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.

Oliver Art Center frankfort advertisement. Top images are of various drawings of fish. The message says Open Now. A multi media exhibit celebrating fish and fishing through October 4. The bottom portion of the ad has images of a painting with pastel blues and peach colors, a lake photo and a metal sculpture. The message says Open Now. Creative Kaleidoscope. A juried exhibition through October 18. 132 Coast Guard Road in Frankfort. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.Advertisement for Stapleton Realty is a photo and description of a pole building on two acres with easy access to M-115. The headline reads: Outdoor Enthusiasts. The 30 foot by 40 foot pole building has a finished office area with a bathroom with sink, shower and toilet. There is a large workshop area that is 29 feet by 28 feet with exhaust fan and a new furnace. there is a washer and dryer hookup in the utility room with a utility sink. Well and septic are installed. There is a full camper hook up on the property too and its not far to snowmobile and A-T-V trails, Crystal Mountain Resort and the Betsie River. The asking price is $199,900. Call Christine Stapleton, 231-499-2698. Click on this ad to be taken to the website.Advertisement for Brown's Poplar Ridge Orchards is in the shape of a barn. The roof sign says Farm Market. Beneath it are drawings of a tomato and carrot with the caption Fresh produce. Next to it are drawings of ice cream cones and the caption says ice cream. Beside it is a drawing of a pitcher with golden contents and the caption says honey and syrup. A drawing of a slab of raw beef has the caption meat. Beside it is a glass quart of white milk with the caption dairy. Last is a drawing of a slice of cherry pie with the caption Bakery. Open Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Located at 12482 Milarch Road, Bear Lake, north of South Shore Drive. Phone 231-889-3513. Follow them on Facebook.

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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