P.E.I. fatbikers say the sport is growing on the Island

A group of cycling enthusiasts on P.E.I. isn't letting the winter weather cool their passion for the sport.

The Fat Tire Ridersof P.E.I. say the sport of fatbiking is taking offwiththicker tires,warm clothes and some snow creating perfect riding conditions.

The sport, which involves mountain bikes equipped with thicktires with large tread, allows riders to bike on uneven terrain and through snow in the winter.

Mike Brazil has been fatbiking on the Island for two years and saidthe sport's popularityhas grown.He saidthere are about 40 fatbikersriding on P.E.I., but more and more people are getting involved every day.

Fatbikinggives riders the freedom to hit the trails in almost any winter conditions, allowing cycling to become a year-round sport, he said.

"It's physical activity that's fun. It's adrenaline, it's goals, climbing. It's just everything I love about mountain biking."

'A highway in the woods'

Paul Deighan, president of Cycling P.E.I., said until about five years ago, cycling on the Island was limited to summer months. But now as more and more people are picking up fatbiking, he added, there are more trails popping up for people to keeping ridingduring the winter.

"The bestfatbikingconditions are if you have a lot of snow and it's sort of a wet snow,"Deighansaid. "Allowing for someone to go out and groom it and then followedimmediately with freezing. Then you have almost a highway in the woods, if you like. That's ideal."

Deighansaid when he first started fatbiking he relied on snowshoers toflatten and groomtrails. Now, the group has its own groomer, which is used to clean trails all over eastern P.E.I., he added.

"What the grooming does is it creates a path and packs down the snow so the fatbikescan ride on it," Deighan said.

"There's a great comradery of coming out and riding in cold conditions."

Best trails for fatbiking

In addition toStrathgartneyProvincial Park, Brookvale Ski Park has also opened 10 kilometres of groomed trails for fatbikers.

Deighansaid there are other fatbikingtrails at the Winter River Trail and the Riverside Ride along the East Royalty Trail.

He added that BrookvaleSki Park has fatbikesavailable to rent for anyone who is interested in trying the sport.

"If you give it a go you'll find out how much fun it is and how easy it is,"Deighansaid.

"It's just challenging the elements being out here on a cold day and not letting winter stop you from getting outdoors and enjoying the tremendous terrain that we have here in P.E.I."