Wide wheelin’ in winter

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John Nale took this photograph of his fat tire bike backlit by sunlight while parked on the frozen lake, where there is a perfect shadow of his bicycle.

Photo essay by John Nale

Photograph of John Nale outside and wearing a Santa hat.
John Nale.

I bike all winter long with my fat tire bike. I have found that with my snowsuit and the heat from exercise, I usually feel very warm ⸺ even in the coldest temperatures. Winter biking is incredibly beautiful, and I find that I’m usually the only one out there.

Colorful fallen leaves mark this wooded path through the snow. Photo by John Nale.
It’s a winter fairyland in this photo of snow-covered trees beside open water with a ridgeline in shadow in the distance. Photo by John Nale.

I like to ride on Portage Lake and Bear Lake when it is safe. You have to be very careful on the lake when you hit ice patches. Fat tires do not grab onto ice!

I also tend to follow my regular bike routes along M-22 in the Portage Point and Portage Ridge areas, all around Onekama and Bear Lake.

Advertisement for new book releases by Freshwater Reporter Poet-in-Residence Louisa Loveridge Gallas. Three books are shown. On the left is the cover of The Wizard's Dream: A universal winter's tale. An Eric Hoffer Award finalist for excellence in independent publishing. A wizard's confusion causes despair until he finds his light. Former publisher/editor of The Writer calls it a magical holiday tale. Price is $10. The book cover in the middle is an abstract painting by the author in oranges and blues. The title of the book is Rescue the Good Stuff., second edition. The story of child Maddie's search for truth, told in prose poems. Dr. Shirley Johnson, A Fulbright professor of English calls it a tour de force that grabs you and will not let go. The price of the book is $15. The cover of the book on the right is a drawing by Emily Cook of vegetables and flowers. The book's title is Be Yourself: Everyone else is taken. second edition. Expands on the original poetry collection with fresh, insightful verse. Singer-songwriter and recording artist Claudia Schmidt calls says "Her poems sing us back up the sheer cliff of hope." Cost is $10. Find these books in Onekama at Patina and in Frankfort at The bookstore, Oliver Art Center and Bella's.Advertise in Freshwater Reporter!Advertisement for the Ramsdell Theatre. Banner at the top of the ad says Coming to the Ramsdell. The Manistee Civic Players present It Was A Dark and Stormy Night, a play by Tim Kelly, Directed by Paula Laws. and October 24 at 7 thirty p.m., October 25 at 7 thirty p.m. October 26 at 2 p.m. October 31 at 7 thirty p.m. November first at 7 thirty p.m. and November second at 2 p.m. Thank you to our sponsors Little River Casino Resort and Manistee County Community Foundation. Also coming in December. Ingrid Bond's The Nutcracker Ballet.

Riding in snow with your fat tire bike is a lot like driving in snow with your car. The best snow is when it is extremely cold, and the snow is light and fluffy. You tend to get a lot of traction.

When it’s not winter, I like to use a road bike as well as a BMX that I converted for dirt trails. I use my BMX mainly in the Arcadia Dry Hill Trails area.

John Nale selfie.
Photo by John Nale.
Frozen field. Photo by John Nale.

John Nale, a 30-year Manistee County resident, is an avid year-round biker. John and his wife Deborah, both real estate agents with the Onekama office of Century 21 Northland, live in Onekama and bike the many trails together. They are active members of the community.

 

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