What You Need To Know For Winter Biking

Isobel Lake Recreation Site
Mary Putnam
Kamloops is long renowned as a and with its distinct four-seasons, biking happens year-round. When the city is blanketed in snow, grab your and hit the trails. Choose from groomed tracks at Isobel Lake or snowy trails at Kenna Cartwright Park.
Fat biking is a mountain bike with fat or wide tires designed for low ground pressure in soft terrain such as snow, sand, and mud. Kamloops local Dylan Methot, owner of Mostly Mental Shuttles, shares insights into winter biking and his love of biking year-round.
Note: This interview has been edited and condensed.

Isobel Lake Recreation Site
Mary Putnam

Kenna Cartwright Park
Sean Jenkins
What's your favourite part about winter biking?
The ability to ride bikes 12 months of the year with the use of a fat bike is great. It's a peaceful, relaxing, and low-impact activity that gets you outside and staying active. The stoke builds as the day goes on when you're riding with friends. You'll likely crash, but the falls are softer and will have everyone laughing. Après beers also help.

Kenna Cartwright Park
Sean Jenkins
Where can someone go winter biking in Kamloops?
There’s a great trail system located at Isobel Lake, roughly a 40-minute drive from downtown Kamloops. The 30+km of Isobel Lake Winter Recreational Trails are groomed and maintained by the Kamloops Mountain Bike Trail Association. Check their Facebook page for updates on appropriate tire pressure and current conditions. Kenna Cartwright Park is also an ideal spot for winter biking. Keep in mind the trails aren’t groomed, so you will be riding on fresh snow across 40km of trails.

Isobel Lake Recreation Site
Mary Putnam
Are special winter bikes required?
Fat bikes are recommended as they have a wider tire, minimum 3.8 inches, that can run at a lower pressure, no higher than 8 PSI.

Kenna Cartwright Park
Sean Jenkins
Where can you rent fat bikes in town?
District Bicycle Co. located in Kamloops, offers fat bike rentals starting at $50 per day. Spoke N' Motion located on West Victoria Street also offers fat bike rentals for $50/day.

Kenna Cartwright Park
Sean Jenkins
What should you wear fat biking?
Layers are your friends. Start with a good moisture-wicking base and add some wind and waterproof gear. Hand and foot covers are also ideal - nothing takes the fun out of things like cold hands and feet.

Kenna Cartwright Nature Park
Sean Jenkins
Any other tips or tricks?
Get out there, fall down, laugh, and get back up.

Kenna Cartwright Park
Sean Jenkins
