Fat Bike Summit Highlights Growing Sport and Industry

Fat Bike Summit and Festival
Island Park, ID
Jan. 25, 2013

Event Co-Hosts:
Gary Sjoquist, Quality Bicycle Products
Scott Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald’s Bicycles

2013 Fat Bike Summit and Festival 1

Thank You Sponsors!
• Presenting Sponsors – Surly, Salsa Cycles
• 100mm Sponsors – IMBA, Fat-Bike.Com, Q-Outdoors
• 80mm Sponsors – Adventure Cycling Association,
BicyclArt
• 65mm Sponsors – 45NRTH, 9:ZERO:7, BikeFlights,
Grand Targhee Resort, Revelate Designs, Snake River
Brewing
• Fat Friend Sponsors – Old Town Coffee


Today’s Conversation
• Introductions of Co-Hosts
• Fat Bike Use and Growth
• Industry Perspective on Fat Bikes
• Economic Impacts
• Where Fat Biking is Working
• Challenges for Fat Bike Access


Fitzgerald's Bicycles
• Mission Driven to grow Cycling
• Never a ski shop
• History of District 33 Grooming Sticker program
• Desire to have the tough conversations about
access before the numbers of users got too big
and the pressure grew to great
• We are in a unique area with many different land management
organizations: USFS, National Parks, State Parks and Rec, Nordic Centers,
Community Non-Profits.
• Best Fat Bike riding in the Country?

Fat Bike Summit
History
• 2012 - 1st Annual Event
• Outcomes
Goals
• Expansion to “Festival”
• Education and awareness
• Highlight success stories of Fat Bike use
• Develop clear understanding of path
ahead for increased access
• Build a toolbox for other Fat Bike
advocates around the Country to engage
their local land managers.

Areas of Concern
•Safety
•Disruption of trail quality
•Cost Sharing

Quality Bicycle Products
• Nation’s largest distributor of bike parts
• Locations in MN, UT, PA
• 700 employees/36,000 parts
– Ship 10,000 boxes UPS on a busy day (all locations)
• Sjoquist is Advocacy Director for QBP
• QBP brands Salsa and Surly include fat bikes
– Pugsley and Moonlander are Surly
– Beargrease and Mukluk are Salsa

Industry Perspective
• Much like mid-80s mountain bikes, technology
driving fat bike development and design
• Apparel and accessories markets growing
• New races and events every year in all regions
• Retailers discovering winter markets
• Summer use growing, too
• Fat bikes becoming lighter/tires wider


Sub-25 Pound Fat Bike


Industry Perspective, cont.
• Industry having problem meeting demands
• From MN retailer FreeWheel Bike in Mpls (who has
launched their own fat bike frame company because
getting frames is so difficult) :
“Daily we have to say no to dozens of customers
asking for parts that can’t be had anywhere.
Everything Fatbike is just in really tight supply. For the
3rd year in a row, demand has far, far, outstripped
everyone’s forecasts.”


Demographic Info
• Ages 40 to 60+ make up 75% of purchases
• 50% of purchasers have incomes over $100K
• 80/20 ratio for gender
• Nearly 60% over 40 years old
• 45% have advanced degrees


Retailer Joel Buth, Alaska
• At Goldstream Sports, just north of the University of
Alaska Fairbanks, owner Joel Buth specializes in
cross-country skis and road bikes. But four years ago,
he added fat bikes to his winter inventory.
"Mostly what I see is the backcountry enthusiast and
older couples, too, that just want to get out and get
exercise in the winter and don't want to mess around
with skis, and they just like to bike."


Retailer Bill Fleming, AK
• Bill Fleming, co-owner of Chain Reaction Cycles in
Anchorage:
“We can’t get ahead of orders…it’s non-stop. People
just love these bikes. It’s changed the way they look at
winter. These die-hard Nordic skiers get on them, and
they realize it’s an easier sport. They don’t have to
wax, you can ride out your front door. You’re on a little
trail in the middle of winter and it’s beautiful.”


Fat Bikes Used for Wildlife Viewing
• Federal biologist Tony Fishbach has used a fat
bike to study walruses at Icy Cape, 50 miles
north of Point Lay
• Fat bikes slow and quiet – wildlife not scared
“They weigh a lot less than a Honda 4-wheeler,
they’re cheaper, and you can put them in a
plane and fly to remote beaches. I can’t
make product endorsements,
but they’re great”

Lake Clark National Park, AK
• Park Ranger Warren Hill an early fat bike
owner and rider
• Purchased a Surly Pugsley in 2004
• Lake Clark National Park is truly wilderness
– No roads, no trails, extremely remote
– 80 miles of beach with rocky outcrops
• Fat bikes perfect for patrols on frozen rivers
and beaches

Lake Clark, cont.
• Hill convinced park management to replace
ATVs with fat bikes
• With ATVs, park volunteers hard to find
– Need to complete 3-day ATV safety class
• With fat bikes, Hill has waiting list for park
volunteers
• Nearby town has highest percentage of fat
bikes per capita (fuel is $7+ per gallon)

Photo from Warren Hill at Lake
Clark National Park

Note raft on handlebars, with
paddle attached to frame

Hill ordered more fat bikes in
2012


Andy Williams, Grand Targhee Resort

Alaska Examples
• Anchorage police chief Mark Mew uses a Fat
Bike for hunting in summer, patrols and
general fitness in winter.
“I love it,” says Mew. “It’s a quiet ride through
the snow covered woods.”


