KALAMAZOO, MI – Southwest Michigan cyclists seeking to get out and stretch their legs in spite of the recent blustery winter weather have been able to hit the trails on a unique type of bicycle that has recently taken the cycling world by storm.



Fat tire mountain bikes, with their oversized, balloon-like tires, have gained a reputation as "go anywhere, do anything" mountain bikes that offer cyclists unparalleled fun any time of year, in any type of cycling condition.

With fat tire mountain bikes beginning to occupy an increasing amount of space on local bike shop sales floors, interest in this unique segment of cycling has increased dramatically as these behemoth bikes continue to evolve.

Riding for fun; riding for fitness

"Once you start, it's kind of addicting," said Kelly Fisher of Kalamazoo about her fat tire mountain bike.

Fisher, 50, saw a fat tire mountain bike for the first time a couple of years ago at an expo before the Iceman Cometh Challenge mountain bike race held annually in northern Michigan every November.

"We saw it at the expo and during the race some girl on a fat bike blew up past me on a hill and it was a little humbling," Fisher said. "They're intriguing; we looked at it and thought it would be like a tank. It just seemed like another avenue to pursue to be outside during the winter."

Fisher purchased her first fat tire mountain bike a year ago, a Surly Pugsley Necromancer, and rides her bike two to three times a week. In addition to riding during the day, Fisher adds a unique twist to her fat tire mountain biking experience by riding local mountain bike trails at night with lights.

"At night it's just fun to see the snow illuminated," Fisher said. "Watching the lights go through the woods is cool. Our average speed is anywhere from four to six miles per hour because of the terrain. It's just kind of a peaceful setting to be out at night in the woods."

Brian Bartzen, 55, of Battle Creek, uses his fat tire mountain bike as an integral part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, especially after having a hip replacement in late January 2013.

"My hip was bothering me, I couldn't sleep," Bartzen said. "On Dec. 31, 2012, my 54th birthday, I went to the doctor and he told me I had to have a hip replacement. "

Bartzen's surgery took place on Jan. 28; two weeks later he was riding a recumbent bike in rehabilitation in order to rebuild muscle.

"Part of my therapy was riding my bike," Bartzen said. "At six weeks he let me start riding my road bike. I had to get a special note to take to work because it was part of my rehab so the guys didn't think I was trying to get away with something. At 12 weeks I was able to hit the trails on a mountain bike."

Fat tire mountain biking has become important for Bartzen following surgery because it allows him to ride his bike year round.

"When riding in the snow it's a great core workout, you're always correcting to keep your balance," he said. "It takes a lot more effort. It helps maintain the strength. The fat bike helps me keep going year round."

Local shops see increasing demand for fat tire mountain bikes

A fully assembled Six 1 Six fat tire mountain bike sits on the sales floor at Pedal bike shop in downtown Kalamazoo. Six 1 Six bicycles are hand-made in Grand Rapids.

After opening their doors for business in 2011 in Kalamazoo, Pedal bike shop owner Tim Krone started carrying fat tire bikes in 2012 and sold two of the mammoth bikes. In 2013, he sold six. This year Krone says it's hard to say how many fat tire bikes will roll out of his shop but he feels confident, even with the cost of these bikes starting out at around $1,500, that fat tire bike sales will continue to increase as riders continue to add more bikes to their collections.

"It speaks to the fact that this is everybody's second or third or fourth bike," Krone said. "They've had a few bikes before. Now they've got a more refined sense of what they want. I think we're going to do pretty good with them this year. It's totally catching on. Anything that can get people out doing something is pretty fantastic."

Alfred E. Bike shop owner Doug Stevenson has been in business in downtown Kalamazoo for 41 years and has seen an explosion in interest surrounding fat tire mountain bikes.

"Five years ago we sold a handful, three years ago it just exploded," Stevenson said. "Every single phone call we got in November three years ago was about fat bikes."

The most recent trend in the world of fat tire mountain biking is geared toward riders seeking costlier, lightweight components for their bikes, Stevenson said.

"The demand seems to be above $3,000 because people want them to be lightweight," Stevenson said. "There are waiting lists for lightweight rims."

Sales manager Jason Lechner from Breakaway Bikes in Portage said that the amount of interest has been remarkable, as many riders see fat tire mountain bikes as a way to ride year round and continue training throughout the winter months.

"This year has been the first year that we've seen more of the general public interest," Lechner said. "It's something that gives them the ability to keep rolling; it's normally a second or third bike."

The only real setback of a fat tire mountain bike, currently, is the cost, Lechner said.

Raising awareness for fat tire mountain bikes on local trails

With close to 20 miles of dedicated mountain bike trails at Fort Custer Recreation Area in Augusta, the Southwest Michigan Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA) is responsible for maintaining and improving the trails.

With the increasing popularity of fat tire mountain bikes and riders utilizing them for offseason training tools, former SWMMBA president Patrick Bagi said that a dedicated trail for fat tire mountain bikes is being considered.

"If they're racing, they've got to train somewhere; they train out at Fort Custer," Bagi said. "We've discussed with the DNR the need to create a trail that they can ride all year round, regardless of the snow."

In addition to working with the DNR and raising awareness in hopes of creating a dedicated fat tire mountain bike trail, the SWMMBA is also responsible for facilitating the annual Fort Custer Stampede mountain bike race, which now includes a category specifically for fat tire mountain bikes.

"We've opened a class at the Fort Custer Stampede for fat bikes," Bagi said. "A lot of the other races are going to that as well."