1. Dressing for Winter Biking success.
Fat biking in the winter requires the right clothes to keep you warm and protected from the elements. You will create a remarkable amount of heat and your layers need to be able to keep you dry when you ride. When you start your ride, you SHOULD feel cold and then warm up as you go. This way you won’t start to sweat too much, which will make your skin and layers wet, which then will make you cold. All of this being said, it’s advisable to carry extra warm layers, just in case you underestimate the temps or if you break down and have to spend time not riding while you make repairs or wait for a ride.
2. Dial in your Tire Pressure.
Before you head out to ride, dial in your tire pressure. Lower PSI is better for soft snow conditions while higher PSI will be best for more packed terrain. You will likely need to experiment to discover what level of pressure is best for you and your riding style.
3. Adjust your seat height, it's very important for fat biking.
Riding on snow and ice is an entirely different experience than riding on gravel or pavement. Lowering the seat on your snow bicycle allows you to position your center of gravity further back and down. This lightens the load on the front tire and help you maintain better control in icy conditions.
4. Start pedaling smoothly and slowly.
When you start out riding on ice or packed snow position your body back to keep the bulk of your weight on the rear wheel. Then, smoothly and slowly begin to pedal forward. If you thrust your foot down too quickly and hard on the pedal there’s a chance your rear tire will spin out. As your bike propels forward, stay centered on the trail and continue to pedal smoothly, adjusting your body weight as you go, until you reach your desired speed.
5. Easy on the brakes.
Just like with pedaling, brake as smoothly and slowly as possible. When you bike on snow you can’t always tell what’s beneath it. Is there slush? Ice? Going easy on the brakes gives you more ability to feel the terrain you’re working with and to adjust in relationship to it as you slow down. Quick sudden braking, on the other hand, will likely cause a spin out and possible spill.