Methow Valley, WA
• The Methow Valley Sport Trails Association (MVSTA)
in Winthrop, Washington is opening selected cross-
country ski trails to fat bikes.
• Methow Valley is home to the nation’s largest cross-
country ski area, with 120+ miles of groomed trails.
“In addition to providing a great way for cyclists to stay in
shape during the winter season, fat bikes give people another
why to play in the Methow Valley’s incredibly dry, sunny, cold
conditions. Simply layer up like you would for skiing and get
out and ride. No waxing required, and for the passionate
cross-country skier, it’s good cross-training.”


Methow Valley Land Use Complicated
• Some 52% of the trail system is on U.S. Forest Service (USFS)
lands with another .002% on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS) lands.
• Of the remaining lands, 2.1% is on Washington State
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) lane, and another
1.7% is on Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
(WDFW) lands with 20-year permits.
• The remainder runs over a complex of private lands on which
MVSTA has entered into long-term agreements with
landowners.
• Fat Bike guidelines developed in advance of last year's
Summit were adopted.

From the first fat bike blog post through our press releases, Facebook updates
and other fat bike updates, whenever we talk about fat biking
or post a fat bike photo it basically goes completely viral.
People are fascinated by the bikes and the opportunity to ride in the snow.
I field 4-5 fat bike press requests a week. - MVSTA Director

Methow Valley Update
• Overall, program is running smoothly
• Interest and exposure for fat bike trail use has been strong
• Increase in ski ticket/pass sales due to fat bike riders
• Organizers feel time and effort to implement fat bike trails
have been worth it
• Skeptics have reversed themselves – limited impact on trails
by fat bikes demonstrated
“ MVSTA will manage fat bikers in a way that there will be equal
or less impact to the trails surface and safety that that of
skiers”


I really believe fat biking is poised for greatness. Again this year the media attention
has been crazy. Once more bikes are available and more people are out riding
them this is really, really going to take off. - MVSTA Director

Michigan Tech
• Started fat bike trail use program in 2012
• 2.4 km of tilled trail
• 9 km of snowmobile groomed trail
• 2.5 km of ungroomed single track
• 5 km of tilled beginner nordic trail open after
trail lights are out at 9 pm
• Jeff Parker, trail guru, reports “zero” damage
to nordic trails

MTU Update, cont.
• Based on success of MTU, Swedetown Ski Trails
in Calument started a fat bike program
• Fat Tuesdays – fat bikes allowed on trail system
after 6 pm
• Have also added two more local races due to
number of fat bikes


MTU Update, cont.
• Very few issues – damage from fat bike use of nordic
ski trails is “zero”
• Dropped nordic ski races because fat bike races draw
better
• Skiers and fat bike riders coexisting peacefully
MTU Athletic Director “very pleased when she
stopped by see fat bikers using our ski trails. She’s
indicated she’d like to expand the fat bike trail
network of trails.”


Minnesota’s Cuyuna
• Cuyuna a 5,000 acre state recreation area
owned/operated by MN DNR
• Abandoned mine site in Northern MN
• Opened 23-mile network of trails in 2011
• Significant economic driver for depressed area
• Has become national destination
• Nearly 30,000 riders in 2013 (winter and
summer)

Cuyuna Update 2013
• 300% increase in Winter riders from 2012 to date
– Includes a vistor from Moab
• Sagamore Unit is for fat bikes only – no mountain
bikes
• Yawkey Unit (Expert mountain bike trails) has also
been opened to fat bike use (no mtb)
• Grooming done with snow shoes and rack pulled
behind snowmobile


Cuyuna Update, cont.
• Hallet Community Center created a Fat Bike package for
riders to use locker, shower, and sauna for modest fee
• Large % of riders come from Mpls/St. Paul (2.5 hours)
• WhiteOut race in March will have 150+ racers
• Registered racers coming from WI, MI, Canada
• Farthest distance for registered rider so far – 700 miles

“Rode your trails for the first time. Great grooming job – best
riding in MN! Thanks for providing such a great experience.
We’ll be back!


