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Riders across Canada, North America honour big rubber biking with Global Fat Bike Day 2015

By the measure of the cycling world's observance of Global Fat Bike Day on Saturday, Dec. 5, more fat bikers than ever are taking a day out of the calendar year to celebrate their big-rubber, all-terrain steeds

Epic conditions at bonshaw hills plan B trails. #globalfatbikeday2015

A photo posted by Shannon Burt (@climbingshanman) on

You may not have realized that “Global Fat Bike Day” exists, but it does. And by the measure of the cycling world’s observance of the day on Saturday, Dec. 5, more fat bikers than ever are taking a day out of the calendar year to celebrate their big-rubber, all-terrain steeds.

In Canada, riders in both city and country took part. One of those cities, the CBC reported, was Winnipeg.

Speaking to reporters, co-organizer Jason Carter, who helped steer Winnipeg’s event, suggested that the discipline’s appeal is rooted in the very foundation of cycling’s inherent joy. “The attraction is, it’s like going back to when you were a little kid and you first got a bike and realized you could ride across grass, other surfaces that you couldn’t with a road bike.”

Snow, it goes without saying—especially the deep, heavy kind usually common in places like Winnipeg—tops that list of otherwise in-navigable surfaces.

For Winnipeg’s Global Fat Bike Day, Riders assembled at the Forks, setting out on a route that took them across the Esplanade Riel bound for The Forks Riverwalk. Veering west towards Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park, the squad of 70 riders rolled through the city under unusually warm skies for December, hovering around 5 degrees celsius. Nonetheless, despite the absence of any snow to truly demonstrate what “fatties” can do, the buzz of the growing winter discipline was clearly on display.

ALSO! Jinglecross has it all!!! Happy #globalfatbikeday2015!!!

A photo posted by Natalia (@giantmendez) on

The numbers of attendees at this year’s Global Fat Bike Day ride, more than anything else, attest to the growing scene on big wheels—both worldwide and closer to home.

Two years ago was the first such ride in the Manitoba capital, the Winnipeg Free Press reported, and only 10 cyclist turned out in participation. 2014 saw a jump in attendees, with 50 riders joining in. With a gathering of 70 strong participating in this year’s ride, it seems that fat biking, by the measure of the last two years, is certainly not a passing thing in Manitoba.

Take a look at how fat riders everywhere celebrated on Saturday.

Lake Michigan @grandrapidsbicycles @45nrth #globalfatbikeday2015 #grbc #westmi #whereisthesnow

A photo posted by Jill Martindale (@billfartindale) on