Winterfest, Bicycle Express promote winter fat bike recreation

January 6,  2021  |  By Waterbury Roundabout

Covered faces before it was trendy: Some cyclists try out fat bikes at Winterfest 2019. File photo courtesy Waterbury Winterfest.

As a way to offer a new opportunity for outdoor recreation during the COVID-19 pandemic, Waterbury Winterfest and Bicycle Express have partnered to make a new winter-friendly fat bike   available for daily rental. 

The oversized tires on the bikes make them manageable on a variety of surfaces and Winterfest has offered demonstration fat bikes for local residents to try out during its annual winter festival in the past. 

The Kona brand bike available through this program rents for $25/day. It can be reserved for 24 hours via the website WaterburyWinterfest.com/reservation. The bike is available at Bicycle Express, at the intersection of U.S. Route 2 and Vermont Route 100. The shop will maintain the bike along with its own fleet of fat bikes available to rent for family or group outings. 

Shop staff can provide guidance for novice, intermediate or expert riders. For those who might adopt this new sport, Bicycle Express will deduct rental fees from their bike rentals from the cost of a fat bike purchase. 

Meanwhile, Waterbury Winterfest organizers are putting the final touches on plans for Winterfest 2021 that will adapt due to public health protocols related to COVID-19. A re-invented program dubbed “Winterfest Wanderlust” set to run from Jan. 29 to March 2 will allow individuals and families to enjoy outdoor activities without group gatherings. The 2021 event will also feature prizes from local merchants. 

More details are being updated on the WaterburyWinterfest.com/wanderlust website and will be featured in the Waterbury Reader and on WaterburyRoundabout.org.