KINGFIELD – The newest outdoor adventure is saddling up on a fat tire bike and there is no place better to experience this exhilarating ride than at Maine Huts & Trails. Open year-round, the huts can be easily accessed on fat tire bikes in the winter when there is snow and ice.
What exactly is a fat tire? While a traditional mountain bike’s tire width is usually about two inches, a fat tire is double that or more, providing a much larger surface area and they are inflated to a very low air pressure, creating a soft, smooshy tire that can handle terrain that would otherwise be impossible to bike over.
Slush, icy snow, mud, slippery rocks? No problem. Terrain elements such as these are a deal-breaker for most skiers, snowshoers and hikers, and they then miss out on Maine Huts & Trail’s 80 miles of trails leading to the four beautiful “huts” near Flagstaff Lake and the Bigelow Mountain range.
“Fat tires have opened up a whole new way to experience Maine’s woods,” says Kate Boehmer, marketing associate. “They’re fun to ride and are another reason to get outside and play in the winter. You don’t go super-fast on them so you can truly absorb the quiet and beauty of the snow and forests.”
For those eager to try this new sport, there is one shop near Maine Huts & Trails where bike rentals are available: Northern Lights Hearth & Sports in Farmington. Maine also has several other bike shops that offer rentals: Gorham Bike and Ski, Portland’s Cyclemania and All Speed, Green Machine in Norway, Carter’s in Oxford, Side Country Sports in Rockland, and Bethel Bicycle near Sunday River.
As the huts are off the grid and not accessible by car, a bike equipped with fat tires can be a fun way to reach the comfort of the welcoming lodges, complete with warm fires and heated bunkhouses. During the full-service seasons, rates include a homemade breakfast, dinner and bagged lunches, and in the self-service seasons (Nov-Dec and from late March to early July) guests can use the commercial-grade kitchen to prepare their own meals. Year-round, the eco-lodges have hot showers, warm fires and heated bunkhouses to keep guests comfortable, as well as a sitting room stocked with games and books.
For more information on this off-the-grid experience, visit www.mainehuts.org or call 207-265-2400.
