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Your Guide To Winter Fat Biking In The Tetons: Part 1

By Adam Nosto on

Written by Aaron Couch with our partners at Fitzgerald's Bicycles.

There is a magic to exploring the winter on two wheels. Here in the Tetons, we are fortunate enough to have incredible winter access, regardless of our preferred method of travel. And with that, fat biking is becoming increasingly popular, allowing you to cover ground in a short amount of time, while still going slow enough to enjoy the view.

The Fat Bike Experts

When it comes to fat biking, our partners at Fitzgerald’s Bicycles are the experts! Located in both Jackson, WY and Victor, ID, you can leave right from either shop and ride up into the hills.

We make it easy by providing either flat or clipless pedals, a helmet, repair kit and extra gear such as frame bags, seat packs and pogies for keeping your hands toasty. We even have rental lights available should you want to go for a night ride or join on our Fat Tuesday group rides. Shop members will also help you to fine tune tire pressure, educate you on proper trail etiquette and show you the best places to ride.

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What To Wear

You may already have some gear from other winter activities. We’ve found that the clothing and layers you would wear while cross-country skiing or snowshoeing works well for fat biking too. It’s important to keep moisture management and breathability in mind and prevent your insulating layers from getting damp. Pro tip: rotate and remove layers before you start to sweat!

While it seems tempting, we often advise against wearing a backpack to put extra layers and gear in as they accelerate sweat and moisture on the back. This is why having a frame and/or seat bag along your ride is important, providing a place to stow away layers if necessary.

Top Layers: We recommend a wind/water resistant outer shell, a mid-weight layer that allows for breathability and a short or long sleeve base layer. A puffy jacket or vest is often nice to start out with or to pack on the bike if you get cold easily. 
Bottom Layers: For cold days or long rides, start with a thin base layer for insulation. An outer pant provides additional protection and insulation from the elements.
Head and Face: A thin thermal cap covering the ears under the helmet keeps you warm while ensuring your helmet stays snug. A neck gaiter or buff keeps out the draft and provides utility in covering the nose, mouth, ears, neck, etc. A balaclava can also be used, but sometimes can be too warm and isn’t as versatile as multiple head garments. Sunglasses are a must to minimize the glare of the snow. You may even want ski goggles for bitter cold or windy days.
Hands and Feet: Big, bulky gloves aren’t necessary or recommended when fat biking. Instead, a thin synthetic or wool glove combined with pogies offer optimum dexterity and warmth on even the coldest of days. Feet are often the most vulnerable and where people have the most trouble staying warm in cold temperatures. Avoid winter boots that are too tight -- size up to allow room for air circulation and thicker socks. The right sized boot and a wool sock can go a long way. For longer rides, consider using a vapor barrier underneath the insulating wool sock. If you aren’t using clipless pedals, any winter boot that works for you will do. If you are planning to clip in, consult with the crew at Fitzy's for recommendations of winter cycling boots.

Food and Water

These often go overlooked for winter fat bike rides, especially water. Despite being cooler, the air here is still dry -- bring water in an insulated bottle. For very cold days or long rides, start with hot water in a metal, insulated bottle.

Pro tip: to keep your water from freezing, carry the bottle upside down with a coozie covering the top. Because water freezes from the top down, you’ll still be able to drink the liquid form, even if it begins to freeze.

It’s a good idea to bring some snacks for the ride. Fat biking uses a lot more energy than other forms of cycling. You don’t want to be caught out there hungry and bonking -- this is supposed to be enjoyable and fun, not miserable! Bring light foods that you know work for you.

Where To Ride

This is an exciting time for fat bikers in the Tetons as access continues to grow! In Jackson, Cache Creek has exceptional riding. Check out the ever-popular Cache Creek out and back mapped by our friends at JHNordic.com, or the well-ridden Hagen Trail loop. Granite Hot Springs is another popular fat biking destination as the road is closed to vehicles in the winter, making it accessible only to snowmobiles, bikers and cross country skiers.

In Teton Valley, the Southern Valley Trail System provides exceptional groomed fat biking thanks to Fitzgerald’s Bicycles’ and Teton Valley Trails and Pathways’ grooming efforts. Grand Targhee has world-class groomed fat biking.

If you want to venture out from there, chat with the Fitzy's staff for more exploring and adventures -- many roads are groomed for snowmobile access, which fat bikes are welcome on.

NOTE: Most places where fat bikes can ride are shared with other winter recreationists. Be kind, remember trail etiquette and be mindful of all users from skiers to snowmobilers, dog-sleds to snowshoers.

Stay tuned for part two of this series which will dig into gear specifics, bike specifics, and more.

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