A
LONGSTANDING TRADITION
• EVENTUALLY, FAT BIKES IN MN WILL NEED TO
NEGOTIATE WITH EITHER SNOWMOBILE OR
NORDIC SKI TRAIL MANAGERS FOR ACCESS IF
NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW

IMBA’S INPUT ON FAT BIKES
• IMBA HAS PROVIDED GUIDELINES FOR FAT BIKES
• INVITED IMBA TO ATTEND FAT BIKE SUMMIT AND
FESTIVAL TO BEGIN DIALOGUE ABOUT ACCESS
• IMBA SEEMS LIKE LOGICAL ORGANIZATION TO
PROVIDE OVERVIEW AND GUIDANCE FOR FAT
BIKES
• ISSUE OF “NEGOTIATED/SHARED USE” WILL ONLY
GET LARGER AS MORE FAT BIKES ARE SOLD

BEST PRACTICES ON GROOMED NORDIC TRAILS
• ONLY RIDE AT SKI AREAS THAT ALLOW AND
ENCOURAGE FAT BIKE RIDING
• YIELD TO OTHER USERS WHEN RIDING. SKIERS
DON’T HAVE BRAKES BUT YOU DO!
• RIDE ON THE FIRMEST PART OF THE TRACK
• DO NOT RIDE ON OR IN CLASSIC TRACKS
• LEAVE ROOM FOR SKIERS TO PASS (DON’T RIDE
SIDE-BY-SIDE WITH YOUR BUDDIES BLOCKING THE
TRAIL)

BEST PRACTICES NORDIC, CONT.
• ALLOW THE TRACK TIME TO SET UP
• RESPECT ALTERNATE USE DAYS FOR BIKERS AND
SKIERS
• SOME AREAS REQUIRE MINIMUM WIDTH TREAD
• BE AN AMBASSADOR FOR THE SPORT – STAY POLITE,
EDUCATE OTHERS, DISCOURAGE BAD BEHAVIOR, AND
FOLLOW THE RULES
• HELP OUT AND GET INVOLVED BY JOINING YOUR LOCAL
NORDIC CLUB
• CONSIDER DONATING MONEY FOR TRAIL GROOMING

BEST PRACTICES FOR SNOWMOBILE TRAILS
• WHEN RIDING ON SNOWMOBILE TRAILS, USE A FRONT
WHITE BLINKER AND RED REAR BLINKER AT ALL TIMES
• STAY TO THE FAR RIGHT OF THE TRAIL AND YIELD TO
SNOWMOBILES
• KNOW AND OBEY THE RULES OF THE LOCAL LAND
MANAGER. UNDERSTAND THAT SOME TRAILS MAY BE ON
PRIVATE PROPERTY AND MIGHT NOT BE OPEN TO
ALTERNATIVE USES
• BE PREPARED. WINTER TRAVEL IN BACKCOUNTRY
REQUIRES CARRYING PROPER GEAR AND DRESSING
PROPERLY. BE SELF-SUFFICIENT!

BEST PRACTICES SNOWMOBILE, CONT.
• USE EXTREME CAUTION WHEN RIDING AT NIGHT.
BE VISIBLE AND USE THE BRIGHTEST LIGHTS YOU
CAN FIND.
• BE FRIENDLY! FAT BIKERS ARE THE NEWEST
TRAILS USERS. BE COURTEOUS AND OPEN TO
SUGGESTIONS FROM SNOWMOBILERS.
• HELP OUT BY SUPPORTING YOUR LOCAL
SNOWMOBILE CLUB
• CONSIDER DONATING TO TRAIL GROOMING
MAINTENANCE EFFORTS

BP FOR NATURAL TERRAIN AND BACKCOUNTRY
• DO NOT TRESPASS
• DO NOT RIDE THROUGH SENSITIVE WILDLIFE
HABITATS
• DO NOT DISTURB WILDLIFE
• LEARN SAFE ICE TRAVEL
• UNDERSTAND CHANGING CONDITIONS
• BE PREPARED
• LET PEOPLE KNOW
• LEARN TO SHARE

FAT BIKE SUMMIT ACTION ITEMS
• ASK IMBA TO HOST A MEETING IN DC WITH THEIR
REGIONAL DIRECTORS PRIOR TO THE NATIONAL
BIKE SUMMIT
• ASK IMBA TO INCLUDE A FAT BIKE ACCESS
COMPONENT AS PART OF THE NEXT IMBA WORLD
SUMMIT
• GENERATE AND POST GUIDELINES FOR LAND
MANAGERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO START FAT BIKE
TRAIL ACCESS

ACTION ITEMS, CONT.
• WORK WITH TIM YOUNG TO MEET WITH BOB
RADCLIFFE IN DC REGARDING NATIONAL PARK
ACCESS
• TRY TO IMPLEMENT A PILOT FAT BIKE PROGRAM
AT EITHER YELLOWSTONE OR TETON NATIONAL
PARKS
• COULD USE FAT BIKE FOR GENERAL TRAVEL
WITHIN PARKS BETWEEN BUILDINGS, OR
MAINTENANCE TASKS
• NEED TO FIND A REVENUE SOURCE FOR IMBA TO
TAKE ON FAT BIKE ROLE

THANK YOU!
• FEEL FREE TO CONTACT GARY WITH QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS ABOUT FAT BIKES, ADVOCACY, ETC.
• GARYS@QBP.COM
THE BEST WAY TO REACH GARY