Fat Biking in the UP

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ext580

New member
Hello I know I have seen a few fat bike riders on here.
I am going to be staying in the twin lakes area in a few weeks. We are primarily going up to snowmobile. I was thinking of bringing the fat bike to try to get a ride in early in the morning before the crew gets up and moving.
Are there any groomed trails close by there were I can get to in about 30 minutes or so and get a quick ride in?
I thought I saw that Michigan Tech has some are there any others close by?
Any help on this would be great.
Thanks
Chris
 
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whitedust

Well-known member
There is a trail in Vilas by BJ groomed for fat bikes...only 1 I know. Why not just ride on back roads in TL?
 
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blizzardmk

New member
Some of the Michigan Tech ski trails are open to fat bikes. It is mostly wide and fairly flat cross country ski trail, but it's fine if you just want to get out for a spin.
More info here: http://www.michigantechrecreation.com/trails/forest/index

If you want snow bike specific trails (groomed singletrack), there are really fun trails just outside of Hancock. There is almost 10 miles of groomed singletrack that is flowy, twisty, and super fun on a fat bike. You would probably want to allow more than 30 minutes though. There is quite a bit of info on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/ChurningRapidsSnowBike and trail map here http://keweenawtrails.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SnowBikeMap_1-18-2016.png. You can also get trail conditions updates on the keweenawtrails.com website. You could send me a PM if you want a local guide. I live on the trails and do most of the grooming.
 
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ext580

New member
Blizzardmk thank you for the info on the Churning Rapids trails.
I looked at the pics and video on your facebook page. The trails look pretty sweet. Is thta you in the facebook picture standing behind two sleds in snow waist deep!. I think I am going to have to make some time to ride those. I meant I was looking for about a 30 minute drive from the twin lakes area and that is what your trails are. How long should I put aside to ride the trails?
I will keep you posted about if I ride and what day I do.
Looks like you really got hammered with snow up there this past week! Been hearing reports and seeing pics.
I am in the chicagoland area and we have not have much snow here to get good rides in. Just a couple good snows that made it good riding but nothing like in past years where we have good snow for several days. Looking forward to the opportunity to ride some fun groomed trails. Now I just need to decide on what fat bike to bring!
Thanks again.
 
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blizzardmk

New member
Oops, I misread your statement about a 30 minute drive. You should be able to ride most of the trails in about an hour and a half if conditions are decent. Let me know when your trip gets closer and you know when you might ride.

I was the one taking the picture of the two sleds and my buddy standing in waist deep snow. It was a pretty crazy storm. About 20 inches in 12 hours at our house. I didn't have too much time to ride the sled besides grooming the bike trails, but did get a few amazing powder turns.
 
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harvest1121

Well-known member
I am going to stay in Winchester Wi next week need to find out if you can use the Fat Bike on the cross country ski trails. Think I will bring the Trek 9.8 with the 27.5x3.8 Think I am going to ride at Palos tomorrow also.
 
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blizzardmk

New member
harvest1121 said:
I am going to stay in Winchester Wi next week need to find out if you can use the Fat Bike on the cross country ski trails. Think I will bring the Trek 9.8 with the 27.5x3.8 Think I am going to ride at Palos tomorrow also.
Click to expand...

WinMan trails by Winchester are suppose to have some groomed singletrack. Their summer trails are really fun.
 
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upbarleyboy

New member
"Hello I know I have seen a few fat bike riders on here". (quote)

Ya' know, it's not nice to pick on fat bike riders. I give them credit for getting out there and pounding the pavement...err I mean snow. Anyways, they are out there trying their best in the hopes of one day being a skinny bike rider:).
 
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sweeperguy

Active member
upbarleyboy said:
"Hello I know I have seen a few fat bike riders on here". (quote)

Ya' know, it's not nice to pick on fat bike riders. I give them credit for getting out there and pounding the pavement...err I mean snow. Anyways, they are out there trying their best in the hopes of one day being a skinny bike rider:).
Click to expand...

Everybody has to have goals.
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
This is great news to find that there are winter bike exclusive trails to keep them off of snowmobile trails.
The 2 don't mix.
Almost as alarming as finding pedestrians out for a stroll on a blind cornered twisty sled trail.....yes it happens.....
Please, if you think this is a good idea too be on a sled trail with something less than a sled.....go take a walk or bicycle ride on the freeway first.

