I am fat bike curious. How many times a winter are you guys riding groomed singletrack?(I am only interested in riding single track)

What are your thoughts on renting fat bike vs purchasing?

My wife and I started with rentals, bought a used fat bike, and for a few seasons had a pair of them.  Use depends on snow and grooming conditions. The grooming is good exercise. The more who help, the more riding or better riding.

In some ways it is really good for riding skills. I mean riding balanced (light hands, heavy feet), and being used to a bike moving under you.

When we had same brand bikes but one AL and one composite, one with some lighter parts, none of it mattered much if you are not a competitive racer. A suspension fork was not worth the price and weight for winter riding. 27.5 size wheels with big knobby studded tires can be strange but IMO worth it. They created more days when it was a fun and good ride.

Rotten ski conditions days are often great fat bike days.

Here's a general or whole community tip. After it snows lots of people who go out and ride should be on snow shoes first or helping someone operate one of the machine groomers. The people who just try to ride ungroomed trails and trails needing to set up hurt how good the riding can be. A groomed trail that can sit overnight is MUCH better.

The trailhead at Middleton Bike Park has moved from the SE corner of the parking lot to the SW corner, next to the pumptrack.  In addition to consolidating things by the pumptrack, we were able to get rid of a sizable chunk of two-way trail; now nothing east of the pump track is two-way.  A permanent kiosk, permanent signage, and updated maps are in the works, but the trails are good to go.  Big thanks to all the volunteers who came out for two trail building days, and Central Cross Country Skiing for loaning a mini-excavator.  Note that the trail east of the new trailhead is now known as 'Clubhouse,' and will be designated intermediate.  We plan on tuning up the old trail, which is now a westbound downhill, in 2024.

We're pleased to announce our first ever online auction which is live now and ends November 27th.

Support more trails in the Madison, WI area *and* get something lovely for someone on your shopping list this year! Items have been donated from our friends at local bike shops including Black Saddle, Blue Mounds Cycles, Machinery Row, Neff Cycle Service, Revolution Cycles, Saris, Slow Roll, and Trek West. https://www.32auctions.com/corp-cyber-monday-23

I was just out there, Monday 11-6-23, It is open now, but all the grass areas are still roped off. Please respect that.

We're in the process of moving the trailhead from the temporary one at the east end of the parking lot to it's permanent location at the west end of the parking lot by the pump track. The trails are now open (eliminating a bit more two-way trail!), though we haven't moved the kiosk. It will be a bit of a slow process as we wait for the pump track to officially open and can put a permanent kiosk in, but the trails are good to go. They are a little rough and could use some wheels; there is a bit more to come, and we'll tune them up as they get ridden in. A few details:

• We've changed the name of the trail east of the new trailhead; formerly a part of Fairway, it will be now known as Clubhouse, and will be marked intermediate; there are a couple sections that beginners find fairly intimidating, and it is a good solid climb to get there from the parking lot.
• The new eastbound trail will eventually continue along the ridge to the east edge of the property
• The existing trail will get tuned up in 2024; now that it is a one-way downhill, we should be able to make it a bit more fun.
• Temporary signage is up.  New signage and new maps are in the works.

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped build the new sections, and look for additional workdays!