Fat Bike Girl’s Favorite Things – Stocking Stuffer Guide 2022 Fun and quirky or purely functional, these items make great stocking stuffers. There’s something for everyone, including woman’s best friend. Speedgoat Gear Bike Bags $30 and up These high-quality, beautiful bike bags are made by Aimee in Pinedale, Wyoming. I met her at the Fat Bike World Championships in Bondurant a few years ago and now have a Moonlander dressed in purple paisley. She makes custom frame bags and can rig you up with a matching set of bags from stem to stern. Santa Rosa Merino Flex Balaclava $45 I’m a big fan of M ..read more

Winter Fat Biking: How to Dress and What to Bring Stay warm, ride happy.  When I started fat biking there were no specific boots or other gear for the sport and I wore what I used for winter hiking, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing. Most of what you need isn’t specific to fat biking and you can always make upgrades to your kit as you go. I’m in Wyoming and writing from the perspective of someone who doesn’t have the added challenge of humidity. I ride in winter temps ranging from about 40F to -5F (not including wind chill). 1. Bra. Wool is your BFF because even when damp it insulat ..read more

How to be deaf (whatever works) I am a late-deafened adult with clear speech. Because I speak ‘normally’ people don’t seriously consider it when I tell them that I am deaf. They may speak more loudly and clearly for a beat but then forget. Being deaf is not only a problem with volume, it’s also one of comprehension. Every conversation that I have, every single day with almost every person I meet ends in frustration. The additive effect by the end of the day means I’m worn out. Today I conducted an experiment. I brought a small spiral notebook and pencil with me on my errands.  At the top ..read more

The BRANWYN Bralette Thank you to fat bike girl, Krista Snyder, in Lander, Wyoming, for her review of the BRANWYN bralette: Early in the winter of 2020, I was having a terrible time finding a merino wool bra that fit a bustier person, such as myself. After “crowd-sourcing” information from the Fat Bike Girl group, the main recommendations for bras were the usual suspects: Smartwool and Icebreakers. But, every one that I tried didn’t seem to be made for curvier people, like myself. And the bustier people in the group, like myself, hadn’t come across any wool bras that they liked either. After ..read more

Fat-Bikepacking on the Outlaw Trail, Wyoming My favorite book as a kid was The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. To this day I wish I had a wardrobe that led to a magical, far-off land full of wonder and beauty. To step through a doorway into a different realm and leave your old world behind, even for just a little while…. I have been lucky enough to visit many far-off and beautiful places, from Zanzibar to the Greek Islands. But my Narnia is not in any of those places. As it happens, my Narnia is in Wyoming, both the deep-winter version and the trickling-meltwater spring one. T ..read more

Velocio Zero Bib Tight   My idea of heaven is to spend all day on my fatbike in the snow.  Pair that with a mid-ride fire and a flask of whiskey shared amongst friends, and you have a perfect day. The challenge with cold weather rides is being able to take a quick pit stop without fussing with layers. Eureka!! Enter the Velocio ZERO bib tight ~ the latest addition to my fat biking and winter cycling kit. Ladies – this is a bib that really works when nature calls. If you are new to fat biking or winter cycling – there are several reasons I prefer bibs over regular cycling t ..read more

Bontrager Old Man Winter Fat Bike Pants Winner-winner-chicken-dinner – the women’s wind and water-resistant Bontrager old man winter soft-shell fat bike pants are made for winter cycling and fat biking in the snow. Thank you to Elliott Smith, fat bike girl in Ontario, Canada, for her review: The pants are a relaxed fit, so there is room for layering without bunching or feeling constricted. In my experience, the size chart on the Trek product page is misleading for Bontrager’s relaxed fit clothing, like these pants and their mountain bike line. For example, I would say the L (10-12) fits more ..read more

Magnetic Pedal Review: Magped ENDURO for Gravel and Fat Biking INTRO This is a “first rides” review with magped’s ENDURO magnetic pedals on my gravel bike and my fat bike.  My fat bike also doubles as my year-round mountain bike and bikepacking bike when I swap my fat tires for a 29+ wheelset. In my 30-year cycling ‘career’ I’ve mostly ridden mountain bikes and primarily with flat pedals. However, lately, I’ve been on my gravel bike more than my fat bike and have been using clipless pedals with my gravel bike. But no matter how much I practice I have a difficult time clipping ..read more

Ride the Wrong Bike Thoughts on Gravel Riding and Beyond The other day I rode my gravel bike in the snow, which doesn’t seem worth mentioning. Except I have to admit that was a little nervous – maybe because I’m “old.” Or maybe it’s because I’m spoiled. After all, I have several bikes to choose from for specific conditions. Then I reflected on how my gravel bike tires are darn near the same width as my first mountain bike tires. This admission of tire width dates me of course. I got my first mountain bike, a Trek Antelope, in 1988.  I rode the Antelope on everything. Gasp – I did ..read more

Women’s Winter Cycling Pants for Fat Biking Stay warm, ride happy. Part II. Follow Follow Follow Drumroll please, here is a list of women’s winter cycling pants that were recommended by women fat bikers. Also included at the end are a few men’s-only pants (also recommended by women). Please note, you don’t need an expensive pair of cycling-specific pants for winter fat biking. If you have a ski kit, then you have a fat bike kit.   For years I wore my Swix cross-country ski pants for fat biking.  They have a wind-proof front, articulated knees, side zips, and are stretchy.  ..read more