Just as the snow is beginning to fly, a St. Paul company is rolling out a new fat bike. Aptly named “The Minnesota,” it comes in two models and starts at $799.

The Minnesota-based distributor is not Quality Bicycle Products, which readers may know sells multiple fat bike models from names like Surly and Salsa. The new fat bikes, which are among the least expensive on the market, come from The House Outdoor Gear.

The House is one of the largest online retailers of snowsports gear in the country. The brand has giant warehouse buildings in the Twin Cities and each year sells hundreds of thousands of snowboards, skis, and other winter gear items.

But the company also has an in-house bike line, Framed. The fat bikes are the newest addition to the Framed stock.

The Minnesota 1.0 model is an entry-level fat bike that costs $799. This nine-speed aluminum fatty has disc brakes, 100mm bottom bracket, and SRAM X5 components.

For $100 more you can upgrade to the Minnesota 2.0, which offers a few upgraded specs, like lighter tires and 18 speeds.

Both come with 4-inch-wide Mission tires from Vee Rubber. The 1.0 comes with the wire bead model, and the 2.0 gets the more lightweight folding bead. The brand states that this upgrade takes about one pound off the total weight of the bike.

They will be available for pre-order online within the next couple of days. Shipping will start in late January. The House will sell them online and in its retail store in St. Paul.

We’re looking forward to testing these two budget fat bikes this winter. Fat bikes are trending, and it’s great to see some more affordable options in the genre coming to market to give more people a chance to hop on a fatty and ride.

—Amy Oberbroeckling