It is surprising how much even a light wind can help or hurt your progress. One other thing that is important to mention is that if the breeze is blowing parallel to shore I try to set out riding into the wind if possible. It is probably best to set out on a ride as the tide is just starting to fall to catch the best conditions. I also found that by the ocean the riding is best a little further up on shore because right by the waterline it is too wet and soft as the tide is going out. I found that riding along the ocean is similar, although you do have a better chance of being able to ride when there are waves if you go when the tide is low.
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Most of my riding experience has been along the shores of the Great Lakes. Further up on the shore it is usually too soft to ride further than a few 100 feet before getting tired…unless you have been seeing the same doctor as Lance Armstrong. The wet packed area will be in the wave wash and if you ride in the water it spins too much sand up into your drive train. When the waves are pushing up on shore it often makes for difficult riding. I try to wait for calm days or an offshore breeze.
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It is always best to stay on the wet sand right along the waterline. When and Where to Ride – Fat bikes can ride through a lot, but soft sand is still tough to ride in for any distance. I do not have the patience to stop and change pressures in middle of a ride so if it is going to be mixed riding I pick a higher pressure as a compromise. If most of the ride is going to be in a straight line in the sand, take it down to the low pressure. The lower pressure gives you a larger contract area and better flotation but, when you get below 5 psi the bike will feel like it whats to self steer on harder surfaces. If I have to ride on the road or some trail to get to the beach I will likely push the pressure up to 5 or 6 psi. If my entire ride is going to be in the sand I will likely be at 4 psi. I run my tires between 4 and 6 psi for beach riding. Tire Pressure – This is one of the first questions that most people have about riding in the sand. Although, the beautiful scenery is always there to help take your mind off the workout that you are getting. Conditions along the shoreline are in a constant state of change and you will find some days are easier than others. It is a lot like riding on an indoor trainer with the resistance set at medium. Unlike riding trails or on the road you are constantly pushing the pedals. What is it like – Riding a fat bike on the beach is not easy. Living and vacationing in the Great Lakes State this has really opened up a ton of new places to ride for me.īelow are some tips and tricks that I have learned while riding my fat bike on the beach. I am at least a half hour drive from any decent single track, but now I can be riding on the beach right out my door. While my fat bike is a blast on the local trails, the thing that got me really excited about these bikes was the ability to ride on the beach. Just hop on, start pedaling and see what you can find to try and ride over with the big tires. For the most part riding a fat tire bike is not that much different than any other mountain bike.