Fat Biking in Stowe

Having missed the first opportunity to try a fat bike locally, I vowed to attend the second event in Stowe—the remaining events in the series are held further afield in eastern Vermont and Canada. Unfortunately, I'm still healing from a leg injury, so I couldn't participate in the fat tire fun. However, I took my job as instigator/family fun manager seriously, and brought extra mittens, socks, and multiple packs of chemical hand-warmers—teenagers being forgetful and ill-prepared in 15F—to keep extremities comfortable.

I signed up 4 of us on event day (including our son's friend). The fee entitles each person to lunch, a local beer, bike demos, and entry into a race.

Youngest son with his rad Nutcase helmet (Christmas gift). He practices on nearby humps.

Arriving an hour later than most participants, meant bike selection was limited. My husband, son, and friend snagged bikes immediately (only large bicycles still available) and took off on their own adventure while it took another 20 minutes for riders to return and our younger son could locate a suitable bike.

Our young guy is the one who loves to ride so I felt bad that he was left behind at the get go.

Of course, he tested the bike's abilities.

And, eventually, the group returned to include biker boy in the mix. Apparently the loop in the woods was icy so all set out on the Stowe Bike Path. Our youngest was disappointed, however, and didn't hold back his opinion upon completion: if it's not dangerously fun single track, well, what's the point?

It was lunchtime, time for a break and to fill bellies at the Asian buffet. The teenagers went back for second helpings while I nursed beer number one.

Many participants stayed behind in early afternoon, citing slippery trails, preferring to hang out in the cozy warmth instead. Two oldest boys bowed out also and accompanied me at a window seat. And thankfully, my husband braved the single track with our kamikazee boy to burn off some energy.

I nursed a second beer (paid for with event ticket - might as well use it) while watching antics outside the window. People were still navigating the roller-coaster hump; a family with two youngsters took turns on a smaller framed bike.

It started to snow. When my husband and son came back they were jazzed. The woods' trails were slippery going uphill, but coming down was a blast.

Someday, I'll ride a fat bike.

Event impressions: it was fun to do as a family, however it felt like we were the only family in attendance (other than the two youngster spied through window). It was too expensive (35.00 each) to afford more than once. We, unfortunately, missed the cheaper event in early December.

And whatever happened to the "race"? Never heard anything about it.