Fat Bikes in Tahoe
By: Lake Tahoe Staff
As the weather gets warmer, outdoor enthusiasts are embracing multi-sport opportunities all around Lake Tahoe.
Ski in the morning; cycle in the afternoon. Snowboard after breakfast; hike after lunch. Sunrise snowshoe session; sunset accompanied by an adult beverage on the patio. I’m pretty sure you get the picture – start on the snow, and then go find some sun. Funny thing, though – some of us don’t want to get off our bike. And on a fat bike, you don’t have to.
With a frame specifically designed to fit around wider, squishier tires, you can ride a fat bike comfortably on snow, sand, and all the variable conditions in between. The tires are filled to a lower pressure, and there’s not the suspension a regular mountain bike has, but it is a cool feeling to be out pedaling in the snow-covered woods.
Anthony Cupaiuolo, of local HD videography firm First Tracks Productions, is an enthusiastic proponent of promoting fat bikes for hitting Tahoe’s trails year round. After an initial rental from Gary Bell’s shop – “it was a blast… in the snow, mud, everything” – First Tracks is now working on a new adventure film project, “Off the Beaten Path” focusing on fat biking and showcasing that fat biking is somewhat of a natural progression of mountain biking. “Early mountain bikers were looking to create bikes that allowed them to ride on terrain and in conditions they otherwise wouldn’t be able to. Many now look to fat bikes for the same reason.”
If you’re looking for a fun, year ’round activity, give a fat bike a try! If you’re on Lake Tahoe’s south shore, you can rent fat bikes at South Shore Bikes and Sierra Ski & Cycle Works. I am looking forward to taking one to the beach this weekend!
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