The Fat Tire Bike Is a Year-Round Cardio Champ

"I made a one-sided acquaintance at the beach this summer. I was training for the Brooklyn Mile at the time, and got into the habit of finishing my runs by the water. Each time I sat down on the sand, the same woman would float by on a bike, traversing the sometimes damp or pockmarked strand as if it were smooth asphalt. She had a few decades on me, but she always looked at ease."

"Her bike was almost certainly a fat tire. These bikes are built for off-road pursuits - they have robust frames, wide forks and, of course, thick tires. Think: 3.8 inches or wider (the average road bike is a single inch, while the average mountain bike doesn't push past 2.5 inches). Because the tires are so thick, it's much easier for riders to grip the ground."

"I can't prove it, as I was only in that beach town for a week and change, but I like to think that that lady does the same route every day of the year, no matter the weather. And with a sturdy fat tire at her service, she definitely could. The bike is an all-season cardio champ, especially given its performance in the snow. (There are fat biking adventures offered in wintry Finland!)"

A runner notices an older woman who rides a fat-tire bike along the beach, moving steadily across damp and pockmarked sand. Fat-tire bikes feature robust frames, wide forks and tires often 3.8 inches or wider, offering a larger contact area and enhanced traction on sand, snow, mud, rocks and roots. Many fatbikes omit suspension because thick, low-pressure tires provide cushioning. The design supports year-round riding, including snowy conditions, and encourages slow, low-impact cardio that suits daily exercise and long-term continuity, reducing burnout risk while remaining accessible across diverse terrains.

Read at InsideHook