Photos From Yesterday — Fat Bikes, I Love Fat Bikes.

Alaskan’s could not complain if it starts raining tomorrow and does not stop until September.  I think we’ve already had more days of 60+ degrees this year than the past 3 years combined!  OK … that was a total exaggeration, but we certainly have had an incredible Spring.  

Rather than sit around and whine about the heat, like I normally do, my friend Larry and I spent yesterday afternoon exercising the fat tires on our mountain bikes.  I think I have a new favorite sport!  I grew up riding bikes in Alaska, and our off-trail terrain is often a frustrating let-down on standard rubber mountain bikes.  The fat bikes eat sand for break fast, and scoff at mud and rocks.  If you are skilled enough to balance, and strong enough to pedal, the tires will not disappoint.  I’m choosing not to divulge where it was that we rode yesterday because it’s likely the first time this real estate has ever seen a bike.  I will mention it took an airplane to get there.  I’m just excited to see that Alaska’s rideable terrain was expanded extensively with the advent of these tires.  I’m disappointed I was so slow to jump on the fat tire bus.

 I should mention that my fat bike is new.  I just bought it a couple weeks ago at Speedway Cycles across Northern Lights from REI in Anchorage.  They were the only store offering a name brand (Kona) fat bike on 4.7″ tires at a price that I could afford ($1300).  We covered a little bit of ground yesterday and saw a nice variety, but we did not even begin to scratch the surface of what is available.

I always love living in Alaska, I even like the bone chilling winter wind, but it’s days like yesterday that remind me just how truly awesome this state is.