WINTER CYCLING CONGRESS MINNEAPOLIS, MN FEBRUARY Anchorage, AK. Snow Biking Fun and Function

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Garry Reeves
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1 Snow Biking Fun and Function WINTER CYCLING CONGRESS Anchorage, AK MINNEAPOLIS, MN FEBRUARY 2016

2 My Talk Introduction to Alaska and Anchorage Geography and climate The riding environment What s working? What s missing? The development curve Technology Behavior Infrastructure Market share for snow bikes Changing the law Fat Bikes vs. MTB Summary Indie Alaska Q&A

6 Climate Subarctic climate, with maritime influences 61 degrees north latitude 100 days frost free Typical winter day 5 to 30 F Typical summer day 55 to 78 F Average snowfall of 75 inches Extremes to 87 F Longest day 19.5 hours Shortest day 4.5 hours First winter snow October 15, continuing through mid April

7 Facts About Anchorage Railroad town Founded in early 1900s Current population of 350K Population density driven by natural constraints (inlet and mountains) Young, hearty, outdoors oriented population Good trail system in place (hard and soft surfaces) Good cycling culture, in spite of the environmental challenges Only half an hour from Alaska The fat tire bike changed everything (truly disruptive )

9 Why are fat bikes popular? Fun Economic pressures (cost of cars and fuel) Emphasis on health Little required support services from government Anchorage is a little less gentrified and refined Can be ridden anywhere, any time, by anyone, in any conditions It s Alaskan A little whacko A little different

10 Great opportunities Abundance of city, state, and federal park land Not always accessible Frozen ground conditions open up the country Great trail system in the City constructed in the 1980s Thank you Prudhoe Bay Population that supports our parks and bonds initiatives A great cycling community that is self supporting Well organized clubs for road, mountain, snow, and youth cycling Volunteers Donations User fees Good collaboration between cyclists and skiers, runners, mushers, skijorers, roller bladers, snowmachiners, walkers, etc.

11 Wayfinding and signage

12 Grade separated crossings

13 Trail watch corporate sponsors Clean, green, safe, secure

15 The community is blessed But, we have challenges of all types as we try to go to the next level

16 Constraints Cold Dark Cost of gear for winter cycling Boots Poagies Lights Studded tires Special clothing Special water bottles and hydration packs Automobile centric planning and design of streets Much of our population still view bikes as recreational and exercise machines, not transportation machines How to get from trails to home/work/shopping Economic uncertainty for Alaska re. energy price collapse Keeping it clean, green, safe and secure

17 Not just money, more stuff!

18 And your garage suddenly looks like this

19 The development curve Road biking only in snow free months The indoor trainers and rollers Conventional mountain bikes, in summer and in winter Mountain bike with studded tires and some tricking Fat bikes V1.1 New fat bikes Carbon Studded, tubeless tires 1x11 drivetrains Bolt-thru axles The modern snow bike has arrived!

20 Carbon everything!

21 In the blink of an eye Fat Bikes Rule the North The novelty is gone Most wilderness races that were once ski, run, bike are now heavily bike centric Mild, icy, light snowfall winters have killed skate skiing and running Fat bikes thrive Four or five years ago the Anchorage market was dominated by two Alaska based snow bike manufacturers (Fatback and 9Zero7) Now there are numerous manufacturers including mainstream cycling brands (Trek, Cannondale, Salsa, Specialized, Borealis, and on and on) The price of snow bikes is diminishing, and the cost of the equipment and accessories is increasing

22 The thrill of competition!

23 Anyone and Everyone

24 The Fat Bike Explosion Who Loses? Susitna Race Participants Bike Foot Ski

25 Co-exist

26 Low pressure, no pressure

27 Summary and Conclusions 1/1 ANC is a young and vibrant community of hearty souls that love to play outdoors The climate, topography, and rough wilderness nature of the last frontier makes for perfect conditions Technology makes Fat Bikes easier, more fun, safer, lighter and more pleasant and participation is exploding At the expense of other activities (e.g. X/C skiing)? If I could only have one bike.... it would be a Fatty

28 Summary and Conclusions 1/2 Cycling culture starts with recreation, racing, and youth activities, and spills over to commuting Synergies and collaboration with other motorized and nonmotorized sports Changing laws to allow Fat Bikes in areas that are prohibited from MTB (at least in the winter) The next step is enhanced and expanded infrastructure in a challenging economic climate In street Paved and separated Unpaved and separated Primitive single tracks for Fat bikes (and runners)

29 Alaska Public Media Indie Alaska I am a winter cyclist

30 Q&A

Feasibility Study for Intermodal Facility in Anchorage, Alaska

Feasibility Study for Intermodal Facility in Anchorage, Alaska Jeanne Bowie, Randy Kinney Abstract The Dimond Transit Center, operated by People Mover, is located in south Anchorage at the Dimond Center,