Fat biking grows in popularity in Sault Ste. Marie
You've probably heard of fat biking by now -- those bikes with four-inch wheels that can handle nearly all conditions, most notably the snow.
In the Sault Ste. Marie area, winter riders gathered Saturday to mark Global Fat Biking Day by traversing the trails of Hiawatha.
And if Mother Mature fulfills her end of the deal, the Sault Cycling Club expects this winter to be one of the best years yet.
“The club’s home trails this year are going to be groomed by Hiawatha themselves, which is super exciting,” said Jack Perrotta-Lewin, of the Sault Cycling Club.
“It’s going to improve the grooming schedule, conditions are going to be better than ever. And the Sault Cycling Club will be grooming our farmer lake loops a little bit further afield. And we’ve got crimson -- they’ll be grooming, as well.”
The Sault has one of the largest number of fat bike riders per-capita, club officials said. And the ride marking Global Fat Bike Day won't be the last this winter season.
“Looking at options as well for some more social rides through the winter. It’ll be on perhaps a little less technical terrain,” said Perrotta-Lewin.
Shipments of fat bikes to Sault stores don’t last more than a couple of weeks. The uptake has risen in the last five years but really took off during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It has continued since then -- people just want to get outside,” said Heather Carter, of the Algoma Bicycle Company.
“So many people have fat bikes now that people who don’t kind of want something to do with their friends and they come in and get one. And it is really almost addictive -- it’s so fun.”
Fat bikes are also good for those learning to ride a bike or who haven't been on one in years.
Experienced riders say the wide tires make balancing a lot easier -- and if you happen to fall, there's no worry about landing on gravel or cement, just a soft snow bank.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
Tipping is off the table at this Toronto restaurant
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff.
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 mm among weather alerts in effect for 7 provinces
Rainfall warnings of up to 90 millimetres, air quality advisories and other alerts have been issued for seven Canadian provinces, according to the latest forecasts.
King Charles calls for acts of friendship in first public remarks since Kate's cancer diagnosis
King Charles III gave public remarks for Maundy Thursday, addressing the importance of acts of friendship, following his and Catherine, Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Ukrainian child asylum seekers in St. John’s get class of their own
Roughly 50 children will gathered in a St. John’s classroom for the first time on Saturday for unique lessons on Ukrainian language, culture and history.
Donald Trump assails judge and his daughter after gag order in N.Y. hush-money criminal case
Donald Trump lashed out Wednesday at the New York judge who put him under a gag order that bars him from commenting publicly about witnesses, prosecutors, court staff and jurors in his upcoming hush-money criminal trial.
A fight to protect the dignity of Michelangelo's David raises questions about freedom of expression
Michelangelo's David has been a towering figure in Italian culture since its completion in 1504. But in the current era of the quick buck, curators worry the marble statue's religious and political significance is being diminished.