Fat Bike Expedition Preparation

Five tips for a big winter trip

In February, Ted King, Eric Batty, Ryan Atkins and I are embarking on a 600-km fat bike expedition in the far north of Ontario. From Attawapiskat First Nation, we’ll ride to Akimiski Island in James Bay – which is part of the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut – then down James Bay to Moosonee and Moose Factory. From there, we’ll take 170 km of ice roads and 120 km of forest-access roads to finish the trip in the town of Smooth Rock Falls, Ont. We’ll be riding on frozen Arctic tidal water in the land of polar bears, seals and Arctic foxes. The cold will be extreme. We’ll carry everything we need to survive for 10 days. Here are five things we’ve considered for our adventure. They can help you, too, whether your winter trip is two nights or 12.

Pick the right team

Choose your partners wisely. You’ll face very challenging conditions together, and you might not all have the same amount of fitness or experience. When you’re cold, tired and hungry, you need people who are positive and don’t always have a nose for the finish line. They understand what it’s like to be in a world of hurt sooner than anticipated with no end in sight until camp, which could be hours away. Positivity when facing ugly conditions is key; it’s the fastest way to your goal. Rely on each other’s strengths. Let someone with more knowledge of an area you might not be well-versed in lead or make decisions.

Stay dry

Keep the moisture close to your skin. Your feet will sweat even at -40 C. If your feet let all that moisture out inside your boots, you’re going to have cold feet for the entire trip as the footwear will freeze overnight, solid. Even with a wood stove, you won’t dry your boots fast enough after you’ve sweat in them. Wear a thin merino wool sock inside a vapour-barrier sock and a warmer sock overtop. This setup isn’t the most comfortable, but it works. Make sure your boots will accommodate all your socks. If you’re shopping for a new pair of boots, you’ll want at least 1.5 sizes up from your summer shoe. My favourite is the 45nrth Wolfgar.

Bring snowshoes

Very few off-track fat bike expeditions involve riding the whole time. There’s usually a good amount of pushing your bike, sometimes for days. Consider a set of inflatable snowshoes. They pack up easily and allow you to travel faster with less effort. They’ll also make camp chores easier by keeping you on top of the snow.

We all have to go

One of the more uncomfortable things about big winter adventures is the call of nature. The call I’m talking about is the one that affects women and men with the same amount of convenience, or lack thereof. No. 2s happen. After Day 4 or 5 of of a 12-day trip, keeping clean is important. Dry toilet paper won’t cut it on a trip this long unless you’re solo and don’t mind the funk of armpits and bottoms. I bring travel-size baby wipes. I keep them close to my skin all day. I put them in my sleeping bag at night so they don’t freeze and are always conveniently near. This system has kept me feeling fresh and funk-free throughout years of adventures in all seasons. It’s also a sure way for your partner and kids to welcome a long hug once you get home after being gone for so long.

To grease or not to grease?

Moving bike parts require lube and grease, right? In the extreme cold, however, both substances harden up, making shifts louder, clunkier and far from smooth. Your wheels will turn slower, and your steering can be stiff. I use a dry lube on the chain on my Cannondale Fat caad that I put on at room temperature, then wipe off before bringing the bike outside in the cold. Once it’s there, leave it there. Hubs and headsets need cold-weather-specific grease. The guys at Woven Precision in Ottawa have this in stock by the pail load. The grease makes a difference, so before you head out, contact your local bike shop and get some fresh cold-weather grease to keep you spinning smoothly. There are enough things to slow you down out there. You bike shouldn’t be one of them.

“In the extreme cold, lube and grease harden up, making shifts louder, clunkier and far from smooth.”