Warm up your Winter

D6 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 2020 SPECIAL SECTION Choose Your Adventure for onlY $35/dAY* *Minimum 2 consecutive days. Permit terms and conditions can be found at ofsc.on.ca Ontario law requires a 2020 Snowmobile Trail Permit to access OFSC Prescribed Trails. As a friendly reminder there will be NO Try Our Trails this season. BY JIM TIMLICK Thin may be in but fat's where it's at when it comes to one of Manitoba's hottest wintertime activities. While fat bikes have been around in one form or another for nearly a century, they have enjoyed a huge spike in popularity over the past few years, according to local biking enthusiasts and retailers. Travel down a city street or visit one of the province's many parks this winter and there's a good chance you will encounter someone riding one of these two-wheeled versions of a monster truck. "We're seeing a lot more people riding them. The numbers have just exploded in the past five or six years," says Tom Kolesnik, an avid cyclist and co-founder of Manitoba Fat Bike Adventures, a non- profit group that promotes fat biking around the province. "It's been largely because of a couple of key things. The bikes instill confidence. They're also a lot of fun. The main thing is if you try to ride a mountain bike on the trails at Assiniboine Park and forest trails (in the winter) you will get stuck. You can't do it. With a fat bike you're getting what we call flotation on top of firm snow. You can just go. It's like a little tank." So, what makes a fat bike different from other types of bicycles such as mountain bikes? The most obvious difference is the type of tire used to propel them. Fat tires are much wider than typical bicycle tires, measuring as much as 3.8 to 5 inches wide. The bike's frame is also slightly larger to accommodate the wider tires. Because of its wider tire surface, a fat bike can essentially glide across almost any snowy surface with ease. "Because of their extra traction and extra stability they just make winter riding a lot less daunting," says Nic Robitaille, who works at Woodcock Cycle Works and is a year-round cyclist. "You don't have to worry about falling as much or being overwhelmed by how much snow there is because they roll over that stuff quite easily. It takes a lot of the kind of sketchiness out of Manitoba winter riding. Whether roads are cleared really well or absolutely covered in snow, the bike rides pretty much the same and you can be confident you'll be able to get wherever you're going." Kolesnik says one of the signs of the increasing popularity of fat biking is the growing number of groomed trails that have been opened up in recent years to fat-tired cyclists at provincial and national parks around the province. That list includes Spruce Woods, Birds Hill, Riding Mountain, the Brandon Hills and the Northgate Trails in Dauphin. There are also plenty of great trails located within the city limits for fat bikers to explore including the Assiniboine Forest, Bison Butte at FortWhyte Alive, Churchill Park and along the Seine River. Woodcock Cycle Works also offers twice-weekly group rides for fat bike riders of all levels of experience. The rides are free of charge to anyone with a valid Manitoba Cycling Association license and include stops at Whittier Park, The Forks, the Assiniboine Park Duck Pond, the Manitoba legislature and various other locations. "We're always looking for new people to join us so we try to be very welcoming with the rides and accepting of everyone. I would encourage anyone who goes out riding regularly in the winter to join us," Robitaille says, adding there is also a provincial fat bike race series for more serious riders. Kolesnik says one of the main reasons why there are so many more fat bikes on the road these days is the fact they have become more affordable, due in part to the fact there are far more manufacturers now. An introductory level fat bike can cost as little as $600 while a higher end carbon fibre model can set you back a couple of grand. He suggests newcomers try renting a fat bike at their local cycling shop before deciding to buy so they have a better idea of what to look for. So, who is a typical fat biking enthusiast? Kolesnik says the members of his group range in age from their teens to their early 70s and includes both male and female riders. And while many enjoy winter riding, fat bikes can be an ideal form of summer transportation at the lake. "One of the things about the fat bike community that really stands out is the social aspect. We tend to be more focused on having fun. It's not focused on winning the race. We're really big on having group rides and barbecues and get-togethers. We're all about building a community." Big wheels keep on turning Fat bikes enjoying huge surge in popularity PHOTO BY GREGORY C. MCNEILL The wider tire surface of fat bike tires allows riders to glide across almost any snowy surface with ease and makes winter cycling a lot less daunting. PHOTO BY GREGORY C. MCNEILL Fat bikes have become an increasingly popular form of winter transportation for many outdoor enthusiasts. Box office: 204-982-8282 Toll free: 1-877-823-8282 On-line: www.celebrations.ca Ellie works at the Wild Cat Saloon. She is a young and talented country singer with a gift for writing amazing country music. After years of trying Ellie is almost ready to give up on her dreams. That is when fate steps in. Actually... that is when Garth steps in. Garth Jackson is a country legend with the most hit records of any re- cording artist in history. He has everything a person could ever want, fame, fortune and legions of fans. Fortunately, for Ellie, he also has a tour bus that broke down right outside the bar! Show runs Feb 14 – April 19, 2020 Celebrations Dinner Theatre presents the rootin' tootin' down home country music pardy. . . COUNTRY STAR! Parkland See it for yourself! Manitoba's Discover activities, events and more at parklandtourism.com From snowmobiling to cross-country skiing, make tracks to Manitoba's Parkland Region this winter! View our NEW Winter Video on our website. Cairns Cabin, Riding Mountain National Park Asessippi Ski Area & Resort Cross-country ski on hundreds of kilometres of trails. Snowmobile on more than 3,300 kms of developed trails throughout the Parkland. Reservations: 1-204-884-2281 www.nopiminglodge.com Winter Hours: Thu, Fri, Sun 8:30 am - 4:00 pm, Sat until 6:00 pm YEAR ROUND FACILITY, BIRD LAKE WINTER FUN AT NOPIMING LODGE During the winter months, the more hardy adventurer can indulge themselves in ice fishing, cross country skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoe hiking through miles of trails. Sit back and relax in one of our hot tub cabins. We offer: • Groomed Trails • Winter Packages • Licenced Restaurant • Store & Vendor • Cabin & Sled Rentals • Premium Gas

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