Fat bikes are quickly taking over the town and the valley鈥檚 trails, as cyclist extend their season right into the depths of winter. So, the Jasper Park Cycling Association is taking that enthusiasm and pedalling with it.
On Jan. 19, the association is hosting a fat bike demonstration, as well as a few races, at Centennial Park. The free event is titled Wintercross and will feature demo bikes from all three bike shops in town: Vicious Cycle, Freewheel Cycle and Source for Sports.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e bringing all of their bikes, so people will be able to try all of the different fat bikes in town all in one day,鈥� said Matt Staneland of the cycling association.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to set a short course through the ball diamonds and through the treed area and playground, so people can demo bikes and then we鈥檒l have a couple races.鈥�
There will be a relay event, with teams of four passing off one bike, and a solo race. According to Staneland, those will be the first off-road bike races ever held in the park.
鈥淭his is a way to showcase winter cycling,鈥� said Staneland. 鈥淲e鈥檒l be showing how neat it is to have an alternative winter sport.鈥�
Until last weekend鈥檚 snow fall, Staneland said the valley was in the perfect condition for fat biking, with just a small layer of snow covering the trails.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the perfect thing to do when you can鈥檛 cross-country ski yet. There鈥檚 so much you can do with those bikes on the trail system here.
鈥淵ou can even skid around because you鈥檙e on the snow; you don鈥檛 have to worry about ripping up the trail.鈥�
Wintercross is the first event the cycling association has hosted since it was established in 2012. Staneland said, along with regular trail maintenance, events are the association鈥檚 new focus.
鈥淲e want to be doing more fun stuff, so we鈥檙e shifting our focus this year.鈥�
Wintercross will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with free demos taking place for the first two hours and races beginning at 1 p.m.
Everyone is welcome to visit Centennial Park to test out what it鈥檚 like to bike on snow.
听Nicole Veerman
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