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Trail Grooming Series Introduction

Have you recently experienced the “wobble, wobble, stop?” Have you been having difficulty getting riding again out on the trail? How about extended periods of hike-a-bike? Are you getting tired of riding the “inverted balance beam?” Maybe you have just been feeling a vague longing for speed or a general lack of flow in your riding?

groomed not groomed

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms you may be suffering from a condition known as “Powder Fatigue.” Powder Fatigue can occur to any normal fat biker when there has been extended periods of heavy snow, a lack of snowmobile traffic, a lack of trail grooming in your area, or local singletrack is under a foot or more of snow.

I suffered for years through these symptoms and know how difficult it can be to have this affliction. Sometimes heavy snow can make you feel hopeless but I didn’t give up, and neither should you. Many individuals have devoted their time and and ingenuity finding a solution to Powder Fatigue and I want their solutions to be your solution. Grooming can mean something as simple as snowshoeing your favorite trail. Any activity that compacts the the loose powdery snow that has fallen on the trail, can be called grooming. Grooming trail has cured my Powder Fatigue and changed my life. Grooming has helped thousands and it will help you!

Candy Hoffman helps the Metro Mountain Bikers work in the MTB trail snowshoeing with about 20 other club members.

Candy Hoffman helps the Metro Mountain Bikers work in the MTB trail snowshoeing with about 20 other club members.

Over the coming months Fat-Bike.com will share the secrets to finding happiness and getting your life back on singletrack. On January 9th and 10th the Midwest Fat Bike Access and Grooming Workshop will be held on the CAMBA Trail System in Cable, Wisconsin. Fat-Bike.com will be on the scene with a full report from this great event. We will also be publishing a series of articles about different aspects of grooming. This will include easy ways most riders can start grooming local trails using human power, but also highlighting some of the various ways trail systems are using mechanized grooming equipment to make sweet winter singletrack.

Upcoming Trail Grooming articles will highlight solutions such as this roller that is used at the Levis Trow Trails in Wisconsin.

Upcoming Trail Grooming articles will highlight solutions such as this roller that is used at the Levis Trow Trails in Wisconsin.

6 Responses to Trail Grooming Series Introduction

  1. Bkschott January 8, 2014 at 4:28 pm #

    This is great. I just returned from tractor supply with a bag full of bits and pieces to finish our roller. Can’t wait to try it out!!

  2. Chemandy January 8, 2014 at 6:27 pm #

    This KBS guy seems to know what he’s talking about. Looking forward to hearing/seeing how to get through powder fatigue.

  3. Mike January 9, 2014 at 9:01 am #

    We have an awesome trail groomer here (West of Ottawa). Its run by one of the local snowmobile associations (BEAST) and is a big-ass tracked tractor that pulls an 8 foot wide sled. The resulting trail looks like white tarmac. The only problem is the snow needs to settle for a few hours after it goes by.

  4. Mike January 9, 2014 at 1:14 pm #

    Good stuff. It’s a sport unto itself! Here’s how we keep our trails pristine!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jMN9TIxYgs&feature=share

  5. Russell January 9, 2014 at 3:31 pm #

    Candy can groom the hell out of a trail.
    Just sayin’.

    • Gomez January 9, 2014 at 6:16 pm #

      Three cheers for Candy!

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