KIM BURTON-SCHRAM
LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
The recent up and down temperatures caused the date of the Winter Fat Bike Race at the Summerstown Trails to be delayed by one day, but racers were happy to have better conditions. The soft snow with above zero temperatures would have made racing a challenge, but when weather conditions turned much colder the very next day, the bike trail was firm and fast.
Some 31 racers competed in distances of five, 20 and 50, with competitors coming from this area and others travelling from Quebec and as far away as Port Stanley.
Patrick Seguin, from Gatineau, Quebec, was the winner of the 20-km fat bike race. He says he really enjoys coming to the Summerstown Trails and SDG because he finds the trails are great and well maintained. The winner of the 50-km race was Christian Gauvin from Brome Lake, Quebec, and Rens Trommels, from Summerstown, was the winner of the 5-km race.
Bicycles are divided into two categories: mountain bikes and road bikes. Mountain bikes are made to handle rough, uneven terrain along with steep hills and fat bikes are a category of mountain bicycles, made with wide tires for riding on soft, unstable ground such as snow, mud or sand. Race organizer Marc Dubuc explained the bikes are designed specifically for winter riding, with studs in the tires for grip.
There are now even electric-bikes (e-bikes) that handle the tough ground. These e-bikes have an electric motor with a rechargeable battery that make peddling, climbing hills and going longer distances easier. At this year’s race, e-bikes were not permitted, but organizers hope to establish a category specifically for e-bikes to encourage more racers to participate.
Road bikes are divided into even further categories including: cyclocross bicycles for mixed terrain such as unpaved trails, gravel and grass; touring bikes for riding on pavement and best for long distances; adventure bikes or all-road bikes which are versatile on all terrains; and fitness bikes for high performance riding.
L’article Conditions firm and fast for fat bike races on the Summerstown Trails est apparu en premier sur Cornwall Seaway News.
