BTLT in the News, “Fat bikes keep outdoor enthusiasts active, even in winter “

The Times Record covered the growing trend of fat biking last week and mentioned our upcoming event on February 10.

Curious about trying it out for yourself? Join us this Sunday at Neptune Woods on Brunswick Landing for a group ride led by Six Rivers NEMBA. For registrants without bikes, Midcoast Conservancy who will bring 20 fat bikes to loan out. There is still space available for this FREE event. Click HERE to register today!

A growing group of locals are hoping to stay fit on fat bikes this winter, even as the offroad trails they traverse are covered with snow and ice.

Fat bikes are made for off-road terrain, designed with over-sized tires to handle unstable trails and snow.

Increasing trail options and growing interest in local biking options has led to many in the cycling community getting off the road and into the woods all year. Lee Huston, the former owner of Center Street Cycles in downtown Brunswick, noticed the shift while he owned the shop.

“Right now, everybody is riding in the woods,” he said.

One motivator for riding off-road is a growing fear of being struck by a distracted driver, Huston said.

That fear may be well-founded. According to arecent reportin the Portland Press Herald, the Maine Department of Public Safety estimates that distracted driving is a factor in up to 40 percent of the 35,000 annual crashes last year.

“A lot of people are afraid to ride on the road,” Huston said, “but people are also a lot more nature-oriented … .”

Huston credits groups like the Merrymeeting Wheelers and the New England Mountain Bike Association Six Rivers chapter for keeping the community active.

“Every week we’ve had a fat bike ride with 20 to 25 people,” said Six Rivers President Lawrence Kovacs. “It’s brought people out in freezing temperatures. We’ve had night rides. It’s really exploded in recent years.”

The Times Record, January 30

Click here to read the rest of the article.