MN Fat Bike Access
• Lack of snow has limited discussion of access
issues
• MN’s legacy of single-use trails a longstanding
tradition
• Eventually, fat bikes will need to negotiate
with either snowmobile or nordic ski trail
managers for access if numbers continue to
grow


Wyoming
• Town of Jackson Groomed Trails
– 25+ miles of trail
– 5 years of incident-free use
– Mostly non-motorized use, some snowmobile mixed use
– Approximately 40+ fat bikes in circulation
• Togwotee Pass/Continental Divide Snowmobile Trails
– 600 miles of groomed trails
– Backcountry experience
– 4 years of Togwotee Winter Classic Race


Teton Valley, Idaho
• 35 miles of groomed nordic trails
– Partnership with Teton Valley Trails and Pathways
• Non-groomed snowmobile trails
• 25+ rental fat bikes
• Groomed snowmobile trails
– District 33 MOU
– Fat bikes paying their way for access
• Valley Roads

District 33 MOU
• Desire to contribute but no mechanism for it
• Confusion about access and enforcement
• Agreement addressing financial contribution
and safety
• Pilot Program


Island Park/West Yellowstone
• Nearly 1000 miles of groomed trail
• Variety of terrain
• Great amenities
• Day rides or epic adventures
• A future mecca for fat biking


Harriman State Park
• Park Manager attended last year’s Summit
• Open to a pilot fat bike program at Harriman
State Park in 2013
• Looking for input and guidance, but needs
approval from management
• Would increase winter use of facility, but
require careful strategy for implementation


Fat Bike Riding
• Riding experience close to snowshoeing
• Slow, solitary, quiet – not explosive or fast
• Fat bikes work best on compacted snow
– More than 3” of snow prohibits use
• Low tire pressure (< 10 psi) and slow speeds
mean almost no impact to trails


Fat Bike Rider
• Well educated/high household incomes
• Cold weather not a barrier
• Mostly male, but female participation growing
• Mix of solitary/group activity
• Looking for unique outdoor winter experience
• More adventure than adrenaline


Current Regulations
Yellowstone National Park
• Groomed Park Roads
• Fat bikes not officially designated as winter use
YNP Draft Winter Use Plan: Section 7.13(I)(15) Are there any forms of
non-motorized oversnow transportation allowed in the park?
(i) Non-motorized travel consisting of skiing, skating, showshoeing, or walking is
permitted unless otherwise restricted under this section or other NPS
regulations
(ii)The Superintendent may designate areas of the park as closed, reopen such
areas, or establish terms and conditions for non-motorized travel within the
park in order to protect visitors, employees or park resources. Notice will be
made in accordance with Section 1.7(a) of this chapter
(iii)Dog sledding and ski-joring are prohibited
(iv)Bicycles are prohibited on oversnow routes in Yellowstone


Current Regulations, cont.
• Analysis of Yellowstone Winter Use Plan as written in the
Federal Register 7/5/11:
In addition, the park has carefully reviewed new proposals to allow use of
“snowbikes” (bicycles that have been modified to travel on packed snow routes).
In past winter plans and regulations, the NPS has prohibited snowbikes. In earlier
reviews, the NPS believed the addition of snowbikes on the groomed oversnow
routes had the potential to create conflicts with snowmobile and snowcoach
groups, as well as cross-country skiiers, snowshoers, and walkers who are
currently allowed on the oversnow routes. The NPS concluded that safety
issues could develop with this type of use. For example, snowbikes depend
on packed, groomed surfaces. Heavy snowfalls and rapidly warming
conditions have the potential to create conditions by which travel by
snowbikes is impossible after they have traveled miles into the park. In this
planning process, new requests were made to authorize snowbikes. The NPS has
reviewed these requests and past analysis, and this proposed rule would continue
the ban on use of snowbikes.

Grand Teton National Park
• Groomed Park Roads
• Winter Use Plans Final Environmental Impact Statement, Yellowstone and
Grand Teton National Parks and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial
Parkway, Sept. 2007
A comment during public review of the DEIS suggested that parks allow
snowbikes. The NPS believes that the use of snowbikes could conflict and/or
create safety hazards along routes on which substantial numbers of
snowmobiles and snowcoaches operate, such as the groomed roads in
Yellowstone. Within units of the NPS, bicycles may only be used on park
roads, parking areas, and on routes designated for such use by special
regulation. The NPS may consider whether the use of snowbikes would be
appropriate on certain groomed roads in Grand Teton where conflicts with
oversnow vehicles , other visitors, or wildlife is not an issue.
2007 NEPA and Final Rule was thrown out by the courts.


Grand Teton National Park
• Dec. 15th, 2009 – Final Rule Winter Use GTNP and John D.
Rockefeller Jr. Memorial Parkway
Section 7.22 (14) Are there any forms of non-motorized
oversnow transportation allowed in the park?
(i) Non-motorized travel consisting of skiing, snowshoeing, or
walking is permitted unless otherwise restricted under this
section or other NPS regulations.
(ii)The Superintendent may designate areas of the park as
closed, reopen such areas, or establish terms and conditions
for non-motorized travel within the park to protect visitors,
employees, or park resources.
(iii)Dog sledding and ski-joring are prohibited

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