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.

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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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