Hitting winter trails: Biking a 12-month activity, even in Wyoming | Local Sports

“I would say there are about 30 people in the Sheridan, Ranchester, Buffalo area who are heavily involved in fat biking,” said Jordan LeDuc, co-owner of Sheridan Bicycle Company.

A fat bike is an off-road bicycle with oversized tires that are 3.8 to 5 inches wide and are designed for low ground pressure to allow riding on soft, unstable terrain such as snow.

Bomber Mountain Cycling Club had its eighth annual Christmas Roll on December 17. Bikers met at the Sheridan Bicycle Company with Christmas attire and decorated bikes before heading out. LeDuc estimated there were about 15 fat bikes in the group.

There are currently no bike rental shops in Sheridan, so LeDuc suggests borrowing one from a friend before buying a fat bike.

Sheridan Bicycle Company co-owner Calie LeDuc recommends buying a fat bike and riding it year-round and treating it like a mountain bike during the summer months.

“You put more PSI in these tires and you’re going down rocky sections on a mountain bike trail and it’s rock solid,” said Calie LeDuc. “It’s not necessarily just a winter bike, although I have a mountain bike for the summer. But if it can help justify the purchase, know you can use it all year round.”

Calie LeDuc said she likes fat biking because it takes her mind off life’s stressors.

“It’s like zen to me,” Calie LeDuc said. “When you’re having a bad day and you go on a fat bike ride, you kind of forget about your bad day. That’s the beauty of it.”

Jordan LeDuc said that many beginners feel like they need to pedal harder because they’re riding on snow, but that’s not the case.

“It’s a very soft pedal, you want to stay on top so you don’t cut through. So it comes down to pedaling technique and cadence,” said Jordan LeDuc. “It’s a completely different genre of cycling. It’s a bit slower.”

Jordan LeDuc recommends beginners ride the Green Room Trail at Malcolm Wallop Park.

“It’s not a very difficult trail, but it’s also great because it’s in the city. You don’t have to drive up the whole mountain.”

He also recommends the Cutler Hill Trail trail in Bighorn National Forest.

“Cutters are fun. It’s super gentle. The lower dogleg loop is ideal for beginners. Green Room and Cutler are your favorite tracks for new drivers,” said Jordan LeDuc.

Jordan and Calie live in Story and ride about twice a week, usually on snowy gravel roads and the South Piney Creek Trail. They have plans for an adventure from Burgess Junction to Antelope Butte via the snowmobile trail sometime this winter. The ride is 13 miles one way.

Winter is a time to enjoy the great outdoors, even when the weather isn’t that welcoming.

“Where we live, you have to grow with the weather. Would I rather ride a dry singletrack 12 months a year? Absolutely,” said Jordan Leduc, laughing. “But we live in Wyoming.”