I sure don't want too be the guy who nails you.
 
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sweeperguy

Active member
snobuilder said:
This is great news to find that there are winter bike exclusive trails to keep them off of snowmobile trails.
The 2 don't mix.
Almost as alarming as finding pedestrians out for a stroll on a blind cornered twisty sled trail.....yes it happens.....
Please, if you think this is a good idea too be on a sled trail with something less than a sled.....go take a walk or bicycle ride on the freeway first.

I sure don't want too be the guy who nails you.
Click to expand...

Came across a dog sled team, and 2 pedestrian s on Sawyer county trails last weekend.
 
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harvest1121

Well-known member
I do not like it either with bikes on the trail but do not like when l see snowmobile tracks on the bicycle trails. I work in the bicycle industry so see both sides. I have a great time on both and seems the fat bikes are getting more popular so we all can get along. Decisions for next week 4 day snowmobiling 1 day fat biking

<a href="http://s772.photobucket.com/user/harvest1121/media/29B473B5-0D89-4DB0-ADCB-D5D5032C746A_zpsuyxlid6p.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/harvest1121/29B473B5-0D89-4DB0-ADCB-D5D5032C746A_zpsuyxlid6p.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 29B473B5-0D89-4DB0-ADCB-D5D5032C746A_zpsuyxlid6p.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s772.photobucket.com/user/harvest1121/media/E50A8090-D93D-4963-88BD-4B71FF2965B3_zpszih9cwmv.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i772.photobucket.com/albums/yy3/harvest1121/E50A8090-D93D-4963-88BD-4B71FF2965B3_zpszih9cwmv.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo E50A8090-D93D-4963-88BD-4B71FF2965B3_zpszih9cwmv.jpg"/></a>
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
Biggest diff. there is that we ALL pay for the bicycle trails that are taxpayer funded and most sled trails are maintained and funded by the end users. Bikes and sleds don't mix.

We have a non motorized rec trail near here that sleds are not permitted on because the studs might leave a few marks even though being able to utilize a couple of the bridges would keep sleds from having to use the 100 yard long very busy highway bridge which is way more hazardous. Sledders are treated like lepers.
 
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blizzardmk

New member
snobuilder said:
Biggest diff. there is that we ALL pay for the bicycle trails that are taxpayer funded and most sled trails are maintained and funded by the end users. Bikes and sleds don't mix.

We have a non motorized rec trail near here that sleds are not permitted on because the studs might leave a few marks even though being able to utilize a couple of the bridges would keep sleds from having to use the 100 yard long very busy highway bridge which is way more hazardous. Sledders are treated like lepers.
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Do we need to turn this into another snowmobile vs. non-motorized debate? Most of the people you're talking to here ride both bikes and snowmobiles.
 
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snobuilder

Well-known member
I ride a bike as well, just not where its a hazard and that includes not riding 2 and 3 wide on the paved portion of a roadway.
I ride the least traveled roads I can find near home and single file as far right as possible.....

That is why I said it was great to hear that fat tire bikes have there own trails to ride on. I think the CC ski trails are a great option too.

No debate wanted.
 
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HardwaterHoosier

Member
Kicking myself for not jumping on that Surely deal they put out.
Our local MTB club in IN has a groomer and Rokon now, the weather hasn't cooperated enough for them to get that nice hard pack for more than a few days...
 
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blizzardmk

New member
snobuilder said:
I ride a bike as well, just not where its a hazard and that includes not riding 2 and 3 wide on the paved portion of a roadway.
I ride the least traveled roads I can find near home and single file as far right as possible.....

That is why I said it was great to hear that fat tire bikes have there own trails to ride on. I think the CC ski trails are a great option too.

No debate wanted.
Click to expand...

I can agree with that. Purpose-built trails are a lot safer. They're also a lot more fun to ride. I got into grooming for snow bikes because the wide and flat ski trails in our area aren't that exciting to ride. We groom some really narrow, twisty, and hilly trails that are a blast to ride on a bike.
 
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