Global Fat Bike Day – December 4, 2022, history, significance
Global Fat Bike Day has taken place on the first Saturday of December annually since 2012 — this year it falls on December 4. It’s a special day for fat bike enthusiasts who celebrate it the best way they know how — riding on their fat bikes! The day falls on a Saturday, mostly since it’s a popular day for riding and allows people to go on longer rides. But this isn’t set in stone, so you can choose to ride on Friday or even Sunday, depending on your commitments. You and your fat bike have the entire weekend! All this day asks of you is to find the time to ride.
History of Global Fat Bike Day
Bicycles with fat tires have been around for more than 100 years, but the more modern versions have been around since the 1970s. The idea for fat bikes is to increase the amount of surface area of the tire which improves the bicycle riding experience. This is especially enjoyed and appreciated by those who spend a great deal of time on mountain trails as the wider tire helps to smooth out the rough terrain, even in sand or snow.
These bicycles were often originally custom designed by refitting bike frames with double wide tires. By the late 1990s, an Interbike convention brought designers together to discuss and make improvements to the designs of these wide bike tires, but they still hadn’t come up with their current name.
In 2001, Mike Gronewald, who was an avid bicycle builder and designer of bike frames, was located in Alaska when he began calling his bike with wide tires a “fat bike”. But the fat bikes were still only custom made.
It wasn’t until 2005 that a company in Minnesota began selling specialized fat bike frames commercially, which they called “Pugsley”. Since then, new brands featuring fat bikes have continued to appear as the industry becomes more popular.
The first Global Fat Bike Day was held in 2012 and, since then, the day has only grown in popularity, especially in places where fat bikes are popular, such as Mexico, Alaska and Minnesota.
GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY TIMELINE
1900s
The First Fat Bikes
The bikes have two to three wheels put together side by side to increase surface contact to the ground.
1980s
Modern-Day Fat Bikes Arrive
The modern fat bike design makes an appearance followed by an era of design experiments.
2001
The Name ‘Fat Bike’ is Born
Mark Gronewald, a bike builder and frame designer in Alaska, coins the name ‘Fat Bike’ for his bike.
2012
The First Global Fat Bike Day
Fat biker enthusiasts worldwide take to their bikes and ride!
GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY ACTIVITIES
Hit the trail
It isn’t Global Fat Bike Day unless you ride. Posing for pictures with a stationary bike doesn’t count! You don’t need to hit an epic trail. Just ride and enjoy the experience.
Find local events or connect online
Join a fat bike event near you or look for events online. Connecting with the larger biker community (even virtually) makes the day extra special. Remember to take a photo of your ride and put it up on the Mountain Bike Reviews Forum.
Take a video
Document your ride on video. Fat bike riding is a challenging sport, and not too many people understand the skills required or the unpredictable terrain and weather. Videos offer perspectives into bike riding and can pique curiosity for anyone interested in the sport.
5 FACTS ABOUT MOUNTAIN BIKES THAT WILL BLOW YOUR MIND
Mountain bikes are older than you think
Buffalo soldiers first used mountain bikes in the 1890s.
Mountain biking wasn’t always recreational
‘Off-road’ bikes were first used for transportation over rough terrain.
Nepal organizes the highest race
Known as the “Yak Attack,” the highest, most challenging race in Nepal covers about 249 miles at an altitude of approximately 17,769 feet.
The earliest bikes could only go downhill
Riders would take bikes to the top of a hill in a car and then ride down.
Over the hill? No such thing
Whether you’re 20 or 80, mountain biking is one of the only sports without an age limit.
WHY WE LOVE GLOBAL FAT BIKE DAY
Exploring offbeat paths
Fat bike riding takes us to trails otherwise remote and inaccessible. No other bike will or can do!
Winter riding
It’s tempting to lie around and do nothing when December rolls in. Thanks to Global Fat Bike Day, we can kick ourselves out of inertia. A bike ride on a crisp winter day is just what the doctor ordered.
Connecting bike lovers around the world
What we love most about the day is its sense of community and shared experiences. Across time zones and continents, anyone can bond over the love of a fat bike.
