PHAT Biking and What I Have Learned About the Sport
First off, I want to mention, I have resigned calling my PHAT bike a Fat Bike. I used to call it my Fat Bike, but the more I rode it, the more I learned about the sport, and the more fun I had, I just had to change the name to PHAT bike; as in, Pretty Hot and Tempting.
I have taken the bike out a few times since I purchased it. This is my very first day on it. See how I am really happy and there are leaves on the trees. This was back in October.
I had heard of this strange thing called a Fat Bike.
I even saw a Fat Bike, my friend Lenny from ABQ, had one at Palo Duro one year. He didn’t race it, but he was chugging around on it post race. Funny thing, I am not even sure if we were friends then.
Oh my, I just learned they were originally invented in 1987 in Alaska.
I had heard stories from friends in MN that they were riding the backwaters of the Mississippi and doing centuries on snow mobile trails. And the 1st news of the move back to “The Great White North” AKA Frozen Tundra, I knew it would not be long before I owned one.
I like skiing,
BUT
I LOVE biking!!
I mean, seriously love biking.
The snow started coming, and the trails and gravel became so icky and mucky to ride Batman , so I converted to the Fat Bike.
I had done some pretty big rides on Hank the Tank.
But nothing like I was going to embark on Last Thursday. It was one of those rides, that I just couldn’t talk about until now.
It was one of those, I’m lucky I made it out alive rides.
It was a ride that I would generally cry about. It was too much, I couldn’t even cry about it.
Don’t get me wrong it was a good ride, I was not at all prepared for what I was about to embark on, mentally.
So picture this:
I am so excited it’s not negative 9 degrees. I had been planning this ride for 10 days, watching the forecast, watching for the break in the -19 to -9 windshields we were having.
This is on the way up the back of Cherry Hill.
I am happy.
The sun is out, the monkeys are in school, and I am riding my bike…OUT of doors!!
This is a climb I can clear on SS, pretty fast.
I had to stop 4 times, and catch my breath. I had to walk a small section of it.
Like I said, I really didn’t know what I was getting into.
Made it to the top, was stoked, it was such a nice day, I was planning on riding 1.5 to 2 hours. Which in ‘normal’ circumstances would have given me close to 2 laps there.
I kept going. I had thought, well, I will be able to get one lap in.
Again, I will point out, I had no idea what I was getting into.
At 1:45 I was ready to go home, I was tired, I was really tired, every pimple I was walking.
Each time I was off the bike, I just put myself on the Power Line Climb at Leadville Trail 100 Race Across the Sky.
I’m not one of those snobs, “oh, I don’t want to do that part of the trail, I will have to walk”. I’m more like, “oh, I have to walk, cool, that means it’s too hard for me to ride, that makes me stronger”
So I was thinking about it, is it faster to turn around and ride back or is it faster for me to keep going and make a turn on the gravel road that goes through the center of this trail? I went with Plan B.
2 hours, passed, I saw the flags of the new trail, I was quickly running out of daylight, I had to go pick up the girls, and shit, I haven’t even gone 10 miles.
When I went up the climb, I was wondering why no one else had laid fat bike tracks down.
Well 2.5 hours into it I knew exactly why.
This shit is f’n hard!
The only tracks that had been laid up there were deer tracks.
I was beginning to get worried.
I had enough food, I had enough water, enough clothes, no lights, and my children….what will happen to them….
Finally the road.
Made the left, and I knew I was going to live.
But by this point I am 3 hours into, and totally exhausted.
Have you ever ridden a Spin Bike with that 35# fly wheel and you crank the resistance so tight you can no longer push down the pedals….????
That was every hill of this ride at Cherry Hill.
I rode 12 miles in 3 hours.
That sums it up right there. When I would probably have averaged close to 10 mph.
It took me 3 days to recover from this experience. Literally.
I have been learning a lot about the sport.
What I have learned:
1) Flat Pedals and Hefty Winter Boots with ski socks work awesome. (I do really want a pair of these Santa)
I really like being able to put a foot down while I am slipping and sliding around.
2) You Have to Carry a Larger Back Pack. You really want to have extra clothes with you. You also have bigger, warmer layers, that you may have to store in your back pack as you get warmed up or are riding in a more protected area. So far, I have been able to wear 2XU Sub Zero thermal cycling tights and Goretex shell on the bottom. I carry long johns and/or fleece pants. On top so far I have been able to wear a 2XU Base Layer, my Voler Team Jacket, and an outer Goretex Shell. I carry an extra base layer and/or long johns top.
3) I like to wear my Rudy Project Ski Helmet and Ski Goggles. I always start off with a balaclava on, which works great. (I inevitably, almost always, get too hot). They keep me really warm, and protect my sinus’ . This is really important when it comes to doing anything in extreme cold temperatures. I always carry an extra head warmer.
4) I love wearing my ski mittens, they keep me extra warm. I carry a mitten liner, and hand warmers.
5) My BMX style angle of my brake levers, does NOT work with mittens. I had to drop the levers to a more ‘normal’ angle for braking.
6) Do NOT use your rear brake in the snow. OK, maybe just a little bit, if you have to.
7) Keep your food warm on your person ( I have been advocating for years, but it is really important for this sport)
8) Water hydration system in your back pack, neoprene cover for the ‘straw’ portion. I am talking to my sister about knitting me one. This keeps the water from freezing. On shorter rides a Polar Water Bottle works awesome! (the nipple does need to be closed)
9) Riding a PHAT bike in the snow is harder than any gear you could ever pick on a SS; that may or may not be an exaggeration. I’m sure you could find one that was harder, but it would be tough.
10) There’s a reason there were no fat bike tracks at Cherry Hill. Fat Bikes are better contained to more rolling courses and flat courses, in the snow.
Now I have been able to tuck my tail in between my legs and go out for additional rides in 20 degree weather. That is the type of ride that the Fat Bike is meant for.
Fresh Powder, from home, TT. It was short. It was Zone 3. It was out of doors.
Today I did just over an hour. I would have ridden much longer, had I had the time.
Same thing, fresh powder, from home. My favorite time to ride my PHAT bike is right after it snows, the road is plowed, but the shoulder isn’t yet. This gives cars plenty of room, and gives me an inch of fresh pow pow to ride in.
Today was more of a recovery day. It was 19 degrees, no windshield, and I had on my thermal tights, my Gortex shell, pants and on top a base layer, my wind vest, my Team Jacket and my bright yellow Do Not Hit the Crazy Lady on the Bike jacket.
I will say I can’t wait to take it on the backwaters of the Mississippi. That is not something I will do by myself. Especially the 1st time. I know the ice is thick, but I would want to get a route, and then, venture out by myself.
Hank the Tank weighs in between 41 and 42 pounds. The thing I really loved about Hank the Tank is the internal hub that Origin 8 uses. It does add at least 5#. The reason I decided to get this bike with the internal hub was based on the internal hub. I asked myself what I would be using it for. What kind of training I was going to be doing on it. I have had enough experience riding on snow I know what happens when snow turns to ice in your cog set. It certainly can be a challenge.
And that 41 to 42 pounds vs Batman at 19…I can’t wait until Batman Flies!!